Options abound, with Niseko Hanazono Powder Guides, Niseko Weiss Powder Cats, and Niseko Photography and Guiding being among the choices for all-day powder skiing and snowboarding adventures.
Weiss Cat Skiing
If you are looking for fresh tracks and the mountain just for you and your friends, Niseko Weiss Powder Cats is your answer! It provides cat-assisted ski and snowboard adventures on our own private mountain, that’s virtually next to Hanazono. A maximum of 12 guests per day guarantees line after line of fresh tracks without queueing for lifts or hiking.
Niseko Photography and Guiding have a professional photographer on-site to capture those shots of you virtually obscured by the powder you are floating through.
The team strongly recommends a powder ski/snowboard for Niseko Weiss Powder Cat Tour. Skiers: An 80mm waist and over all-around ski ok but wide skis with a tip and tail rocker is preferred because of the improved control in deep powder. Snowboarders: They strongly recommended a powder board, otherwise you will struggle to maintain control, turn as easily, float, and remain balanced at speed.
The average pitch is around 20 degrees with one run at 30 degrees. You can expect to ski and ride up to 6 runs in a day. The vertical drop is 1,476 feet (450 m).
Bags and backpacks with drinks, snacks, and cameras to record all the action can be kept in the snowcat during your tour.
Hanazono Powder Guides
Hanazono Powder Guides takes guests to the best of the best – over the-head to-die-for powder runs for experts to those wanting to try the fluffy stuff for the first time. All tours load the lifts one hour before the public guaranteeing fresh tracks through Strawberry Fields, Blueberry Fields, the Hanazono bowls. All avalanche safety equipment is provided and guides start tours with safety briefings.
Hanazono Powder Guides have been operating for 10 years and are run by the lift company, which is how you get early access to the powder. Their expert guides come from locals who live for the powder in the resort and backcountry and love sharing their hidden places with you.
The Niseko backcountry area is accessible from the 11 gates listed by Niseko Rules but it’s not just a matter of heading out a gate, you need to know where you are going, understand the condition, have the right safety gear, and be able to enjoy bottomless turns without the hassle and exhaustion of having to hike back out in waist-deep snow. That’s why you need a guide, especially when you don’t know the area, as they can save you from hours of wasted effort by taking you to the best stuff before anyone else.
You can choose from half-day, full-day, and three-day tours.