Backcountry Skiing Japan

Absolutely – it’s one of the best parts of a Japan ski trip. A few days in Tokyo lets you experience a world-class city with vibrant markets, serene temples and gardens, and some of the best restaurants on earth. Sapporo in winter is magical: snow sculptures, steaming ramen alleys, sake bars, and cozy izakayas make it the perfect après-ski city. And if you’re in the mood for something completely different, hop a cheap flight to Okinawa and enjoy a subtropical island getaway – think Hawaii, but quieter and blissfully uncrowded in January and February.

The short answer is yes. Japan is a ski country and there’s plenty of rentals available. But be aware that renting gear like boots is not advised, and in general the selection is sparse and not optimized for skiing uphill. At a minimum we recommend you bring along your own boots, or boots that you’ve rented or used before.

Happo One – with a metre and a half of perfect, blower powder. When it dumps that much, hiking uphill is nearly impossible and avalanche hazard goes sky-high, so we head straight for the lifts. Happo One is one of the best resorts when the snow faucet is wide open. It was so deep that even riding the chairlifts was entertaining – every now and then you’d spot a ski or an arm flailing up through the snow as someone tried to dig themselves out. The turns were so bottomless we had to hunt for the steepest lines and just point the skis straight down.

Easy – Tenjindaira the day after it rained. The rain crust had frozen solid overnight, so Plan B was to climb Mt. Tanigawadake instead. Despite its reputation as “the world’s most dangerous mountain” (mostly from summer hikers getting caught in storms on exposed routes), our day was brilliant: blue skies, huge views – until the last 100 metres, which turned into a full-on whiteout! Apres ski at the base was big steaming bowls of Ramen. Not bad for Plan B!

Most of the ryokan and hotels we use have Western-style beds, so no, not the whole trip. But before you dismiss futons, give them a try! Traditional ryokan rooms have deep closets full of futons, and if you like a softer sleep you can stack several for extra comfort. If you strongly prefer a Western bed, let us know – we can almost always arrange accommodations with the style you’re used to.

Yes, but it pays to be prepared. Many Japanese restaurants are small, family-run operations and may not speak much English, so it’s helpful to carry a card explaining your dietary needs in Japanese (we can help you prepare one). Larger hotels, ryokan, and resort restaurants are usually very accommodating if you give them advance notice. Japan’s food culture is detail-oriented, and when staff understand your requirements, they take them seriously.