Terrain, ability and group
You should be in good shape and confident in deep powder, trees, and varied terrain. Participants should be comfortable descending ungroomed advanced runs without hesitation. Snowboarders should be able to maintain speed on flats, hold a solid traverse line, and maneuver smoothly. Ideally, guests will have some ski touring or splitboarding experience, but if not, you should be fit enough to hike 10 km (6 miles) with a 10 kg (22 lb) pack as a gauge of your physical ability. We’ll use ski lifts to gain elevation, with daily touring of 500–1,000 meters (1,600–3,300 feet) spread over multiple short uptrack climbs.
With backcountry touring access from eight ski resorts across Hokkaido, we use the lifts purely to gain elevation before heading out of bounds for a full day of skinning and touring—this is deep-in backcountry, not lift-lap sidecountry.
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
- Max group size
- 6 guests
- Guiding
- Two guides on every trip — led by a certified IFMGA/ACMG Ski Guide, supported by a fluent Japanese-speaking assistant guide
Package
Included
- Support 2 full-time, certified, PowderQuest backcountry guides
- private 4x4 van
- lift tickets
- Accommodations comfortable lodging with private bath. (Rooms in Japan are often smaller compared to North American lodging.)
- Meals daily breakfast
- all dinners, hosted by your guides at select restaurants in Otaru and Furano
- local beer and sake at dinner
Not Included
- arrival and departure to Otaru/from Furano. See FAQs tab for details.
- travel insurance
- lunches
Accommodation, travel and itinerary
Accommodation
Otaru: We have a selection of comfortable 4-star hotels all within walking distance to the city’s famous Otaru Canal, shopping district and the Otaru City Art Museum. All rooms come with a private bathroom.
Furano: We hand-picked comfortable, 4-star Furano Hotels. All hotels feature similar décor and amenities; comfortable bedding, private bathrooms, Japanese onsen bath, and social areas to relax and get to know your group. Rooms are shared, twin-bed set-ups. Larger double beds for couples or single room upgrades are available.
Getting There
Fly into Hokkaido's Chitose airport (CTS). Most flights to CTS are via Tokyo on a domestic connection or internationally via Hong Kong. From CTS, take the airport train direct to Otaru Station. Our hotel is a 3 minute taxi ride from Otaru Station or a short 10 minute walk.
The trip ends in Furano. For the best selection of ground transfer options back to the CTS airport from Furano, please schedule return flights out of CTS after 12:00pm (for domestic) or 1:00pm (international).
Itinerary
- Day 1Arrival day to Otaru. Evening meet-and-greet with welcome dinner.
- Day 2-3Hokkaido backcountry out of Sapporo Kokusai, Teine, Kiroro and a few lesser known zones
- Day 4More Hokkaido Backcountry. Travel to Furano.
- Day 5-7Backcountry powder chasing out of the Furano resort and surrounding ski areas
- Day 8Sayonara Hokkaido
Dates and prices
| Dates | Season | Duration | From | Availability | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4 – Jan 11, 2027Calendar row "4-11 | Hokkaido Backcountry Tour | $5595 | Trip Full". | 2026/27 | 8 days | 5,595 USD$5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath; optional private room $1095 (limited availability) | Sold Out | Book on company website |
| Jan 12 – Jan 19, 2027Calendar row "12-19 ... Trip Full". | 2026/27 | 8 days | 5,595 USD$5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath; optional private room $1095 (limited availability) | Sold Out | Book on company website |
| Jan 20 – Jan 27, 2027Calendar row "20-27 ... Inquire"; the legend defines Inquire as "contact us to explore availability or options". | 2026/27 | 8 days | 5,595 USD$5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath; optional private room $1095 (limited availability) | Private Inquiry | Book on company website |
| Jan 28 – Feb 4, 2027Calendar row "28-4 ... Trip Full". | 2026/27 | 8 days | 5,595 USD$5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath; optional private room $1095 (limited availability) | Sold Out | Book on company website |
| Feb 5 – Feb 12, 2027Calendar row "5-12 ... Trip Full". | 2026/27 | 8 days | 5,595 USD$5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath; optional private room $1095 (limited availability) | Sold Out | Book on company website |
| Feb 13 – Feb 20, 2027Calendar row "13-20 ... Trip Full". | 2026/27 | 8 days | 5,595 USD$5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath; optional private room $1095 (limited availability) | Sold Out | Book on company website |
| Feb 21 – Feb 28, 2027Calendar row "21-28 ... Book Now"; the legend defines Book Now as "open for booking". | 2026/27 | 8 days | 5,595 USD$5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath; optional private room $1095 (limited availability) | Available | Book on company website |
Prices, taxes and fees, required extras, inclusions, availability, and booking terms can change. Confirm the current price and trip details on the company website; source last reviewed September 2, 2026.
Good To Know
Is this "sidecountry"? What does backcountry touring with lift access actually mean? No, this is true backcountry touring, and the difference matters. On our trips, the lift does one thing: it saves you the long, low-elevation approach and drops you up high so the real touring can start sooner. From there you'll skin, climb, and earn your descents under your own power—expect 500–1,000m (1,500′–3,000′) of climbing on a typical day. Ski touring or splitboard gear and the fitness to match are required.
What skis / snowboard should I bring? Skis with a waist width of 105-120mm + touring bindings + synthetic skins cut for your skis. Snowboarders need to bring splitboard + touring bindings + synthetic skins cut for your board.
When is the best time to come for good snow? All trip dates are scheduled during the highest chance of experiencing deep Japanese powder. January and February are the 2 prime months to visit.
How much currency should I bring for extras like lunch etc.? While most of your expenses are covered, plan on around USD $15–$25 per day for lunches and snacks.
Pricing Details: (in USD) $5595 per person, shared twin room with private bath. Optional private room: $1095 (limited availability). Deposit: 25% to confirm your reservation. Final balance due 90 days prior to departure.