Furano Backcountry Tour
Advanced Ski Touring & Splitboarding Adventure
The PowderQuest Furano Backcountry Tour features adventurous guided days of skiing and splitboarding around the Daisetsuzan National Park and other off-the-radar Furano backcountry touring zones very few have had to pleasure of skiing. Forget the local ski resorts and growingly congested Furano “sidecountry”. Each day, our expert guides review weather and snow conditions and choose the best backcountry destination accordingly. Top it all off with exposure to the local culture, après ski soaking in hot springs, dining on traditional cuisine at our favorite Furano eateries, while sampling refreshing local craft beer and sake.
Trip Highlights
- 6 guests, 2 certified ski guides
- Fully flexible daily schedule chasing powder out of beautiful Furano Hokkaido
- Avoid the increasingly busy local ski resorts
- Fascinating Japanese culture, food and muscle relaxing onsen spas
Trip Highlights
Itinerary
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- Fly into either Asahikawa Airport (AKJ) or Chitose airport (CTS)
- Catch your airport shuttle to our Furano hotel
- Group and guides meet-and-greet
- Hosted welcome dinner
- Daily group breakfast
- 6 days of true guided touring adventures in our favorite Furano backcountry zones
- Relax in muscle soothing Furano onsens
- Hosted group dinners at our favorite select Furano restaurants
- After breakfast at the hotel it's Sayonara (farewell) to the guides and new friends
- Please schedule return flights out of Chitose after 12:00pm (for domestic) or 1:00pm (international) or flights out of Asahikawa after 8:00pm
- For departure flights before noon we can help pre-reserve a private service shuttle back to Chitose
Is This Trip For Me?
You should be in very good shape and confident skiing deep powder, navigating tight trees, and handling varied terrain. Participants must ski ungroomed black diamond runs without hesitation and have strong ski touring or splitboarding experience, including efficient transitions, skinning steep terrain, and executing kick turns. Snowboarders should maintain speed on flats, hold a solid traverse line, and maneuver smoothly to keep the group moving, sometimes using ski poles for assistance. You should be comfortable climbing 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) per day in multiple ascents, with the ability to handle up to 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). If you’re seeking deep powder, adventures without ski lifts, and challenging touring, this trip is for you. Still not sure?. Make sure our Backcountry tours are for you.
Trip Essentials
- 2 full-time, certified, PowderQuest backcountry guides
- private 4x4 van
- comfortable hotel with onsen spa
- daily breakfast at the hotel
- all dinners, hosted by your guides at the best Furano restaurants
- beer and sake at dinner
- travel insurance
- airfare
- arrival and departure to/from Furano. Contact us if you need assistance.
- lunches
FAQs:
- When is the best time to come for good snow? All trip dates are scheduled during the highest chance of experiencing deep Japanese powder. January and February are the 2 prime months to visit.
- What skis / snowboard should I bring? Skis with a waist width of 105-120mm + touring bindings + synthetic skins cut for your skis. Snowboarders need to bring splitboard + touring bindings + synthetic skins cut for your board. See packing list for all gear requirements.
- Is there Wi-Fi in the lodge? Yes, all the hotels offer reliable Wi-Fi so you can stay connected.
- Where are the other guests from and what is their ski level? Guests join us from around the world, mostly from North America, Europe, and Australia. Expect a mix of advanced to expert skiers and riders who are comfortable on varied terrain and up for the daily touring adventures as described in the Is This Trip For Me section on this page.
- How much currency should I bring for extras like lunch etc.? While most of your expenses are covered, plan on around USD $15–$25 per day for lunches and snacks. Credit cards are accepted in some places, but having some Japanese Yen in cash is handy for smaller stops.
- How do I get to Furano to start the trip? Fly to Chitose airport (CTS) in Hokkaido. Most flights to CTS are via Tokyo on a domestic connection or internationally via Hong Kong. From CTS, there are direct coach buses dropping you off 1 block from our hotel. Contact us for info.
- How to I get back to the airport when the trip ends in Furano? For the best selection of ground transfer options back to the CTS airport from Furano, please schedule return flights out of CTS after 12:00pm (for domestic) or 1:00pm (international). If you need to depart earlier just let us know and we can help you arrange an earlier taxi from our hotel.
Accommodations
Furano
PowderQuest has reviewed and hand-picked a mix of comfortable, 4-star hotels in Furano. All hotels feature similar décor and amenities, such as cozy bedding, private bathrooms, a spa with a Japanese onsen bath.
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Expert guiding. Small groups. Deep Hokkaido powder.
Pricing Details: (in USD)
- $ per person, shared twin room with private bath
- Solo travelers are comfortably paired with another guest of the same gender whenever possible
- Optional private room: $ (limited availability)
- Deposit: 25% to confirm your reservation
- Final balance due 90 days prior to departure
Questions? Call us at 1-307-213-9094 or contact us via email.