We are currently only able to book guiding tours for guests who have already booked accommodation with Samurai Snow.
Single and Multi-Day Backcountry Tours in Hakuba
Come and explore the vast Hakuba backcountry and some of the very best powder skiing in Japan.
The Japan Alps average 12+ meters of beautiful powder snow each year, and no other mountain range in Japan has comparable terrain with amazing powder! In Japan, or anywhere else in the world, it doesn’t get much better than this!
If you and your group are looking to venture off on a Hakuba backcountry tour of any level Evergreen can arrange a guide for your private group.
This type of tour would be recommended if you have a group of friends with similar skiing/boarding ability and you would like to keep the crew limited to your group of friends.
Evergreen Backcountry Guides are certified avalanche professionals and seasoned backcountry guides and customise the tour to your skills.
Tour Expectations
- Hiking time: Custom as per experience, level, conditions
- Vertical: Custom as per experience, level, conditions
- Descent: Custom as per experience, level, conditions
Plan Early
We recommend booking this service as early as possible to guarantee availability and secure your preferred option.
Availability of this service for short notice bookings is likely to be limited or not available.
2025 / 26 Prices
- Evergreen Backcountry operates only within the Hakuba Valley resorts of Happo One, Iwatake, Tsugaike Kogen, Norikura and / or Cortina
Tour Inclusions
- Professional and certified guide
- 3 piece backpack (with beacon, shovel & probe).
- Basic Rescue Insurance
- Ideally all the powder you can handle.
- 6 hour program+ 1 hour lunch break (8.00 to 15.00)
- Minimum 16 years old
- 25% Discount off Backcountry Equipment Rentals with Evergreen - valid for online bookings made at least 5 days in advance of your tour date
Not Included
- Lift Pass - It is recommended to have Hakuba Valley Lift Pass
- Lunch
- Transportation is only included in Premium products
Available Tour Dates
- Daily (depending on guide availability)
- Early bookings are recommended in order to reserve the guide
Meeting Time & Location
- For Standard Tours: meets at 7:55am at Evergreen Backcountry Guides Base located at the base of the Tsugaike ski lifts
- For Premium Tours: Pick up and drop off for you at your accommodation at a convenient time
Things to Bring on the day
- Avalanche equipment – beacon, shovel, probe (mandatory & supplied)
- At least a 25L pack with straps which can carry ski/board (unless you are a skier or split-boarder using skins) - note, we supply packs FOC
- Skins (mandatory)
- Lunch, drinks and at least 1L water (mandatory)
- Energy bars/chocolate/nuts etc (mandatory)
- Layering for warmth, wicking & ventilation (mandatory)
- Sunglasses (even if it is not sunny!) When you are hiking sunglasses are more comfortable to protect your eyes because they will not fog up. You can keep your goggles in your pack for the ski down.
- Helmet (recommended)
- A pair of lightweight gloves or glove liners for hiking (recommended)
Off Piste Equipment
- Proper Off Piste safety equipment is required
- Evergreen offers Off Piste equipment rental and tour participants are eligible for a generous discount
Backcountry Equipment Rental Ability Levels Terms and Conditions
Private Standard Tour Schedule
- Meeting point: 7.50 at Evergreen Backcountry Base at Tsugaike
- 7.50 Check-In
- 8.00 Gear check
- 8.10 Depart to Tsugaike Gondola
- 8.20 / 9.00 Load at Tsugaike Gondola (busy period / weather conditioning)
- 8.50 Arrival to top of Tsugaike
- 9.00 Safety refreshment training
- 9.20 Safety check
- 9.30 Backcountry terrain
- 14.30 Return to the base
- 15.00 End of the day and wrap up
There will be a lunch break during the tour of aprox 30-45 minutes
Times are a sample and subject to change depending of many factors / variables
Private Standard + Tour Schedule
- Meeting point: 7.50 at Evergreen Backcountry Base at Tsugaike
- 7.50 Check-In
- 8.00 Gear check
- 8.10 Depart to preferred location
- 8.20 / 9.00 Load at Tsugaike Gondola (busy period / weather conditioning)
- 8.50 Arrival to top of Tsugaike
- 9.00 Safety refreshment training
- 9.20 Safety check
- 9.30 Backcountry terrain
- 14.30 Return to the base
- 15.00 End of the day and wrap up
There will be a lunch break during the tour of aprox 30-45 minutes
Times are a sample and subject to change depending of many factors / variables
Private Premium Tour Schedule
- 7.15 - 7.30 Pick up at your accommodation
- 8.00 Private Premium Tour in a flexible location between Happo One, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Norikura, Cortina
- 15.00 End of the day and shuttle back to your accommodation
There will be a lunch break during the tour of aprox 30-45 minutes
Times are a sample and subject to change depending of many factors / variables
Book Backcountry Tours
You can book Backcountry Tours, Off Piste Tours, Snow Shoe Tours, Cross Country Tours and AST Training through this Booking Tool. Please check that you are selecting the right product.
We are only able to book for guests who have already booked accommodation with Samurai Snow.
Please enter your Samurai Snow Reservation Number provided to you when you booked your accommodation in the form below and we will email booking instructions to you.
If you submit a booking request and have not already booked accommodation with Samurai Snow, we will do our best to respond to your enquiry but this will not always be possible.
We are not able to book 7 days or fewer before the start date.