Japan 2026
ski touring trip to Central Hokkaido
Japan is well known in ski circles for being a Mecca for powder skiing conjuring images of dry, waist deep blower in ancient forests. Whilst the main island, Honshu, has a host of popular ski areas (Hakuba, Myoko, Nozawa Onsen…) centered in the Japanese Alps; Hokkaido, the northern most island, draws the most attention, with its greater precipitation and, on average, consistently lower temperatures.
The Central Hokkaido region is a sweet spot away from the crowds of Niseko, surrounded by several different mountain ranges, getting the driest powder on the island, with options for all directions of precipitation. We are running ski trips here in January 2026 for groups of adventurous backcountry skiers looking to ski some of the best powder of their lives.
Join us in Furano January 2026
Join us for a guided ski trip in Furano, Hokkaido’s second largest ski town. Furano provides a great position for exploring the area and offers a rich cultural experience off the beaten track compared to more westernized ski resorts in Japan.
A typical ski day will involve being picked up around 7:30 and driven to the best ski destination for the day – this can include using the lifts in Furano, Tomamu, Asahidake or more, to access backcountry terrain or driving straight to one of the many trailheads in the Daisetsuzan national park and touring from there. After skiing, we will often visit one of the many traditional Onsens in the area to rest tired legs before driving back to town.
This trip is ideal for those that can happily tour uphill for 2-3 hours and can comfortably ski in powder, lots of backcountry experience is not required and skills can be taught during the week.
Private group sizes 2-6 skiers.
Rental kit can be organised but better if you bring your own (a touring ski with a width underfoot of 108 – 118mm is ideal).
Dates Available: January 18-25; January 25-Feb 1 (Contact for different availability)
Trip Inclusion:
Our trip include transfers from New Chitose Sapporo Airport, transportation to and from ski areas, lift passes, private guiding fee and onsens. We offer a concierge service to help with accommodation if preferable.
Contact for more information: lukedaviesoutdoors@gmail.com
