Inter Island Explorer Tour

IN FURANO

HOTEL MUNIN

Your lodging in Furano is at the boutique Hotel Munin, within easy walking distance of local dining and nightlife in Kitanomine. Munin hosts well appointed rooms, a buffet breakfast, convenient drying room, comfortable lounge, and a rejuvenating onsen just perfect for unwinding after a day exploring Furano’s legendary dry powder. Your stay here will ensure a special Japanese experience!

IN OTARU

OMO5

OMO5 opened in January 2022 and is the perfect spot to base yourself for your stay in Otaru. Located in an area with many historical structures and buildings, this city-tourism hotel consists of two buildings: the south wing, a renovation of the former Otaru Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the north wing, designed for functionality and design. OMO5 Otaru offers two types of guest rooms, standard and superior.

The “Standard” rooms are new and functional with modern furnishings and are located in the new wing. The “Superior” rooms are slightly larger with higher ceilings and are located in the renovated Chamber of Commerce building. Walk out the hotel’s front door and you are right in the heart of the historical district of Otaru with the canals and warehouse district close by as well artisan’s studios, cafés, a sake brewery, and a variety of restaurants and bars.

IN KUROISHI

AZUMASHIYA RYOKAN

A lovely accommodation run by a friendly and welcoming family. You’ll feel right at home at this hotel overlooking the river and onsen town of Kuroishi. We have chosen this spot for not only the great food and lovely hosts but also it’s perfect location between Hakkoda and Aomori Springs ski resorts. It boasts a large outdoor onsen, relaxing lounge space and large Japanese ensuited rooms with optional western bedding.

IN MORIOKA

HOTEL GRAND ANNEX MORIOKA

Located right in the centre of town 10 minutes walk from the train station. This hotel is the perfect base in which to explore the city of Morioka as well as having easy access to the surrounding ski areas. You’ll love being in the centre of town with all the great restaurants and bars within walking distance. Each room is comfortably appointed with twin beds and all that you’d expect from a 4 star hotel.

This tour will either travel from Morioka in Tohoku to Furano in Hokkaido or vise versa.

Getting to and from Morioka to Tokyo is best done by train on Japan’s amazing Shinkansen (fast train). Your guides will take care of the transfer from the train station to Morioka Grand Hotel.

Getting to and from Furano is easy with the included Resort Liner coach transfers, as you’ll be dropped close by to Hotel Munin. Please ensure you check with your consultant before you book your flights to/from New Chitose Airport so that they line up with the available transfer times.

Once you’ve booked onto the tour you will receive our Trip Info Brochure packed with loads of useful information to help you plan your trip to Japan.

Day 1 (arrival and check-in day): Upon landing in Tokyo we recommend you take the Shinkansen for a true Japanese travel experience up to the snowy city of Morioka. There you will be welcomed by your guides and driven to Morioka Grand Hotel where you will meet your fellow road trippers over dinner and drinks. Your guide will also will run you through the tour, current conditions and prevailing weather and answer any questions you may have. (NOTE: If you wish to organise rental ski/SB equipment and your tour is starting in Morioka we may be able to ship it down from Hokkaido. If your tours starts in Furano it is advised that you try to arrive with enough time on the arrival day to be fitted – seek advice from your consultant)

Days 2–4 (first snow days): The beauty of staying in the city of Morioka is not only you will be able to enjoy the nightlife of a Japanese city but you will also be able to access multiple resorts, each affected by slightly different weather patterns. Every day your guide will be checking the forecast to see which resort has the best powder conditions. We will be able to choose from Appi Kogen, Hachimantai Shimokura, Tazawako, Getto Kogen, and Shizukushi. Each resort brings something different to your experience with wide-open bowls, chutes, gladed trees, pillows and all-around fun-filled days. There are some great cultural sites and onsens on the way back to Morioka which we may stop at to soak our muscles ready for the next days’ adventure. Each night your guides will take you out to sample the delicious local cuisine and hang at some cool bars.

Day 5: Transfer day – It’s time to say goodbye to the Morioka region and head north to Hakkoda. On our way we may detour to a fun ski area few know about, boasting epic tree lines and road drops off the back. Hakkoda is famous for the epic amounts of snow that blanket the mountain. The terrain is epic and one of our favourites in Japan. The powder is ridiculously deep and as it is further north is dryer too. For the next three nights we will be staying in the family run Hotel Azumashiya, a ryokan style guesthouse with lovely hosts, regenerative onsens, delicious food and the powder of Hakkoda and Aomori Springs a short drive away.

Day 6–7: Hakkoda will blow you away, sometimes literally. Known for its temperamental weather and pea soup like visibility you’ll either have your best day on the trip or one of the toughest. With one Ropeway (Cable Car) taking you right to the top, it is from here where we will enjoy Hakkoda’s epic backcountry terrain. It was mainly built for sightseeing and hiking in summer but stories of epic pow, snow-monsters and endless terrain made it a growing mecca for powderhounds and backcountry skiers. We will also head over to Aomori Springs. This little known resort has some fun powder filled terrain and the terrain off the back lift is Japanese tree skiing at it’s finest. If you have skins the terrain above it extends the fun even further!

Day 8: Transfer/rest day – After a relaxed breakfast and maybe a quick onsen we will drive north to Aomori City for our ferry over the Tsugaru Strait to Hakodate. Hokkaido’s southernmost city was once the first international trading port open to foreigners after the isolationist Edo period (from 1603 to 1867). As such it has interesting Euro-Japanese style architecture in the old part of town along with a large port area, seafood markets and an extinct volcano Mt Hakodate. After some sightseeing you’ll transfer further north to the one of the snowiest cities in Hokkaido, Otaru. Here you will stay at the centrally located OMO5 for the next 3 nights.

Day 9–10: After an awesome breakfast at OMO5 we’ll jump in the van and drive to whichever resort is getting the goods – Kokusai, Kiroro or Teine. During the evenings we’ll wander along Otaru’s canals, and dine in one of it’s great seafood or BBQ restaurants – the sashimi is the freshest and most delicious you will taste in Hokkaido.

Day 11: Time to check out and take the scenic transfer from Otaru to Furano. As it is a 3-4 hour drive this may be your rest day if we didn’t have a rest on the trip from Aomori to Otaru. If so we’ll stop in Sapporo on the way to enjoy Hokkaido’s capital, including the Sapporo Beer Hall or the Snow Festival. If the snow is dumping and you’ve had a rest day previously we can ski a few resorts on the way – Teine, Tomamu or Sahoro. That night you check into Hotel Munin and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Day 12–14: In Central Hokkaido we have five main resorts to choose from: Furano, Asahidake, Kamui, Tomamu and Sahoro. We’ll choose which has the best conditions each day followed by relaxing soaks in the many onsens in the area. Asahidake is one of our favourites, rising 2291m the ropeway does most of the hard work taking us to well above the tree line at 1600m. From there you’ll spend your day exploring the powder-filled ridges and chutes from the lift.

Day 15 (check-out and departure day): All good things must come to an end. It’s time to check out and say goodbye to your new friends. After one last onsen you will check out by 10am and be picked up from the door for your transfer to New Chitose Airport and your flight home. Sayonara and hope to see you again soon!