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Hokkaido's 3 Volcanoes

Volcanoes, powder, hot thermal springs and sushi. This is a Japanese backcountry experience which will tantalize the senses.

Starting on the coast in the Niseko area which was voted one of the world’s snowiest resorts, we will spend four days skiing some of the area’s dormant and not so dormant volcanoes. We then travel inland to the Daisetsuzan National Park which is Japan’s largest national park for 3 days where we cap off the trip by skiing the highest volcano in Hokkaido.

Staying in traditional hot spring lodges in the mountains you will experience the Japanese culture of hot-spring bathing and delicious Japanese cuisine, staying in private rooms with tatami flooring and futon bedding.

This has all the makings of a truly memorable Japanese backcountry ski and snowboarding journey and one we hope you can join us on.

THE AREA
Niseko is in the west of Hokkaido and is renowned for huge accumulations of snow and for exceptional tree skiing.

The Daisetsuzan National Park is in Central Hokkaido and contains the highest peaks in Hokkaido that average 2,000 meters of alpine and tree skiing. Low humidity levels produce some of the lightest consistency powder in the world.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
In order that participants are of similar abilities we have rated this trip with Ski Ability and Backcountry Levels.

Ski Ability 4 Backcountry Level Easy
To make the most of your trip we recommend that you have a good level of aerobic fitness.

TERRAIN AND SNOW
A combination of alpine and tree skiing, although we will often be skiing in the glades due to frequent storms. Expect to be skiing verticals of 500 to 900 meters. The Hokkaido snowpack is deep and generally very stable.

DATES (2011)
Thu Jan 27- Sat Feb 5

GUIDE TO GUEST RATIO
1:6 or (maximum 10 guests with 2 guides)

PRICE
257,000 yen

INCLUDED IN PRICE Click here

BOOKINGS Click here

EQUIPMENT
Touring and avalanche safety equipment for skiers and snowboarders.

ACCOMMODATION
Guests will be accommodated in twin rooms at traditional Japanese pensions which contain hot springs. Breakfast and dinner is included.

INFORMATION PACKAGES
• Pre-trip Information Click here
• Hokkaido's 3 Volcanoes Click here

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Jan 27)
From Sapporo’s Chitose Airport you will travel to Niseko and check in to the mountain hot springs lodge which will serve as the base. Located in the center of the Niseko volcanic group of mountains, the lodge sits next to a boiling volcanic pond. The lodge’s hot springs are famous in the area with 11 outdoor baths in total and even a volcanic mud-bath.

Day 2 (Jan 28)
The first day we will be utilizing the lifts to access the ski resort boundaries to sample some of Niseko’s famous powder. Niseko averages approximately 16 meters of snowfall per season and our skiing is often in widely spaced silver birch trees. From the tops of the cone shaped mountains there are stunning views of the Sea of Japan.

Day 3 (Jan 29)
Today’s backcountry tour is a circuit of the Niseko Mountains and finishing at our mountain lodge.

Day 4 (Jan 30)
We travel to an isolated backcountry destination today which sits closer to the ocean than Niseko and gets even more accumulations of snow. We finish in the area’s hot spring that has a luxurious falling water bath. There is also a natural mist sauna which uses the steam from the hot springs.

Day 5 (Jan 31)
The last day’s plan for this area is to climb Mt Yotei, the ‘Fuji San of Hokkaido,’ the first of our volcanoes. It is a huge cone shaped mountain that rises from just above sea level to 1,898 meters and is 9th on the list of ‘Hyakumeizan,’ or Japan’s 100 most famous mountains. If we are lucky and have a fine day you will be able to climb to the rim of the crater before descending the longest vertical in Hokkaido.

Day 6 (Feb 1)
Travel day. We travel to Daisetsuzan National Park for the next three days where we will be based in another hot springs pension located at the highest drive-able point in Hokkaido. The Ainu who are the indigenous people of Hokkaido refer to these mountains as ‘Kamui Mintara,’ or the ‘Playground of the Gods.’ There is amazing backcountry skiing right outside the front door and an outdoor spring that has superb panoramic views of the mountains.

Day 7 (Feb 2)
Today’s backcountry tour is to some of the finest tree skiing in Hokkaido and a favorite for Central Hokkaido’s backcountry community. It is an area that has been immortalized in magazines with pictures of skiers and snowboarders all trying to keep their heads above the snow.

Day 8 (Feb 3)
We ski the front side of the Daisetsuzan Volcano and if you are brave enough a highlight is to touch the volcanic steam that billows out of its great vent. The day will finish with a soak in a forest hot spring which is reputed to have healing qualities.

Day 9 (Feb 4)
Our last day we travel to the third of our volcanoes which is Asahidake in the northern part of Daisetsuzan National Park. It is the highest mountain in Hokkaido at 2,290m and another member of the Hyakumeizan. On clear days you can see plumes of white smoke billowing from its many vents. A cable-car gives lift access to the tree line providing for 600 meters and then a 700 vertical meter ascent to the roof of Hokkaido.

Day 10 (Feb 5)
Transfer to Asahikawa Airport.