Japow Ski Trip 2027

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Sunday 1/17- Thursday 1/28 

*we can alter the dates a little bit later possibly, however rates go up the closer we get to the Sapporo Snow Festival Feb 4-11.

The window is first of January thru the end of the first week in February for the Siberian winds to blow across the Sea of Japan and dump the best powder in the world. 

Highest altitude we will achieve will be below 5000’

Day 1: 6:30am Flight to Tokyo $1300

Day 2: 5:30pm arrive Tokyo 

One night Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport

https://www.guestreservations.com/villa-fontaine-premier-haneda-airport/booking?utm_source=microsoft&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=318380773&msclkid=443a6719bd1d1106faac0d0aff297091

 $150/night double occupancy ($75 each)

Hotel has very nice onsen, which are public baths with spring water, hot and cold, indoors and outdoors, and sauna dry and wet. This onsen allows tattoos, but not all do. If you have tattoos, bring coverup tape- available on Amazon. https://rental-japanese.com/onsen-etiquette/

Rest and recover. 

Day 3 : ANA one way Tokyo to Sapporo New Chitose Airport $75

Pickup rental car or cars Yesaway Rental; small minivan (4 Americans and gear) is $135/day, large (6 Americans and gear) $175/day. Exchange rate makes diesel affordable for us. 

Drive to Niseko 2.5 hours with views of volcanoes

Check in, sightseeing, dinner

Lodging

Option 1: Deadhead style $100-150/night each

Microhotel in Kutchan, such as Hotel Login Niseko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxc6o3MtQM

 where I stayed last trip. Much like a dorm room. 

Double, triple or quad occupancy

10 minute drive to ski parking

Close to grocery, convenient stores and restaurants 

Real Japanese experience, not a lot of English. 

*some of the microhotels that I am familiar with havent posted their rates for January 2027 yet.

Option 2: Stylin’ $250/night each

Apartment style airbnb condo in Niseko

Walking distance to lift

Close to the food truck village and convenient stores (Lawson, 7/11, SeicoMart)

Lots of English

Not a true Japanese experience. Loud, party scene like Breckenridge- not a bad thing, it’s fun. 

Option 3: Pro Stylin’ $600/night double occupancy ($300/night each)

Hilton Niseko Village

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ctsnvhi-hilton-niseko-village/

Gondola onsite

Great restaurant scene close https://www.niseko-village.com/niseko-yo/

Has onsen

Will have to drive to grocery, convenient stores and food trucks

Skiing 1/20-1/26

Niseko United

https://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/

 is 4 resorts on 1 mountain. Its huge. Single day, 1 resort is $60, all mountain is $75.

We will also ski Rusutsu Resort.

https://rusutsu.com/en/

It is a 30 minute drive. Ikon Pass covers Niseko United but not Rusutsu. 

If you want to experience the backcountry to its fullest at Niseko, avy gear- beacon and shovel- are required $300 or you can rent. This is where you get the waist deep white rooms. 

I want to look into hiring a guide one day to show us the backcountry goods and then we can ski it all week. $1100/day for up to 5 people. 

Tuesday, 1/26

Drive to Sapporo after skiing for dinner and shopping

Karaksa Hotel  Sapporo $150/night double occupancy 

https://karaksahotels.com/en/sapporo/

Steak and Wine Ishikazi for amazing dinner $150 each

Steak&Wine Ishizaki｜Sapporo｜Hokkaido Japan｜Wagyu steak｜Official page

https://www.eng.steak-wine-ishizaki.jp/

Shopping at the Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Sapporo, including Don Quixote "Mega Donki"

https://www.planmyjapan.com/don-quijote-store-japan-donki/

Wednesday, 1/27

Return rental car to New Chitose airport

ANA one way Sapporo to Tokyo $75

Possible night in Tokyo. If flight schedules work out that we have to stay a night in Tokyo we will stay at the airport hotel again, and take the train into Tokyo for sightseeing and shopping.

Tokyo to home

The exchange rate makes merchandise seem crazy cheap to us Americans so bring an extra suitcase for all the stuff you will buy. 

International drivers license at your local AAA $20

Trip insurance https://www.freely.me/us  $100

VPN app for phone (to watch YouTube, netflix, etc.). $100

Download the Welcome Suica Mobile app, a reloadable charge card for phone wallet for trains and convenient payments

Register trip with the Japanese government: https://services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/ free

Walkie talkies are not allowed at Japanese ski resorts.