6-day backcountry skiing in the Hakuba Valley

Scenic Ski Touring on Renge onsen ski tour

Enjoy deep alpine powder skiing in the backcountry of Hakuba in this 6-day adventure, together with a certified mountain guide.

Japan Alps

6 Days

Mar, Apr

Description

Ski the steep alpine terrain of the Hakuba backcountry in the Japan Alps and enjoy its famous hot springs afterwards!

Most winter visitors dream of skiing in the distant off-piste deep powder snow. Now, these less visited areas are accessible with a certified local mountain guide!

I will take you on a challenging 6-day ski tour in the alpine backcountry of the Hakuba Valley. The snow in this area is very deep and popular among backcountry skiers in late winter or early spring. Please take into account that this program is only offered from mid-March to early May (as the Renge hut opens in mid-March).

Renge Onsen and Nakanoyu Onsen

We’ll be staying at two different styles of Onsen accommodations. Renge Onsen, a mountain hut with an outdoor hot spring (‘onsen’) and Nakanoyu Onsen, a ryokan with onsen facilities.

Rest and relax at the end of your skiing day in these wonderful outdoor hot springs!

Renge Onsen is particularly special and unique as it is only open for 4-5 months in a year and only 1 month during winter. March and April are not high seasons so you can explore and enjoy this area on your own with few other skiers! You can also bathe outside whilst enjoying the views of the surrounding snow covered peaks.

Besides, volcanic smoke is visible from the crater of Mt. Yake and it is amazing!

After skiing Mt. Yake, on the way to Nakanoyu Onsen we will walk through a long and dark tunnel with our head lights on. At the end of the tunnel, we will be picked up by the hotel transport. This is the only way to reach this destination!

This trip is a great chance to explore the heart and the wildness of the Japanese Alps. Plus, you can relax and heal your body after skiing!

Price includes

Guiding fee
Mountain guide expenses

Itinerary

Day 1: Ski in Hakuba area

Meet at Hakuba at 8:00 am. One day skiing day around Hakuba to warm up for your ski touring trip.

Day 2: Ski in Renge Onsen area

Over night at Renge Onsen

Day 3: Mt. Yukikura and North part of Mt. Hakuba Norikura

Over night at Renge Onsen

Day 4: Return to Hakuba and move to Nakano yu Onsen

Over night at Nakanoyu Onsen

Day 5: Ski at Mt. Yake

Over night at Nakanoyu Onsen

Day 6: Ski around Mt. Yake

Return to Hakuba after skiing

Details

More info

Excluded from Price:

Ski Lift pass for 2 days ￥5,000 per person (will use ski lift for 2 days during this tour),
Taxi fare around ￥10,000 for group
Accommodation ca. ￥10,000 per person per night

Meeting point

Hakuba at 8:00 am

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!