ESS Japan Snow Trips
We at ESS and Whiteroom Tours are looking forward to showing you the best Hokkaido has to offer. From deserted powder filled resorts you or mates haven’t even heard of, to secret natural onsens and those special little restaurants that serve food to die for! We know our stuff when it comes to Hokkaido and we’re sure you won’t leave disappointed.
You Can download the Booking form here;
ESS Japan Tour Booking Form (491.2 KiB, 311 hits)
This is ESS’s 4th year running these tours. They’ve sampled the goods in Central Hokkaido year after year and now we want to share this untouched powder heaven with YOU. This is truly a snow experience not to be missed:
- 3 unique mountains
- no lift lines (even on a powder day)
- fresh tracks till last lifts
- light dry powder
- more blue-bird powder days then anywhere
in Hokkaido
- a true Japanese cultural experience
- great restaurants and bars
Why Whiteroom Tours?
Whiteroom Tours offer unique powder programs, tours and packages to destinations around the world. We were founded by passionate skiers and snowboarders who actually can ski and ride and know the resorts because they have been there. Furano is one of those destinations – we know the spots only the locals know about!
Whiteroom Tours is a licensed travel agent and tour operator (VIC license no: 32933). We are also members in the Travel Compensation Fund, ensuring that your purchases are secure and safe.
Our vast range of competitively priced retail travel services include: International snow holiday bookings, travel insurance issuance, international airfare bookings to all destinations, and much more.
Furano
Furano contains some of the best tree skiing in Hokkaido, with easy to access steep faces, mellow glades, and gullies full of hits for skiers and snowboarders.
Furano ski resort lies at the very centre of Hokkaido and is renowned for its long runs, magnificent views and the ever present Hokkaido powder, with falls of up to 9 metres per season on average. Furano resort has been the venue for world cup races with many of the worlds great skiers having tested its steep and fast ski runs.
Furano has 12 lifts including a 3km 6 person gondola and a 2.4km cable car which is the fastest lift in Japan and carries 101 skiers up the hill in 5 minutes at 10m/second.
While not getting as much powder as Niseko, you’ll find more sunny days and the colder temperatures give superb quality snow. When its on, it is quite simply the best. Add to this the distinct lack of crowds and express lifts that take you to the top of 3.5km runs in a little over ten minutes and you have a recipe for leg burning skiing.
Tomamu
Tomamu strikes a cord with all who ride its mountains. With arguably the best in-bounds powder skiing in Hokkaido you’ll be wanting to come back for more or even just another visit to have a swim in its huge indoor swimming complex.
Located just over 1 hour south of Furano, Mt.. Tomamu at 1239m, offers skiers and snowboarders a wide variety of runs catering to all abilities. With 11 lifts, Tomamu has some great options. It also offers skiers and boarders an awesome park and off-piste section which is roped off from the rest of the crowd. You have to sign a waiver form and wear a bib and helmet before you go in, but you get an extensive area filled with hits, glades and drops all to yourself.
Tomamu offers both heli and cat skiing for those who want to venture out to find their own fresh lines. We can also arrange guided backcountry tours if you’d like to explore the backside of Tomamu.
Kamui Ski Links
Kamui is a small ski resort set on its own, 1.5 hours north of Furano. With 7 lifts accessing a network of wide open cruises as well as powder filled trees and gullies, you’ll feel like your riding your own private mountain as crowds here a virtually non-existent. Combine that with one of Japan’s most open ski area policies, and there is enough here to suit every kind of skier and boarder.
Guides
ESS staff members along with Whiteroom guides, Paul and Tawny, will be showing you around the mountains they know like the back of their hands. With their extensive knowledge of Hokkaido and 40+ years of skiing and snowboarding experience between them, they’ll make sure your tour runs smoothly and you leave with a smile on your face.
Accommodation
For our tours we have selected comfortable accommodation with all the amenities you would come to expect. In Furano we are staying at North Country Inn.
North Country Inn is located 15 minutes walk from Furano ski hill. It has both traditional Japanese and Western style rooms. All rooms have en-suites; shared onsen style bathing is also available. Facilities include 2 dining restaurants, winery, lounge/bar with satellite TV, rental cars, foreign exchange, wireless internet, souvenirs, common laundry, ski hire, regular guest shuttle to the ski lifts and daily tours.
Check out www.northcountryinnfurano.com for more information.
Meals
A welcome dinner party, dinner on the night of arrival and all breakfasts are included in the price. Lunches are the responsibility of the client. Suitable snacks and cheap lunches (bento boxes) can be bought from 7-11 convenience stores. On days when we are near a town or ski hill at lunch time we can visit one of the very good local restaurants or eat at the mountain eateries. These are cheap, ranging from $5 – $20 a meal.
Furano and Kitanomine have over 100 restaurants and bars with everything ranging from small cafes, and cottages in the woods, to stone built restaurants and open fire charcoal BBQ restaurants. There are many quaint & quirky bars and as well as some great relaxing bars where locals gather for a quite drink. Karaoke bars can also be found if you want to partake of one of Japan’s most interesting of past-times.
Transportation
A comfortable coach will take you directly to your hotel from Chitose airport and from Furano to the airport. All daily shuttle transportation to each ski area is provided by Alpine Travel and Whiteroom Tours.
Visas and Insurance
All Australian nationals traveling to Japan will be able to get a tourist visa valid for three months upon entry. If you don’t hold an Australia passport please check with a Japanese embassy in your home country. All tour participants must have adequate travel insurance to cover snow and adventure related activities.
Whiteroom Tours can arrange comprehensive travel insurance at highly competitive prices. The policy offered provides cover for all the tours scheduled activities.
We recommend that you read the product disclosure statement for this product before making the decision to purchase this insurance, and to ensure that it is suitable to your needs.
Japanese culture
The best way to learn about a culture is to experience it. If you keep your eyes peeled you should be able to pick up cultural intricacies and act accordingly. The locals understand it is not your culture but please always try and be as respectful and humble as you can, just as you would hope a guest to your hometown would be.
Dates & Prices
Powder Tour – 10 nights
Group 1) 16 Jan – 27 Jan
Group 2) 7 Feb – 18 Feb
Group 3) 20 Feb – 3 Mar
January Tour – $3699*
February Tours – $3585*
Early bird booking discount available. $80 discount. Booking and full payment required by September 30.
*Prices subject to airfare availablity, taxes and exchange rates fluctuations. See terms and conditions.
Tour inclusions
Return Airfares flying Qantas
Transfers to/from Sapporo Chitose Airport with meet and greet
10 nights accommodation in North Country Inn Furano
2 day Furano VIP tour
6 Furano lift tickets
1 day Kamui VIP tour (lift ticket incl.)
1 day Tomamu VIP tour (lift ticket incl.)
1 flexi day (chill out or choose to ride any resort you wish; cat-skiing; off-piste/backcountry tour – not included in price)
Welcome dinner party
First nights dinner at North Country Inn
Hot daily breakfast
Onsen Tour
Options:
- Tokyo & Kyoto stopover package
- Single upgrade
- Fully guided backcountry/off-piste tour
- Heli or Cat skiing at Tomamu (must be booked, and paid for before September)
- Snowmobiling tours
What’s not included?
Not included in the price of the tour:
• Dinners and Lunches
• Activities on flexi-days
• Transfers between Narita & Haneda airports (¥3500 one way)
Booking
Please register your interest at your local store or fill in the attached booking for and get in contact with Paul Ellis at Whiteroom Tours.
ph: 03 9005-6763
mob: 0412-797-058
email: paul@whiteroomtours.com
