Catskiing and Heliskiing in Japan: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

Boasting some of the best powder in the world, Japan is a veritable paradise for heliskiing. Whether you venture an hour outside of Tokyo to the slopes of the venerated Mt Fuji or out west in the Japanese Alps, you’re sure to find plenty of amazing off-piste action.

Hakuba, located in the westermn section of Honshu – Japan’s main island – offers some excellent heliskiing option. From drops onto the 3.000 meter high peaks around Nozawa Onsen and Myoko Kogen to more mild descents in the valley, tiself, there are plenty of great options. Heliskiing, in fact, is one of the best ways to see them all.

Niseko, which is located about as far north as you can go in Japan, also boasts excellent options with Mt Yotei and Sapporo Teine offering plentiful off-piste action and unbeatable views. Heliskiing can get you to both spots in just a single day, too!

Perfect powder

Due to its close proximity to the Sea of Japan, most of the country’s mountainous regions receive plentiful coverings of powder throughout the season. The powder in Hokkaido is rumored to be the best in the world. With an average of 14 meters of it each year covering the ground along with its dry and light texture, it is no wonder powderhounds have been coming here for more than a century.

Skip the climb up

One of the many perks of heliskiing is that you get to avoid some of the tougher uphill parts and just enjoy the fantastic downhill parts. With numerous mountains, each of which boast something a bit different, heliskiing saves you some time and allows you to get more runs on different peaks and terrains.

Stunning scenery

Wherever you head for a heliskiing trip in Japan, you will surely not be disappointed by the scenery. From Hokkaido to the Japanese Alps, there is plenty of natural beauty to see. Heliskiing not only gets you to the top of some of the tallest mountains, allowing you to enjoy views all the way down, but also gives you a bird’s eye view of the landscape on the way there.

During the winter, Japan is quite cold and gets plenty of snow. Temperatures and snowfall do vary, but from Mount Fuji to Hokkaido, it is usually below freezing during the winter. Due to its proximity to the Sea of Japan, most of the mountainous areas also receive plenty of snowfall, averaging 10 to 16 meters per season!

Any trip to Japan begins with a flight into either the Haneda International Airport (HND) or Narita International Airport (NRT). From here, you can take a regional flight or the famous bullet train on to your final destination.

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