THE ULTIMATE JAPAN SKI SAFARI

The skiing and boarding opportunities in Japan have been a talking point in the winter-sports community for some years now. The main message we’re getting from the pictures and vids is POWDER! Amazing, light, snorkel-deep powder – the stuff that skiers’ dreams are made of.

But – while it’s true that the powder skiing and boarding is mind-blowing – many of the growing number of people who keep going back to Japan, winter after winter, perhaps not having expected to on their first trip, come for the snow but stay for Japan’s many other less well publicised attractions.

That’s the spirit behind the brilliant Ultimate Japan Ski Safari from the experts in this type of holiday worldwide, Ski Safari.

Yes, this incredible trip will take you to some of the best skiing and boarding you’ve ever had, but it will also introduce Japan’s many other attractions including the amazing cultural experiences offered by the vast capital Tokyo (modern) or the ancient city of Kyoto (Japan’s former imperial capital). You’ll also enjoy the onsen culture, particularly in the hot springs of Nozawa Onsen (some of which are famously popular with the local monkey population too), and you’ll enjoy the wonderful cuisine and exceptional hospitality which Japan also offers.

But first to that incredible skiing and boarding, because first and foremost the Ultimate Japan Ski Safari offers the very best of Japan’s amazing snowsports opportunities to those who don’t want the usual problem when heading to Japan – needing to choose between the “wild north” island of Hokkaido, home to world-famous Niseko, and the famous Olympic ski region of Nagano on the main island – they want to do it ALL.

And they don’t want to be restricted to the slopes and the group guided tours; they want the best back-country guiding in Hokkaido with local experts to take them to the very best off-piste areas in Japan as well as cat-skiing, touring and just hunting out the best powder during their stay. That’s what the Ultimate Japan Ski Safari is all about.

All of Ski Safari’s trips are completely customisable, and you can alter the itinerary to suit your preferences. The company has created a sample two-week itinerary you can view online, but you can alter it any which way you like, perhaps spending more time on one island than the other or soaking up the culture in the cities – perhaps visiting the geisha district in Kyoto and tasting your way along Pontocho restaurant alley. You can even follow the selected route in reverse if the fancy takes you.

Tokyo is a must-visit and the draft Ultimate Japan Ski Safari itinerary includes your last (or first) two nights here experiencing Tokyo’s malls, fish markets and neon cityscapes. The Oriental Bazaar is particularly good for gifts, and you can rely on Tokyo’s food scene for a last taste of yakitori, ramen noodles and fresh sushi before heading home (or, if you’re doing the trip backwards, heading off to the historic ski centre of Nozawa Onsen to start the skiing part of your holiday).

If you are a committed skier/boarder, you do really have to go to Japan at some point, and with the Ultimate Japan Ski Safari ticking every box for the perfect Japanese ski trip, then why not now! 

More info: skisafari.com/ski-safaris/japan/ultimate-japan-ski-safari