What is your perfect idea of a ski trip to Japan this coming season? Well, read on we may have the perfect solution for you.

Janice Thean and Family (Beginner Skiers) - Australia - Dec 2023

We are a family of 4 with two teen boys (16,18 yo). We are all essentially fresh beginners and wanted the young ones to experience a proper introduction to skiing. Jase has this covered to the hilt.

He and his team are incredibly patient, reassuring and very knowledgable with clients. We got fitted out completely with all ski gear (included in package) in a very non-rushed manner which is the first thing I appreciated and was very different from what you'd experience with other ski shops / schools. It felt very much like we were the only ones on tour with him and crew most of the time which is an absolute luxury. Even the proper method of carrying skis and walking in boots was covered at length.

Although my eldest boy started off not keen with the idea of skiing at all, Harry, Oscar and George were all extremely patient and supportive of him and he now has returned with a sense of accomplishment that he can actually ski at the end of the tour.

We stayed at the Omodaka which provided a mixed Western - Japanese style room. All the in-house breakfast and dinner meals were so sumptuous and attention to detail quite amazing. Onsen (natural hot spa) post-skiing was also very enjoyable. The hotel is very clean, staff professional and very welcoming.

The daily tours to the mountains with the crew and several other guests were always well run, on time and stress-free. Early mornings in the subzero temps can be a little difficult to wake up to so early nights for those who need a little more sleep than others would be a good idea, since you'd want to enjoy the provided breakfast without rushing.

The ski lessons were wonderful, just enough theory and the crew were very gentle and patient with everyone on tour. As the days went on, everyone progressed at their own pace and it was good to see the crew cater to the individuals without any fuss and without pushing anyone outside their comfort zone.

I had a knee injury on the slopes on day 2 which was a bummer but Jase looked after me really well all the way through. I have to say that being "rescued" by the Japanese crew in a "sleigh" was the most fun ride I had in ages! Jase and his team checked in regularly just to see how my knee was progressing and supplied ski poles and also snow shoe spikes to make sure I didn't lose my footing.

The cultural component of the package consisting of a magic show, Geisha and karate / taiko drums / lion dance were very enjoyable too and a must see. They were the icing on the cake and a very nice complimentary touch to the day's skiing. Harry's impromptu saxophone performance on the bus was a pleasant surprise from a multitalented bunch!

On days where there was no in house dinner provided, Jase was able to point out good local small restaurants which were both delicious and of great value.

Thank you Jase, George, Harry, Oscar and Gus. We all had an amazing time with you lot and will highly recommend this experience to friends and family.

Japan Ski and Culture for Beginners and Novices

Japan Powder Culture Tours have put together a range of fully instructed beginner ski packages to experience the 18 resorts that make up Shiga Kogen asia’s largest and highest ski resort   Depending on conditions there is also the possibility to visit other resorts such as Madarao, Nozawa Onsen, and Togakushi. 

Let’s face it, learning a new sport can sometimes be a daunting process without the right knowledge and experienced people to assist.  One option is to go to a more traditional ski school which will generally work on the numbers game with large size beginner and intermediate classes with many people on the slopes which increase the chances of injury and a lower chance of rapid advancement.  Another option is to come with us and experience quiet resorts with small intimate classes, and English-speaking instructors that turn your learning into a lifetime passion.  We operate our tours with a minimum of 2 guests and group size is 6 guests maximum. 

Why Learn with Us?

It goes without saying that our qualified instructors are experience and passionate about their trade, that is the minimum you would expect from a ski school.  So, what is our point of difference?  What we have learnt over the years is that there are some very important aspects of ski tuition which are not covered in the traditional ski instructor’s manual.  The following are just some of the common sense approaches we use which will generally not be found at a traditional ski school.

• What can happen in a rental shop is you tell the staff your foot size, height and weight and they hand you some gear, and it is left up to the client to fit the gear.  We take this one step further as we know how important it is to your skiing and safety to have the correct fitting equipment.  We will measure your foot, fit your boots, tighten them up to make sure there are no pressure points, mount your boots on skis and ensure they are set to a safe level.

• Once on the snow we teach you how to walk in all types of terrain and different conditions in your boots.  We also teach how to correctly carry your equipment to minimise effort and increase balance.

• We know everyone learns at a different pace and know the importance of mastering a certain movement before moving on.  The quicker learners get given different task however our goal is to bring everyone up to the group’s level, so the slower learners are given just as much attention.  We do not leave any soldiers behind.  

• The usual teaching model is to talk about a movement, demonstrate the movement, get the client to try the movement then the next step is to follow the instructor.  Unless the instructor has eyes in the back of the head, how can they fix any incorrect form?  Instead, we teach from the back moving through the group one on one or ski backwards watching our students and reinforce movements through repeating the information until it becomes second nature to the client, repetition being the mother of skill.

• Where traditional ski schools only give you one piece of the pie, so they have some leverage to get you to come back and spend some more money with them to get the next piece of the pie, we take it to the next level and give our guests the whole pie.  We believe it is essential that our guests understand the five main movements (the whole pie) in skiing and snowboarding.  Once this understanding is achieved, we can then isolate each movement (piece of the pie) to gain a more fluid progression from beginner to intermediate.

• Another important aspect is teaching our clients how to read the different terrain, pitch of the terrain, condition of the snow and weather so they have the tools to make good decisions when negotiating their way safely down the mountain when they go off on their own.

Here are just a few of the common sense approaches we use to accelerate our clients learning in a safe and enjoyable environment which are not emphasised at a traditional ski school.

Skier/Boarder Ability

Please note that if you have never been on the snow before we start all our beginners skiing and not snowboarding.  The reason for this is that the potential for injuries from first timers snowboarding is a lot higher than for skiing.  Accidents like broken wrists, damage to elbows and shoulders are very common with toe side crashes on snowboards and injuries like bruising your tailbone when you have a heel side crash can be very uncomfortable.  Skiing on the other hand has fewer injuries as the crashes can be handled a lot more safely.  This is a risk sport and for those that have not done much active sports it is a better option to start with skiing.  For those that have their heart on snowboarding then we suggest having a go at the end of the tour.  Snowboarding is hard to learn and easier to master and skiing is easy to learn and harder to master.  Your experience is enhanced with skiing first as there is usually rapid improvement so you can access different parts of the mountain more quickly.  Once you learn the basics of skiing it is a lot easier to transfer to snowboarding.  We also cater for novice skiers and snowboarders in this tour to help them advance to the next level.

Rates and Inclusions:

• 7 x nights accommodation in twin share Japanese room (single supplement available plus the ability to upgrade to the deluxe room at Hotel Omodaka)

• Complimentary pickup and drop off from Yudanaka station

• Daily breakfasts

• 2 x inhouse dinners

• Full day Ski Instructor (max 1:6 instructor to guest ratio)

• 5 x days of skiing or snowboarding

• 5 x Daily lift passes

• Rental gear hire and assistance with fitting (includes board/boots, skis/boots/poles, jacket, pants, helmet, goggles and gloves.  Please bring you own thermals and ski socks)

• Mountain transportation to best snow location each day

• Transport to the world-famous snow monkey park. Both accommodation properties drop you up early to the snow monkey walking track, so you have the luxury of the viewing to yourself for a period of time

• On the third day is a rest day and you can experience one of our three self-guided cultural days as outlined in the tour itinerary (includes snow monkeys, walk through ancient Shibu Onsen town, visit to Obuse town the home of the Hokusai Gallery, Zenkoji temple and the 1998 winter Olympic Museum

• An interactive evening with a third generation Geisha performance

• A magic/comedy/interactive performance

• An interactive Karate performance and Taiko Drum/Shimansen guitar/Lion dance performance

• Karaoke evening

• Free rejuvenating daily Onsens (sauna at Hotel Omodaka)

• Plus, many more hidden gems...

Add ons:

• Please enquire for extra nights and guiding

Not included:

• Travel Insurance

• Flights

• Travel to and from Yudanaka

• Dinners except for those specified

• Lunches, snacks and alcohol

Resorts

This tour has the ability to visit a number of resorts in the Nagano prefecture.  The resorts have been hand-picked based around our three Q’s criteria – quality, quantity and quietness.  The resorts we visit are dictated by the conditions on any given day and each area has its own individual microclimate so don’t be surprised if we visit the same resort a number of times.  Transport to these mountains is either by our buses or vans and different groups are mixed together to fill the seats.  The resorts we can access for our clients include:  Oku Shiga Kogen and Yakebitaiyama, Ichinose and Giant, Yokote and Kumanoyu (all part Asia’s largest ski resort Shiga Kogen)  Drive times to these resorts vary from 25 minutes to 50 minutes in good road conditions.

Accommodation

Ryokan Yumoto (Deluxe)

We are extremely privileged to being working with the oldest Ryokans in the area at over 300 years and has just passed down to the 13th generation of family ownership. Dating back to the Edo period the area of Yudanaka has a history of over 1300 years and is where the Samurai came to bath after their battles and the pilgrims, artists and priests would visit on their way to Nagano.

All our guests fall in love with Yasuyo your host instantly and her lovely presence puts that icing on the cake for your tour. The property oozes charm and although not luxuriously built using precious woods, the pure Japanese-style guest rooms are spacious, and from the windows you can see the garden next to the hot springs.

Yumoto has a total of 5 rooms. The Japanese-Western rooms have 2 beds plus 8 tatami matts. The Japanese rooms have 4.5 tatami plus 10 tatami. The larger family Japanese room has 6 tatami plus 12 tatami. Each room has a toilet and bathing is done in the traditional onsen house.  All rooms have a flat screen TV, small fridge & kettle and Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.  Your room also has a traditional Japanese wardrobe (Yakata), which is not mandatory to wear at this Ryokan, although it is definitely comfortable attire after a day on the slopes.

Night-time meals are traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine served by your own private waiter in the ryokan dining area. Breakfasts (also included) are another highlight of your experience at Yumoto and need to be experienced as words are hard to describe.

Ryokan Yumoto is close to a wide array of quality restaurants in Yudanaka and a short distance from the local Lawsons and the train station.

Yumoto has a complimentary pickup and drop-off to and from the train station and they offer a free drop off at the snow monkey park 20 minutes earlier than the other accommodation in town so that you get the luxury of arriving at the park early, so you have the place to yourself for a length of time (it is a tourist attraction so gets busy).

Hotel Omodaka (Premium)

Hotel Omodaka, located in Yudanaka Onsen , has been loved by everyone as an inn with an open-air bath overlooking the Five Mountains of Hokushin . They offer a relaxing and peaceful time filled with the atmosphere of a hot spring . Owned and operated by an amazing family who make your time there a true authentic Japanese experience.

Rooms are larger than most in Yudanaka and predominately Japanese style. All twin/triple/quad share rooms come with private ensuite/bathroom and are Japanese-style with woven tatami floors and futon beds. The single supplement rooms come with toilets only and bathing is in the onsen complex.   All rooms have a flat screen TV, small fridge & kettle.  Your room also has a traditional Japanese wardrobe (Yakata), which is not mandatory to wear at this Hotel, although it is definitely comfortable attire after a day on the slopes.

Omodaka has a deluxe western room which are double the size of the Japanese style rooms at an extra cost and can house a maximum 4 people (2 x western beds and 2 x Japanese beds).   The Hotel has an indoor Japanese bathhouse (onsen) and outdoor hot spring (rotenburo) and there is also a sauna on sight which is rare in Yudanaka. The Hotel does not have clothes washing facilities however there is a public laundry a short walk away. 

Night-time meals are traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine served by your own private waiter in the hotel dining area. Breakfast (also included) is a buffet style mix of Japanese and Western dishes.  There are massage services available, free wi-fi throughout the Hotel, a bar and separate River Cafe that serves the best burgers in Japan (for those hankering for a non-Japanese meal), drinks vending machines, table tennis room and a souvenir shop.

Omodaka has a complimentary pickup and drop-off to and from the train station and they offer a free drop off at the snow monkey park 20 minutes earlier than the other accommodation in town so that you get the luxury of arriving at the park early, so you have the place to yourself for a length of time (it is a tourist attraction so gets busy).

Snow Monkey Guest House (Economy)

Coming soon is our new economy property called Snow Monkey Guest House which will cater for our more economy focused guests set in the heart of Yudanaka after renovation and due to be open mid November 2024.  We will be taking bookings for this property later in the year once we are certain of the opening date.

Yudanaka Township and Restaurants

Yudanaka sits at 600 metres above sea level and is a central hub for many ski resorts to be visited from. The area is well known for its onsens (hot springs) and it is said that over 1300 years ago a monk who visited the area discovered the healing quality of the water and the popularity of the region grew so much that the Samurai would come to repair their bodies in the rejuvenating waters.  The other attraction to the area is the world-renowned snow monkeys who have learnt to keep themselves warm in the natural onsen water. Although the town is visited by foreigners to visit the snow monkeys you will find the town relatively free of westerners when you eat out in the evenings during the week as many just come on day journeys.  And let’s not forget the wide array of traditional eating houses in Yudanaka which serve fresh local and regional produce.  In the past few years, the restaurant scene has expanded to include a number of new eateries which have a mix of Japanese and Western food to suit every palette.  A walk through historic Shibu Onsen town (where the popular Japanese movie Spirited Away was based) is also a must with its quaint shops, temples, shrines, foot onsens and authentic architecture.

Flexible Itinerary

NOTE:

This itinerary is a guide and we have the flexibility to adjust activities as situations arise. The tour is dictated by the weather each day and your instructor will fit around where the best conditions are to which ski resort we go to.  The beauty of a Japan Powder Culture Tours guided tour is that we are not constrained by relationships with resorts, our aim is to be flexible and follow the weather to allow all our customers goals to be met.  The set dinners and evening performances of the Geisha, Taiko Drum, Karate and Magic performances may vary on which night they fall on the 8-day tour due to overlap in bookings or other circumstances.

Day 1 Make your way to Yudanaka (home of the snow monkeys) on either the amazing rail system or a shuttle from Narita or Haneda airport and be picked up at the drop off points.  We need to know a minimum of one day in advance what time your shuttle arrives and what time you arrive to the Yudanaka train station so the Ryokan can have a shuttle van to pick you up.  The area has a history of over 1,300 years as a hot spring resort and more recently was put on the map due to the 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games.  You are treated like a rock star at the Ryokan with exceptional service, immaculate surroundings and food to die for.  We do not have the first night’s complimentary meal due to different arrival times briefing and setup of gear for guests, so instead we take the group to the sushi train restaurant or one of the many fine eating establishments in Yudanaka.

Day 2 Known as the birthplace of skiing in Japan, Shiga Kogen is the largest ski area in Asia with the highest lift access in Japan 2307 metres and has 18 interconnecting resorts.  Because Shiga is so large and elevated, fresh lines can be found days after a snowfall.  And because relatively few westerners have discovered this area the queues are almost non-existent, and another bonus is that very few Japanese ski off-piste.  We start your tuition here and we are usually on the snow by 9am.  After skiing and riding, why not try an onsen to sooth any aches and pains followed by a local beer or wine from the lounge bar.  Tonight, we will eat in house at the Ryokan Biyu so bring your camera and this is followed by an amazing Geisha performance by a third generation Geisha to the area.

Day 3 Madarao (Madapow) is another of the Japanese ski fields that does not attract the hordes of gaijin’s (foreigners).  This field seems to have its own microclimate and when it snows here it can be very light and deep.  Your tuition continues to bring you to a level that allows you to access new parts of the mountain.  On the way home we have the option to eat at one of the few Okonomiyaki restaurants in Nagano, which is a specialty from Osaka and Hiroshima. 

Day 4 After two days on the snow the new muscles you have used are fatigued and in our experience this is the day when there is a higher potential of injuries occur so it is time to rest so that you will be strong to finish the rest of the tour in style.  You may just decide to chill for the day; however we have a series of cultural side treats that will blow your mind.  These are outlined at the end of this flexible itinerary.

Day 5 After breakfast we will travel to Nozawa Onsen if the conditions are favourable for some more action on the snow.  With its 300 hectares of terrain and 50km means it the second largest resort on our itinerary next to Shiga Kogen.  Nozawa Onsen does get a lot of profile so can be much busier than the other resorts we go to so we try to time it so there will not be long lift lines or to many people on our precious powder.   If time permits at the end of the day, we will take a walk through Nozawa Onsen township and enjoy the many shops and eating treats.  After you dine out at one of the many outstanding restaurants around Yudanaka we have Magic show from Fred who is a "local foreigner" and performed magic for 30+years around the world.  The performance is something between great magic, fun comedy and silly stuff.The show will make you laugh and amaze you as well. The audience participation adds a bit of improvisation that brings a lot of surprise ! A truly enjoyable experience!

Day 6 Togakushi ski resort is on the menu today. This area is highly significant to the Japanese as it is the home of towering cedar trees and the Okusha Shrine sits at the base of Mt. Togakushi so some good walking shoes are required for our cultural side stash walk after the skiing.  Dinning is at your leisure around Yudanaka and if the timing and group is ready the signature Karaoke evening will happen.

Day 7 Old Faithfull as we affectionally know Shiga Kogen is back on the ski menu and if the conditions are right we will head to the highest lift elevation in a ski resort in Japan called Yokate.  The 360 degree views from the top are the best you will find anywhere in the world looking over the Nagano prefecture and if it is clear enough you can also view Mt Fuji which is Japan’s highest peak at 3776 metres.  Your last night you will be dinning in house at Ryokan Biyu and for your final night’s entertainment participate in a Karate performance and teaching session from one of Japan’s Grand Masters champions followed by a taiko drum, shamisen guitar and lion dance performance.

Day 8 It’s is time to bid farewell to our fabulous hosts at the Ryokan Biyu.  No visit is complete to Yudanaka without some interaction with the famous “Snow Monkey’s”.  This is the only place in the world you can see the snow monkey soaking in natural hot pools up close and personal.

 Self-Guided Cultural Excursions

Here are a number of options for those that either have a scheduled rest day or for those that have ascertained they need to rest to lower the probability of injury.  We have a very rich cultural area with so many options that will give you that truly authentic Japanese ski experience that we at JPC Tours know are unique to this area and in our opinion cannot be replicated at any other ski resorts around Japan.  Maps and train schedules are all provided for these cool adventures.  Please Note: these are all achievable daily excursions; however you can chop and change them to suit how much time you would like to stay at each venue.

Option 1 (Snow Monkey – Shibu Onsen – Obuse Town)

8.30am leave from Biyu to snow monkey park on complimentary shuttle.  Walk to park through national forest.  Stop at Enza café at the start of the track after viewing monkeys for a hot drink and snack.  Walk to the Sake Museum then down through Shibu Onsen town (this area is over 1300 years old and is where the Samurai used to bath to rejuvenate and where the famous Japanese movie “Spirited Away” was based) then to the worlds tallest bronze Buddhist statue. Take the 12.31pm train to Obuse that arrives at 12.53 and a short walk to Obuse Town.  Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town. Take the 17.11 train to arrive back at Yudanaka train station at 17.33.

Option 2 (Snow Monkey – Obuse Town – Zenkoji Temple in Nagano)

8.30 leave from Biyu to snow monkey park on complimentary shuttle.  Walk to park through national forest.  Stop at Enza café at the start of the track after viewing monkeys for a hot drink and snack.  Pickup at 10.20 from start of monkey park to be transported to train station to take the 10.50 train to Obuse that arrives 11.12 for a short walk to Obuse Town.  Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town and have lunch at the many quality restaurants. Take the local 13.55 train from Obuse to arrive at Nagano 14.30.  Exit the train and make way your way to ground level on the west exit of station.  Take the Zenkoji bus to the temple.  Nagano is the only temple city in Japan which means the temple was built first and the city afterwards.  Purchase a ticket in the temple to do the underground chamber tour under the temple to find the gate to eternity and make sure you look in the large mirror when you exit to be born again.  Take the walk from the Zenkoji Temple to the train station (Many cool shops and restaurants along the way) and either travel back to Yudanaka on the 18.00 express train or dine in Nagano and take the 19.40 express train. 

Option 3 (Obuse Town - Zenkoji Temple and Olympic Museum in Nagano)

Take the 8.39 train from Yudanaka to arrive at Obuse at 9.14 for a short walk to Obuse Town.  Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town.  Take the 11.12 or 11.56 express train from Obuse to arrive at Nagano either 11.36 or 12.30.  Exit the Yudanaka express train and make way to ground level on the west exit of station.  Time for lunch either at the Midori train complex or at the many street restaurants close to train station.  Take the Zenkoji bus to the temple from the west exit.  Nagano is the only temple city in Japan which means the temple was built first and the city afterwards.  Purchase a ticket in the temple to do the underground chamber tour under the temple to find the gate to eternity and also the ticket for the Zenkoji Museum which is behind the Zenkoji Temple.  Take the walk from the Zenkoji Temple to the train station (many cool shops and restaurants along the way).  Another great place to visit is the M-Wave which is where the Olympic Museum is and the long course speed skating facility which is still in operation.  An amazing building with the largest wood suspended ceiling in the world.  Would need to get a taxi from train station to this venue.  Option to take the 18.00 express train back to Yudanaka or stay for dinner in Nagano and get the 19.40 train from Nagano which arrives in Yudanaka at 20.29.   

8 day - 7 night 5 day ski fully instructed and culture tours

beginner and Novice skiers

guided Tour Dates

5% Off tours booked before 31st July 2024

guided Tour Cost

Deluxe Ryokan Yumoto

¥359,000 pp twin share

¥349,000 pp triple/quad share

(Single occupancy upgrade ¥49,000)

Premium Hotel Omodaka

¥339,000 pp twin share

¥329,000 pp triple/quad share

(Single occupancy upgrade ¥35,000. Upgrade to single deluxe western room ¥56,000 per person)

Economy Snow Monkey Guest House (Pending opening late November 2024)

¥319,000 pp twin share

¥309,000 pp triple/quad share

(Single occupancy upgrade ¥28,000)

guided Tour Dates

3rd to 10th Dec 2024 AVAILABLE

11th to 18th Dec 2024 AVAILABLE

19th to 26th Dec 2024 AVAILABLE

27th Dec to 3rd Jan 2025 (holiday rates apply) AVAILABLE

4th to 11th Jan 2025 AVAILABLE

14th to 21st Jan 2025 AVAILABLE

24th to 31st Jan 2025 AVAILABLE

3rd to 10th Feb 2025 AVAILABLE

13th to 20th Feb 2025 AVAILABLE

23rd Feb to 2nd March 2025 AVAILALBE

5th to 12th March 2025 AVAILABLE

13th to 20th March 2025 AVAILABLE

(please enquire for tours between 21st March and 15th April 2025 and over this period the cultural evenings are based around a minimum of 8 guests so if we do not attain that number the events do not proceed and the cost is refunded to guests). 

Click here for a full pdf pack which includes tour details, FAQ's, pre trip information, reviews, terms and conditions and customer information spreadsheet.

Old Faithful POW Day

From a guest perspective