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Once you've experienced the thrill of our powder, you'll crave more. Our all-inclusive multiple-day packages offer an unforgettable combination of cat skiing, lodging, meals, hot springs, and transportation. Not only will you have the opportunity to carve through deep powder all day, but you'll also immerse yourself in the rich Japanese culture, savor local cuisine, stay in traditional accommodations, and connect with the locals. We pride ourselves on the flexibility to customize multi-day packages according to your group's specific needs.
During your stay, you'll be accommodated at an authentic Ryokan-style inn situated just below our slopes. Indulge in the highlights of your experience, including a delightful kaiseki dinner featuring fresh seafood sourced from Iwanai Bay. Our breakfast options offer a combination of Japanese and Western fare, ensuring you start your day off right. After an exhilarating day on the slopes, nothing compares to the relaxation of soaking in a rejuvenating hot spring bath. You'll enjoy a restful night's sleep in luxurious bedding, with the choice of a traditional Japanese futon or a comfortable Western bed.
Skiing
On a lost coastal corner abutting the Sea of Japan, beautiful Iwanai rises 1086m above the bay. Just 40 minutes from Niseko but far from the noise and lines, Iwanai is the Hidden Hokkaido. Ski the entire day in untracked powder with oceanfront views. A place so beautiful, you'll get the experience of a lifetime.
Iwanai offers every type of adventure skiing including perfectly spaced old-growth birch trees, long (600m) vertical bowls with fastpitch, open powder runs on retired courses and endless backcountry terrain with exquisite snowscapes. Your every turn faces the ocean, enchanting your day in blue and white hues. This is Hokkaido you've been waiting to ski. Come have the best day of your life.
Off The Slopes
Come for the powder but stay for the culture, Iwanai is more than a premier snowcat destination. Iwanai is far from the crowds, tourists, and lines. Ski the entire day in untracked powder with oceanfront views and stick around to see how the local Japanese live. Our lift and lodge are primarily used by local families and Iwanai town offers some very unique shops, natural hot springs, bars, and restaurants.
Take a short drive down the coast and explore an older and slower Japan. The rugged Shakotan peninsula is home to a unique fisherman's culture that will surely leave a cultural mark on your trip to Japan.
Iwanai History
Iwanai has been inhabited for almost 400 years, one of the oldest villages in Hokkaido. And there is much living history here. The people are a testament to a proud culture. A local museum shows the era of great herring runs when the town would overflow with transient fishermen. Such a heady time...even geisha were present among the wealthy. Today, a strong heritage lives on. The town boasts over 40 restaurants and 40 bars, making downtown Iwanai the most concentrated bar area per capita in Hokkaido (and 11th in all Japan). There is a lot going on in Iwanai.
Recommended
Travel Documents
Optional
From Niseko Hirafu, get to Kutchan and take Highway 5 north towards Otaru. Travel over a small pass and you will eventually come to an intersection where Highway 276 goes west towards Iwanai. Once in town, follow the signs and you'll take a left (south) towards the ski resort. The trip takes about 40 minutes.
Please call us should you need more specific information on navigation.
Iwanai Taxi Services:
Via Car:
Pick up at Niseko accommodation (please advise location) at 7:00am. Ski Iwanai Day 1, stay at our Japanese ryokan hotel,
Mount Iwanai
Rising majestically to an elevation of 1,086 meters (3,562 ft), Mount Iwanai offers a breathtaking panorama. To the west, an endless expanse of blue ocean stretches out before you, while to the east lies a captivating backcountry, a gateway to the Niseko range and Mount Yotei. These awe-inspiring vistas perfectly complement the dynamic nature of our mountain.
Traversing through abandoned lifts, concealed beneath the growth of summers past, adds a unique, almost apocalyptic ambiance to our mountain. Embarking on your descent, our powder-filled mountain offers a diverse range of terrain. Open bowls, beautifully spaced old-growth trees, and retired courses with a consistent pitch of 20-40 degrees await your exploration. On average, guests indulge in approximately 4,700 vertical meters of pristine powder each day. The highest drop point, situated around 890 meters above the bay, grants a thrilling 690 meters of vertical descent. Please note that the number of runs and vertical may vary based on weather conditions, avalanche risks, and the group's skill level. Not to worry, our experienced guides are dedicated to tailoring the terrain to suit your group's abilities and preferences.
Oh and remember to take a moment to catch your breath and immerse yourself in the serene sound of ocean waves drifting through the valleys.
Terrain
For our advanced guests, highlights include old-growth tree skiing, steep glades and challenging fall-line runs. With minimal traversing, you can easily ski three full days of powder without repeating a line. Under our guides' supervision, advanced guests can ski nearly every aspect of our mountain, as few zones pose a significant risk to avalanche. Our intermediate riders can gain confidence in powder turns on the retired courses and the well-spaced tree runs between. Guests overwhelmed by the powder conditions need not worry. We can easily throw another guide on the CAT to provide more support and instruction. Our mountain delivers a wide variety of terrain, making it an excellent option for any level of ski adventure.
Transportation back to Niseko or book another night to stay.
Final booking deadline
60 days prior to the adventure
Deposits
Full payment is due at time of booking.
Cancellation Policies
All payments are due 60 days prior to adventure start date.
TRAVEL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE
Travel and medical insurance are not included in this package. We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance to cover personal injury, cancellation, or interruption for your experience. You will need to separately purchase any trip interruption insurance through an outside provider. This must be done shortly after making your reservation (some require insurance to be purchased within 15-20 days of initial trip deposit).
We also recommend that you carry insurance to cover the risk of injury while you are at your destination. If you are injured, you will be charged the ambulance expenses associated with your evacuation as well as any expenses related to your medical care. Medical and evacuation insurance will help to cover these costs.
We have partnered with Global Travel to offer travel and medical insurance. More information can be found here: https://partner.globalrescue.com/heli/