Island Powder Explorer Tour: Tohoku-Aomori-Otaru

Why ski one island of Japan when two islands are better?! Ski the famous deep snow of Hokkaido, explore the culture of two islands, and ferry over the Japanese sea to Honshu to experience the deep uncrowded areas of Aomori in Tohoku. From small unknown resorts to volcanoes to untouched backcountry areas, this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

On the Island Explorer Powder Ski Tour, the Le Grand Adventures guides lead guests on an exploration of the resorts and backcountry that surround the Otaru and Aomori regions with a side trip via Hakodate (southern tip of Hokkaido).

The trip starts at the New Chitose Airport (or nearby hotel) where the guides will meet you and transfer you to Otaru, one of the best powder zones in Hokkaido. This is a second home for the guides as they have spent years in this area and their local knowledge of the ski areas, backcountry spots and amazing restaurants/ bars in Otaru is second to none. This area constantly delivers deep snow and was recently featured in Powder Magazine with the guides. In Otaru, the group will have great access to five ski areas and a lifetime of sidecountry/backcountry zones within a short drive that offer incredibly deep consistent snow.

From Otaru in the middle of the trip, we transfer to Hakodate for a night to explore this incredible coastal town on the southern part of Hokkaido. The history, culture and food in this region is very unique as it combines old and new worlds in Japan.

In the morning from Hakodate, we ferry over the Tsugaru Straight to the northernmost city of Honshu, Aomori. On Honshu the group will spend a couple of days at Aomori Spring Resort. Its location provides a consistently deep and cold snowpack as well as untouched backcountry skiing with little crowds. This area receives an incredible amount of snow and has been nicknamed the holy grail of powder skiing in Japan.

The final 2 nights will be based in downtown Aomori so you get to experience this rich cultural city. You will ski nearby resorts and the legendary Hakkoda area that is well known for the snow monsters and deep, deep backcountry skiing routes. Enjoy exploring nearby temples, amazing onsens, shopping for gifts, funky and cool coffee shops and experience the unique energy that downtown Aomori has to offer.

NB the 2nd tour runs in reverse direction.

The Riding Experience

The Otaru area is well known for having some of the deepest snow on average every year and the guides know the area very well. There is always powder to be skied! From perfect birch tree glades to deep powder fields to the long backcountry runs, the Otaru area has something for everyone. Untracked powder awaits you after short lift lines, easy hikes, and secret spots only the guides know. Otaru has great access to 5 ski areas within a 30 to 45 minute drive such as Kokusai, Kiroro, Teine, and Asari, which all offer some incredibly deep consistent snow.

Ski Aomori Spring and explore the resort area and surrounding backcountry. There is lots of fun side country and 15 to 30 min+/- easy ski tours that access a lot of terrain and fresh powder. This area receives an incredible amount of snow and has been nicknamed the holy grail of powder skiing in Japan. Its location provides a consistently deep and cold snowpack. The resort is an all inclusive resort at the base of the mountain and sits above the Sea of Japan. On a clear day the views over the coast line and volcano are stunning. The resort has an incredible breakfast and dinner as well as an outdoor onsen that over looks the town of Aomori and coast. With an average snowfall of 15+ meters or 50+ feet per season, it’s no wonder that these areas are the perfect snow destination. The guides have some secret spots that rarely ever see tracks and have been skiing these areas for over a decade.

This is an advanced guided tour where you'll spend the majority of your time off-piste in the lift accessed side/backcountry of each resort, skiing the birch trees of Japan and the open bowls.

The Culinary Experience

Enjoy daily breakfast at the hotel with a wide variety of food and traditional Japanese breakfast items. The welcome and farewell group dinners are one of our guests favorite times on the trip as the group gets to experience a couple of our favorite restaurants in the area.

With the exception of the hotel at Aomori Spring Resort, the hotels have easy access to all of the nearby restaurants and bars during the week so you can taste the incredible cuisine the area offers. The growth of the area over the last couple of years provides ample selection of small independent coffee shops, restaurants, breweries and sake bars. Visitors have every chance to dive into the local cuisine like never before. Japan, home of amazing fresh sushi, seafood, and delicacies from the sea as well as its traditional dishes of soba, udon, yakitori, curry and more. The seafood quality is known around the world but we bet after trying some of their local specialties you will leave with a whole new respect for Japanese cuisine. Sample a wide variety of local and regional cuisine, from wagyu beef, yakitori BBQ cooked on the table, shabu-shabu, bakeries & coffee shops, incredible curries, and of course no trip to the Japanese isles is complete without a warm and hearty fresh made soba noodle bowl. The guides are happy to make reservations to share their favorites with you.

Gear

We suggest you bring your own ski and backcountry gear if you have it. A ski with roughly a 100mm to 110mm is the best option. If you want to bring a wider pair of skis please feel free or you can rent these if needed. We highly recommend bringing or renting a touring set up as this will allow the group to really ski a wide variety of areas. Having this as a daily set up allows the guides to find the best snow on the resort, quick laps in the sidecountry or going a little deeper into the backcountry. There are also options for ski touring days if the groups wants.

Avalanche safety gear is required for this tour. If you have your own equipment please bring it, or backpacks including a beacon, shovel and probe are available to rent for the duration of your trip.