Frequently Asked Questions

1. We have skied Japan several years and know how to best experience the winter resorts of Japan. Brian has skied 60+ resorts in Japan.

2. Our prices are low! We budget our trips to economically enjoy Japan snow resorts at less than other big bus or van Japan tours.

3. Yumi, a Japanese native, is on the tour to ensure a smooth experience. Yumi can find  restaurants seldom visited by Westerners, make dining reservations, and escort guests for non-snow activities for a true Japanese experience.

4. 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 trains, no language barriers off slope. We have a wealth of resort experience. 

5. As desired, we can arrange other activities such as Karaoke, Sake distillery visits, onsen (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 at the resorts for liability reasons. However, we do have experience with BC guides and can arrange day trips to Cat ski or ski tour.

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 target stays 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 the westernized resorts such of Niseko, Rusutsu, & Hakuba. 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, a video chat with Brian and Yumi can be scheduled to discuss a tour and whether or not we meet your objectives.. 

Yes! If sightseeing is desired, ideally it should be prior to the tour. Ski/board gear can be shipped from any 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 on 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.

We use passenger 4WD vans like the Toyota Noah or Nissan Serena. We limit guest numbers and book larger vans to allow for equipment/luggage.

The regions in Japan we cover are Hokkaido and Tohoku.

Hokkaido has some of the larger Japan resorts and several small to 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...which seems to get worse every season. With several resorts to chose from, easy access is possible from 1/2 to 1.5 hours of our base cities. This prefecture does lack some of the cultural experiences more common in Honshu (Tohoku).

Tohoku resorts are more scattered requiring more re-locations to overnight. This area can have as much (or more) snow as Hokkaido, but tends to be less visited by westerners. The resorts are small to medium sized, but less visitors can mean fresh tracks are easier to obtain. In addition, 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."

We hope our guests are at a minimum intermediate skiers, have an interest in Japan, 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, but not mandatory.

See this an on-going list.