3-day Backcountry Ski in Mt Yarigatake

Backcountry Ski in Mt Yarigatake with a certified mountain guide to enjoy backcountry skiing with fine powder snow for 3 days.

Japan Alps

3 Days

Apr, May

Description

Do you want to enjoy backcountry ski at one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains?

I will take you to Mt Yarigatake (3,180m) for your unforgettable ski experience of granular snow. Mt Yarigatake is located in the southern part of the Hida Mountains of Japan. It is the 5th highest mountain in Japan, and it has no lifts or ski resorts in the vicinity so this is a pure backcountry skiing trip and is also mountaineering as well.

As you know, Mt. Fuji is the most famous mountain in Japan and everybody wants to climb up at least once in the lifetime. Likewise, Mt. Yarigatake is the mountain that all mountaineers crave to peak-hunt. I believe that this tour will be great opportunity to spend the ideal spot for both mountaineers and skiers.

We need to hike up around 5-6 hours in a day, so please make sure that you have good fitness and energy for a long walk. This tour is for the experienced backcountry skier. If you are a beginner, I can offer the regular one day tour.

There might be a photographer joining the group. Even if a photographer doesn’t join the tour, I will be taking photos of the trip.

Technically, this trip is advanced. You need to be able to ski on steep slopes. The altitude difference during the first day is 200-300m and on the second day it’s 1,500m.

You need to be in good physical shape to be able to hike up for 5-6 hours in a day. The total walking distance will be 44km in the round trip. We will ski one third of the whole route.

In particular, you need to have good backcountry / ski touring experience with hike ups in skins / snowshoes.

Did you find this trip interesting? Then don’t hesitate to contact me! It will be a pleasure to guide you in this beautiful mountain.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Personal insurance

Itinerary

Day 1: To Yokoo Mountain Hut

We will enter the mountain from Kamikochi and will end our day at Yokoo Mountain Hut.

Day 2: To Tarigatake Mountain Hut

Today, we will hike up to Yarigatake Mountain Hut (Kata-no-koya: located at the shoulder of Mt Yarigatake around 100m below the peak). And, If the conditions allow, we will ski down Hidazawa or Yarizawa.

Day 3: Glacier Park

We will go through Hyouga Kouen (Glacier Park) and return to Kamikochi. Our tour will finish around 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Details

More info

For groups of over 5 people I will bring a guide friend so we have 2 guides in a group.

Equipment: ski gear (skis, splitboard, snowboard), skins, snowshoes, boots, crampons (with more than 10 points), sunglasses, goggles, gloves, ski clothing, avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel)

You can rent:

Beacon, Backpack, Snowshoes JPY1,000/each
Probe, Shovel, Poles JPY500/each
Full set of the above: JPY3,500 *Poles are not for the skiers.

You can purchase tour photos at the end, which costs JPY5,000 per person for all data and JPY700 if you only want one piece of photo data.

Meeting point

Will be announced after application to the tour.

About the guide

Japan

4.1

(6)

Our team of experienced local guides is dedicated to providing unforgettable ski touring, rock climbing, and hiking adventures across Japan, including some of the country’s most stunning regions like Hokkaido, Sapporo, Yatsugatake, and beyond. With in-depth knowledge of Japan’s diverse landscapes, our guides offer an authentic, expert-led experience in the country’s most iconic alpine areas

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What people are saying about Japan

Jun is a responsible and reliable guide. He is also knowledgeable on the local flora and fauna and managed to show us quite a few interesting alpine flowers, birds and animals. He is kind and helpful and converses well in English. I will not hesitate to recommend him to any anyone needing an English speaking guide in Japan.

As for Kikuo-san, we both really liked her. She is very pleasant. A bit quiet spoken in a good way. She obviously knows the Akan region very well, as she lives inside the national park. She has very responsible and well organised. I would have her guide us again, when we go back to the area.

Vincent

Fantastic region, perfect guide !

Arnaud

Just back from Hakuba –Japan and I’m so pleased to confirm we got such a great experience with Iwao who has provided a service above all expectations. Indeed assisting a family confronted to a new environment requires a certain level of patience and attention and all the family appreciated his sense of responsibilities and seriousness which allowed us to really enjoy this region by experiencing touring, hicking and of course skiing in immaculate powder. Iwao was very discreet but always acted to ensure we could take the best of all Hakuba mountains could offer to us during these 5 days.This experience will for sure remain in all our minds for long and this will be mainly thanks to Iwao ! Best, Arnaud

Arthur

We had a wonderfull ski touring trip with Iwao in Gunma. Iwao brought us in various beautifull landscapes to found very good spring snow. He is a very professional guide that can adapt to clients will and conditions! We had great time sharing our experiences about nature and mountains. The second day, we had a long tour with beautiful views on gunma's region and finissing along a river in an amazing forest. It was great fun to wait the last train in the midel of nowhere at sunset to come back to our village! Iwao has perfectly organised the trip bringing me to nice local onsen, restaurant and hôtel! Wonderfull trip to recommand!