Central Hokkaido Backcountry Tour
FULLY GUIDED & HOSTED BACKCOUNTRY TOURING
If you are looking for an exploratory style backcountry adventure deep into Hokkaido’s famed Powder Belt – this is it. After years of exploring the majestic Daisetsuzan National Park and nearby backcountry areas, we are now pushing further north into new zones that few have experienced. This tour allows us to visit some of the largest mountains in Hokkaido and a selection of areas truly off the map for most who visit the north island.
NEW FOR 2026 – AN EXPLORATION OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN HOKKAIDO’S DEEP & DRY BACKCOUNTRY POWDER ZONES
For the first 3 nights, you will be based out of Furano which is well placed to explore the southern Daisetsuzan including Furanodake, Tokachidake, Sandan-yama and some close by favourites. This area is home to incredibly dry powder snow and a mixture of alpine terrain and gladed tree skiing with something for all conditions. And just to top it all off, natural mountainside onsens in the area make for a great way to finish a day of amazing powder skiing and riding.
From Furano, we head north to Asahikawa for 5 nights where we will take you into a great mixture of terrain and explore new zones. We’ll be close by to the renowned Asahidake and Kurodake, and also head deeper north into areas off the map to most who visit Hokkaido. We’re excited to be able to provide this great new way for you to spend more days in the Central region and it’s endless backcountry.
Over eight nights and seven days on snow, we’ll be touring far and wide so a high level of fitness and experience touring will be needed. We will be out for multi-run days all under our own leg power to get away from the crowds and explore further.
This tour is fully guided by our most experienced guides on and off the snow as we take you to our favourite backcountry zones and restaurants, sampling local food and sharing the best of the Powder Belt with you.
With 2 guides and a max of 6 people on the tour, you’ll enjoy deep Japanese powder and great daily adventures that you won’t soon forget!
8 NIGHTS | 9 DAYS
from ¥510,000
¥540,000
Start Furano / End Asahikawa
¥510,000
Start Furano / End Asahikawa
Secure your spot with a 20% deposit. See our Terms & Conditions for more information.
4 to 1 max client to guide ratio
6 people max per tour. 3 person minimum
Ability Level: Advanced+ in Powder
Touring gear required and at least several seasons of touring experience, plus a high level of fitness.
THIS IS OUR NEWEST BACKCOUNTRY TRIP FOR THE SEASONED TOURER. AN EXPLORATORY JOURNEY THROUGH CENTRAL HOKKAIDO AND INTO THE NORTHERN REACHES OF THE POWDER BELT
Central Hokkaido Backcountry Tour Details
- Full guided & hosted
- Airport transfer with Resort Liner to Furano
- 3 nights twin share accommodation at Munin, Furano
- 5 nights twin share accommodation at OMO7, Asahikawa
- Sushi welcome meal in Furano
- Welcome & farewell dinner party
- Daily cooked breakfast
- Optional cultural day tour
- Onsen (hot spring) tour
- Whiteroom merch
- Single share accommodation – availability and price on request
- Avalanche gear rental
- Avalanche Awareness Courses – click here for more info
- Lift passes are NOT included due to the flexible nature of this trip and often we will only need 1 ride passes
- 10% discount on our Weston and Moment Ski/Splitboard backcountry rentals
- Add on a pre or post tour travel package – click here for more info
NOTE: Avalanche safety gear is compulsory for all our tours. Please advise us upon booking if you have your own gear or will need to rent.
IS THIS TOUR FOR ME?
ABILITY LEVEL: Advanced+ in powder, several seasons of touring experience, plus a high level of fitness.
You must be able to ski/board the whole mountain in all conditions confidently at speed and have advanced ability in powder, through trees in steep terrain and in variable conditions.
Snowboarders in this level are able to keep speed in flat sections by planning ahead as well as hold a solid traverse line and be able to hop up and manoeuvre in a way as to not slow down the group.
You must have a high level of fitness and be able to tour for around 3-5 hours total per day.
AT/skins set-up or split-boards are required, no snowshoes. You must be experienced using this equipment.
The idea of these tours is to have complete flexibility to seek out the best conditions and objectives on any given day. Some days we will use the lifts for their vertical bump, on other days we will head to secluded locations to hike and explore Hokkaido’s amazing powder filled terrain.
Central Hokkaido
The Daisetsuzan National Park is the heart of Central Hokkaido and home to many of it’s largest mountains. Highlights include Asahidake (active volcano & highest peak @ 2291m), Kurodake, Tokachidake, Furanodake, Sandan-yama and endless additional terrain to explore.
While based in Furano we’ll have great access to the southern zone of the Daisetsuzan (via the highest road in Hokkaido), which is home to some great terrain including wide-open bowls, magical Japanese birch and spruce forests or steep chutes – one aptly named TGR. We may also head further south to explore various options in the more remote Hidaka mountains.
NORTHERN HOKKAIDO
From Horokanai to the West, Nayoro to the North, and Kitami to the East, being based at Asahikawa gives us great access to these less travelled zones. We’ll keep specifics between you and us on the day!
This tour will be run largely by the weather and each day will fit around where the best conditions are. This is the beauty of such a tour.
All Tours – Start Furano / End Asahikawa
DAY 1
(arrival and check-in day)
Upon landing at Sapporo’s Chitose Airport you’ll be transferred by Resort Liner to Furano before your first night at Hotel Munin. That night you’ll meet our team who will run you through the tour, weather and answer any questions you have.
(NOTE: If you wish to organise rental equipment it is advised that you try to arrive with enough time on the arrival day to be fitted – seek advice from your consultant)
DAY 2 – 3
(touring days Furano)
Furano’s location in the centre of Hokkaido means it receives of some the driest snow on the planet. From here we’ll spend two days exploring zones including Furanodake, Tokachidake and Sandan-yama in the southern Daisetsuzan. With many of these peaks being around to 2000m mark we are able to explore some of Hokkaido’s best alpine terrain and excellent gladed tree skiing in super dry snow. Soothing mountainside onsens await us at the end of the day before heading out to eat some of the best local cuisine on offer.
DAY 4
(transfer day)
Time to check out make the transfer north from Furano to Asahikawa. As it is just a short 1hr drive we’ll make a stop to ski on the way. Asahikawa is a large vibrant city and home to many great restaurants and bars which will keep us entertained for the next 5 nights. We be lodging at the excellent OMO7 Hotel in the middle of the city.
DAY 5 – 8
(touring days Asahikawa region)
Using Asahikawa as a base allows us to travel further into the northern zones of Hokkaido into less visited areas. Your guides will choose the areas with the best conditions that day as well as ensuring you stay safe and have fun. Our options will include touring at at Asahidake and skiing lines through the active fumaroles, a hike out the back of Kurodake into it’s stunning alpine terrain, exploring the Horokanai area, or venturing into pure backcountry areas further north. We’re looking forward to showing you zones few get to experience while based here.
DAY 9
(check-out and departure day)
Time to check out and say goodbye to your new friends and transfer to Asahikawa Airport for your flight home.
The following reviews are from our Hokkaido Backcountry Tour which is similar but visits Niseko instead of Asahikawa:
The highlight was the skiing. This is what I was here for and it was everything I could hope for. A dream come true to ski such phenomenal snow and terrain. The guides are your biggest asset. They are excellent in all aspects. Professionals – they know their jobs well. Very competent. Excellent terrain and snow selection. Amazing trail breakers, good pace setters. Excellent educators and leaders. I learnt quickly from them.
I really clicked the most with Timm and Alistair. Of those I spent the most time with Timm. I loved skiing with Timm. He was fast, a machine at trail breaking. He found great lines and gave us latitude to find our own lines within very clear safety margins. His instructions were very clear on where to stop, what to expect. Good predictions on snow conditions and weather changes.
– Ian Smith 2025
All guides were fantastic, I can’t praise them enough. They were everything you expect in professional guides yet they managed to come across as human and caring on a personal level. I’m really impressed.
– Eve Blair 2025
Love the tour concept and going to adventurous mountains. The choice of eating out was fantastic this year. My complements to guides choice. Makes a huge difference at the end of the day.
Tim was very skilled technically with a good sense for good snow.. very safety conscious and highly encouraging to keep the group moving. Alistair is much maturer than his age. Very patient, full of good advice and encouragement. Also had a very good sense for good snow and good aspect. Very good communicator in terms of plan, approach and what to look for.
Sean was technically very good, very relaxed easy but organised manner of approach, good communication skills.
Felt safe with all of the guides. They presented themselves as knowledgeable and organised. All were able to tailor to different clients and styles of touring.
– Payam Max Majed 2025
Tim & Ali were Great! They work well together & with the group. They are fun & relaxed, yet still very attentive to snow safety & slides.
– Laurie Thal 2025
I found the guides really good and excellent knowledge of Hokkaido. They understood we were looking for good snow (powder) and they always found good snow for us with the best terrain.
– Charles Hurtebize 2025
Guides were amazing went above and beyond. Great communication both on and off the mountains extremely knowledgeable in all guiding and mountain aspects. I would find it hard to improve on these guys. Great knowledge on weather and snow conditions in all the different micro climates considering the way the season was. Very impressed.
– Greg Cawthorn 2024
Wow! We were blown away by the knowledge of our guide (Alistair). He did the perfect job of balancing stoke and avalanche safety. If you’re on the fence about booking with Whiteroom, do it!
– Alex Godin 2023
IN FURANO
HOTEL MUNIN
In Furano, we are staying in a brand new boutique hotel located in the middle of Kitanomine close to restaurants and bars. With well-appointed rooms, a sumptuous lounge and a lovely onsen, this Hotel will make the Hokkaido Backcountry Tour a special Japanese experience.
IN ASAHIKAWA
OMO7
Set in the heart of Hokkaido’s second-largest city Asahikawa, OMO 7 is a modern hotel that allows easy access to the range of mountains that ring the city. The rooms at the hotel are large with comfortable twin beds, a seating area with a flat-screen TV and a well-appointed en suite bathroom. The hotel also boasts a large Sauna/Onsen area with two steam rooms in the basement. The lobby area leads on to the hotel’s restaurant that prides itself on its amazing breakfast buffet serving both Western and local Japanese essentials to get your day started, the waffle station is a particular favourite. Facilities also include a large bar and lounge area and a ski tuning and waxing station beside the hotel ski shop. There are countless bars and restaurants just a short walk from the hotel, allowing you to experience all of what Asahikawa has to offer.
Getting to Furano is easy with the included Resort Liner coach transfers. You’ll be dropped meet by the team at Munin and transferred to the hotel. At the end of the tour in Asahikawa we help to arrange transfer by shuttle bus to Asahikawa Airport for your departure flight.
Please ensure you check with your consultant before you book your flights 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.
View our full Terms & Conditions here.
" The highlight was the skiing. This is what I was here for and it was everything I could hope for. A dream come true to ski such phenomenal snow and terrain. The guides are your biggest asset. "
Ian Smith 2025 (Hokkaido Backcountry Tour)
Backcountry Rental
Prefer to leave your gear at home? We now offer our clients backcountry rental with a range of touring skis, splitboards and equipment from Weston, Moment, Tyrollia, Spark R&D, Black Diamond and Mammut.
Our Guides
We take two things very seriously – safety on the mountain, and getting the most from each day. With qualified and experienced guides from all corners of the globe, we’ll show you some amazing places and get you deep into that famous Japanese powder.
