Lessons Learned - Japan 2025
Japan, famous for samurai, sushi, sake, sumo, and snow. Lots and lots of snow. 60% of the country receives more than 1.5 meters of snow every winter. Hakuba and Niseko are the two ski destinations best known to foreign visitors, but there are over 500 operating ski areas - from the big resorts to single run rope tows.
All of my ski experience has been on the northern island of Hokkaido, and before this trip was concentrated even further to the backcountry near Niseko. This was my first trip back since Covid.
We spent a week at Niseko, skiing with our friends Tracy and Mika who own Niseko Mountain Guides and Lodge. Then we bumped over to Otaru for three nights to ski at Kiroro. Finally we based ourselves in Asahikawa for five nights to be positioned for Furano and the Asahidake Ropeway.
Here’s what I learned and would use for next year:
While still not at the early 1990 numbers, the ski areas and sidecountry are more popular than ever. I heard a ski guide say that skiing inbounds had more hazard and risk than the backcountry. Be prepared with realistic expectations - just like home, the closer you are to a lift the more people you will share the mountain with.
Fat skis work! We brought our actual powder skis and weren’t disappointed.
Kirah brought her lite weight boot driers. And shared. Legend.
Use one ski bag per person. We insisted on fitting everything into one ski bag and one roller bag. It worked, but it was a lot of tight tetris work to pack. It would have been easier if we each had our own ski bag for gear and clothes.
Roller bags rock. What you loose in kilos/pounds available is made up for by convenience moving about. Have a roller equipped ski bag is a must for me, and this trip convinced me all over again.
Consider shipping your skis and enjoy a day in Tokyo, or arrive early to your destination and make it a prep day. Yamato Transport, with its distinctive black cat logo, delivers ski bags for a flat overnight rate to any address - like your first hotel or lodge. They have a desk immediately outside of baggage claim in Haneda International. The reverse itinerary works too, if you have a Tokyo address to pick them up from.
Use the trains. Instead of flying from Tyoko to Sapporo, next year I’m going to take the bullet train to Hokadate (4 hours). Niseko is almost train time equidistant between New Chitose (Sapporo) Airport and Hokadate - about 2 hours.
More about trains and buses. The language and cultural barrier makes it a bit harder than the Alps, but the trains and buses can be every bit as useful. If you’re going to spend a week sidecountry in Niseko or Furano, all you need is the train. In Otaru you’ll want to use the bus for Kiroro, but make reservations as far out as you can - the first (and second) and last bus of the day fill up fast! Also, a lot of the municipal buses accessing local ski destinations don’t appear on google. Find a destination and look for the “access” tab for bus directions.
If you want to focus on backcountry, you’ll need a car. And if you want a car, you’ll need an International Drivers Permit, easily picked up from your local AAA office in the US. Do not believe Avis USA when they tell you it’s not needed. In fact, don’t rent from a foreign company. Rent from Toyota rentals. Just be ready to drive on the left side of the road.
Remember it’s going to be cold. 6 days out of 7 stay below freezing from December to February in Hokkaido - at sea level. Bring long underwear. I ski in a belay jacket.
Give yourself some extra time and grace for mistakes in language, culture, and travel. Smart phones and translate apps haven’t made it all easy, just easier.
Japan uses the same plugs outlets as we do, just at 100 amps instead of 120. Most modern electronics can handle the lower current. I had no trouble all with my tablet and phone. No adapters needed. They do use three prong plugs less often, so consider bringing a hardware store adapter for your laptop.
Japan was everything that I had hoped for. It was fantastic skiing, incredible culture, and it was awesome to catch up friends. We were talking about coming back next year before this year was anywhere close to being over.
Photos of the trip are over on Instagram.
