Oh my such a fun tour and end-to-end great journey. Jase and his wonderful crew show how to put a smile in every day. When traveling to this amazing land the logistics came so smooth and easy. Jase booked us into fabulous accommodations on arrival in Japan, arranged a layover in Tokyo, and encouraged us through the awesome train system to our Yudanaka destination, Ryokan ( hotel) Biyu. This mountain town is home of the unique Onsen (mineral bath) culture, with the 1300-year-old spa town of Yamanouchi adjacent. (a great stroll in a medieval Japanese spa/shrine town)

Oh, and there's SKIING, such as you find only a few times in your life, just a fun 30-minute coach ride away. Small (typically 6-person) groups, matched in ability, guided by dedicated 'powder munkies' weaving through thigh-high powder, on the largest area and highest serviced lifts in all of Asia. the amazing ShigaKogen. Returning at day end, relaxing in the Onsen, having a beverage in house and tasting the evening cultural events, traditional dinner, Geisha dancer, Karyoki nite, Dragon dance and drummer, and the giant Snomonster ride to the mountain top for sunset and a glimpse in the distance of Mt Fuji glinting, etc. etc. Always something coming up to bring a smile and touch the amazing cultural side of the 'Japanese experience'.

Even after our ten days in the ski world, Jase arranged two wonderful destinations to visit and we were well rewarded to experience the wonders of ancient Samurai Japan in Kanazawa and Nagano, unforgettable. Thank you Jase,George and John, see you soon again Don and the GreySnoBadgers from Canada See our video here

A week after returning from Japan I still can’t stop thinking about the terrific powder/culture tour Jase and his able crew gave us in Yudanaka and Shiga Kogen. I don’t remember having so much fun with a group of skiers/snowboarders since high school! Though unusually warm for January, the conditions improved throughout the week to satisfy even our most hardcore powderhounds. I so appreciated the ski instruction I got every day – I needed it! I also loved the field trips, or “hidden gems” Jase provided. He kept us busy from dawn to dusk, and if we needed anything he and his guides obliged. Culture, food, hot springs, karate and geisha demonstrations filled the non-mountain time. I left the tour exhausted but so wanted to stay another week. Highly recommend this trip! See our video here

I spent 13 days on skis with Jase and his team New Year 2020. This was my second trip with Japan Powder Culture Tours and I can recommend the Grey Snowmads tour.
Japan Powder Culture Tours provides a truly boutique tour where Jase and his team tailors the guests’ day on skis/snowboard according to their individual ability and experience. I always skied with other guests that were at my own level, and we were always led by Jase and his team of guides that set safety first.
But what makes Jase and his crew really stand-out is the level of engagement with the guests both on and outside the slope. If you are an advanced skier, Jase and his team will make sure to find challenges wherever the snow conditions and powder is the best. And if you are novice skier you will also be in the best hands. I have never been on a tour where beginners, advanced or even experts are so cared for and have access to full days of instructions (or tips for improvement) from guides that are also trained ski instructors!
For me, I will definitely be back as soon as C19 is over. See our video here

The best thing about the Grey Snowmads is the direct access we had to authentic Japanese culture in a ski resort.

Where we stayed in the small town of Yudanaka - in lodgings that were clean, modern, friendy and run by Japanese local people. It was simply beautiful. I'd skied Niseko and Nozawa a number of years ago and was seeking that sense of exhilaration and freshness that you get when you are truly away from your own culture. Through the grey snowmads we were given this in spades.

We (my daughter and I) met lovely like-minded people from around the world to ski with in our group. Over a few days we became friends and had a lot of those laughs that are generated through familiar banter. This was all encouraged by our organiser Jase and the guides, who gave fabulous tips on making the most of the small town, after spending a full day on the slopes. Handmade sushi in tiny restaurants, amazing. Homemade plum wine - so special. Onsens - I had one every night, so tranquil and good for ski muscles.

The skiing tuition was sensational and great value for money having an all-day ski guide/instructor for the entire tour. The groups were small and run on good timing; it was all fun and easy.

I have nothing but awesome memories. For me, the icing was the cake and the big birthday Karaoke song organised by Jase, for my daughter's birthday. It was kind and personal, and I guess, a metaphor for the whole trip. Thoroughly recommended. See our video here

Japan Powder Culture Tours delivered exactly what they promised.

The exhilaration and culture experience of skiing Japan. Jase and his crew, John , George, Yoshi and Tyson are an excellent team which is well able to deliver on the promise of the most amazing Japanese ski holiday on offer.

JPCT, based out of the rural historical Onsen town of Yudanaka is well away from the those international ski towns. The region offers a large range of quality ski resorts including the massive Shiga Kogen complex and some of the highest terrain Japan has to offer. What sets the JPCT experience above others is the ability for Jase and the team to cater for a broad range of skiing/boarding ability, differing personalities/nationalities and their ability to change plans to suit their guests.
The guides are all experienced and qualified instructors, able to adapt to different personalities and conditions, always fun and informative and above they all always knew where to find fresh tracks at the right difficulty.

The range of resorts available is incredible, during the warm days we were able to move to the higher ones or when the POWDER came we were able to ski it for days due the size of the terrain offered.

The food was awesome, whether it was on the mountain or back in the village the food it was reasonably priced, lots of variety and always just amazingly delicious.

Yudanaka the traditional Japanese Onsen town where JPCT is based is just magical, offering plenty of temples, Onsens and a variety of small family restaurants serving predominantly Japanese cuisine. The cultural aspect offered by JPCT was a special bonus for our group. We were able to visit the Zenkoji temple, the Matsumoto temple, shop the Nakamachi craft precinct, a large supermarket (yes believe me…it is a worthwhile cultural experience) and the Nagano Olympic stadium and museum. We also participate in the Giesha, Geisha, Taiko Drum, Shimansen Guitar, Lion Dance, Karate performances and Karaoke night which are entertaining and fun after a hard days skiing.

We will no doubt be reminiscing about our trip forever and we are already planning our next JPCT holiday. See our video here

My needs were that I was travelling solo and I needed instruction on my own skiing technique. Huge tick for the social interaction with other solo travellers and couples and families alike who all had a great time.

We all went out for dinner together most nights after indulging in the great choice of Onsens available close by. We also experienced local culture which is great as you learn about the way the locals have lived in Yudanaka which has not yet been clinically anglicised like Tokyo. It is still old Japan which is a great thing to experience.

Huge tick also for the instruction on how to negotiate the powder and how to ski generally. The instructors all know what they are doing (all brilliant skiers) and the delivery is great because of the relaxed and laid-back approach. You don't actually feel like you are being instructed by a skiresort robot because every day is just fun and they know how to find the snow, wherever it fell overnight. You are with the group for the whole day so it's not like being in ski school for an hour or two and then told you can leave.In fact, for the first time visitor, it would be impossible to replicate the choice of where to ski for the day as in the time I was there we discovered three different mountains and had access to JPCT's local knowledge of which slopes were best to suit the ability of whoever was in the group.

Jason's "true" stories are remarkable. The truth is always stranger than fiction but he does push the envelope in a way that calls out the quiet ones for a contribution to the banter on the bus trips. It also challenges the ones who ask too many questions! If you want to know what that means, just ask him a question........ See our video here