Resort Guiding & Lift Accessed Backcountry FAQs

While Niseko is known for its never-ending powder, each season can of course vary. Statistically speaking though, we find that the most consistently snowy months occur during December, January and February.

That being said, March can also bring the goods and is known for its clear skies and warmer days bringing magnificent scenery and opportunities to summit mountains otherwise inaccessible.

Generally, this will not be a problem. The major concern with mixing a group of skiers/boarders is the ability level of the group. In particular, for snowboarders in slackcountry terrain, the ability to hold a strong traverse and maintain speed on the flats. If this is not an area of strength then the terrain may need to be carefully considered to ensure the snowboarder is not put in a tough spot. 

Please reach out to our guest services team to discuss your group’s suitability for a mixed tour.

Absolutely! All of our guides are also instructors and can coach you on powder techniques so you can get the most out of your day. However, we do require that you are at least a high intermediate to advanced skier or boarder. That is a level four or higher on our skills chart.

Unfortunately our tour dates are fixed, unless the weather is too harsh to not get out there at all. If that is the case, we will work with you to find a new date for your tour.

Our goal is to always provide the best experience in the backcountry. Our experienced guides will be able to show you an amazing experience pretty much every day during the winter in Hokkaido! 

If you’re booking a multi-day tour, then our guides will tailor where you visit each day based on the locations that will deliver the best experience based on the conditions.

In midwinter, Hokkaido will be in the negative degrees celsius 24 hours of the day. The temperature in town can go down to -8 degrees celsius and further up the mountain it will be even colder on those days. Carrying layers with you to wear under your jacket is highly recommended.

The big difference between the two is the terrain you will be riding. Resort guiding will focus on the terrain inside the resort boundaries. This doesn’t mean just the groomers. There are plenty of tree runs and powder to be found!

As soon as we step outside the resort boundaries, we will end up in the world of the backcountry. The main difference with backcountry terrain is that the resort does not maintain or control the conditions to mitigate risk for riders (like avalanches.) This is one reason it is highly recommended to always go with a guide who can assess these risks, and choose the safest and most enjoyable terrain for you. This is also the reason why we carry avalanche safety gear when we step outside the resort boundaries.

Yes, you will need a lift pass for the Resort Guiding and the Lift-accessed Backcountry tours. The only tour we offer that does not require a lift pass is Backcountry Touring.

Yes, we highly recommend that you bring or hire Premium powder equipment to get the most out of your day.  Powder in Japan is often deeper and drier than anywhere in the world. This is amazing but it can also be challenging. Powder-specific equipment has really made leaps and bounds in recent years, and having the right equipment can take you from zero to hero in no time. If you are unsure what you should book, please contact our team.

For our Resort Tour a skill level of 4 - Intermediate is recommended at a minimum, as this will allow you to ride a variety of terrain on your tour. 

By upgrading your Resort Guiding you will open up a range of resort options outside of the Niseko area. Check out our Terrain Guide to see where else you could explore.

Your upgraded tour will now include:

•  Six-hours of guiding 

•  Private transport, with pick-up and drop-off directly at your accommodation 

•  Additional two-hours to cover travel time

Yes, you will need an All Mountain lift pass for our Lift-accessed Backcountry tours. The only tour we offer that does not require a lift pass is Backcountry Touring.

Yes, we highly recommend that you bring or hire Premium powder equipment to get the most out of your day.  Powder in Japan is often deeper and drier than anywhere in the world. This is amazing but it can also be challenging. Powder-specific equipment has really made leaps and bounds in recent years, and having the right equipment can take you from zero to hero in no time. If you are unsure what you should book, please contact our rentals team.

For our Lift-accessed Backcountry tour a skill level of 4 - Intermediate is recommended at a minimum, as the terrain you're accessing will be varying and ungroomed. 

By upgrading your Lift-accessed Backcountry Tour you will open up a range of resort options outside of the Niseko area, such as Moiwa and Kiroro. Check out our Terrain Guide to see where else you could explore.

Your upgraded tour will now include:

• Six-hours of guiding 

• 15 minute safety briefing

• Private transport, with pick-up and drop-off directly at your accommodation 

• Additional two-hours to cover travel time

We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy, and it is important to ensure that it covers the type of skiing/snowboarding you plan to enjoy. If you’re planning to go into the backcountry via the Niseko gate system or touring your policy must cover ‘off-piste’ or ‘backcountry’. Depending on your policy this is sometimes an optional extra.

Good question! Slackcountry refers to the terrain that can be accessed via a lift, however it is outside of the resort’s operational boundaries. Typically this means there are no or little avalanche control measures. Therefore it is backcountry terrain that is just more easily accessible, and the same precautions should be taken.

Backcountry is usually referring to terrain that is accessed without the use of lifts. This means you will need touring equipment to walk up the mountain and then ski/board down. There are also no avalanche control measures undertaken here, which is why it is always recommended to visit the backcountry with a qualified guide.

This is completely up to you (with the exception of Backcountry Touring.) Our guides will fully customise your tour to include the amount of hiking you are comfortable with. They can also adjust the plan over the day depending on your energy levels.

Yes, at the start of every tour, regardless of your experience, your guide will run you through an avalanche safety briefing. This will include:

• Beacon functions and basic use

• Probe assembly and basic use

• Rescue basics including (search and receive modes) 

• Beacon function and range test

It is important to understand when venturing into any backcountry or slackcountry terrain that conditions can never be 100% safe. Backcountry touring comes with inherent risk and while all measures are taken to tour in the safest possible way, accidents and avalanches can still occur. 

With this in mind, we take a safety-first approach and have a number of daily procedures in place to ensure we’re as informed about the current conditions and hazards as we can be. This information, coupled with the experience of our guides themselves is then used to create a plan for the day based on your skill level and goals.

Our safety procedures include (but are not limited to):

• Daily review of local official forecasts – Niseko Avalanche Bulletin. We operate within the Niseko Rules, and will not guide you outside of the gates when they are closed

• Daily review of global weather forecasting models

• Ongoing assessment and recording of weather, temperature and snow conditions

• Ongoing assessment of local hazards and changes in conditions

• Daily guide briefings to review all conditions and trip plans

• Actively involved in the local guiding community in which we encourage open communication and sharing of information related to the conditions