Rishiri Island and Hokkaido ski touring in Japan (9 days)

Join Azimut, a certified mountain guide, for this scenic, varied and exciting 9-day Rishiri and Hokkaido ski touring adventure. Each day, we will head out to a different mountain and enjoy some great skiing before returning to the hotel and stopping at a local onsen.

Group

Hokkaido

9 Days

Feb, Mar

High

Intermediate

Highlights

Enjoy the stunning scenery on Hokkaido and Rishiri islands.
Ski the high-quality and plentiful powder of northern Japan.
Visit local hot springs after most of our skiing days.

Description

Home to some of the highest-quality snow on earth, a Hokkaido ski touring trip is the perfect way to spend your spring.

Over the course of our 9 days together, we will head to a variety of different spots on both the main island of Hokkaido as well as Rishiri, enjoying plenty of diverse and incredible views while getting the chance to ski the meters of dry and high-quality powder.

Each day, we will get up and head to our skiing destination. Sometimes we can ski right from the hut, other times we will transfer by private van.

Once we’ve arrived at our destination for the day, we will skin or hike up to a nearby summit or main ridge line, enjoying the incredible views of both islands as well as out over the sea. From the summits, we will enjoy 500 to 1,000-meter descents back to the valley below.

Each evening, as we return back to our accommodation, we will visit local hot springs, known as onsens. Here, we will get the chance to soak a bit and unwind before heading out skiing again the following day.

Among the many highlights of the trip will be when we visit Asahidake. At 2,290 meters in elevation, it is the highest point on Hokkaido. Both the views from the top and the ride back down will be phenomenal fun.

So what are you waiting for? Book now for this unforgettable 9-day Hokkaido and Rishiri ski touring adventure!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Transport during the trip
Avalanche equipment

Price details

**The price includes:**
Trip arrangements & organisation upon arrival
Minibus transfers from Wakkanai airport to Asahikawa airport
Ferry tickets
3* hotel accomodation and breakfast for nights on days 1, 5, 6, 7 & 8.
half board accomodation in homestays on days 2, 3 & 4 including picnics.
Safety & rescue equipment training/reviewing.
Certified and expert mountain guide services for 9 days (all his expenses are included: meals, accomodation, transportation, ski lift fares)
Safety & rescue equipment sets are provided (tracking device, shovel and probe), if you don't have your own gear.
AZIMUT welcome pack.
**The price does not include:**
Flights from your home place to the place where we meet up.
Ski lift fares.
Equipment rental if required.
Lunches & dinners on days 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, all drinks at meals and personal extras in the hotel.
Your personal insurance.
All expenses not mentioned under the section "the price includes".
A 30% deposit, as well as the insurance cost if you choose to subscribe the latter, is required to secure your booking. You will receive a reminder email 35 days prior to departure for the outstanding balance that is due latest 30 days prior to departure.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

You will take a plane from Furano to Wakkanai Airport, and from there, transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Rishiri

We will transfer to Rishiri and spend the day skiing near Oshidomari, visiting a local hot spring on the way back to the homestay.

Day 3: Rishifurai

We will transfer to the west of the island and ski on the flanks of the volcano. On the way back, we will visit another hot spring.

Day 4: Oniwaki

We will spend the day skinning out of the village and up onto the southern ridge of a nearby summit. From here, we will ski back down toward the sea and return to the homestay.

Day 5: Transfer to Furano

We will return to Hokkaido in the morning and drive to Furano (4 to 5 hours). Once here, we will enjoy the hot springs and have the evening free.

Day 6: Mount Ashibetsu (1726m)

We will spend the day skiing on the forested slopes of the nearby Mount Ashibetsu.

Day 7: Asahidake volcano (2290m)

We will transfer to Asahidake and climb to the summit of the volcano, the highest point on Hokkaido, before skiing back down. On the way back to the hotel, we will visit some local hot springs.

Day 8: Kamui

We will head to Kamui and spend the day skiing and hiking on its slopes before returning to the hotel.

Day 9: Departure

We will transfer to Asahikawa and drop you off at the airport.

Details

More info

Please contact me for a complete equipment list.

Meeting point

Wakkanai Airport (WKJ)

Equipment you will need to bring

Crampons

Ice axe

Water bottle

Backpack

Helmet

Poles

Ski equipment

Sunglasses

Goggles

Avalanche eqmnt

Equipment rent on site

Climbing skins

* 1 litre flask (Thermos or Camelback) * Pocket knife * Duck tape * Suncream, UV factor 50 * Duffle type bag holding up to 90 litres to leave at the hotel or in the vehicle. No suitcases. * Slippers recommended for evening wear * Ski socks

About the guide

Azimut

4.2

(15)

Mountain Guide

We enjoy very much discovering and rediscovering the most beautiful spots in the world, in the Ecrins mountain range but also all around the planet.

Together with the guides in the team, we will share with you unique moments and an amazing journey. From les Ecrins to Chile, from Morocco to Greenland, from Les Gorges du Verdon to Japan, from Italy to Norway… tons of destinations offering all types of mountain activities, different every season. It makes us so happy when I can share them with my friends and clients.

Languages

French | English

Request more information

What people are saying about Azimut

Thierry

Awesome experience, knocked another item from my bucket list.

Yogesh

Well organised trip with excellent guides and admin support Highly recommend 😊

jozsef

The Guide did not even know I'am on splitboard. Everyone else was on skis, I was the only one on board. Guide has no experience on board, so the daily trips was designed for skiers, not borders. I would like to know which company is responsible putting me in a ski group, Azimut or Explore-Share? If you don't know the difference between what is doable with skis and splitboards, you would not sell trips for splitboarders! In the only day I could enjoy somehow, I did very hard time to stay on my feet on icy steeps, because I should have had a crampon, but I did not have it, because the list of necessary equipment does not mention it. All the skiers had one. The guide anyway did what he could to help me, all the respect for Rafael. But the whole trip was a fuckup for me that way. I really want to know who is responsible!?

Yelena

the trip did not correspond program description which forced me to leave on the second day, with huge financial losses. the guide checked and confirmed ny capabilities to ski - indeed after it was failed off road asked me to make a decission to give up. When I asked the agency to organize a transfer at least back to the meeting point (from the middle of nowhere) they pretended they can't do it (indeed, it was included to the program...) the worst every trip in my life. And explore and share instead of any invistigation simply did not care.

Raphael

Had a great trip. Unfortunately the guide was not fluent in English as written in the description. That is something that could lead to a very tricky situation if there would‘ve been a dangerous situation. The selection of the group by azimut was not the best as at least one person was physically not capable of doing this trip. However, the service by explore-share was great!