Japan Ski Tours

Overall Rating

Japan Ski Tours

Japan Ski Tours4.8/572
Japan Ski Tours4.8 out of 5 based on 72 reviews
Fjordalp outdoor accessoies & cases for ski & mountain adventurers banner advertising
http://www.powderhounds.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/TourOperators/JapanSkiTours/Overview/01.jpg

Japan Ski Tours

Overall Rating

Japan Ski Tours4.8/572
Japan Ski Tours4.8 out of 5 based on 72 reviews

Japan Ski Tours

Japan Ski Tours is a premium Japan ski trip operator. With Japan Ski Tours (formerly Japan Ski Adventures) you can take the ski road trip of a lifetime to chase the best powder. On your Japanese ski tour or snowboard trip you can also enjoy amazing cuisine, traditional cultural performances, great lodging, and take a dip in a remote onsen. Don’t just ski Japan – feel it! Japan Ski Tours offer different Japan ski and snowboard trips in both Hokkaido and Honshu, that include scheduled group tours and bespoke guiding packages in Iwate.

JST is run by a group of bilingual guides who grew up in Japan. The company began with one single philosophy; that skiers and snowboarders who come to Japan should have more options to easily experience Japanese culture as well as its world famous pow. Japan Ski Tours is part of the Japan Guides Group along with Fuji Mountain Guides.

 Overview of Japan Ski Tours
 Japan Tour Name   Nights  Group   Guiding Terrain Type   Minimum Ability   Region/s
Hokkaido Storm Chaser  6  Mixed  Guided & hosted  Lift accessed  Strong intermediate+  Otaru, Central Hokkaido
Tohoku Storm Chaser  7  Mixed  Guided & hosted  Lift accessed + some ski touring/ splitboarding  Advanced  Iwate, Aomori
Tohoku IndyTrips  7 or 9  Mixed  Hosted  Up to you  Up to you  Iwate, Aomori
Hokkaido Indy Trip  9  Mixed  Hosted  Up to you  Up to you  Otaru, Furano, Asahikawa
Tohoku Guiding  3+  Private  Guided  Up to you  Advanced  Iwate, Akita
Hachimantai Cat Skiing  n/a  Private  Part of multi-day guiding  Snowcat skiing/riding  Strong intermediate+  Hachimantai

Japan Ski Tours (also known as JST) Terms & Conditions

Updated for 24/25 Season

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

Payments

A 50% deposit will secure your reservation. Once the deposit is received, the remaining balance must be paid within two months of the trip departure date. Once we receive your full payment, we will email you a copy of the receipt.

Credit card payments may be made through our secure website via Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

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.

Responsibility and dependence on suppliers

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 trip for any reason after the trip has begun. Refunds will be at the discretion of JST if you are involuntarily forced to leave a trip for any reason. No refunds will be given for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals, services, lift tickets or any component of the trip not utilized. 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 trip prior to departure, including a confirmed trip, due to circumstances beyond our control. If this occurs you will be given the option of changing to another trip or receiving a full refund. JST is not responsible for any incidental expense you have incurred as a result of your booking (i.e., airline tickets, equipment purchase or third party equipment rentals, hotel reservations, etc). If you choose an alternative trip and it is at a lower value than your original trip you will be refunded the difference. If the alternative trip is of a higher value then you will pay the difference in price.

If Japan Ski Tours cancels a trip due to an act of God such as a natural disaster, volcanic eruption, or other unforeseeable naturally occurring event which impedes the safety of our program, the terms under the section, “In the event of an act of God such as a natural disaster, or any other unforeseeable naturally occurring event that destabilizes or otherwise makes skiing unsafe” will apply.

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 trip will be charged a ÂĄ15,000 fee per person. A ÂĄ10,000 fee will be charged per person for all date changes made more than 3 months prior to the trip.

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 trip. 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 trip 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.

In the event of an act of God such as a natural disaster, or any other unforeseeable naturally occurring event that destabilizes or otherwise makes skiing unsafe

Other natural disasters or naturally occurring disruptive events: In the event of any other natural disaster or unforeseeable act of God which makes skiing in Japan unsafe, impedes or cancels transportation or route infrastructure on, to, or from partner ski resorts or Japan, all cancelled clients will receive a 50% refund or a 75% credit towards a future trip when skiing in Japan is made safe again.

Once in a lifetime experience!

Kristian
11/03/2024
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Age
    36-50
  • Ability
    Advanced
  • Rider Type
    Snow Boarder
  • Country
    USA
  • Month:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    3

Once in a lifetime experience!

Kristian
11/03/2024
I did the Hokkaido Storm Chaser trip in February of 2024. I can't say enough good things about the overall experience. The lodging was great and very comfortable. Our guides were very knowledgeable about the area and found powder stashes that I would not have found (or taken me all day to find). They were very flexible and made sure everybody in the group was having a good time without slowing down some of the more expert skiers. The places that they took us for dinner were excellent and gave us a great variety of places and foods to choose from. I really don't have any complaints and would highly recommend this to anybody that wants to experience Japan skiing or snowboarding!
See our video here

JST 10 Day Indy Trip

Paul Schubert
19/02/2024
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Customer Age
    51-70
  • Rider Level
    Advanced
  • Rider Type
    Snowboarder
  • Month Visited:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    4

JST 10 Day Indy Trip

Paul Schubert
19/02/2024
I joined this tour hoping to avoid crowded resorts overrun with foreigners. This tour delivered exactly that and completely met my expectations. The company was a pleasure to deal with and they seem to be really engaged in their work and always acted with integrity. Our host (it is not "guided" as such, rather you are escorted from resort to resort with a host present to make it all happen smoothly), was fantastic. She was knowledgeable, personable, well-organised and fun.

The resorts ranged from very small to mid-sized and I enjoyed each one of them. I found the Tohoku region very enjoyable and interesting. I had been not looking forward to the various bus trips between resorts, but it turned out to be a highlight as the scenery was amazing and so interesting.

The staff at all of the hotels were very helpful and the hotels were comfortable and clean. All of them had onsens and we made use of these every night.

I think the cost is very fair considering it includes all transfers, a host, lift tickets (for non-Indy pass holders) and breakfast and dinner each day, which were generally of excellent standard.

I would not hesitate to book this trip again. Note the schedule is quite demanding but there is opportunity to take a rest day any time you feel like it.
See our video here

Have been twice

04/11/2023

Mike B

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy

Mike B

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Age
    36-50
  • Ability
    Expert
  • Rider Type
    Snow Boarder
  • Country
    Canada
  • Month:
    January
  • Admin Rating
    2

Have been twice

04/11/2023
We have been on this tour twice (2020 and 2023). Snow was low in '20 but we still had plenty of fun, on and off piste, that we came back in 2023. Love the guides and the knowledge they have of all the resorts we visited. Are looking forward to coming back in 2025!!
See our video here

Unbelievable Trip

Cam Bennett
27/06/2023
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Age
    18-35
  • Ability
    Advanced
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Country
    USA
  • Month:
    January
  • Admin Rating
    4

Unbelievable Trip

Cam Bennett
27/06/2023
I had heard plenty about the Japanese skiing experience but never been before this trip, but now I'm a convert - I've already re-booked the same trip for next year. Even setting aside our unbelievable powder luck (at least a foot of fresh every day), the trip was amazing, from the tiny mountain onsen visit, to the fantastic food, to the friendly and professional guides.

One important thing to understand about this trip is that you'll be visiting resorts you would never have discovered otherwise. Most of them are pretty small and a bit dated, with almost no Western visitors, and honestly not that many Japanese visitors either. Coming from Tahoe, where you might sit in traffic on 89 for hours before getting turned away at the parking log, it was pretty crazy pulling up to a resort after it had dumped 18 inches the night before and seeing less than 50 cars in the lot. The upside to all of this is the lack of competition for fresh powder. The combination of the expertise of the guides and the remoteness of the resorts means that you'll ski untracked lines the entire trip, conditions permitting.
See our video here

What a tour!

13/03/2023

Stuart Inskip

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy

Stuart Inskip

Powder Puppy
Powder Puppy
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Age
    36-50
  • Ability
    Advanced
  • Rider Type
    Snow Boarder
  • Country
    United Kingdom
  • Month:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    3

What a tour!

13/03/2023
I feel very fortunate to have stumbled across this tour from a google search, all I knew was that I wanted to get out to Japan to go snowboarding. Travelling on my own I didn't really know what to expect however, I could not have been happier with the outcome. Chris was awesome from the pickup to final day drop off and the guides who joined us along the way were great fun and knew exactly where to find the best snow... the group was well matched and we all got on really well, which you always hope for but was exactly what we got on this tour. I would highly recommend Japan Ski Tours and will definitely be going back!
See our video here

Japan Ski Tours

Stephen Brichant
27/02/2023
  • Recommend
  • Would Revisit
  • Age
    51-70
  • Ability
    Advanced
  • Rider Type
    Skier
  • Country
    US
  • Month:
    February
  • Admin Rating
    3

Japan Ski Tours

Stephen Brichant
27/02/2023
Japan backcountry powder ski trip report sent to Jackson Hole and Mt Hood race group....

Good Morning from Northern Japan…
Just a quick text from Aomori Japan (the snowiest city in the world). where I am finishing an 8 day powder and backcountry ski trip with a Japanese ski tour operator.
Overall the experience has been fabulous, and I cannot recommend a Japan powder ski trip enough. I have never seen so much snow, and in fact we did not have any non snowing days during my 10 day visit. It would regularly drop 12 to 18 inches of fresh cold Siberian snow every night, and after a week of this, I managed to handle skiing two to three feet of fresh powder on every run. The ski areas are not large by Western standards, and few if any runs are groomed. The food is of course very Japanese, with fish and sea creatures part of every meal. Few Japanese in the far North speak English, to include at the hotels, but everyone gets by. Most of the Gaijin (foreigners) skiers were from Australia, with a few Americans and Europeans just behind. Everyone is here for the powder, and backcountry ski touring with a local guide is how most people go about it. I booked my 8 day trip with Japan Ski Tours, and the ski package ran roughly $2700, which included hotels, lifts, snowcat, and the guides.I did end up having to rent some backcountry skis (with skins), since I rarely have the opportunity to for this type of skiing. This type of skiing experience is extraordinarily rewarding, but physically demanding. Show up with an open and adventurous mindset, a good state of physical conditioning, and you will have fabulous ski experience.
I shall see everyone at either Jackson Hole, Mt Hood, or Alta during the next few months…
Sayonara

Stephen
See our video here

Bad Timing, Great Trip!

Chris I Lizza
17/02/2023