photo/Kazuya Igarashi (PowderStation), Diceman, Daigo Onozuka,
STEEP Editorial Department
This series introduces "surefire, guaranteed-to-be-great tours" organized by backcountry guide clubs. We asked professional guides who actually lead the tours, or participating guests, to recreate the tour routes in as much detail as possible. We hope to convey not only the appeal of the routes and the value of guide services, but also the important things to know for enjoying the backcountry safely
[ TOUR ] "Regular 1-Day Tour"
- 8:00 Meeting ~ Briefing ~ From Goroma to BC Gate
- 9:30 Submit mountain climbing registration and equipment check at the gate
- 9:45 AM Hike to the morning destination, "North Slope"
- 12:00 Back to BC Gate ~ Lunchtime
- 13:30 Long run from the reflector
- 14:00 Return to the Tashiro slope and head to Kagura
- 15:00 Tour ends
Powder Station, a ski shop located in the parking lot of Kagura Ski Resort, sells ski wear and gear and also organizes powder tours specializing in Kagura BC. There are various plans available, including one-day tours for beginners and two-day tours that include an overnight stay at Wadagoya Lodge, located midway up the ski resort
I took part in the Kagura Backcountry Tour
This time, I participated in a one-day course held on a weekend in late January. The guides were Kazuya Igarashi and Nobuhiko Takahashi, also known as Nobu. Igarashi has many different roles, including as a professional skier, former All Japan mogul coach, and a mountaineer who has supported Yuichiro Miura's adventures and even summited Mount Everest. He has been guiding at Kagura for 13 years
Nobu, who serves as a tail guide, is a true Kagura expert who not only works as a guide but also patrols Kagura
8：00 Gathering - Briefing - From Goroma to BC Gate
Participants gather at the shop at 8am, the meeting time. Once everyone is there, a briefing is held. Since everyone is a repeat participant this time, they immediately take the ropeway to the slopes. Incidentally, there are some participants who are participating for the first time, and on the beginner course, they are taught how to attach a beacon, check their gear, use their gear, and how to carry their backpacks. Gear for BC tours can also be rented at the powder station
There were eight participants and two guides. Since it was Saturday, the powder snow had already vanished. The summit lift, commonly known as Goroma (5th Romance), opened at 9:00 (9:30 on weekdays), so we headed straight for the summit
9：30 Submit your mountain climbing registration at the gate and head to the base camp
At Kagura Gate 1, Igarashi submitted his mountain climbing registration, and each participant had their beacon checked before leaving the course
9:45 Morning destination: Hike to the North Slope
Here we put on our snowboards, and after a briefing on the overall plan, including where we were heading, the weather, temperature, etc., we began the hike. Our morning destination was the so-called "northern slope." Under a bright blue sky that could easily be described as Kagura Blue, we walked along a gentle ridge. As we chose a course with a gentle slope, it wasn't very difficult. We walked at a leisurely pace without breaking a sweat, and were even able to chat with the other participants. With the southern slope of Nakaone on our right, just walking in the crisp, cool air was refreshing
It takes just under an hour to reach the peak of Nakaone. We remove our skis at this point, which is one level higher on the ridge. We can see the Kagura slope and the line we climbed at a glance. Looking into the distance, the Echigo Sanzan and Tanigawa mountain range spread out before us, with Mt. Naeba towering majestically behind. Looking towards Tsunan, we can see Mt. Myoko and Mt. Kurohime directly ahead, and further back, the peaks of Hakuba. It's a spectacular view. On some days, we can even see Sado Island, as well as the Sea of Japan
A 360-degree panorama. It's worth coming here just to see this view. And it only takes less than an hour. The cost performance is great
I put my skis into sliding mode and went further in until I reached the drop point, which was about 1800m above sea level
No tracks on the north slope with the best snow quality
An open run on the north slope.
"I'll go first. As long as you don't go further down than me, you can go anywhere within sight," Igarashi says, and with a slow, vertical turn, he glides comfortably down the center of the bowl-shaped slope. He disappears from view due to the undulations, then reappears, stopping just as he radios in, "That's cool, anywhere's fine."
The run is about 500m long. There are not many ups and downs, and the slope is visible indefinitely, so there is no need to worry. One by one, participants go down the no-track slope, yelling with delight. Depending on the light, the snow sinks deep, or it's a little firmer, so it feels really good to enjoy the changes in the no-track slope
Once everyone was gathered, we made our way through the forest on the north slope, almost like a traverse. The temperature was cold, so the skis glide smoothly even on a gentle slope. It felt great to ski through the quiet forest in the crisp, cold air
As we continued, dropping our skis in places, we arrived at the bottom of the ridge known as Nakaone. The slopes were already in sight. We headed down the ridge enjoying the dessert-like powder snow as we made our way to the slopes. Our two-hour tour of the north slope came to an end
12:00 Back to BC Gate ~ Lunchtime
After a toilet break, we headed back to Goroma. The Fifth Romance Lift operates earlier than the other lifts, until 2pm (until noon in January), so we checked our beacons, put on our skis, and then hiked for a shorter time than before. It
was lunchtime at a point with a view of Tashiro Ski Resort in the distance. We all enjoyed the lunch we had brought with us, including rice balls and cup ramen, and had a great time.
Powder run on a long, wide, straight slope
After lunch, it was time to ski again. The blue sky was hiding and the weather was looking increasingly ominous, but the conditions were fine. It was a long powder run using the long slope from the drop point
As expected, the snow was light, the slope was gentle, but the thick rocker made for easy climbing. You couldn't dig in as deep as on the north slope, but the 500m or so was extremely comfortable. I couldn't help but shout out loud
13:30 Long run from the reflector
"Yes, please put the sticker on again," Nobu said. From here, we headed for the reflector. The "reflector" is a plate-like structure erected in the backcountry area of Kagura (its purpose is to reflect radio waves, but it is not currently in operation as satellites can be used). It stands out in the middle of nature, making it extremely conspicuous
Below the reflector is a vast open run. It's flat and the slope is just right, so it looks like we can go really fast. The best thing is that we can ski without any worries. The clouds are starting to look ominous. Just when we thought we were covered in white clouds, we suddenly saw a fair amount of snow. There's no wind, so visibility is poor, but there's no problem with skiing. The tour is still on
The track had been reset considerably after only 30 minutes of snowfall. We dropped out from under the reflectors. Visibility was poor, but the snow was light due to the low temperature. The cheers of the participants echoed throughout the area. Once everyone had finished skiing, we all paid attention to Igarashi's instructions at the rendezvous point. From here, we took a stream-like course back to the Tashiro slope. This marked the end of our backcountry skiing
14:00 Return to the Tashiro slope and head to Kagura
We returned to the Tashiro slope and headed to the Kagura area. Next, we headed to a secret forest course within the Kagura slope. Even though it was afternoon, there was still powder left. As expected, the tour leader who knows Kagura is different
15：00 Tour End
In stark contrast to the morning, we returned to the snow-covered Kagura slopes and finished the tour. Some continued on down the mountain, while others continued skiing until the lifts stopped running. Everyone left with smiles on their faces, and everyone enjoyed a fulfilling day, including long runs on fresh snow, tree runs, and amazing views
Kagura BC is close to Tokyo and has a high altitude, so you can enjoy good quality light snow. Even though it is a guided tour, there are no difficult steps such as crossing rivers or having to use ropes, so it is not very stressful. If you choose the right course, it seems to be recommended for beginners to BC, children, and elderly people
■ TOUR DATA (Reference data only as a model plan)
| Tour Name | Regular 1-day tour |
|---|---|
| Average hike time | Just under 2 hours |
| guide ratio | Guide 2: 10 guests or less |
| Required equipment | Beacon, shovel, probe, climbing equipment, helmet (recommended) |
| Difficulty (required BC experience level) | BC Beginners: Skiing skills are intermediate or above and can handle fresh snow |
| Participation fee | 12,000 yen |
| others | Wadagoya Tour: 32,000 yen (tax included, lift ticket not included) |
| Reservation/Inquiry | http://kagurapowderstation.com/tour |
*In addition to the standard course offered this time, Powder Station also offers advanced tours to Mikaku, Karasumine, etc., depending on the weather and skill level
Interview cooperation: Kagura Powder Station
◆ Check here for more details!
