2027 FreeSlope Japow Trip to Hokkaido

2027 FreeSlope JAPOW Trip to Hokkaido 🇯🇵🏂 January 15–22, 2027 7 Nights · 6 Riding Days · 7 Guest Spots Furano · Tomamu · Mt. Asahidake A full week of Hokkaido powder, local Japanese food, and three completely different mountain experiences — with a small crew and the major logistics already taken care of. For 2027, FreeSlope is heading to Furano, Hokkaido during the heart of Japan's powder season. We'll spend four days exploring Furano, venture out for a day at Tomamu, and — conditions permitting — finish the experience with a professionally guided backcountry day on the volcanic terrain of Mt. Asahidake. We're keeping this trip intentionally small with only 7 guest spots available. The Riding 🏔️ Four Days in Furano Furano will be our home mountain. Known for exceptionally light, dry Hokkaido snow, Furano offers a mix of powder, trees, ungroomed terrain, and gate-access riding. We'll have two local powder guides joining us for selected days to help the group explore the mountain and find the best terrain and snow. ❄️ One Day at Tomamu We'll change things up with a day trip to Hoshino Resorts Tomamu. Tomamu offers a completely different mountain and resort experience from Furano, with its own powder terrain and tree riding. Transportation for the Tomamu day is included. 🌋 Mt. Asahidake Volcano Powder Day One of the highlights of the trip. Mt. Asahidake is Hokkaido's highest mountain and offers an experience completely different from a traditional ski resort. We'll take the Asahidake Ropeway into volcanic alpine terrain and ride alongside the mountain's active fumaroles in some of Hokkaido's famously light snow. This will be a professionally guided backcountry day, and avalanche safety equipment will be provided. Because Asahidake is highly weather-dependent, this day is conditions permitting. The itinerary may be adjusted based on snowfall, wind, visibility, avalanche conditions, and Ropeway operations. Our priority is to ride where conditions make the most sense — not force an itinerary when the mountain says otherwise. 🏠 7 Nights in Downtown Furano Rather than staying inside an isolated resort village, we'll be based together in a private 4-bedroom house in downtown Furano. That puts us close to local restaurants, izakayas, yakiniku, convenience stores, and everyday life in a real Hokkaido town. Part of this trip is about riding JAPOW. The other part is about actually experiencing Japan. 🍜 Breakfast + Dinner Included Food is part of the experience. Daily breakfast and dinner are included in the trip price. Throughout the week, we'll explore Furano's local food scene with a mix of: • Izakayas • Yakiniku • Hokkaido specialties • Japanese comfort food • Local restaurants Lunch, alcoholic beverages, convenience-store purchases, and personal spending are not included. 🚐 Private Transportation Included We've taken care of the major transportation logistics so you don't have to drive on Hokkaido's winter roads. Included transportation covers: • Private transfer from New Chitose Airport (CTS) → Furano on January 15 • Private transfer from Furano → CTS on January 22 • Transportation for designated guided riding days • Transportation to and from Tomamu • Transportation to and from Mt. Asahidake Before You Book — Please Read ⚠️ This Is Not a Beginner-Friendly Trip Participants should already be confident snowboarders with previous powder-riding experience. You should be comfortable controlling your speed, making turns, and stopping in: • Powder • Ungroomed terrain • Variable snow conditions • Tree terrain The trip may also include resort gate-access terrain and, at Mt. Asahidake, professionally guided backcountry terrain. You do not need to be an expert or professional rider, but this should not be your first time riding powder. If you're unsure whether your riding ability is appropriate for the trip, please contact us before booking. 🎫 Ikon Pass Required The $3,499 trip price assumes that you already have at least the Ikon Base Pass for our Furano riding days. Your Ikon Pass is not included in the trip price. Please make sure your specific Ikon product provides the necessary Furano access for our travel dates. Additional lift/Ropeway access required as part of the organized Tomamu and Asahidake itinerary will be handled according to the trip itinerary. 🛡️ Travel Insurance Is Required Every participant must purchase: World Nomads Explorer Travel Insurance or equivalent coverage. Your policy must provide appropriate coverage for the activities planned on this trip, including backcountry skiing & snowboarding, as well as emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation/repatriation in Japan. Each participant is responsible for reviewing their own policy terms and confirming that their coverage applies to all planned activities, including the professionally guided Mt. Asahidake day. Proof of qualifying insurance may be required before departure. Travel insurance is not included in the $3,499 trip price. ✈️ Important Flight Booking Requirements You are responsible for booking your own flights to and from New Chitose Airport (CTS). Please pay close attention to the following timing requirements before purchasing airfare. Arrival — January 15, 2027 Your flight must arrive at CTS no later than 7:00 PM on January 15. The group will meet at New Chitose Airport and travel together to Furano by private transportation. The winter drive from CTS to Furano typically takes approximately 2–2.5 hours, and it can take longer depending on snow and road conditions. If your flight arrives after the scheduled group transfer has departed — whether because of your original flight schedule or a flight delay — you may be responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation to Furano. Departure — January 22, 2027 We will leave Furano in the morning and travel together by private transportation back to New Chitose Airport (CTS). Because the drive takes approximately 2–2.5 hours and winter weather can cause delays, please book your departing flight for the: AFTERNOON OR EVENING of January 22. Do not book an early-morning departure from CTS. Please also leave adequate time for airline check-in, snowboard/baggage drop, security, and possible winter weather delays. Private airport transportation is included when your flights are compatible with the scheduled group transfers. What's Included ✓ 7 nights accommodation in Furano ✓ 6 riding days ✓ 4 planned Furano riding days ✓ 1 planned Tomamu day ✓ 1 conditions-permitting Mt. Asahidake day ✓ Professional/local guiding on selected days ✓ Professional Asahidake backcountry guiding ✓ Avalanche safety equipment for Asahidake ✓ Private CTS ↔ Furano airport transportation ✓ Transportation for designated guided days ✓ Tomamu transportation ✓ Asahidake transportation ✓ Daily breakfast ✓ Daily dinner ✓ Major trip planning and logistics What's Not Included ✗ Flights to/from Japan ✗ Ikon Pass ✗ Personal travel insurance ✗ Lunch ✗ Alcoholic beverages ✗ Convenience-store purchases ✗ Personal shopping and expenses ✗ Personal snowboard equipment/rentals unless specifically stated Trip at a Glance 🇯🇵 2027 FreeSlope JAPOW Trip to Hokkaido 📅 January 15–22, 2027 🏠 7 Nights in Furano 🏂 6 Riding Days 🏔️ Furano · Tomamu · Mt. Asahidake 👥 Maximum 7 Guests 💰 $3,499 per person Arrive CTS by 7:00 PM — January 15 Depart CTS afternoon or evening — January 22 Required ✓ Appropriate riding ability & previous powder experience ✓ Eligible Ikon Pass ✓ World Nomads Explorer or equivalent travel insurance A Different Kind of Hokkaido Trip This isn't designed to be a huge packaged tour. We're keeping the group small, staying in downtown Furano, riding with local professionals, eating together, and experiencing three very different sides of Hokkaido snowboarding. Furano powder. Tomamu trees. Asahidake volcano terrain. Local Japanese food. Seven guests. One week in Hokkaido.