Overall Rating

Tohoku Indy Trip

Tohoku Indy Trip5/51
Tohoku Indy Trip5 out of 5 based on 1 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    100%
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Tohoku Indy Trip Enquire
Price p/p Price per person in Japanese yen based on 8 night tour for 2025, early bird
USD 2,137

HOSTED (UNGUIDED) SAFARI - TOHOKU
8/10 Days | 7/9 Nights | 5/6 Ski Areas

You can secure your spot with a 50% deposit. The final deposit is due by December 1.
Early bird rates in effect until Aug 31
Location: Japan | Tour Focus: Self-Guided | Terrain Focus: Off-Piste, On-Piste, Backcountry, Sidecountry
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Price p/p Price per person in Japanese yen based on 8 night tour for 2025, early bird
USD 2,137
Venture away from the masses on this 8 or 10 day hosted (unguided) powder trip in northern Tohoku. The package includes all lift passes however if you have an Indy Pass the price is discounted. All accommodation, most meals & private ground transport are taken care of.
View inclusions & Add-ons
Click here for rates, dates & availability
Fixed Date(s)
Days
Price
Availability
Fixed Date(s): Jan 03 - Jan 12, 2025
Days: 10
Price: USD 2,539
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 08 - Jan 17, 2025
Days: 10
Price: USD 2,539
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 13 - Jan 20, 2025
Days: 8
Price: USD 2,137
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 20 - Jan 29, 2025
Days: 10
Price: USD 2,539
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Jan 25 - Feb 01, 2025
Days: 8
Price: USD 2,137
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 01 - Feb 08, 2025
Days: 8
Price: USD 2,137
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 03 - Feb 12, 2025
Days: 10
Price: USD 2,539
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 10 - Feb 17, 2025
Days: 8
Price: USD 2,137
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 14 - Feb 23, 2025
Days: 10
Price: USD 2,539
Availability: Available
Fixed Date(s): Feb 19 - Feb 26, 2025
Days: 8
Price: USD 2,137
Availability: Available
Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.
Enquire

Tohoku Indy Trip

Whilst the mainstream resorts on the "Japow" circuit are easy to find and filled with skiers and riders jostling for fresh lines, the smaller independent resorts have typically been off limits to all but the most adventurous riders due to language and logistical barriers. Northern Tohoku is a region that has several ski areas with good infrastructure and great snow conditions.

With the assistance of our partner Japan Ski Tours, skiers and riders can now venture into the frontier of the Japanese ski scene with ease without necessarily requiring a guide.

The Tohoku Indy Trip hosted (unguided) packages are inclusive of all lift passes however if you have an Indy Pass, lift passes can be removed from the price. The package also includes all private transport to/from the pick-up/drop-off locations, high-quality accommodation, daily breakfast & nighttime meals and full hosting by JST bi-lingual staff.

You just need to book your travel to one of the starting points for this package (as detailed in the itinerary) and the staff will pick you up and get you to your first destination!

From there Japan Ski Tours will handle all of the logistics as outlined in the itinerary and you determine the day's activities; whether it's an action-packed day at the ski resort, a mellow day of ski touring, snowcat skiing or a rest day to scope out the local attractions.

The Tohoku Indy Trip packages are available as either a 8-day or 10-day package.

The Indy package will get you to some of Tohoku's most powdery ski areas including Geto Kogen, Tazawako, Hachimantai Shimokura or PanoramaOkunakayama Kogen and Aomori Spring (10 day package only). From Hachimantai, you also have the option of a ski day at Appi Kogen (not covered by the Indy Pass) which is just a short shuttle bus ride away.

At the end of each day, you can soak in traditional hot springs (onsen), treat yourself to delicious Japanese food, and think about how life couldn't get much better! Oh and post your brag photos on social media :)


Ski & ride at uncrowded resorts

Ski & ride deep untracked powder

Add a day of snowcat skiing

Highlights

  • All of the skiing or riding and none of the hassle on this ultimate road trip. All you need to think about is what you want to do each day as all logistics & transport is taken care of.
  • Quality accommodation, including a stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan
  • Soak your powder-tired muscles in outdoor natural hot springs (onsen)
  • Experience traditional Japanese culture
  • Eat fresh & yummy Japanese cuisine
  • Explore resorts that most gaijin don't get to (so lots of fresh powder)

Skier/Boarder Ability

This tour is ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders as you won't find any English speaking ski schools in these areas.


Stay in great accommodation

Soak in hot springs every day

Eat authentic Japanese food

If you would prefer a fully hosted & guided tour, see the Tohoku Storm Chaser.

Itinerary for 8 Day Trip



Getting to the pickup location. There are two options of where you can start your trip.

  1. Meet at Hanamaki Airport (HNA) "Hana Shop and Cafe" on the first floor at 5:30pm. This airport is tiny so the meeting area will be easy to find.
  2. Meet at Morioka Station South Exit by 6:45pm on day 1 of your trip

Day 1: Arrival Day

After pickup, transfer to the Hachimantai Mountain Hotel, which is the slope-side hotel for both Panorama and Shimokura ski resorts.

Day 2-3: Ride Shimokura and Panorama

Ski Shimokura and Panorama ski hills. The Mountain Hotel is also close to Appi Kogen, a ski resort which isn't on the Indy Pass but could be a worthwhile option to ski as long as you're in the area. There is also a nearby cat ski operation and backcountry touring area.

Day 4: Ski Okunakayama 

Check out of Mountain Hotel in the morning and transfer to Okunakayama Kogen (OK) for a day of riding before completing the journey to Tazawako by private vehicle. Accommodation in Tazawako is located 5 minutes shuttle from the slopes --arrange ski resort pickups/drop offs at your preferred times with the hotel.

Day 5: Ski Tazawako

Site of the Annual FIS Freestyle Ski Worldcup Competition, Tazawako ski resort is located at the base of Mt. Komagatake and offers great vertical and great views of the deepest lake in Japan.

Day 6: Ski Tazawako

After another full day of skiing Tazawako, head to Geto Kogen, one of the snowiest resorts in Tohoku! For the final two nights, you'll be staying in a Ryokan (Japanese Inn) at the base of Geto Kogen (10 min shuttle to ski resort).

Day 7: Ride Geto Kogen

Ride Geto Kogen; Geto gets a massive amount of snow, sometimes outperforming all other resorts in the country. Geto offers marked side-country runs and unmarked backcountry for the adventurous, as well as standard groomers.

Day 8: Ski Geto Kogen

Ski Geto Kogen until 3 pm, then pack up and transfer to your drop off point of Kitakami Train Station. 

Itinerary for 10 Day Trip

Day 1 Arrival 

Pickup is either at Shin Aomori Train Station or Aomori Airport (AOJ) (more details will be provided regarding logistics). After pickup, transfer to the Rock Wood hotel, your slope-side accommodation at Aomori Springs ski resort.

Day 2-3 Ski Aomori Spring Resort

This resort is located at the base of the epic Mt. Iwaki and offers rowdy terrain for backcountry goers looking for a thrill. Guide recommended!

Day 3

After your day of skiing, pack up and head to the Hachimantai Mountain Hotel which is the slope-side hotel for both Panorama and Shimokura ski resorts.

Day 4-5 Ski Shimokura and Panorama ski hills

The Mountain Hotel is also close to Appi Kogen, a ski resort which isn't on the Indy Pass but could be a worthwhile option to ski as long as you're in the area. There is also a nearby cat ski operation and backcountry touring area.

Day 6: Ride Okunakayama Kogen

Check out of Mountain Hotel in the morning and transfer to Okunakayama Kogen (OK) for a day of riding before completing the journey to Tazawako by private vehicle. Accommodation in Tazawako is located 5 minutes shuttle from the slopes -arrange ski resort pickups/drop offs at your preferred times with the hotel.

Day 7-8 Ski Tazawako Kogen

Site of the Annual FIS Freestyle Ski Worldcup Competition, Tazawako ski resort is located at the base of Mt. Komagatake and offers great vertical and great views of the deepest lake in Japan.

On day 8, after another full day of skiing, head to Geto Kogen, one of the snowiest resorts in Tohoku. For the final two nights, you'll be staying in a Ryokan (Japanese Inn) at the base of Geto Kogen (10 min shuttle to ski resort) .

Day 9-10 Ride Geto Kogen

Geto gets a massive amount of snow, sometimes outperforming all other resorts in the country. Geto offers marked side-country runs and unmarked backcountry for the adventurous, as well as standard groomers.

Day 10 

After skiing, pack up and transfer to your drop off point of Kitakami Train Station.

Lodging

Geto Kogen

Semi Onsen Ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. This Ryokan boasts 3 different hot springs inside the hotel; each offering their own respective health benefits.

In traditional Ryokan fashion, the beds (known as "futons") are laid out on the straw tatami mat floors. All food prepared at this Ryokan is locally sourced authentic Japanese cuisine with options for the less adventurously inclined.

Staying in a Ryokan can be intimidating for the inexperienced, but you're in luck. Our host will be there to orient you for this deep-dive experience into Japanese culture. Rooms have private toilets and sinks; bathing facilities are shared amongst all Ryokan patrons.

This Ryokan is located a 15 minute shuttle bus ride to Geto Kogen. The shuttle is free and runs a regular schedule.

Tazawako: Tazawako Lake Resort & Onsen

This hotel is located a 12 minute shuttle ride from the Tazawako resort base, and offers a hybrid Japanese/Western fusion accommodation experience.

Rooms are western with a tasteful decor that features elements of both Western and Japanese sensibilities providing a soft landing into the local aesthetic for the uninitiated.

The shuttle to the ski hill is on an "on-demand" basis and is flexible with your schedule.

Hachimantai Mountain Hotel

Nestled at the bottom of Mt. Iwate, this hotel is ski-out to Panorama resort and connected to Shimokura by a 10 minute free shuttle ride.

Located in the skier playground of Hachimantai, Indy Pass holders can ski at Panorama and Shimokura for free, as well as receive discounts on backcountry guiding, cat skiing and even pop over to Appi Kogen Resort which is connected to this hotel by bus service.

All of the accommodation includes hot springs, Wi-Fi and en-suite restrooms.


Large deluxe rooms

Modern dining area

Beautiful onsen

Aomori Spring (nights 1&2 of 10 day trip)

The ski-in/out Rockwood Hotel at Aomori Spring Resort offers 3.5 star deluxe western style accommodation. This lovely hotel offers views to the Sea of Japan in one direction and Mount Iwaki and the national park in the other.

All rooms feature en-suite bathrooms and showers. Breakfast and dinner is a variety buffet featuring both Western and Japanese options.

2025 Rates, Inclusions & Add-Ons

Rates

Days  Nights   Ski Areas  Meals  Price p.p. Before Aug 31 Price pp After Aug 31 
 8 including lift passes  7  5  14  ¥TBD  TBD
 8 without lift passes  7  5  14  ¥319,000  ¥359,000
 10 including lift passes  9  6  18  ¥TBD  TBD
 10 without lift passes  9  6  18  ¥379,000  ¥419,000
  • Based on twin share
  • Base / invoice price is in Japanese Yen
  • Price includes 13% tax

Inclusions
  • 7 or 9 nights accommodation Japanese, Western & fusion stay experiences, all of which feature in-hotel hot springs
  • 14 or 18 authentic and delicious daily breakfasts and dinners provided by your accommodation which serves Japanese, Western and fusion menu items all with the attention to detail that Japan is so famous for
  • Lifts passes for each resort visited or use your Indy Pass and get this discounted from the tour price
  • Door to door private vehicle transportation from the start and end points of the trip beginning with AOJ Airport/Shin Aomori Train Station and ending at KItakami train station with direct access to Tokyo or points north like Hokkaido
  • Transport provided by private vehicle, shared with other Indy Passers for major legs of the journey. Hotel shuttles are provided for the two non ski-in hotels
  • Guest services - you're in good hands. You'll receive a bilingual support number--if you run into a problem on your trip, the bilingual staff will be on call to help you out
Add-ons
  • Avalanche safety gear rental (beacon, shovel, probe)
  • Guiding ($inquire)
  • Cat skiing in the Hachimantai area (available for reservations separately)
  • Single rooms for solo travellers
Not Included
  • FLIGHTS: International flights in/out of Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) & onto HNA - book flights here
  • TRIP INSURANCE: Highly recommended, as all subsisting costs will be charged in case of absence. Payment by credit card, Visa Premier or Gold MasterCard, may provide cancellation insurance. Check your contract. - buy online here
  • POWDER SKIS & POWDER BOARDS: It is highly recommended for maximum enjoyment that you have appropriate skis and snowboards for deep, deep powder
  • TRAINS: to & from Morioka & Aomori, JR Pass
  • Transportation logistics to/from the pickup and drop off locations for this package
  • LUNCHES, DINNERS & DRINKS: only those meals stated above are included in the price

Japan Ski Tours Terms & Conditions

22/23 Season Updated Booking Policy

Updated February 20th, 2022:

We understand that due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, you may be experiencing some concern and uncertainty with regards to your `22-23 winter travel plans. JST will continue to offer flexible booking options so you can book your ski trip with confidence. The following COVID-19 terms and conditions will apply to bookings for the ’22-23 winter season.

Booking policy for the '22/23 winter season:

A ¥40,000 refundable deposit will secure a reservation on any of the JST products. This deposit is fully refundable until August 31, 2022 for any reason, and may be further extended.

On September 1, the card on file will be charged 50% of the remaining balance due, with the final balance charged on November 1.

Failure to receive balance payments by September 10 and November 10 respectively, will result in cancellation of the reservation which will then be subject to our standard cancellation policy (see below).

From September 1st, all bookings are to be subject to our standard terms and conditions or by our COVID-19 exclusive policy (see below).

COVID-19 exclusive policy:

If a COVID-19 travel ban is in effect, prohibiting international travel to and from Japan or to and from your home country, or if a mandatory quarantine is required after arrival into Japan or upon return to your home country:

Up to 30 days prior to your ski trip start date the following applies:

You may cancel and receive a refund minus the service fee of ¥10,000 per person;

or you may receive a 100% trip credit towards a future JST trip, with no service fee applied.

Less than 30 days before your JST trip start date the following applies:

You may cancel and receive a 50% refund with a 50% cancellation fee.

or you may receive a 75% trip credit towards a future JST trip, with a 25% cancellation fee.

Due to the substantial time and financial investment required in getting our trips prepped for winter, sudden cancellations even under Covid related circumstances will incur the above mentioned cancellation fees.

Terms of Agreement & Policies/ Booking Information

Please carefully read the policies below before you make a reservation.

Cancellation

Once we receive written notification that you are canceling your trip the following fees will apply. Of the total price of the reservation, a fee of 25% will be charged for all cancellations made more than 4 months before the start of your trip. Cancellations made between 2 and 4 months prior to the start of your program will be charged a 50% fee. Cancellations made with less than two months of advanced notice will not be refunded. Unfortunately, due to the time-sensitive nature of our business, and the difficulty in re-booking a trip close to the departure date, we cannot make exceptions to this policy.

Japan Ski Tours cannot be held responsible for snow conditions. Trips cannot be cancelled or amended on the basis of snow conditions. No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave a tour for any reason after the tour has begun. Refunds will be at the discretion of JST if you are involuntarily forced to leave a tour for any reason. No refunds will be given for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals, services, lift tickets or any component of the tour not utilized.

Responsibility and dependence on suppliers

JST acts only as an agent for the other companies providing or offering accommodation, lift tickets and other services and as such has no control over any services or products provided by these supplying companies. All bookings made are subject to the booking terms and conditions under which these services are provided. JST and its suppliers reserve the right, without liability or right of compensation, to prohibit or restrict any activity, or cancel or alter any service or itinerary component, without notice. JST will not be held responsible for the inability of the suppliers to comply with any special request relating to age, medical conditions, physical ability or disability, dietary requirements, allergic conditions, smoking or non-smoking accommodation.

Cancellation by JST

JST reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, including a confirmed tour, due to circumstances beyond our control. If this occurs you will be given the option of changing to another tour or receive a full refund. JST is not responsible for any incidental expense you have incurred as a result of your booking. If you choose and alternative tour and it is at a lower value than your original tour you will be refunded the difference. If the alternative tour is of a higher value then you will pay the difference in price.

What Storm Chasing means

While we do "storm chase" as much as possible, we are constrained by the limitations of our itinerary and hotel reservations. There may be instances where we have to leave our base accommodation and move to the next area as soon as a storm is coming in. If you're not willing to run the risk that the timing of the itinerary might not work with the storm systems during your trip, your best bet is to rent a Camper Van and travel around in real-time with the storms. Since our trips aren't Camper Van based, we'll be following our itinerary as described on our website and storm chasing within those limitations.

Change of Date

Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at anytime up to 2 months prior to your departure date. Date changes made between 2-3 months prior to the tour will be charged a ¥15,000 fee per person. A ¥10,000 fee will be charged per person for all date changes made more than 3 months prior to the tour.

Medical and Emergency Evacuation Insurance

Due to the inherent risk involved in alpine pursuits, and in the interest of your safety, Japan Ski Tours strongly recommends all participants to bring insurance that provides full medical and emergency evacuation coverage. Japan Ski Tours will NOT provide insurance for participants on any JST tour. If a participant does not have proper insurance documentation he/she will be liable for her own medical and emergency evacuation expenses and will receive no refund, date change, or any kind of compensation from Japan Ski Tours. Please take this seriously and lean on the side of caution.

Hazard Management and Skier Responsibilities

Managing risk is JST’s number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent to sidecountry pursuits (e.g. avalanche, inclement weather, tee-accidents, rock fall, and high winds) but they cannot eliminate them.

Please clearly understand that skiing in bounds and out of bounds is an inherently hazardous sport and both actions are only undertaken with the full knowledge and consent from the participant that these are inherently dangerous activities. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which skiers have been injured and worse. While these accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge that risk, and make their own choices about whether or not to engage in this activity. We ask that each participant is physically and mentally fit, is properly attired and equipped, and continues to assess him/her-self throughout the tour to ensure as safe a time as possible. We ask that participants honestly and accurately describe themselves, in terms of fitness, health and skills, and their equipment to their guides, and that they adhere to the advice of their guide.