Experience Packages

We are currently offering our Experiences packages in Niseko, Japan. 

Below is a summary of what is included in our Rhythm Experiences packages: 

• A minimum 3 days of lessons or guiding experiences 

• Any ski or snowboard gear rentals, including backcountry gear rentals if needed

Bundle and book your gear rentals and on-mountain activities in one package - our team will offer expert recommendations to ensure you get the most out of your time in Niseko.

To maximise your on-snow experience and safety, our group sizes are limited to a certain number of guests per instructor/guide. 

If you’re looking to add more guests to your group, let our Guest Services team know! 

Take a look at our skills guide, using that you should be able to give us a rough idea of your level. Don’t stress if you are unsure though, our Guest Services team will be more than happy to have a chat with you to understand where you’re at with your skiing or snowboarding. 

It is important to know that your instructor or guide will always pay the most attention to the person with the least experience or the youngest participant. To ensure the safety of each group we have level recommendations which can be seen below under “What trip would best suit my ability level?” 

• Private Lessons with different level of abilities

There can be a difference of no more than two ability levels between lesson participants. For example levels two and three could take a lesson together, but levels three and five could not.

• Resort Guiding with different levels of abilities

We recommend Resort Guiding products for guests with a Level 4 and above. Please note that some terrain, especially steeper terrain and tree runs, will not be accessible for lower levels. 

• Lift accessed backcountry and backcountry touring with different level of abilities

We require our guests going out in the backcountry to be a level 4 or above. Those riders are able to ride in most of the terrain with confidence.

If you are not a strong intermediate rider, your guide will be limited in where we can take you. Your on-snow experience will instead focus on building your powder skills in less challenging terrain.

Our Niseko Progression, Premium Niseko, Niseko Explorer, and Learn to Ride Experiences all have a standard minimum age requirement of 7 years old. To join our JAPOW Experiences the minimum age requirement is 14 years old, as we will be entering backcountry terrain.

If you do have children under this age, please contact our team who will be stoked to talk you through the options for your young shredders!

Of course, we are passionate about getting children out on the snow young! Please see our recommendations for each age below.

• Ages 6 and under 

Please enquire about options with our Guest Services team.

• Ages 7+

The Learn to Ride Experience 

The Explorer Experience

The Premium Niseko Experience

The Niseko Explorer

• Ages 14 + 

The Japow Experience

The Ultimate Japow Experience

Don’t forget, all our Experiences are customisable! If you’re not sure what is best suited to your family based on your preferences and goals, then please get in touch with our team directly.

We are passionate about introducing children to skiing and snowboarding young. However, due to the physical and developmental differences between children under the age of 7 and adults we are unable to cater to a combined lesson.

• Children aged 6 and under

In order for children under the age of 7 to thrive while learning to ski and snowboard, we recommend that children ages 5 and 6 join each other in a lesson, while children ages 3 and 4 benefit from a 1-on-1 private learning environment.

• Children aged 3 and under

At the moment we do not provide lessons or childcare services for children under the age of 3. 

When booking, please let our Guest Services team know if you have any children younger than 7 travelling with you, we are more than happy to customise your package to meet the needs of your family.

Of course! The mountain is more fun with friends. We can add additional people to your lesson/guide until the maximum number of guests for each lesson or guided tour is reached. Once the maximum group number is reached, we will then need to add another instructor and/or guide to accommodate your group size. 

Adding guests to your booking is also dependent on their age, level of ability and discipline. This ensures that your group will have the best possible on-snow experience with us. 

Our Experiences have been designed and developed to suit every style and level of rider. You can view a summary of who our Experiences are suitable for below.

*Minimum age for The Japow Experience and The Ultimate Japow Experience is 14 years old. Please note that for all of the backcountry products it is required that each participant under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. If you want to book the Japow Experience with your kids under 14 years old please reach out to our tips team to inquire about options.

• The JAPOW Experience. This package is most suited to mixed discipled groups, who are all of a similar age and ability level, and interested in exploring the backcountry. Up to 5 guests may join. 

• The Ultimate JAPOW Experience. This package is most suited to mixed discipled groups, who are all of a similar age and ability level, and interested in exploring the backcountry with complete flexibility to ride where the conditions are best each day. Up to 5 guests may join.

• The Niseko Explorer Experience. This package is well suited to mixed discipline groups, who are all of a similar age and ability level, and interested in exploring a range of resorts. Up to 6 guests may join. 

If you are focused on riding pow but still need a few pointers to stay afloat, we’ve got you covered. Not only do our guides know the area like they’re locals but they are also highly-certified instructors. 

We can tailor your experience to your goals to make the most of your time on the slopes. When you’re booking be sure to give us an accurate idea of your ability level using our skills guide so that we can link you up with the perfect guide. 

Yes, all of the on snow lessons and guiding experiences included as part of our packages are private. 

Our team are all friendly, passionate, highly-qualified snowsports instructors who are all stoked to share their love for Hokkaido and the mountains with you.

All of our Rhythm Rides guides are first and foremost instructors! Our guided products are led by expertly trained, experienced guides, all of whom have a background in teaching snowsports. Many, if not all of them, have spent many winters chasing the Hokkaido powder, with some even staying here year-round.

What does this mean for you? It means not only are you receiving a knowledgeable guide, who is passionate about showing you the safest and most fun ways to experience Hokkaido’s resorts and backcountry, but you also have someone who can provide you with further training and instruction in your chosen discipline.

You will! Your instructor/guide is core to your experience and they will be with you for every on-snow day. Please note, that in exceptional circumstances where your guide/instructor is unfortunately sick or injured we may need to arrange a replacement for you.

Your guide will be with you for the whole day. Depending on where you choose to break for lunch, your instructor or guide may take a break separately and meet you back there at a specific time. If you would like them to join you for lunch, let them know!

All our Experiences are totally customisable, however, the level of flexibility will depend on the package you have booked. If you are looking to maximise your time in Niseko with complete flexibility then we recommend The Premium Niseko Experience for lessons or The Ultimate Japow Experience for guiding. This will provide you with a private vehicle every day of your experience with us providing limitless opportunities of exploring the Niseko area. 

Saying that, we will always do our best to accommodate your requests and if you are comfortable with any additional fees to cover upgrades then we will do our best to make it happen!

Yes, The Premium Niseko Experience, and all our guiding packages are designed to be a full-day and completely flexible depending on your group's preferences and needs. Typically we would recommend starting early at 8:30am to make the most of your day, but we can start as late as 10am if that is your preference.

Our Learn to Ride and Progression Experiences include morning lessons with a 9 am start time. These times are fixed following our lesson operations. 

This depends on the product types you have selected.

E.g: Learn to Ride Experience:

• Standard ski/board equipment rental package (Skiers: skis, poles and boots. Snowboarders: snowboard, snowboard bindings and boots)

• Safety gear - helmet

• Outerwear - snow jacket and pants. Check out our Gear Checklist to ensure you’ve got everything you need for your epic time in Niseko.

The Japow, Niseko Explorer, Premium Niseko and Progression Experiences:

• Premium ski or snowboard equipment rental. You will have the choice of top-of-the-line equipment that can be swapped each day to suit the conditions and your progression.

The Ultimate Japow Experience:

• Premium ski or snowboard equipment rental. You will have the choice of top-of-the-line equipment that can be swapped each day to suit the conditions and your progression.

• Backcountry touring equipment for the touring days

Sure! You can add any additional equipment directly to your booking.

We are ready to fit you for your rental equipment from 1:00 pm onwards. If you arrive a bit earlier you can grab yourself a coffee from our Rhythm & Beans in-store cafe and explore our Rhythm Hirafu shop.

Yes, avalanche safety equipment is included in your Japow experience booking with all Lift Access Backcountry Guiding. We provide all guests with an avi pack, a backpack that includes a shovel, probe and transceiver. You are also welcome to bring your own avalanche safety equipment, if doing so, please let our Guest Services team know in advance.

No - accommodation is not included. 

Most hotels based in Hirafu offer free guest shuttles to the Hirafu lifts where you can meet your instructor or guide at the beginning of each day. If you are not staying on the Hirafu side of Niseko resort please arrange with your accommodation provider the best way to make your way to the meeting location. 

If you have an Explorer Upgrade for any of your experience days, then you will be picked-up and dropped-off directly from your accommodation.

No - lift passes are not included in our packages. 

Currently, Rhythm does not have priority lift lanes in Niseko United. Adding our “Explorer Upgrade” to your guiding booking will give you the flexibility and freedom to explore nearby resorts that are less busy. 

This will depend on your goals and expectations for your trip, those hunting pow versus skiing for the first time will find their ideal time to visit falls at different times in the season. All of our tours have slightly different operating dates to reflect this. Please find more details below: 

• The Japow & Ultimate Japow Experiences

Japan is blessed with the best powder conditions in the world, year after year..the snow charts don’t lie! Even so, the most consistent and deepest snow is generally found in January and February. Early season can also provide some epic pow days (and fewer people,) but there are no guarantees and there can be some challenges in accessing off-piste terrain during early season. 

During March we typically get mixed conditions, with powder snow combined with some warmer days. For this reason, we’ll tailor your experience to find the best spring powder and this often involves more days of backcountry touring. This is an epic time of the year to explore the mountain ranges around Niseko that are snowed in earlier in the season.

• The Ultimate Niseko, Progression and Learn to Ride Experiences

We recommend joining these Experiences at any time that works best for you during the winter. Keep in mind that December and March are usually less busy around town, meaning that the ski resort is a little bit quieter. You will have more accommodation options and more space on the slopes. Both of these Experiences are completely customised to your goals, ability level and are tailored to the conditions that week. As there is a stronger focus on teaching and progression on these Experiences we can make any day productive and fun regardless of the powder and conditions. 

• The Niseko Explorer Experience

Looking to maximise your time in Niseko and experience a variety of terrain? Our Niseko Explorer Experience is THE package for you! Most resorts in the Niseko area start operating in the beginning of December, however, we receive the most snowfall in January and February. During your trip, your experienced guides will show you the best spots based on daily snow and weather conditions.

It is important to note that Niseko experiences two peak seasons during the winter. These busiest periods are Christmas and Lunar New Year.

The best time to book your Rhythm Experience is now! We recommend booking early so our team can accommodate all your booking preferences and ensure you will have an unforgettable experience in Niseko. This is especially relevant if you are looking to visit Niseko during Christmas or Lunar New Year, or for any of our backcountry guiding experiences as our guiding availability fills up quickly. 

If you’re booking a custom Experience, at a minimum we require at least 3 days of Rhythm Rides on-snow experiences and 3 days of gear rentals. 

Our Experiences are fully customisable, allowing us to curate them to perfectly meet your specific expectations and goals for your holiday. Common requests include:

• “Can we add additional lessons or guiding products to our booking? “ - Definitely! We would be happy to add any extra lessons or guiding products to your booking. 

• “Can we visit other resorts outside of Niseko United during our booking?” - Absolutely! We recommend experiencing as much terrain as Niseko has to offer! By adding our Explorer Upgrade to any day of your booking you will have the freedom to go anywhere with a private vehicle. 

Please note that some requests are time dependent and we may not be able to accommodate last minute changes. If you have any questions about our custom packages please feel free to reach out to our Guest Services team anytime.

If you have found the Experience that is right for you, submit a booking request on our website here. 

Our team will review your request and be in touch with you very soon! They’ll liaise with you to ensure everything is just right and confirm if anything needs to be customised to suit you. 

Online payment

• Payment via card will be processed by Flywire - the payment platform is used for all online payment transactions with Rhythm Japan. 

• You can view the Flywire terms and conditions here.

A deposit of 20% is required within seven days of the booking.

The remaining 80% is due at least seven days before the lesson/tour date.

• Up until seven days prior, a full refund will be provided for any reason.

• From seven days prior until 48 hours prior a 20% cancellation fee will be incurred.

• Within 48 hours of the booked lesson/tour date a 100% cancellation fee will be incurred.

• No compensation can be made for the loss of tour time due to injury or illness if the guiding has commenced.

• If we are advised of your illness/injury at least one hour before it is due to commence a reschedule or refund can be provided upon receipt of a valid medical certificate.

• Rhythm must receive the report within 24 hours of the cancelled/missed lesson.

• We reserve the right to cancel any reservations that do not meet our booking terms or have not been paid by the due date.

• Flywire may charge additional processing fees, including up to 1% of the refund amount.

Please see our Rhythm Rides Terms and Conditions and Rhythm Rental Terms and Conditions for further questions.

Accidents can happen on the mountain. Therefore we require all of our Experience guests to have travel insurance that covers on-snow injuries and accidents. If you are entering any backcountry zones on our Japow, Ultimate Japow or Niseko Explorer Experiences your policy needs to cover skiing out of resort boundaries. We recommend reading the Niseko Rules before you arrive.

If you get injured on the mountain, your instructor/guide will inform the Mountain Ski Patrol immediately. They will then ensure you are transported safely and swiftly to the most appropriate treatment centre.

By providing us with a medical certificate within 48 hours of any injury occurring we can offer a refund of your future rental and Rides bookings if no one from your group is able to attend.

Lesson and guiding products are not dependent on the specific guests attending, and therefore we are not able to provide partial refunds if certain guests are unable to attend.

Unfortunately, our tours are not able to be refunded or partially refunded once they have begun if you need to finish early for any reason. 

We are incredibly lucky that Hokkaido receives arguably the best snow in the world! That does mean that the weather is often extremely cold, snowy and windy and then sometimes even rain towards the end of the season. The good news is that this does not mean that your lesson can not go ahead. We will generally run our lessons every day providing the lifts appropriate for your level are operating.

In instances where we do not have suitable terrain to operate your lesson or guiding experience, then a refund will be offered. 

Unfortunately not, all of our adult lessons and guided tours are designed as private experiences. This ensures we can tailor the product to your goals and needs and fast track your on-snow progress. 

Lessons cannot be accommodated for mixed disciplines. 
If you would like to experience both skiing and snowboarding when in Niseko we need to book different lessons for you and your group. 

Mixed groups with a higher level of ability can ride together when booking the Niseko Explorer or Japow Experience. 

It is important to know that your instructor or guide will always pay the most attention to the person with the least experience or the youngest participant. 

There can be no more than two ability levels in difference between lesson participants, based on our skills chart. For example levels two and three could take a lesson together, but levels three and five could not. 

If the level of ability is higher than two ability levels we recommend having an additional instructor for this group. Like this we can tailor the lesson to their specific goal and needs. 

Absolutely! Please let us know during the booking process the skills you would like to focus on and we will make sure to allocate the most suitable instructor for reaching your goals.

You will! Your instructor is core to your experience and they will be with you for every on-snow day. In certain cases, we may recommend that additional instructors be included in your booking. 

Please note that in the unfortunate event of instructor injury or sickness we may need to allocate a different instructor to a portion of your experience. This may also apply to additionally booked lessons once you are in-resort.  

You can experience another resort by upgrading to a full-day lesson and adding our Explorer Upgrade. On the day you will picked-up from your accommodation by your instructor in a private vehicle and you will then head off to explore a nearby resort such as Rusutsu or Kiroro. Please let us know during the booking process that you would like to upgrade your Progression Experience.

Explorer Upgrades are subject to availability and may not be available as a last minute request during the season. To avoid disappointment we recommend booking this upgrade in advance.  

The Niseko United resort is a combination of four different resorts on Mt. Annupuri that are interconnected via the top-lifts: Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu (where we are based) and Hanazono. During the first two days we will explore the four Niseko United resorts. On the three following days you will be picked-up directly from your accommodation and you will have the freedom to explore some of Niseko’s neighbouring resorts with your guide, such as Rusutsu and Kiroro.  

If you want to be fully flexible and chase the best snow conditions for the day, we recommend adding two further days of our Explorer Upgrade to your experience, meaning you will have a vehicle and your pick of the best resort each day. 

Please note that this upgrade is subject to availability and may not be available during the season as a last minute request. To avoid disappointment we recommend booking this upgrade ahead of time. 

Yes! As there will be no instruction as a part of this experience skiers and snowboarders can ride together.

To guarantee the best experience possible it is recommended that all of the participants possess a similar riding ability and are at least an intermediate rider (level 4) based on our skills chart. 

The accessible terrain will be dependent on your ability level, goals and conditions on the day. Our guides will tailor the day, so that you make the most of your time in all of the resorts you’re visiting.

In addition to the 6 hour lesson you would receive with our Niseko Private, your Premium Private also includes an extended lunch, access to our priority rental lane (Rhythm Hirafu store only),  pick-up and drop off from your accommodation and your choice of one of the following add-ons per day:  onsen experience, video analysis session, of-snow activities (e.g. apres, shopping). In total your day can be up to 9 hours from beginning to end with a Premium Private Lesson, compared to 6 hours with a regular Niseko Private Lesson.

Absolutely! The off-snow add-ons can be tailored to your goals and needs each day. Please reach out to our Rhythm Rides Guest Services team to create the itinerary that suits you!  

Your instructor can pick you up from almost everywhere in the Niseko United resort area apart from Niseko Village. If you are unsure if your accommodation is based in a restricted area, please contact our Rhythm Rides Guest Services team. 

Submitting your preferred pick-up location for your Niseko Premium Private experience is required during the booking process. 

If you want to be as flexible as possible, guaranteeing you’re riding the best snow each day, we recommend adding our Explorer Upgrade to every day of your experience. With the Explorer Upgrade your guide will pick you up from your accommodation at the beginning of the day and they will come with a recommendation of where is going to provide the conditions - you’ll head off for a day of epic riding and then be dropped-off back at your accommodation at the end of the day.

Please note that adding a vehicle to your experience in-resort is always subject to availability and may not be available as a last minute request. Lift passes are not included in the cost of the Explorer Upgrade and must be purchased by the guest.

“For the days guests will be backcountry touring, their premium gear will be swapped for specialized backcountry touring equipment, including skis or splitboard, skins, poles, and boots. This gear is included as part of your package experience. 

Avalanche safety equipment — a backpack with beacon, probe, and shovel — is also included for every guest on backcountry days. Your guide will begin the day with a safety briefing to ensure everyone is confident with the equipment and the plan for the day.

If you have your own backcountry touring or avalanche safety gear, you're welcome to use it. Just let our team know during the booking process so we can prepare accordingly.

There is nothing more important on a backcountry tour than ensuring the safety of all guests. Therefore we require all guests to be at least an intermediate (level 4) rider or above to take part in any of our backcountry experiences. If on the day of the tour our guides assess that your ability level is not sufficient enough to manage the terrain when in backcountry terrain then they have the authority to amend the tour accordingly. In these cases, the tour is typically amended to a resort tour.

To take part in a backcountry experience we also require that all participants are at least 14 years old. If you have children under this age who would like to head into the backcountry, please contact our Rhythm Rides Guest Services team who will be stoked to talk you through the options for your young shredders!

The Ultimate Japow Experience will ensure you’re riding the deepest powder in the region every day. In this package you’re guaranteed a senior backcountry guide who has the flexibility to take you wherever is best that day - they’ll have a variety of resorts in the region and unlimited backcountry to choose from. Together, you’ll collaborate to ensure your group's goals are met each day for an epic trip!

Avalanche safety equipment including a beacon, probe and shovel in a backpack is included for every guest joining a backcountry experience with us. Your guide will conduct a safety briefing with your group at the beginning of the day to ensure you’re comfortable with the equipment and plan for the day.

If you have your own avalanche safety equipment you’re welcome to use it. However, please let our team know during the booking process so we can prepare the correct amount of equipment for you and your group.

There is nothing more important on a backcountry tour than ensuring the safety of all guests. Therefore we require all guests to be at least an intermediate (level 4) rider or above to take part in any of our backcountry experiences. If on the day of the tour our guides assess that your ability level is not sufficient enough to manage the terrain when in backcountry terrain then they have the authority to amend the tour accordingly. In these cases, the tour is typically amended to a resort tour.

To take part in a backcountry experience we also require that all participants are at least 14 years old. If you have children under this age who would like to head into the backcountry, please contact our Rhythm Rides Guest Services team who will be stoked to talk you through the options for your young shredders!