TOUR INCLUSIONS

• Fully guided/instructed & hosted
• Airport Transfers
• 7 nights twin/triple share accommodation at Full Note Pension in central Hirafu
• 5 days of guiding/instruction at the following resorts: Niseko, Rusutsu, Moiwa, Kiroro.
• 5 days worth of lift passes at Niseko, Kiroro, Rusutsu, Moiwa, Kokusai and Teine.
• Welcome & farewell dinner party
• Daily breakfast
• Cultural day tour to Otaru
• Onsen (hot spring) tour
• Whiteroom T-shirt

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

• Discounted flights with Qantas
• Avalanche gear rental – $140
• Tokyo stopover/Kyoto cultural side trip
• Accommodation upgrade to Kimamaya Boutique Hotel, M-Lodge or M-Hotel
• Extra nights accommodation & ski days in Niseko or elsewhere

Niseko

Niseko is the apre ski capital of Japan. With a wide variety of bars and restaurants you will have a ball both on and off the snow. Made up of 5 resorts, Niseko is big enough to cater for all tastes. Plenty of beginner and intermediate runs are found side by side with off-piste advanced areas. You pretty much guaranteed reliable, day after day powder skiing and riding in classic tree skiing terrain, long groomers and some wide open alpine.

Moiwa

Moiwa is a little known secret and we’re happy it’s kept that way. Within only 20mins drive from Niseko it’s an amazing little powder paradise with two lifts, amazing trees and awesome back bowls. You’re sure to fall in love with this hill.

Rusutsu

Located only 40mins around the other side of Mt Yotei, Rusustu is another favourite amongst locals getting away from the Niseko crowds for a few solitary turns amongst the trees. It’s modern lift system two mountains and long ridge and tree runs down into gullies will not disapoint even the most seasoned skier.

Kiroro

This gem of a ski resort is located an hours drive from Niseko, yet hardly any foreigners even know about it. With high speed quads, gondolas and some amazing terrain it’s worth the day trip for something different and all that untracked powder that’s our alone.

In Niseko you’ll be staying at the lovely Pension Full Note. It is a Japanese-style Bed & Breakfast located in the center of town, with lovely staff and a warm and cosy country style atmosphere. It has a sunken lounge, fireplace, long communal table where we have our Shabu-Shabu welcome dinner party and daily breaky. We love this place!

More information here…

Arrival/Check-in day – 1st night

Upon landing at Sapporo’s Chitose Airport you’ll be transferred by Niseko Airport Shuttle to the Hirafu Welcome Centre where you’ll be met by our team and then checked into Full Note . That night we’ll host you in the Half Note Bar where you’ll meet our lead guide and managers who will run you through the tour, weather and answer any questions you have. 

(NOTE: If you wish to organise rental ski/SB 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 1
First day on skiing Niseko! Your instructors we spend looking at fundamentals, gear setup, stance, turn shape and turn size and how this affects our speed whilst exploring the Niseko area. At the end of the day we will all enjoy a traditional Japanese meal and a few drinks around the fire.

Day 2
Today we’ll show you how big Niseko is and while we do that we’ll hunt out some powder stashes and explore how we move on the skis/board mainly vertically and rotationally and how this affects turn size and turn shape in various terrain.

Day 3
Depending on how you feel we may either head to nearby Moiwa Ski Area or rest weary legs. Departing in the morning, we will spend the day guiding you through the trees and bowls of Moiwa. This is a great place to really work on those deep powder turns with no one around and terrain for all abilities.

Day 4
If we didn’t have a rest day before you will today as fatigue will have certainly set in. You can chill at the lodge, walk around the streets of Niseko, soak in an Onsen or we can organise cultural experiences or lunch or dinner at one of the great restaurants in the area. We will also offer the opportunity to take a day trip to the seaside village of Otaru via the Nikka Whiskey Distillery or if the Snow Festival is on head to Sapporo by train.

Day 5
Pack your onsen gear and a snorkel as we’ll be heading off to Kiroro today. By now you’ll really be getting the hang of the techniques you need to charge through the pow. This powder gem has some awesome terrain and fresh lines all day.

Day 6
Day tour to Rusutsu Resort. Departing in the morning, we will spend the day guiding you through the trees and gullies of Rusustu. You will now be fine tuning your movements and maybe even look to start hitting some of many natural features in Rusutsu. Time to take it to the next level! Finish with an onsen and farewell dinner party to round off your Hokkaido powder experience.

Day 7
Time to check out and say good bye to your new friends and transfer to Sapporo’s Chitose Airport for your flight home. Or if you are luck continue on to Otaru for our Coastal Powder Explorer add on!

NOTE: This itinerary is an example. The 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.

Loved – Good group of people and down to earth guides. Flexibility of tour to move to the better powders locations. Learning to ski in powder = want to do more. The more the guides spend with the group showing them the local area, cuisine and attractions, outside of skiing, adds to the experience. Highlights – Snow conditions in Moiwa and Rusutsu . Our group and JAPOW! (and being able to ski it eventually/sort of). Improve – Not much to say, maybe, leave earlier in morning for first runs of the fresh stuff 🙂

-Kristian Dunn – 2018

Hi Paul
Thank you for organising this tour. All went well. I did progress my powder skiing, I had never imagined that it would be so much fun. Hard to get back to skiing on Aussie snow.

I can’t praise Leonie enough, she was a good teacher, very organised and helpful, a lively personality. Adam fitted the same picture, I did not ski much with him, but he also was considerate and helpful.
Thanks again
Hanne

Rose Maher

Very helpful before trip. Great guides. Recommended.

Hi Paul

Hope you are enjoying your travels – we were talking with Jen tonight !

Short write up on the Niseko Progression 2015 tour – rate the following out of 5:

• Professionalism                4 – Good organisation of vehicles and venues, briefing on the day ahead, pre-trip advice OK,
• Communication                3 – some confusion while arranging booking accommodation – but all done at short notice so understandable.
• Instructor                            4.5 – Adam was very good at leading the group and particularly at giving technique advice pertinent to each individual – showed empathy

and understanding with each member of the group.  Very pleased to be with him again.

• Progress                              4 – I learnt heaps and reckon I went up a notch or two in ability – both on –piste and in powder.
• Lodging                                                4 – Full Note Pension was appropriate level of comfort and situation near slopes and amenities.  Owners were lovely, staff OK.
• Value                                    4 – appropriate.
• fun factor                            4.5 – highly enjoyable trip.

All the best – and hope to catch up with you sometime either in Japan or Wamberal or maybe even Victoria.

Cheers

Chris