Our operators

Japan Ski Tours

Nishi-tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Japan Ski Tours runs guided and hosted ski road trips across Japan's three major powder regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Nagano/Niigata. The company was founded in 2014 as part of Japan Guides Group, which started in 2007 as the only English-oriented guiding operation on Mt. Fuji. Japan Ski Tours is run by bilingual guides who grew up in Japan, and it is an ANTA-certified, licensed Japanese travel agency registered in Tokyo. The company is built on the idea that a ski trip to Japan shouldn't force a choice between powder and culture. Their itineraries mix ski days with authentic regional restaurants, in-hotel onsen hot springs, and stays in traditional ryokan inns. Some trips add cultural extras such as a traditional music and dance performance or an evening with a Maiko performer. Their guides and hosts pick restaurants for regional specialties and authenticity, so guests eat where locals eat instead of in the international enclaves of Japan's busiest resorts. Their trips fall into two styles. The guided Hokkaido Storm Chaser is a 7-day off-piste road trip that skis a different resort each of its 6 ski days. It runs from two bases, Furano and Otaru, with a 1:4 guide ratio and a maximum group of 8. Each day's resort is chosen by the forecast, and the focus is lift-accessed sidecountry powder. Private guiding is also available: a private Storm Chaser, a 5-day Hakkoda backcountry trip based in the historic city of Hirosaki, daily backcountry guiding at Ani, and Niseko-area guiding through their partner Hokkaido Vibe. Their Indy Trips are unguided but fully hosted group road trips, built for Indy Pass holders and open to everyone. There are 8- and 10-day Tohoku trips, a 9-day Nagano trip, and a 9-day Hokkaido trip. Each covers accommodation, most meals, private charter transfers between resorts, and a JST host who travels with the group. Guests without an Indy Pass book as Standard Guests with all lift tickets included. Each day is the guest's to shape: resort laps, a touring day, or a rest day exploring the area. Japan Ski Tours also operates its own property, Anaba Lodge, a renovated pension-style ski lodge at the base of Ani Ski Resort in Akita Prefecture, built for skiers who like to earn their turns. Trips run from early January into early March. Contact Heli to book.