Frequently Asked Questions

1. We have skied Japan several years and know how to economically experience the winter resorts of Japan. 

2. We have a Japanese native on each tour to ensure a smooth experience. Yumi can find Japanese restaurants seldom visited by Westerners, making reservations when required, for a true Japanese experience.

3. Your group of no more than 4 guests ensures personalized tours. We take the hassle out of visiting several resorts on one trip (no buses to catch, no hauling equipment on/off traines, no language barriers, etc.). 

4. As desired we arrange other activities such Karaoke, Sake distillery visits, onsens (hot springs) visits, etc.

Should the weather not cooperate due to road and/or resort closures, we do our best to find other activities for the group to enjoy.

This is possible, but of course depends on finding others to fill out the group of 4 with similar interests/goals. We will do our best to work with you to find other interested participants. In this case, we would not request a deposit until the group has been formed and the itinerary established.

No. We deliver our guests to lift-served resorts and provide general resort orientation. We do not lead nor endorse off-piste skiing/riding for liability reasons.

The primary components to a tour are the Tour Fee + Lodging/Food/Lifts and of course airfare. The Tour Fee includes trip planning, transfers, Japanese assistant service, and US sales tax all paid direct to Snokinawa.

Lodging, food (aside from breakfast), and lift passes are paid by the guest in Yen during the tour in Japan. Those costs result in less money upfront, no US sales tax, provide flexibility in lodging choices, simplify days off from resort, etc. Snokinawa makes all hotel reservations without any mark-up whatsoever.

Yes. Rescue service, travel disruptions, and bad weather can all wreak havoc on your trip. Insurance relieves the burden. Proof of travel insurance is required to join our tours.

A company to consider; World Nomads

Japan's ideal snow period is mid January to mid February. Of course weather/snow is always variable, but we do our best to target the historically best time to ski/board. 

We primarily target basic business hotels. In Japan these are clean, efficient (small) rooms by western standards, have simple amenities, normally with an onsen on-site (basically a hot shallow pool),  and include good breakfast buffets. We stay in cities to enjoy many dining options and other activities without paying high resort prices.

Our trips are ideal for first time visitors to Japan, or those that have previously only skied westernized resorts such as Niseko, Rusutsu, Hakuba, etc. Outside of those resorts, having a Japanese native on board makes it easier to logistically and culturally navigate Japan. 

To understand our travel style and in general get to know us, we encourage all interested guests to view our "about us page." After that, please schedule a video chat with Brian and Yumi. 

Yes! If sightseeing is desired, ideally it should be prior to the tour. Ski/board gear can be shipped from Japan airport on arrival (or hotels, convenience stores, etc.) to the first hotel of our tour so you do not have to lug it around your sightseeing itinerary.  We can provide information on gear/luggage shipping as well as recommended pre-trip destinations.

Like most winter resorts around the world, in Japan there are slopes for all abilities. However, Japan is well known for powder so some untracked snow ability is ideal...and tree skiing is where the best snow is found. That being said...in Japan Brian is always seeking out fresh tracks, while Yumi is content on the groomed slopes.

Food:

Dinner  ~  ¥ 2,500 per meal

Lunch ~   ¥ 1,200 per meal

Breakfast is included in room rate (except Sapporo)

Lift Passes on average are ¥6,500 per day. Use of Ikon, Epic, and/or Indy passes will reduce the lift pass overall cost.

A non-hotel Onsen visit is typically under  ¥ 1,000.

Karaoke is about  ¥ 1,200/hour per person for private room with unlimited drinks.

We use 7-8 passenger 4WD vans like the Toyota Noah or Nissan Serena. 

The regions in Japan we cover are Hokkaido and Tohoku.

Hokkaido has some of the larger Japan resorts and well as several small and mid-size resorts. Being farther North, cooler temps result in good conditions. The area is also the most visited by foreign skiers/boarders resulting in competition for powder. With several resorts to chose from, easy access is possible from 1/2 to 1.5 hour of our base cities. This prefecture does lack some of the cultural experiences more common in Honshu (including Tohoku).

Tohoku resorts are more scattered requiring more re-locations to overnight. This area can have as much (or more) snow as Hokkaido, but is less visited by non-Japanese. The resorts are small to medium sized, but less visitors can mean fresh tracks are easier to obtain. In addtion, Japanese cultural experiences are available.

Aside from that - a call or video chat with us to further explore the pros and cons of each region can help to meet your objectives. 

Snokinawa originated as Brian's Facebook Group consisting of "Snow Lovers" of Okinawa: Snow + Okinawa =  Snokinawa (sort of). Brian led groups of co-workers and friends on several trips to snowy Hokkaido and Honshu while living in sub-tropical Okinawa, Japan. It is pronounced "Snow-key-now-ahh."

See this on-going list.

We hope our guests are at a minimum intermediate skiers, have an interest in Japan and will be respectful of Japanese customs and culture, and are willing to embrace the wonderful country and it's people. A passion for powder is a plus.