Itinerary
This itinerary is a guide. The tour is dictated by the weather each day and your guide analyse the snow forecast & decide with the group where to go for the best powder conditions.
Day 1
Welcome to
Furano, a town of about 25,000 people with many great local restaurants and an international ski field which has hosted 12 FIS world cups. Your guides/hosts will pick you up either at Furano JR station or at the bus stop to drive you to Element, a boutique accommodation where you will be staying. That evening you will have a welcome dinner at a Japanese restaurant in town to get to know your guide and others on your tour.
Day 2
Furano, the biggest ski resort in Central Hokkaido, has 2 sides of the mountain and terrain in between to explore. It has everything and one day just isn’t enough. Furano has opened up the off-piste areas with gates to serious back country terrain for those with all the safety equipment and knowledge. Your guide will sign the group in with Ski Patrol in the morning then the group will be all set to go..
Day 3
Kamui, located 1 hour 10 minute drive northwest of Furano, is a funky resort well known for its liberal off-piste policy. There are good tree runs and nice pillows to be enjoyed here. A playful place for boarding. On the way we will come across a giant Kannon sama (buddah) statue towering over the town of Ashibetsu. On the way back we will swing by a great local onsen (hot spring) in Ashibetstu.
Day 4
Tomamu, located 1 hour 30 minutes drive south of Furano, is a resort with high rise towers for hotels poking out of the landscape in front of the mountains. It has nicely spaced trees to put big wide turns in. The group will be signing a waiver and putting on a helmet to access the off-piste. If you don’t have your own helmet, not to worry as Tomamu provides helmets free of charge. That evening it’s the Furano Snow Tours dinner in town at one of our favourite local Japanese restaurants where few tourists go.
Day 5
Free Day to relax and rest the body or have another day on the mountain at Furano unguided.
The Free Day is decided either when snow conditions/weather is not great or when the group feels the need to recover a bit from all that awesome snowboarding
Day 6
Asahidake, located 1 hour 20 minutes northeast of Furano is a real gem! It's the highest mountain in Hokkaido, and with volcanic steam coming out the top of the mountain, it makes this special. One cable car will get us to the top, no piste skiing here, just advanced off-piste riding and 2 main cat tracks to get us back to the cable car station. After a great day of riding, the group will go to one of the FST guide’s favourite onsen in Asahidake.
Day 7
1 hour 30 minutes drive southeast of Furano over a mountain range is
Sahoro, a medium size resort, uncrowded and fun through the trees. With a newly installed lift on the north side of the mountain there is now even more off-piste terrain to experience!
Another great option for an onsen on tour would be here in Sahoro.
Day 8
Departing Furano.
The time has come to say good bye to your lovely hosts at Element and to your Furano Snow Tours guide. You will be dropped off at the station or the bus stop, taking with you memories of good times on and off the mountain with the JAPAN SNOWBOARDER Experience!
