New - 5 Resort "Powder Chaser"
Resort skiers looking for some variety and adventure? Our exciting new central Hokkaido 5 resort fully guided tour will open new horizons.
After a two year sabbatical we are very excited about being back in the resort guiding business. There are several reasons for this but ultimately it is simply this. You will find some of the best powder skiing in the world in and around the resorts of central Hokkaido. We have been skiing these uncrowded resorts for thirty years and know where to find the secret uncrowded stashes better than anyone else. On top of that, by joining our experienced guides, you can short cut the learning curve and get straight to the best skiing each resort has to offer. As well as the on piste skiing, we can help you to explore off piste or back of mountain runs in safety. More details.
Which Resorts?
All the following resorts are inlcuded in our 5 resort Powder Chaser. Click on any for more information. Furano, Asahi Dake, Kamui, Nukabira, Tomamu,and Sounkyo.
Tokachi Powder - Simply The Best
The Tokachi mountains are one of the world's best backcountry skiing destinations. The slopes and valleys of this stunningly beautiful range in central Hokkaido are buried deep in dry light powder for most of the winter. We have been lucky enough to have been skiing this almost unknown powder stash for thirty years. We learnt the cream of the runs here by skiing with the old locals who pioneered skiing in these hills 60 to 70 years ago. Our knowledge of these ranges is unsurpassed so why don't you give some thought to putting it on your skiing agenda for 2011?
Tokachi for Resort Skiers? Easy Transitions to the Backcountry
This superb range is not just for dyed in the wool backcountry skiers. If you are a downhill skier with good levels of fitness looking for some new skills and experiences then please give us a call. There are some very simple ways to ease into this great skiing area, Alpine Trekker binding adaptors being just one way you can use your gear to enjoy this superb powder. We can guide you through the gear requirements and resort ski adaptations that suit you & your skill level. Contact us for details.
Recent Press for our Ski Tours
Here is an excerpt from an article published in Issue 16 of The Ski Mag and the June edition of Alpine Style magazine.
The Bottomless Tour - By John Morrell
There is nothing more ephemeral than powder snow and those chasing it know what I mean. We have all been lured to chase the dream. I was thinking about this after yet another day of bottomless Tokachi fluff or “aspurin snow” as the old locals call it.
After nearly thirty years skiing and guiding in this incredible range, it is time to make the big call. The Tokachi mountains have the best powder skiing in the world! “The what?” I hear you say, “The what mountains
The Tokachi mountains located in the centre of Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. But don’t bother scrambling for the best deal on accomodation and lift passes, you see, the Tokachi mountains are backcountry only. No that doesn’t do this range justice, they are backcountry paradise....
See the June edition of Alpine Style magazine for the rest of this article. You can also read about our tours in the July edition of The Snowy Times.
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Feedback from Ski Season 2010
"John Morrell is the consumate Pro, he's being doing his Ski Japan thing for 30 years....... If the lightest, driest, deepest, powder snow in the world doesn't leave you breathless, your simply not skiing hard enough."
Mark Black. (Melbourne Australia) Ski Hokkaido 2010.
"Awesome snow, awesome backcountry and ski fields, awesome accommodation, awesome food, awesome onsens, awesome group and awesome guide of course."
Michael Law Smith. (Canberra Australia) Ski Hokkaido 2010.
"Hokkaido is the land of powder snow. Living up to its name, it snowed every day, at least 10 inches of fresh each morning. Light fluffy snow that coated the trees like white coral…. And blew over your head......John was professional, organized and funny. He broke trail all over the beautiful place and then, much to our guilt, pointed out the best ski shots! The skiing was unbelievable and consistent."
Jane Paine (Salt Lake City Utah USA), Private Ski Trip Tokachi 2010.
Hokkaido or Honshu? Debunking some myths.
"I wish I knew about this before I went to Hakuba." said Mike. Prior to joining us in Hokkaido in February 2010, Mike had twice been skiing at the resort of Hakuba on Japan's main island of Honshu. On neither occasion had he skied any good powder, despite both tours being peak season. In 2010 Mike decided to join our 22 day fully guided Powder Extravaganza in central Hokkaido and it is safe to say, he skied deep light powder for most of those 22 days. He was amazed at the diffrence yet he is not the only skier to sucumb to the incorrect branding of the Japanese ski product. Several other participants on our tours over recent seasons have had similar tales and have also been lulled into thinking Japan skiing means powder, no matter where you go in Japan.
The fact is that Honshu and Hokkaido are two very different ski destinations and you need to consider what your skiing goals are before deciding on which destination to choose. The difference is very simple really. In Hokkaido, you will find powder is the norm, you dont need to chase storms. In Honshu, like most other world wide ski destinations, you will find powder is the exception and storm chasing is the norm. This is not to say there is not some great powder skiing in Honshu. There certainly is at times, but if powder is your main goal, then Hokkaido is your best choice.
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