What is your perfect idea of a ski trip to Japan this coming season? Well, read on we may have the perfect solution for you.

Have you never skied before? Or perhaps you have and are at a more novice level and wish to improve.  Could that be you?  Do you want to experience some of the world-famous powder snow that Japan is renowned for and experience a rich and diverse culture?

Look no further as our fully all-inclusive packages with small and intimate groups lead by our qualified instructors will have you cruising down the slopes with confidence and style in no time at all!!

Eugene and Nicole 29 (Beginner Skiers) – Singapore – Jan 2023 – Nagano Beginner Package

We joined Jase and his team for 3 days in skiing and it was nothing short of a magical experience. Hailing from the ass crack of the equator, we had never even seen snow before, let alone skied. Pre-trip, Jase patiently answered all our queries and efficiently arranged the booking process and was key in making us feel at ease and excited. 

As part of a highly customised tour, Liam and Dan were the padawans who took care of the beginner group and they were not only patient, encouraging and skillful, but also flexible at adjusting to our individual learning speeds. We felt comfortable being under their care and pushing ourselves knowing they had our backs. 

There are many other areas we were impressed with, including the group's dedication to ensure we had the best snow conditions throughout all three days and Jase's top notch driving skills! The cherry on top is all the other activities that Jase and team organised, including taking us out to local haunts for dinner; beautiful, non-touristy spots that truly felt special; taiko drums and geisha performance; karaoke nights; the list goes on. 

The biyu was an excellent choice of accommodation. Staff (including honorary staff Jase) were friendly, helpful and the onsen after a day of skiing was absolutely divine. Yudanaka is a quaint town with proximity to the snow monkeys and Shibu Onsen, great for exploration. 

Overall, it was an extremely smooth and enjoyable process that was fun, safe and we found a new, very addictive hobby. We thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend to anyone looking for a good experience. Can't wait to be back!

Deluxe Ryokan Yumoto

Based on Twin/Triple/Quad Share for adults in Japanese/Western style room with own bathroom and includes breakfast and dinners as specified

3-night package - 2 days skiing per person (1 dinner included)

Twin ¥199,000 pp – Triple/Quad ¥189,000 pp

4-night package - 3 days skiing per person (1 dinner included)

Twin ¥249,000 pp – Triple/Quad ¥239,000 pp

5-night package - 4 days skiing per person (2 dinners included)

Twin ¥299,000 pp – Triple/Quad Adults ¥289,000 pp

6-night package - 5 days skiing per person (2 dinners included)

Twin ¥349,000 pp – Triple/Quad Adults ¥339,000 pp

(Single supplement upgrade based on the twin price is ¥7000 extra per night.  Japanese accommodation holiday rates apply at Ryokan Yumoto between 29th Dec 2024 and 3rd Jan 2025 so please enquire)

 Premium Hotel Omodaka

Based on Twin/Triple/Quad Share for adults in Japanese style room with own bathroom and includes breakfast and dinners as specified

3-night package - 2 days skiing per person (1 dinner included)

Twin ¥179,000 pp – Triple/Quad ¥169,000 pp

4-night package - 3 days skiing per person (1 dinner included)

Twin ¥229,000 pp – Triple/Quad ¥219,000 pp

5-night package - 4 days skiing per person (2 dinners included)

Twin ¥269,000 pp – Triple/Quad Adults ¥259,000 pp

6-night package - 5 days skiing per person (2 dinners included)

Twin ¥309,000 pp – Triple/Quad Adults ¥299,000 pp

(Single supplement upgrade based on the twin price is ¥5000 extra per night. Upgrade to deluxe western room ¥8000 per person per night. Japanese accommodation holiday rates apply at Hotel Yumoto between 29th Dec 2024 and 3rd Jan 2025 so please enquire)

 Economy Snow Monkey Guest House

(Coming soon)

Nagano Beginner and Novice Packages

Japan Powder Culture Tours have put together a range of fully instructed beginner ski packages to experience the 18 resorts that make up Shiga Kogen asia’s largest and highest ski resort   Depending on conditions there is also the possibility to visit other resorts such as Madarao, Nozawa Onsen, and Togakushi. 

Let’s face it, learning a new sport can sometimes be a daunting process without the right knowledge and experienced people to assist.  One option is to go to a more traditional ski school which will generally work on the numbers game with large size beginner and intermediate classes with many people on the slopes which increase the chances of injury and a lower chance of rapid advancement.  Another option is to come with us and experience quiet resorts with small intimate classes, and English-speaking instructors that turn your learning into a lifetime passion.

why learn with us?

It goes without saying that our qualified instructors are experience and passionate about their trade, that is the minimum you would expect from a ski school.  So what is our point of difference?  What we have learnt over the years is that there are some very important aspects of ski tuition which are not covered in the traditional ski instructor’s manual. 

The following are just some of the common sense approaches we use which will generally not be found at a traditional ski school.

• Generally what happens in a rental shop is you tell the staff your foot size, height and weight and they hand you some gear, and it is left up to the client to fit the gear. We take this one step further as we know how important it is to your skiing and safety to have the correct fitting equipment. We will measure your foot, fit your boots, tighten them up to make sure there are no pressure points, mount your boots on skis and ensure they are set to a safe level.

• Once on the snow we teach you how to walk in all types of terrain and different conditions in your boots. We also teach how to correctly carry your equipment to minimise effort and increase balance.

• We know everyone learns at a different pace and know the importance of mastering a certain movement before moving on. The quicker learners get given different task however our goal is to bring everyone up to the group’s level, so the slower learners are given just as much attention. We do not leave any soldiers behind.

• The usual teaching model is to talk about a movement, demonstrate the movement, get the client to try the movement then the next step is to follow the instructor. Unless the instructor has eyes in the back of the head, how can the fix an incorrect form? Instead we teach from the back moving through the group one on one and reinforcing movements through repeating the information until it becomes second nature to the client, repetition being the mother of skill.

• Where traditional ski schools only give you one piece of the pie so they have some leverage to get you to come back and spend some more money with them to get the next piece of the pie, we take it to the next level and give our guests the whole pie. We believe it is essential that our guests understand the five main movements (the whole pie) in skiing and snowboarding. Once this understanding is achieved we can then isolate each movement (piece of the pie) to gain a more fluid progression from beginner to intermediate.

• Another important aspect is teaching our clients how to read the different terrain, pitch of the terrain and the condition of the snow so they have the tools to make good decisions when negotiating their way safely down the mountain.

Here are just a few of the common sense approaches we use to accelerate our clients learning in a safe and enjoyable environment. 

Skier/Boarder Ability

Please note that if you have never been on the snow before we start all our beginners skiing and not snowboarding.  The reason for this is that the potential for injuries from first timers snowboarding is a lot higher than for skiing.  Accidents like broken wrists, damage to elbows and shoulders are very common with toe side crashes on snowboards and injuries like bruising your tailbone when you have a heel side crash can be very uncomfortable.  Skiing on the other hand has fewer injuries as the crashes can be handled a lot more safely.  This is a risk sport and for those that have not done much active sports it is a better option to start with skiing.  For those that have their heart on snowboarding then we suggest having a go at the end of the tour.  Snowboarding is hard to learn and easier to master and skiing is easy to learn and harder to master.  Your experience is enhanced with skiing first as there is usually rapid improvement so you can access different parts of the mountain more quickly.  Once you learn the basics of skiing it is a lot easier to transfer to snowboarding.  We also cater for novice skiers and snowboarders in this tour to help them advance to the next level.

Tour Dates 2024/2025

We run our tours between the 3rd Dec 2024 and 15th April 2025.  There are no set dates for these packages; they can start any day of the week and are available as a 3, 4, 5 or 6-night package (or a package can be tailored to suit you or your group).  We run our tours with a minimum of 2 people to a group and maximum of 6 and if you are a single and there is no group to join with on your elected date then the single tuition rate is an extra ¥30,000 per day.  For tour dates between 29th Dec 2024 to 3rd Jan 2025 please apply for tour price due to the hike in room rate at both properties for the Japanese holiday period.     

Rates and Inclusions

• Pick up and drop off at Yudanaka train station or snow shuttle drop-off point

• Deluxe and standard accommodation options

• Daily Breakfasts

• Dinners as specified

• Ski Instructor (max 1:6 instructor to guest ratio)

• Lift passes

• Rental gear hire and assistance with fitting (includes board/boots, skis/boots/poles, jacket, pants, helmet, goggles and gloves.  Please bring you own thermals and ski socks)

• Transportation to best snow location each day

• Transport to the world-famous snow monkey park. Both accommodation properties drop you up early to the snow monkey walking track, so you have the luxury of the viewing to yourself for a period of time

• A walk through historic Shibu town which dates back 1300 years

• Free rejuvenating daily Onsens (sauna at Hotel Omodaka)

• Plus, many more hidden gems...

Tailor make your holiday with these optional extras at an extra cost:

• An interactive evening with a third generation Geisha performance

• A magic/comedy/interactive performance

• An interactive Karate performance and Taiko Drum/Shimansen guitar/Lion dance performance

• Ability to have a rest day if you wish and you can experience one of our three self-guided cultural days as outlined below (includes activites like snow monkeys, walk through ancient Shibu Onsen town, visit to Obuse town the home of the Hokusai Gallery, Zenkoji temple and the 1998 winter Olympic Museum)

Please note: the Geisha, Magic, Karate and Taiko performances are booked for our 10-day tours through the season so may not fall on your dates so please enquire for dates of these events if you wish to book them.

Not included:

• Travel Insurance

• Flights

• Travel to and from Yudanaka

• Dinners except for those specified

• Lunches, snacks and alcohol

Accommodation

Ryokan Yumoto (Deluxe)

We are extremely privileged to being working with the oldest Ryokans in the area at over 300 years and has just passed down to the 13th generation of family ownership. Dating back to the Edo period the area of Yudanaka has a history of over 1300 years and is where the Samurai came to bath after their battles and the pilgrims, artists and priests would visit on their way to Nagano.

All our guests fall in love with Yasuyo your host instantly and her lovely presence puts that icing on the cake for your tour. The property oozes charm and although not luxuriously built using precious woods, the pure Japanese-style guest rooms are spacious, and from the windows you can see the garden next to the hot springs.

Yumoto has a total of 5 rooms. The Japanese-Western rooms have 2 beds plus 8 tatami matts. The Japanese rooms have 4.5 tatami plus 10 tatami. The larger family Japanese room has 6 tatami plus 12 tatami. Each room has a toilet and bathing is done in the traditional onsen house.  All rooms have a flat screen TV, small fridge & kettle and Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.  Your room also has a traditional Japanese wardrobe (Yakata), which is not mandatory to wear at this Ryokan, although it is definitely comfortable attire after a day on the slopes.

Night-time meals are traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine served by your own private waiter in the ryokan dining area. Breakfasts (also included) are another highlight of your experience at Yumoto and need to be experienced as words are hard to describe.

Ryokan Yumoto is close to a wide array of quality restaurants in Yudanaka and a short distance from the local Lawsons and the train station.

Yumoto has a complimentary pickup and drop-off to and from the train station and they offer a free drop off at the snow monkey park 20 minutes earlier than the other accommodation in town so that you get the luxury of arriving at the park early, so you have the place to yourself for a length of time (it is a tourist attraction so gets busy).

Hotel Omodaka (Premium)

Hotel Omodaka, located in Yudanaka Onsen , has been loved by everyone as an inn with an open-air bath overlooking the Five Mountains of Hokushin . They offer a relaxing and peaceful time filled with the atmosphere of a hot spring . Owned and operated by an amazing family who make your time there a true authentic Japanese experience.

Rooms are larger than most in Yudanaka and predominately Japanese style. All twin/triple/quad share rooms come with private ensuite/bathroom and are Japanese-style with woven tatami floors and futon beds. The single supplement rooms come with toilets only and bathing is in the onsen complex.   All rooms have a flat screen TV, small fridge & kettle.  Your room also has a traditional Japanese wardrobe (Yakata), which is not mandatory to wear at this Hotel, although it is definitely comfortable attire after a day on the slopes.

Omodaka has a deluxe western room which are double the size of the Japanese style rooms at an extra cost and can house a maximum 4 people (2 x western beds and 2 x Japanese beds).   The Hotel has an indoor Japanese bathhouse (onsen) and outdoor hot spring (rotenburo) and there is also a sauna on sight which is rare in Yudanaka. The Hotel does not have clothes washing facilities however there is a public laundry a short walk away. 

Night-time meals are traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine served by your own private waiter in the hotel dining area. Breakfast (also included) is a buffet style mix of Japanese and Western dishes.  There are massage services available, free wi-fi throughout the Hotel, a bar and separate River Cafe that serves the best burgers in Japan (for those hankering for a non-Japanese meal), drinks vending machines, table tennis room and a souvenir shop.

Omodaka has a complimentary pickup and drop-off to and from the train station and they offer a free drop off at the snow monkey park 20 minutes earlier than the other accommodation in town so that you get the luxury of arriving at the park early, so you have the place to yourself for a length of time (it is a tourist attraction so gets busy).

Snow Monkey Guest House (Economy)

Coming soon is our new economy property called Snow Monkey Guest House which will cater for our more economy focused guests set in the heart of Yudanaka after renovation and due to be open mid November 2024.  We will be taking bookings for this property later in the year once we are certain of the opening date.

Yudanaka Township and Restaurants

Yudanaka sits at 600 metres above sea level and is a central hub for many ski resorts to be visited from. The area is well known for its onsens (hot springs) and it is said that over 1300 years ago a monk who visited the area discovered the healing quality of the water and the popularity of the region grew so much that the Samurai would come to repair their bodies in the rejuvenating waters.  The other attraction to the area is the world-renowned snow monkeys who have learnt to keep themselves warm in the natural onsen water. Although the town is visited by foreigners to visit the snow monkeys you will find the town relatively free of westerners when you eat out in the evenings as many just come on day journeys.  And let’s not forget the wide array of traditional eating houses in Yudanaka which serve fresh local and regional produce.  In the past few years, the restaurant scene has expanded to include a number of new eateries which have a mix of Japanese and Western food to suit every palette.  A walk through historic Shibu Onsen town (where the popular Japanese movie Spirited Away was based) is also a must with its quaint shops, temples, shrines, foot onsens and authentic architecture.

Exclusion of Liability and Assumption of Risks

Adventure sports activities involve many risks, dangers and hazards.  These risks and hazards are outlined in our release of liability, waiver of claims, assumptions of risks and indemnity agreement which all participants are required to read and sign before participating in adventure sports activities.  This agreement will affect your legal rights should you be involved in an accident.

 Self-Guided Cultural Excursions

Here are a number of options for those that either have a scheduled rest day or for those that have ascertained they need to rest to lower the probability of injury.  We have a very rich cultural area with so many options that will give you that truly authentic Japanese ski experience that we at JPC Tours know are unique to this area and in our opinion cannot be replicated at any other ski resorts around Japan.  Maps and train schedules are all provided for these cool adventures.  Please Note: these are all achievable daily excursions; however you can chop and change them to suit how much time you would like to stay at each venue.

Option 1 (Snow Monkey – Shibu Onsen – Obuse Town)

8.30am leave from Biyu to snow monkey park on complimentary shuttle.  Walk to park through national forest.  Stop at Enza café at the start of the track after viewing monkeys for a hot drink and snack.  Walk to the Sake Museum then down through Shibu Onsen town (this area is over 1300 years old and is where the Samurai used to bath to rejuvenate and where the famous Japanese movie “Spirited Away” was based) then to the worlds tallest bronze Buddhist statue. Take the 12.31pm train to Obuse that arrives at 12.53 and a short walk to Obuse Town.  Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town. Take the 17.11 train to arrive back at Yudanaka train station at 17.33.

Option 2 (Snow Monkey – Obuse Town – Zenkoji Temple in Nagano)

8.30 leave from Biyu to snow monkey park on complimentary shuttle.  Walk to park through national forest.  Stop at Enza café at the start of the track after viewing monkeys for a hot drink and snack.  Pickup at 10.20 from start of monkey park to be transported to train station to take the 10.50 train to Obuse that arrives 11.12 for a short walk to Obuse Town.  Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town and have lunch at the many quality restaurants. Take the local 13.55 train from Obuse to arrive at Nagano 14.30.  Exit the train and make way your way to ground level on the west exit of station.  Take the Zenkoji bus to the temple.  Nagano is the only temple city in Japan which means the temple was built first and the city afterwards.  Purchase a ticket in the temple to do the underground chamber tour under the temple to find the gate to eternity and make sure you look in the large mirror when you exit to be born again.  Take the walk from the Zenkoji Temple to the train station (Many cool shops and restaurants along the way) and either travel back to Yudanaka on the 18.00 express train or dine in Nagano and take the 19.40 express train. 

Option 3 (Obuse Town - Zenkoji Temple and Olympic Museum in Nagano)

Take the 8.39 train from Yudanaka to arrive at Obuse at 9.14 for a short walk to Obuse Town.  Visit the Hokusai Museum and explore this wonderful little town.  Take the 11.12 or 11.56 express train from Obuse to arrive at Nagano either 11.36 or 12.30.  Exit the Yudanaka express train and make way to ground level on the west exit of station.  Time for lunch either at the Midori train complex or at the many street restaurants close to train station.  Take the Zenkoji bus to the temple from the west exit.  Nagano is the only temple city in Japan which means the temple was built first and the city afterwards.  Purchase a ticket in the temple to do the underground chamber tour under the temple to find the gate to eternity and also the ticket for the Zenkoji Museum which is behind the Zenkoji Temple.  Take the walk from the Zenkoji Temple to the train station (many cool shops and restaurants along the way).  Another great place to visit is the M-Wave which is where the Olympic Museum is and the long course speed skating facility which is still in operation.  An amazing building with the largest wood suspended ceiling in the world.  Would need to get a taxi from train station to this venue.  Option to take the 18.00 express train back to Yudanaka or stay for dinner in Nagano and get the 19.40 train from Nagano which arrives in Yudanaka at 20.29.   

3, 4, 5 and 6 night fully instructed tours

beginner and Novice skiers

guided Tour Dates

From 3rd Dec 2024 to 15th April 2025

Click here for a full pdf pack which includes tour details, FAQ's, pre trip information, reviews, terms and conditions and customer information spreadsheet.

Old Faithful POW Day

From a guest perspective