Skiing In Japan: What Are You Really Missing Out On
Your friends have got their Japanese pow holidays locked in but you’re still 'umming and ahhing'?
Well, it’s now or never, my friend. Bookings are already flying out the door this upcoming season and they aren’t showing any signs of slowing down, so if you have been on the fence, it’s time to act!
But what is it that you’d really be missing out on? (Outside the deepest powder turns you’ll ever experience, untracked treelines, endless backcountry terrain, and new, in-season gear to shred on, of course.)
Obviously, we aren’t psychics – so while we know just how good this winter is shaping up to be, we can’t tell you absolutely everything you’d be missing out on. Although, what we do have is years of experience shredding the Japanese alpine regions, so we figured we’d ask a bunch of our local legends for their takes on the best riding they had last winter.
Trust us, if you weren’t sold already, these anecdotes will well and truly give you an insight into what you’ll be missing out on if you don’t choose shred pow in Japan this winter.
– Matias, Rhythm Rides, Futures Director
“When they opened the gate system. It was quite late compared to other seasons, I was supposed to meet my friend before lifts opened to line up but It was also one of my first days off so I didn’t make it. Long story short, when I arrived at the Gondola the line wasn’t there and everyone was lining up on the pizza box. I looked to the left when I got to the top of The King Hooded and took the Ace Pair Lift #3 instead. I avoided all lines and made it before my friends to get to the peak. It was a blast and paid off to feel truly local!!! We ended up doing like three laps to the peak that day. BEAUTIFUL!”
– Yuri, Rhythm and Beans
“I went to Rusutsu with 8 girl riders who I barely know (Rhythm Rides offered this trip). The snow that day was awesome and the girls’ vibes made me super excited and helped encourage me to hit more natural features (wooden rail or pillow). That was one of the most fun and memorable rides, even though I had a big fall from the rail. Although, if we are talking about Niseko United, my favourite riding is a day with heaps of fresh snow at Strawberry field Hanazono. Just keep riding Strawberry until the snow gets bad, you don’t need to go anywhere else.”
– Jake, Finance
“I came to Niseko for a two-week visit in mid-March. Even that late in the season, the snow lived up to all of the hype… Best day was a blue bird pow day, no lift lines and still finding fresh snow well into the afternoon. Having to wait in a lift line would have been alright actually.. my legs could not keep up!!”
– Marissa, Marketing
“My favourite day riding was on International Women’s Day with the Rhythm women! I was in awe of the gals that day — not only by their very drippy outfits, steezy park sends, but also the overwhelming camaraderie and support we have for each other. Whether we were cheering for each other in the park, or racing down the hill, or even tending to injuries, we had each other’s backs every second on the mountain and it was a glorious feeling!”
– Mel, Hakuba, Snowboard Tech
“Ooooh that’s a tricky one. A day that comes to mind is; on IWD Rhythm organised girls go ride day. Full of sunshine, progression and encouragement. Seeing the hype when the chicks learnt something new was priceless.”
– Isaac, Content Creator
“My favourite day was in Furano, an unexpected 25cm powder day with mates. We woke up and rushed up the hill to get some of the deepest turns in-resort I’ve ever had. No lift lines, onigiri snacks on the chair between laps and Hokkaido Classics and a Ramen dinner to wrap it all up. It was a day I’ll never forget!”
Tom, Rhythm Summit, Store Manager, Niseko
“The best day I had on the snow last season was during the Summit staff ski day, where we had the rare chance to close the store and hit the slopes together as a team.”
“The morning was spent smashing about the Niseko United resort, making our way to several pre-set checkpoints for photo evidence. Despite less-than-ideal weather—rain, low-vis and slushy, soup-like snow—the team made the most of it. It was an epic morning spent with amazing teammates – probs my highlight of last year.”
If pre-bookings are anything to go by, the stores will be crazy busy this winter, so if you want to secure the best rides for your JaPow holiday, it’s now or never!