Japan is quickly becoming one of the most popular skiing destinations worldwide. Known for JAPOW, the incredibly light, dry powder snow that covers the mountain regions each year, it’s no wonder skiers and snowboarders flock there every year to check it off their bucket list. If you ever dreamed about skiing in Japan, you can start planning that trip now.
Heli Adventures, Inc. offers a privately guided ski tour of Niseko to find the best POW spots and ensure guests experience the ultimate custom ski trip in Japan. Heli was founded in 2015 and is a technology company with an online platform for consumers to book adventure and activity experiences and booking software for suppliers and tour operators. Its mission is to unite through adventure.
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Niseko is located about two hours from the New Chitose airport in Hokkaido and is one of the most popular destinations for skiers and riders. Niseko receives over 600 inches of snow each year and is widely considered the ultimate powder skiing destination in the world. The island of Hokkaido, which is north of Japan’s main island, Honshu, is known for its volcanoes, natural hot springs, and ski areas. Hokkaido is blessed with awesome snow but also an excess of great ski areas to help you access it.
Niseko consists of four interlinked ski resorts: Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, and An’nupuri. It is renowned for its consistency and quality of powder snow throughout the winter. Each resort offers something unique, but with Hokkaids’s variable weather and distinct micro-climates, knowing where to go on any given day is the biggest challenge. Heli Adventures, Inc. guides are there every morning to discuss weather conditions, assess snow stability, and determine where to find the best, deepest, and most untracked snow for the team.
Niseko offers 30 miles (47 kilometers) of groomed terrain and endless back-country opportunities in this winter wonderland. It offers 69 runs, 28 lifts and gondolas, the largest night-skiing terrain in the world, and operates 12 hours a day. It also has some of the world’s most celebrated powder snow; winter in Niseko offers activities for all ages and interests, including snowmobiling, snow rafting, snowshoeing, cat skiing, backcountry tours, soaking in mineral-rich hot springs, internationally renowned festivals, and more.
Heli recommends the ability level for a person to be at an expert or legendary skill level for this adventure. After all, you will be hitting An’nupri, Village Resort, Hanazono, and Grand Hirafu ski resorts on this trip and should be able to experience all the mountain has to offer. The deep powder paradise of An’nupuri has fluffy powder snow and is truly an all-in-one hotspot destination. The Niseko Annupuri Ski Resort provides easy access to what’s arguably the best Niseko side-country terrain and the easiest access to Moiwa. For upper-level skiers, it will not disappoint. This area has arguably the best off-piste options and exhilarating natural powder bowls to carve.
The Village Resort offers exceptional off-piste terrain and a wide range of groomed runs suited to all levels of riders, including extreme skiers who ski at the summit and mind-blowing volcano crater skiing. The combination of endless powder, unique riding opportunities, and stunning scenery sets it apart as arguably the best ski resort in Japan. Adrenaline junkies are guaranteed the ultimate thrill with ‘Mizuno-no-Sawa.’ It is specially controlled terrain that provides some of the steepest runs and powder in Hokkaido.
Hanazono is one big powder playground! In addition to the dry powder that lasts till afternoon, there is an extensive variety of on-and-off-mountain snow activities based in the resort, with snowmobiling on their private mountain for both thrill seekers and chill seekers. Grand Hirafu is located in the Hirafu area of Kutchan Abuta. Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort stretches from Niseko Annupuri’s summit (elevation 4,291 ft) to its base. It is famous for its fine-quality powder snow. With over a dozen chairlifts and a gondola, Hirafu offers access to extensive terrain and is well-lit for night skiing.
Guiding the team for this bucket-list-ski adventure is Dave Bumgarner, who has guided internationally from Japan, Antarctica, Austria, and more. Bumgarner has experience working for multiple heli and cat ski operations like Hokkaido Backcountry Club and Eleven Experience. He spends over 100 days a year on skis in the backcountry and is an AMGA-certified Ski Guide and Avalanche Education Instructor Trainer. When Bumgarner is not skiing, he is an ACA-certified Whitewater Kayaking Instructor Trainer and Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Trainer. With over 20 years of guiding experience with everyone from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to the U.S. Military, you know Bumgarner will take care of you.
Accommodations at Aspect Niseko are top-notch and offer luxury experiences. Heli Adventures, Inc. will give your crew the entire top floor to themselves, providing amazing views of Mt. Yotei. Aspect Niseko is situated at the base of Middle Hirafu Village, perched on the edge of an escarpment. The village center, where the middle and upper villages converge, is just a one-minute drive or five-minute walk uphill from the resort. This central area offers plenty of amenities, including grocery and convenience stores, restaurants, and bars.
Aspect Niseko sits on the edge of the famed “Millionaires Row” in Hirafu’s Middle Village. With stunning panoramic views of the majestic Mt. Yotei, a stay here is truly memorable. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a private outdoor terrace allow residents to immerse themselves in the natural surroundings. Inside, in-room fireplaces create a cozy, warm ambiance during the colder months. The master ensuites have luxurious amenities, including rainfall showers, dual vanities, and relaxing bathtubs. Guests of this suite will have an entire floor all to themselves, ensuring complete privacy, and will enjoy double the convenience with two fully-equipped kitchens and two laundry rooms.
Dining at Niseko is a food lover’s dream! There is no shortage of dining options in Niseko. From fresh and local Hokkaido favorites to 5-star French cuisine, you will not be disappointed whether you are looking for restaurants that provide a Japanese culinary immersion or home comforts. If you love crab, check out Kanon, known for having crab-inspired course dinners. If you want to relax after a day on the slopes, check out Somoza, a re-purposed 150-year-old traditional Japanese home. It offers a Chef’s Lunch Course, a Tea Ceremony with a Bento Box, and a Chef’s Table Dinner. When you are in Japan, you have to try sushi! At Sushi Kokoro, food is sourced locally from the renowned Toyosu Market.
A destination trip like this is a must for thrill and adventure seekers who want to hit mountains most people can only dream of. Packages for a single occupancy price is $8,000 per person and $40,000 property buyout for five riders. The double occupancy price is $5,000 per person and $50,000 property buyout for 10 riders. You can reserve this adventure for an initial deposit of 50% by selecting deposit pay during checkout. These packages include private airport transfer, seven nights of accommodation in a single room, six days of guided skiing, and a Heli staff to assist with reservations and area recommendations.
Slots available for this trip:
- Jan 18 – Jan 25, 2025
- Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2025
- Feb 1 – Feb 8, 2025
- Feb 8 – Feb 15, 2025
There are three simple reasons to plan a ski trip to Japan, and the first reason to go ski touring in Japan is the snow. Japan is famous for getting huge powder days. The second reason is the food is incredible. Japan is famous for its ramen dishes, gyoza, okonomiyaki, and, of course, sushi. It is one of those ski vacations where you will be just as excited about the food as the ski conditions. The third reason is peace of mind. Knowing you will have an established provider like Heli guiding you through the country will make the trip more enjoyable. There’s a good reason to book something more all-inclusive.
For more information, visit Heli Adventures, Inc. website.
