Japan Heli Skiing

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Heli Skiing in Japan
Heli Skiing in Japan
Japan heli skiing offers some of the best powder in the world
Japan heli skiing offers some of the best powder in the world
Gorgeous Japow out heli skiing in Japan
Gorgeous Japow out heli skiing in Japan
View of Mt Yotei from Shiribetsu-dake
View of Mt Yotei from Shiribetsu-dake
The best heli skiing in Japan on Shiribetsu-dake
The best heli skiing in Japan on Shiribetsu-dake
Mt Yotei in the background
Mt Yotei in the background
Heli boarding in Japan on Shiribetsu-dake
Heli boarding in Japan on Shiribetsu-dake
Heli skiing near Niseko & Rusutsu
Heli skiing near Niseko & Rusutsu
Powder skiing out heli skiing in Japan
Powder skiing out heli skiing in Japan
Heli skiing near Niseko Japan
Heli skiing near Niseko Japan
Japan heli boarding
Japan heli boarding
Looking over Rusutsu Resort
Looking over Rusutsu Resort
Mt Shiribetsu has a variety of aspects
Mt Shiribetsu has a variety of aspects
Lots of lovely tree skiing
Lots of lovely tree skiing
Stunning powder out heli skiing in Hokkaido Japan
Stunning powder out heli skiing in Hokkaido Japan
Helicopter skiing Japan
Helicopter skiing Japan
Mt Yotei
Mt Yotei
Japan heli boarding
Japan heli boarding
HBC - the only real Japan heli skiing
HBC - the only real Japan heli skiing
Hokkaido heli skiing
Hokkaido heli skiing

Japan Heli Skiing

Hokkaido Explorer Tour
Wagner Custome Skis

Heli Skiing Japan

Heli skiing in Japan is the ultimate adventure for keen powder hounds considering that Japan pretty much has the best powder in the world. The snow gods drop manna from heaven in abundance on the Japanese mountains and the quality of the snow is ichi-ban! 

Style of Heli Skiing in Japan

You could be forgiven for thinking that Japan heli skiing is very common considering all the powder, but unfortunately there are only a few Japan heli ski operators. The Japanese demonstrate high levels of risk aversion (as evidenced by the many Japanese ski resorts that prohibit off-piste skiing and the very mellow Japan cat skiing terrain), so helicopter skiing in the backcountry must seem like a super extreme activity to some Japanese folks.

This extreme safety approach combined with lots of political red tape also has an impact on the style of a couple of the Japan heli ski operators, whereby skiers have to just ride over everyone else’s tracks, which is ludicrous and defeats the purpose of heli skiing and scoring freshies! Thankfully there’s at least one Japan heli skiing company run by Canadians who know what heli skiing is all about!

Unlike heli skiing Canada, there are no remote backcountry lodges where you stay for the week. With heli skiing in Japan, the norm is single day, or even single run, and you stay in your accommodation of choice.

Niseko Heli Skiing

Niseko in Hokkaido is renowned for its fabulous powder, both in terms of quantity and quality, which is why lots of international skiers and snowboarders flock there to revel in the powder. It can get crowded at the Niseko ski resort and freshies disappear quite quickly unless you head into the backcountry.

Thankfully there’s a Niseko heli skiing outfit that makes the most of the amazing powder in the region, and offers real Canadian-style guided helicopter skiing. Hokkaido Backcountry Club offers heli skiing on Shiribetsu-dake next to the Rusutsu Resort, which is about a 30 minute drive from Niseko. Shiribetsu has fabulous terrain around 360 degrees of the mountain, with long and very steep lines. The HBC Heli Skiing is the best heli skiing in Japan – you can see our HBC heliski review here.

Other Heli Skiing Hokkaido

There used to be another Hokkaido heli skiing outfit run by the Tomamu Resort, but this is no longer in operation.

Hakuba Heli Skiing

There is a Hakuba heli skiing operation that runs from above the Tsugaike Kogen ski resort during March and April. This should largely be considered a scenic helicopter ride, because unless you’re a beginner, the heli skiing is pretty lame. Strangely they use the same landing zone over and over, and the same mellow lines down because the ski patrollers mark out a course with intermittent flags. The Tsugaike Hakuba heli skiing isn’t guided, but there is the option to hire a local guide if you want to explore further afield. It’s not particularly expensive for a single ride, so it’s probably worth it just for the spectacular helicopter flight.

There is some incredibly steep and gnarly terrain in the Hakuba region, and it may be possible to do some chartered heli skiing in Hakuba, although any services seem to be rather intermittent.

Other Honshu Heli Skiing

There is a heli ski outfit at Kagura ski resort (next to Naeba ski resort). Like the Tsugaike Hakuba heli skiing, it’s much more a sightseeing tour than about scoring fresh pow. The major limitations are that they repeatedly ride the same course over and over so it’s not “real heli skiing”, and it only operates for a few days in mid April when the “powder” is unlikely to be “powder”.
Japan Heli Skiing Tours
Shiribetsu-Dake Day Heliskiing
DAY HELI SKIING RUSUTSU - 6 RUN PACKAGE
Includes Niseko pickup & lunch
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Heli skiing operation near Rusutsu & Niseko where you ski or ride Hokkaido's deep dry powder on a dormant volcano (adjacent to Rusutsu and not far from Niseko). Join as a solo or small group, or private charter. Upper advanced to experts only
Price p/p From price based on 6-run heli ski day 2025 rates.
Base/invoice currency is in JPY in taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,360
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