Japan
Feb 7 to 21 2009
朝日の土地はスキーをする
Ski The Land of The Rising Sun
Get your booking in fast as places will be limited for this trip. Unlike most Japanese trips which are fly in, ski, fly out, this is Ski Japan Snoworks style. You get a taste of everything. Tokyo, culture, travel and skiing four top Japanese resorts spanning the North and South Islands.
Here are the three top reasons why skiing in Japan is a must.
Snow
Literally masses of it! In the north island of Hokkaido there is an average yearly snowfall of up to 15 metres! The cold air blows in from Siberia across the Sea of Japan and that brings powder and plenty of it!
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Skiing the powder in Furano - Photo: Japan National Tourist Organisation
Resorts
80% of Japans landmass is mountainous. Choice is in abundance with over 700 ski resorts. That's more ski resorts then any other country in the world. We've combined both the south and north islands covering 4 of the best ski resorts in Japan,
Nozawa Onsen, Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano.
Niseko Ski resort with Mt Yotei in the background.
Photo: Japan National Tourist Organisation
Japanese Culture
Experience something completely different to western culture. Stay in a Ryokan, sleep on a 'futon', take in some Sushi, ride the high tech 'bullet train' from Tokyo to Nozawa Onsen, relax in a Sento and soak up the atmosphere in Tokyo.
  
Photos: Japan National Tourist Organisation
 Hi, I'm Phil Smith, Snoworks director and instructor and I'll be hosting and teaching on this amazing trip to experience some of the best skiing in Japan. I represented Britain at the Interski Congress in Nozawa Onsen, one of the resorts we'll be visiting. Lee Townend my colleague and Snoworks instructor has put together the ultimate Japanese Adventure in conjunction with our 'Japan specialists' combining all the ingredients to make this a truly memorable trip. Click on my photo for a short biography.
I'll be available to ski with you all day everyday we're on the snow, on and off piste operating in a 'coaching role' to make the most of Japan's legendary snow. That's the equivalent of more then 3 full 'All Terrain' courses included in the price!
ITINERARY
DAY 01 FEB 7
DEPART FROM LONDON HEATHROW
Fly London Heathrow to Tokyo Narita. International flights are not included in the price to allow for flexibility. Recommended flights are listed below the itinerary.
DAY 02 FEB 8
ARRIVE TOKYO
We'll take a private minibus to our hotel and have the afternoon and evening in Tokyo with overnight accommodation at the Hotel Cerulean (B&B). The hotel is situated in the Shibuya district with easy access to local trains and ideally situated to explore Tokyo.
DAY 03 FEB 9
EXPLORE TOKYO
We've included a full day to explore Tokyo, a city where east and west clash, old and new compete, a city of contrasts which mesmerises and captivates with high tech buildings and Shinto Shines. A bustling city home to over 12 million people and the busiest city in the world! You could keep occupied for a week but we will cram the whole experience into one day.
We've organised a private minibus and our own local guide, including visits to Hamarikyu Gardens, the Asakusa Temple, the Sumida River Cruise, a Tempura lunch in Ginza, an act at the Kabuki-Za theatre, and for those who fancy it some shopping at the famous Odaiba waterfront. Then stay a second night at the Cerulean Hotel with a night out in Tokyo.
DAY 04 FEB 10
BULLET TRAIN TO NOSAWA ONSEN
We take the famous Bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano. It's fast! Followed by bus transfer to Nozawa Onsen.
We've opted to stay in Ryokan Sakaya in Nozawa Onsen, a traditional Japanese inn to get the 'real taste' of Japan so get ready for futons, sushi, hot springs and Kimono's! Accommodation is on a half board basis and we'll be able to experience a real taste of Japanese culture.
The cold air blows in from Siberia across the Sea of Japan and that brings powder and plenty of it! Photo: Japan National Tourist Organisation
DAY 05 FEB 11
DAY 06 FEB 12
DAY 07 FEB 13
SKI NOZAWA ONSEN
We've included three days skiing at
Nozawa Onsen. One of the largest and most famous ski resorts in Japan. Nozawa combines the traditional Japanese way of life with a modern skiing infrastructure. The village was one of the first ski resorts to operate in Japan and has a famous history. Hannes Schneider from Austria came to Nozawa Onsen in 1930 and taught the techniques of Arlberg skiing. This boosted the popularity of the sport in Japan and established Nozawa as one of Japans top ski resorts. There's masses of skiing on and off piste.
Phil Smith, Snoworks Director in Nozawa Onsen with the British Demonstration Ski Team at the 1995 'Interski Congress'.
DAY 08 FEB 14
NOZAWA ONSEN TO HOKKAIDO
We leave Nozawa and take the high speed Bullet Train back to Tokyo and fly to the North Island of Hokkaido. Here we transfer to Niseko where we'll be meet by Tina our own private host for this part of the trip who will be on hand to translate, advise and help us get the maximum benefit from our stay.
DAY 09 FEB 15
DAY 10 FEB 16
SKI NISEKO
We've included 2 days skiing in this Japanese skiing mecca. The wind blows in from Siberia across the sea of Japan hits the Niseko mountain and explodes, dumping tons and tons of light dry powder! Niseko is made up of three interconnecting villages, Annupuri, Grand Hirafu and Higashiyama with a total of 38 ski lifts. If you have any energy left at the end of the day then you can keep skiing into the night as Niseko has possibly the best night skiing in the world. Imagine skiing light crisp powder at 8 in the evening!
...and if your limbs are a little weary after all of that then you can soak in one of Niseko's many natural hot springs.
 Skiing powder in the North Island of Hokkaido
Photo: Japan National Tourist Organisation
We've opted to stay in the hotel Alpen whilst in Niseko, a first class hotel with excellent amenities. We've opted for B&B giving us the opportunity to eat out and experience some of the fabulous restaurants and cuisine.
DAY 11 FEB 17
SKI RUSUTSU
We take a trip across to nearby Rusutsu, another one of Japans top ski destinations. With the skiing spread across three mountains there's plenty of skiing with 4 gondolas, 7 quads, and 8 double chairlifts. Hopefully another day in the light dry Japanese powder for which Rusutsu is renowned with some amazing tree skiing. Overnight at the Hotel Alpen (B & B).
DAY 12 FEB 18
DAY 13 FEB 19
DAY 14 FEB 20
SKI FURANO
We Transfer to Furano and ski the first afternoon and following two days. Furano is situated in the centre of Hokkaido and we're talking up to 8 metres of annual snowfall! There are strict rules for off piste skiing in Furano so we may link up with a local guide to experience the best Furano has.
View from Furano - Photo: Japan National Tourist Organisation
For backcountry skiing we can head off to one of the three nearby mountains of Mt. Tokachidake, Mt. Asahidake, and Mt. Kurodake providing skiers with the ultimate mountain and powder skiing experience. Tokachidake is translated as 'Playground of the Gods' so you can imagine what the skiing is like here.
We'll be staying in the Phytoncide Guest House with H/B included. The Phytoncide is in a class of its own among the small hotels in Furano. A luxurious place to stay just a few minutes walk from the ski hill and yet seemingly in a world of its own tucked into the woods.
DAY 15 FEB 21
RETURN TO UK
We transfer to Chitose airport take the internal flight to Tokyo and onto London.
DAY 16 FEB 21
Arrive UK
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