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    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
        mead brewing in japan

        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
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        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
        sea to table yamagata

        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Near Tokyo
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
      • ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokka...

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
        togari onsen outdoor japan

        Northern Shinshu’s Secret Stash

        A weak yen, revenge travel, and excellent ski conditions have led to high demand, booking out popular resorts like Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen this year. Fortunately, lesser-known gems like Togari Onsen, near Nozawa Onsen and Madarao, offer charming alternatives for powder seekers.
    • Travel
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Food and Drinks
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Races and Events
      • sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.

        Winter News and Notes

        Check out the latest news and winter events held at ski resorts all over Japan in 2024!
        dd4d brewing

        DD4D Brewing

        In nearly e...

The 21-Day Wasabi Powder Diet

Two Dutch powder junkies enjoy their first taste of fresh “Wasabi Powder.”

Big, white, fluffy snowflakes dance through a pitch-black sky as 1,287 light towers illuminate the deserted runs of Niseko. It is 8 p.m., and most skiers are enjoying frosty glasses of Sapporo or Asahi beer at one of Hirafu Village’s cosy pubs or restaurants. We are on a different high, however, getting our fill of Japan’s legendary “wasabi powder.” The massive light towers make the visibility even better than daylight, while the eerie, elongated shadows of birch trees appear to bring the forest to life.

In this magical, three-dimensional dream world we fly through the feather-light powder. Niseko boasts an average of six days of snowfall a week, 15 meters in a season that lasts just three-and-a-half months. This is not roulette; you are nearly guaranteed to hit the jackpot here.

Next up on our tour is Rusutsu. Clouds cover the valley like a woolly blanket, with imposing, steep mountains rising above. We drop into a large powder field where heavenly powder awaits. The snow is so dry that our spray remains visible like a cloud of smoke in the air. Euphorically, we ski toward the ski lift and, as always, we are hungry for more.

In the afternoon, we head into Rusutsu’s famous Japanese birch forests which look like a wintry jungle with twisting branches covered in snow. We soar down in conditions that only seem to exist in the ski movies. The snow is so light, it’s virtually impossible to breathe.

Our next stop is Asahidake, the famous powder playground situated in the heart of the north island, an area known as the Hokkaido Powder Belt, along with the ski areas Furano, Kamui Ski Links and Tomamu. This region is home to the driest snow in Japan, which suits our tastes just fine.

We hop into the Asahidake gondola, built to bring hikers to this active volcano in summer. In winter, the gondola runs every 20 minutes, providing access to large quantities of fresh powder. The continually falling snow prevents us from seeing the volcano, but we find plenty of action in the back bowl, which we nicknamed “Mi-so deep.”

Having worked up a ravenous appetite, we sit down for a bowl of steaming udon noodles, which we loudly slurp in keeping with Japanese custom. The healthy and delicious Japanese food has had a positive influence on our trip and, in no time, our diet consists of miso, rice, noodles and other local delicacies.

Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan’s largest national park, is situated in the middle of Hokkaido, a relatively unexplored region. On a clear day, you can see smoke from the active volcanoes of Tokachidake and Asahidake, and you can even ski into the crater.

We hook up with New Zealander Chuck Olbury, the owner of Hokkaido Powder Guides, who has a delicious dessert in store for us: a tour through a 700-year-old spruce forest in Daisetsuzan National Park. We immediately understand why Daisetsuzan is known as “the playground of the gods  .” The snow there is divine.

After yet another day of powder, it’s time to soak up some après action. Although it is -20 degrees Celsius outside, we get out of our ski clothes as quickly as possible. My bare feet sting in the snow before stepping into the scorching onsen. Chuck is already comfortably sitting in the 48-degree Celsius water and drinking a beer. He takes a sip and laughs as we rowdily try to get used to the hot water. When we have finally acclimatized, Chuck tells us more about Japanese hot springs.

“The Japanese believe onsen have healing powers because of the minerals they contain. It is physically and mentally cleansing and relaxing,” he says.

We soak in the hot water and enjoy a cold beer. In my mind, I relive the day’s infinite powder and realize we’ve been spoiled by 21 days in a row of fresh snow.

The Land of the Rising Sun and falling snow has endured its share of disasters over the years. Yet the Japanese proverb, “Nana korobi ya oki,” which literally translates to “Fall down seven times, get up eight,” expresses the great resilience of the Japanese people. This ability to bounce back when life knocks you down is an admirable quality of a culture that values personal responsibility, hard work, modesty and community.

For us westerners, Japan is a country of quirky idiosyncrasies, such as heated toilet seats, adults with Hello Kitty clothing, funny “Engrish” signs and vending machines selling beer. For snow lovers, the culture, the cuisine and the wonderful people are icing on the cake of an incredible ski experience.

Traveler’s Tips

Places to Stay

Most resorts offer a nice variety of accommodations to fit any budget and have great service. If you can, we highly recommend spending a night in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and experience sleeping on futons and enjoying delicious Japanese cuisine. Here are some of our favorites.

Niseko Boutiques are comfortable, modern and luxurious apartments located in the center of Hirafu Village. Asahi Lodge is a tastefully designed, fully furnished chalet that sleeps 10, complete with its own car, sauna and spectacular views.

Rusutsu Resort has a huge family style hotel right on the slopes, with a beautiful onsen, several restaurants and even a carousel in the lobby.

Hoshino Resort Tomamu has large corner rooms with Jacuzzi overlooking the slopes. Après-ski starts in the wave pool, the beautiful outdoor hot spring or with a stroll through the impressive Ice Village.

Furano Tsuru Apartments are brand new, western-style apartments located just a five-minute walk from the lift.

Kamui Ski Links: While there are accommodations here, the ski area is also easily accessible from Furano.

Asahidake Kamihoro-so is an authentic Japanese hotel with a beautiful wooden onsen and elaborate meals (breakfast and dinner). Great value for money.

Daisetsuzan The Northern Star Lodge near Furano serves as a good spot to explore the national park. Weekly rates for just $420.

Backcountry Tours

Hokkaido Powder Guides can arrange one-day or multi-day guided tours to many of Hokkaido’s best powder zones.

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