The Official Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide

Backcountry Skiing in Niseko
and Ezo-Fuji (Yoteizan)

5-DAY

DIFFICULTY

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SNOW SEASON

  • JPY240,000

  • 5 days 4 nights

  • Min.2 Max. 6

  • Ski/Snowboard

    Ski/Snowboard

HIGHTLIGHTS
  • Backcountry skiing on various big slopes with feather-light powder snow
  • Impressive huge 1,500 meters long slopes of Ezo-Fuji (Yoteizan)
  • Gliding huge slopes above the tree lines and in a pleasant natural forest
  • Climbing vast slopes to the great-view top by using the climbing skins
  • Warming your chilled body after skiing with high quality hot springs
LOCATION

Niseko and Yoteizan are both closely situated in western central part of Hokkaido, an ideal location accessible by a two hour drive from New Chitose Airport, the Hokkaido’s main gate, as well as the largest two million populated city, Sapporo. Yoteizan (1,898m) belongs to Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and Niseko does so Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Coast Quasi-national Park.

OVERVIEW

The tallest mountain of Japan Mt. Fuji is widely known, however, there are a considerable number of local Fujis actually found as well throughout Japan. One of such local Fujis, Ezo-Fuji (Yoteizan, 1,898m) in Hokkaido has been familiarized and loved by locals, as the symbolic icon of Abuta county where the thriving agricultural area famous to its fresh and quality agricultural produces.

Niseko, now world-famous ski resort right next to Yoteizan, has long been loved as an ideal ski paradise as its high quality powder snow. This 25km long volcanic mountain range is situated around 1,000 meters in elevation, has several peaks and gives variety of natural slopes suitable for backcountry skiing.

On this tour, you will be settled in a comfortable accommodation in Niseko, then enjoy guided backcountry skiing at various natural slopes in Niseko mountains for two days, and finally get tackled a 1,500 meter slope of Yoteizan. In mid-winter, gliding on feather-light powder snow will definitely be your unforgettable experience.

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Transfer from Airport to Niseko

You will meet a guide at New Chitose Airport that connects to Tokyo Haneda airport or other airports with considerable number of daily flights. A two hour drive with a private van will take you to Niseko, the world famous ski resort of today. Many of hotels are well facilitated with hot springs, and with spectacular view of Niseko mountains and possibly Ezo-Fuji (Yoteizan 1,898m) in front of you. Get relaxed and enjoy your dinner.

DAY 2

Guided Backcountry Skiing at Chise-Nupuri

After breakfast, we take a short drive to Chise-Nupuri parking, located at elevation of 550 meters. Sticking the climbing skins on your ski soles, then start climbing on disused ski course until we reach to an abandoned chair lift facility at altitude of 830 meters. The vast slope of Mt. Fuji-shaped Chise-Nupuri*(1,134m) awaits you for climbing and gliding. If the condition permits, you can try skiing on other neighbor peaks such as Shakunage-Dake (1,074m) or Nito-Nupuri (1,080m). After skiing, we return to the hotel. *Chise and Nupuri mean house and mountain respectively, in Ainu.

DAY 3

Guided Backcountry Skiing at Weisshorn

After breakfast, we take a short drive to Hanazono area, located at elevation of 500 meters. Pasting the climbing skins on your ski soles, then start climbing on the snow covered road and Iwo river valley. From the middle of the river, we hike up a slightly steep slope of south-eastern face of Weisshorn*(1,045m). The vast slope awaits your climbing and also skiing. If the condition permits, you can try other side of this peak which was used as a cat-ski course, or some more neighbour peaks such as Iwao- Nupuri (1,116m) and Niseko-Ann-Nupuri (1,308m) for skiing. After skiing, we return to the hotel.

* Weisshorn, this name may have been applied from the peak of the same name in Switzerland.

DAY 4

Guided Backcountry Skiing at Ezo-Fuji (Yoteizan)

After breakfast, we take a half-hour drive to a car park at the foot of Ezo-Fuji, located at elevation of 320 meters. Pasting the climbing skins on your ski soles, then start climbing in the forest, the slope will gradually be getting steeper, then at around

1,000 meters in elevation, reaching the point above the tree lines. You’ll may need to place the ski crampons depends on the surface. If the surface is icy and slippery, we probably need to carry the skis and use the boots crampons. The spectacular view from the top (1,898m) will be one of the unforgettable memories. Skiing into the summit crater may also be possible, then we finally drop into a 1,500 meters long steady big slope without any disturbing objects. After skiing, we return to the hotel.

DAY 5

Transfer to Airport

After breakfast, a two hour drive with a private van will take you to New Chitose Airport.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Area Facility Type Room Type Onsen / Spa WiFi
1 Niseko Hotel Private room ensuite Onsen Spa WiFi
2 Niseko Hotel Private room ensuite Onsen Spa WiFi
3 Niseko Hotel Private room ensuite Onsen Spa WiFi
4 Niseko Hotel Private room ensuite Onsen Spa WiFi

Tour Operator / Contact

NOMAD Co., Ltd.

Address

2F Ikko Bldg., South 2 West 2, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

TEL

+81 (0)11-261-2039

Official web site
http://www.hokkaido-nomad.co.jp/

Nomad Co Ltd established in 1987 in Sapporo, the principal city of Hokkaido

Prefecture in Japan, We’ve been dealing various types of nature related tours over 35 years, and now we ended up had various experiences and useful knowledge those all provided from our valued guests and nature.

Initially, we were dealing various kind of travel related products and materials such as simply air tickets , hotel bookings, train/bus/rent-a-car bookings, visas, group tours for academic conventions, travel arrangements for inbound groups/individual into Hokkaido, and many more. That is, we dealt everything a person needs to move.

Many periods so far, we have been producing nature relating tours, as if trekking/hiking tours and mountaineering tours. We actually had a guiding section called ‘Alpine Guide Nomad’ as well, therefore, we have been guiding mainly Japanese hikers, trekkers and climbers to various mountains in domestic and overseas.

As same as others, we had to be facing this pandemic, the overseas tours have suspended. Then we have been getting to focus our home ground Hokkaido since March 2020.

In result, unexpectedly, we were reminded again how our home Hokkaido is filled with amazing nature, and there still are unlimited target places to explore existed, and also those places are luckily accessible without big effort relatively. Therefore, we are recognized that our next mission is obviously inviting nature lovers from all over the world warmly, and take them into genuine and dense Hokkaido’s nature, and provide them a great opportunity with unforgettable experiences by unique and active enough adventurous activities.

If you wish to touch and explore the genuine nature of Hokkaido, give us a chance to support you on exciting adventure. See you in Hokkaido!

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