The Japow Dream

Day 1 marks the start of our mountain journey. We gather in Nagano before driving together to Hakuba, our home base for the coming days. Here, we’ll check into a charming ski lodge, simple and cozy, packed with history, and in an unbeatable location just steps from the lifts. In the evening, we’ll sit down for our welcome dinner, and then the guides will have a safety briefing and trip orientation. We'll review the latest weather and snow reports to map out the best strategy for our first days on the mountain. Tip: If you're traveling from afar, we highly recommend arriving in Japan a couple of days early to explore Tokyo. It’s a city of incredible contrasts - where hyper-modern skyscrapers seamlessly give way to narrow, historic alleyways where time seems to stand still.

We dive straight into the 'Japow' dream. The Hakuba Valley will be our playground for the next few days, and our mission is crystal clear: to hunt down the deepest, highest-quality snow. With two Norwegian ski guides and a local Japanese guide, we have ultimate flexibility to adjust our plans based on daily conditions. One day might be spent laying down deep turns through the dense birch forests of Cortina, while the next takes us up to steep, alpine lines above Happo-One or Tsugaike. To make the most of every single day, we mix lift-accessed freeriding—giving us massive vertical drop—with short ski-touring bootpacks and skin tracks that open up untracked powder fields. After long, action-packed days on the mountain, we wrap things up the true Japanese way: a soothing, well-deserved soak in a local onsen to relax tired legs, followed by steaming bowls of ramen, fresh sushi, and crispy gyozas.

After four big days of skiing, your legs will definitely appreciate a break. Day 6 is built for rest, travel, and soaking in local culture - though with three guides on hand, we can easily split up if anyone wants another day skiing. This day serves as a strategic move: we leave Hakuba behind and head toward Nagano, unlocking a whole new zone with even more terrain to explore. En route, we’ll stop for an iconic Japanese experience at the famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, where Japanese macaques bathe in natural hot springs. From there, we can continue to Nozawa Onsen, a traditional village steeped in deep ski heritage and famous for its public bathhouses (sotoyu). Here, you’ll get a real taste of authentic onsen culture alongside a traditional lunch. The plan is not set 100% but the options are many and we will make a good plan together. It’s the perfect chance to recharge, take it all in, and gear up for the final three days of skiing. This mid-trip break is designed to let you recharge, process the adventure so far, and prime your body for the final three days of high-intensity freeriding in the Japanese Alps.

Refreshed from our cultural interlude, we relocate to the Myoko Kogen region - an area legendary for recording some of the highest snowfall totals in all of Japan. Days 7 and 8 are dedicated to what Myoko does best: bottomless tree skiing. We’ll navigate the various resorts within the region, such as Suginohara or Akakura Kanko, utilizing the lift systems as a springboard to skin deep into the endless backcountry. With the staggering volume of snow this area receives, our focus remains on finding the deepest, most untouched lines far away from the crowds. Every day here is an opportunity to push further into the terrain, and if the spirit is willing, the afternoon can be capped off with a soak in Myoko’s local hot springs for total recovery. This is the ultimate reset before our final push, ensuring you are fully restored and ready for the legendary Japow that defines this region.

Today marks our final session in the Japanese Alps. We’ll make the most of the morning, heading exactly where the conditions are peaking to claim those last, magical powder turns. To wrap up an incredible week, we’ll gather for one last farewell dinner - a chance to toast to the memories made, the deep turns shared, and the new friendships formed in the heart of the mountains

After a final Japanese breakfast, it’s time to head home. Of course, for many, the pull of the mountains is too strong - if you’ve extended your stay to squeeze in a few more days of legendary skiing, we can’t say we blame you! Whether you’re heading to the airport or continuing your exploration of Japan, we thank you for joining us on this journey. We’re heading home with heavy legs and incredible memories, and we can’t wait to see you back in the deep stuff again soon