Snowboarding In Japan (DELUXE)

They landed at New Chitose Airport near Sapporo. First useful tip: Use the luggage delivery service (takkyubin) . For about $20, their snowboard bags were sent directly to the hotel. They traveled light on the bus to Niseko, watching farmland turn into snow-covered hills.

A storm rolled in overnight—60 cm. Resorts closed upper lifts due to wind, so they found a sidecountry spot near Juhachigoe (a pass between Furano and Tomamu) with a local guide. Using splitboards, they earned their turns. The silence in the birch forest was broken only by the whoosh of fresh snow sliding under their boards. Maya finally understood why people say Japan snowboarding is a spiritual experience. snowboarding in japan

Rest day with a twist: morning snowmobiling in the Niseko backcountry with a guide (reduces avalanche risk and teaches you the terrain). Afternoon: miso ramen in Kutchan town, the local hub outside the resort bubble. Much cheaper and equally delicious. They landed at New Chitose Airport near Sapporo

That night, they ate soup curry —a Hokkaido specialty—and genghis khan (grilled lamb). Useful food tip: Many restaurants in Hirafu require reservations during peak season; otherwise, be prepared to wait 1+ hours. They traveled light on the bus to Niseko,