Open trip · Advanced riders only
Days are set by the weather, not the calendar. Mornings on the hill, afternoons in the trees, evenings in the onsen.
Created by: 
Lara
10 days chasing storms across central Hokkaido.
Base in Asahikawa, ride Kamui, Furano and Asahidake on rotation, and move up to the Daisetsuzan range for the tightest storm window of the trip. No guides, no packages — just five riders, a 4WD, a forecast app, and the flexibility to be wherever the snow is falling.
Days are set by the weather, not the calendar.
Rider level
Hokkaido tree runs punish intermediate riders. If you are not comfortable riding knee-deep between trees at pace — this is not the trip.
Example itinerary, Sunday Jan 17 to Wednesday Jan 27. Base in Asahikawa, with one storm-window night at the mountain lodge.
Day 1, SunJan 17
Arrival day — no riding. Fly SYD → Sapporo (CTS). Pick up the 4WD, drive CTS → Asahikawa, beers + ramen.
Day 2, MonJan 18
Kamui Ski Links. Easy first day — trees on skiers left, stack laps.
Day 3, TueJan 19
Furano. Long top-to-bottom tree laps in the ropeway zone.
Day 4, WedJan 20
Flex day. Call at 06:00 based on forecast. Default Kamui; storm-push to Tomamu or rest. First weather-driven call of the trip.
Day 5, ThuJan 21
Drive Asahikawa → Asahidake. Settle into La Vista, dinner, rooftop onsen.
Day 6, FriJan 22
Asahidake ropeway — lift-served backcountry. First tracks mandatory, dawn patrol to the gondola. The main event. Transceivers on.
Day 7, SatJan 23
Asahidake day two. Push further from the ropeway, earn turns if snow is stable.
Day 8, SunJan 24
Drive back to Asahikawa. Afternoon laps at Kamui if energy allows, or rest day.
Day 9, MonJan 25
Furano return. Hit anything missed first time, longer lunches, long dinner.
Day 10, TueJan 26
Final flex day. The biggest storm chase of the trip if conditions align.
Day 11, WedJan 27
Last call. Everything is on the table. Drive Asahikawa → New Chitose. Fly home.
The schedule is indicative. Exact timing and terrain are set daily against the forecast and avalanche bulletin.
Two properties. One city base, one mountain lodge — used strategically depending on storm forecasts.
Base hotel
The base for the trip. Clean, comfortable, and well located in central Asahikawa with easy access to restaurants, bars, and the onsen circuit. Walking distance to everything you need after a day on the mountain.
Free cancellation until January 9, 2027
Mountain lodge
A 5-night window is held at the mountain lodge. Around one week before the trip, we check forecasts, lock in the best night, and cancel the rest. That gives us one night on the mountain during the deepest storm window — waking up at altitude, riding first tracks, then driving back to base.
Free cancellation on unused nights until January 12, 2027
Step 1: Hold 5 nights at La Vista from Jan 20.
Step 2: Check forecasts about a week out. Lock the best night.
Step 3: Cancel unused nights before the Jan 12 cutoff.
Bookings held since April 2026. Cancellable until Jan 9 and Jan 12.
4WD rental from New Chitose Airport.
Self-drive gives us the full Hokkaido road network: Kamui, Furano, Tomamu, Kurodake and Asahidake are all within two hours of base.
Approximate cost per person, in AUD. The optional guide is not included in the totals.
Example day 6, from the Asahidake ropeway. Lift-served access to backcountry terrain in a region that averages some of the heaviest snowfall in the world.
Early start to align with lift opening. Forecast and avalanche bulletin reviewed the night before.
Breakfast at Hotel La Vista. Group briefing: conditions, objectives, turnaround time, communication plan.
Asahidake Ropeway first box. Transceiver, probe and shovel checks completed at the base station.
Lift-served laps adjacent to the upper station. Lower-consequence terrain used to assess snowpack and visibility.
Progress to longer lines further from the ropeway once stability is confirmed. Regroup points set at each transition.
Final descent via marked cat track. Turnaround time held regardless of conditions.
Debrief at Hotel La Vista. Gear dried, onsen, dinner. Forecast reviewed for the following day.
Example day only. The schedule is indicative: exact timing and terrain are set daily against the forecast and avalanche bulletin.
50/50. That's it. Two equal payments of AUD $614 cover accommodation and car rental. Lift tickets, food and guides are paid on the ground.
50% · non-refundable. Holds your spot.
50% · final payment. The due date is shared when you request a seat.