Backcountry ski touring in Rishiri, Japan feels likes skiing at the end of the world. | Photo courtesy of Explore-Share

By the Explore-Share team

Rishiri is a gorgeous island off the coast of Hokkaido in Japan. This remote location is named after Mount Rishiri, the volcano at its heart, and it is a top spot for wild winter adventures away from the crowds.

Elisabeth was living in Tokyo when she decided to explore Rishiri and start off the year on the right foot. After a good experience in 2017 with a guide she hired through the Explore-Share platform, she went back to search for options in Japan and found a great tour offered by certified guide, Toshiya.

Apart from the stunning pictures she saw of Rishiri, she liked that she would be able to ski in a really remote and rugged location with no lifts and no people. Plus, it was an adventure to go there, involving a flight to Wakkanai and then a boat, with the feeling of being at the end of the world. Furthermore, the program she chose involved staying at guide Toshiya’s guesthouse, which was very comfy and welcoming, and sharing the adventure with a group who was also enthusiastic about nature and skiing.

While she was there, she spent two days ski touring, one day snowshoeing, and one day resting. She was lucky because she got quite a few blue-sky days, which are not always common. Also, she highlighted that she had never seen so much snow before, and called it a “white paradise.” She enjoyed the fact that the skiing was not too technical and that the slopes were not too steep, it was perfect for her at the beginning of the season to start “easy”.

Her favorite aspects of the trip were the untouched snow quality, the unique landscapes (island, volcano, and seascapes), the remoteness of the adventure, Toshyia’s caring and organized guiding, and experiencing Japanese traditions such as tasting local food, wearing a yukata in the evening and relaxing in a typical onsen (hot spring). It was definitely a great way to start a new year!