The Japan Avalanche Network (JAN) promotes safety awareness in winter mountains through avalanche information, research, and education on avalanche safety measures. To safely enjoy backcountry skiing and snowboarding, it is very important to have knowledge of avalanche safety measures and acquire skills for dealing with them on the snow. JAN's annual "Safety Seminars" and "On-Snow Workshops" will begin again in the 2024-2025 season. We will introduce the contents and schedule of these seminars. A must-see for backcountry skiers!
What is the Japan Avalanche Network (JAN)?
The Japan Avalanche Network (JAN) is a non-profit professional organization that operates under four pillars: avalanche education, avalanche information, accident investigation, and resource provision for avalanche safety in winter outdoor activities. Its members are a wide range of professionals, including mountain guides, ski patrolmen, rescue team members, and other professionals who work in snowy mountains, as well as avalanche researchers and trained mountaineers
the Japan Avalanche Network'sofficial websitefeatures "Seven Steps to Avalanche Safety in the Backcountry" and real-time avalanche information from various locations. JAN is a specialized organization that educates users about safety through this kind of detailed knowledge and information. For skiers and snowboarders who are interested in or passionate about backcountry skiing, JAN is an incredibly valuable and reliable resource.
During the season, "X" sends out daily avalanche information and urges caution
▼Avalanche information provided by JAN's "X"
【#AvalancheInfo】the #Hakuba mountain 山域における 2024年3月29日5時30分現在の雪崩情報を発表しました。https://t.co/4bNb5VZh1P#avalanche #backcountry #wintermountains , #mountaineering #skiing #snowboarding #japow
— Japan Avalanche Network (@npo_jan) March 28, 2024
JAN seminar
The Japan Avalanche Network (JAN) provides education for both general recreational users and field professionals. For general users who go to snowy mountains for leisure or as a personal hobby, the network offers a variety of seminars to provide basic knowledge about avalanches and teach avalanche safety skills for use on snowy fields
The safety seminars are free seminars held to raise awareness of the dangers of avalanches, and involve listening to talks from experts and experienced people about basic knowledge of avalanches and examples of accidents. There are two types of avalanche nights: "Avalanche Night" and "Mini Avalanche Night."
■Avalanche Night(AN): A free two-hour seminar covering the basics of avalanches and accident case studies. Suitable for a wide range of participants, from beginners to experienced individuals.
■Mini Avalanche Night(min AN): A sister event to AN. Held by JAN members with specialized avalanche skills, with support from pro shops and manufacturers. Smaller in scale than AN, making it easy for those who want to start going into the mountains or those with little experience to participate.
The "On-Snow Seminar" begins with the start of the season and consists of three programs
■ Basic Safety Camp (BSC)…… A two-day introductory course covering comprehensive avalanche safety measures.
■ AvSAR Basic Course…… A practical course training in the use of avalanche gear such as avalanche beacons and probes, digging techniques, and strategic group search.
■ Advanced Safety Camp (ASC) …… A three-day advanced course for those who have completed the basic course and already have sufficient experience on snow.
2024/25 season Avalanche Night schedule
This season's Avalanche Nights will be held in two ways: on-site and online. Advance registration is required for both. Participation in both Avalanche Nights is free
[Venue held]
| name | Venue | Date and Time | Capacity | venue | Main contents |
| AN Sapporo | Hokkaido | Thursday, November 21, 2024 18:30-20:30 | 144 people | Hokkaido Prefectural Citizens Activity Center, Kaderu 2, Room 820 | Recent trends in avalanche accidents |
| AN Tokyo | Tokyo | Thursday, December 5, 2024 19:00-21:00 | 390 people | Yotsuya Civic Hall | Persistent instability accidents |
| AN Yudanaka | Nagano Prefecture | Friday, December 13, 2024 19:00-21:00 | 100 people | Yamanouchi Town Central Community Center/Study Room | Regional trends in avalanche accidents in Nagano Prefecture |
| AN Toyama | Toyama Prefecture | Wednesday, December 18, 2024 18:30-20:30 | 70 people | Toyama International Conference Center, Multipurpose Conference Room | Avalanche accidents that characterize the Tateyama mountain range |
| AN Nagano | Nagano Prefecture | Thursday, December 19, 2024 19:00-21:00 | 300 people | Hokuto Cultural Hall Small Hall | Temperature fluctuations in the central mountainous region; protective techniques for snow-covered mountains; recent avalanche accidents. |
| AN Minamiuonuma | Niigata Prefecture | Friday, December 20, 2024 19:00-21:00 | 150 people | Minamiuonuma Civic Hall/Multipurpose Hall | Safe skiing on fresh snow at Myoko: Two types of avalanches occurred on the same day . Co-sponsored by Niigata Prefecture. |
[Held online]
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 26, 2024, 7 PM - 9 PM (connection starts 20 minutes prior)
Participation: Using the free app Zoom
Capacity: 3000 people
Content:
1. Carry an avalanche beacon and practice using it
2. Avalanche risk management
3. Things to be careful of when using avalanche information
2024/25 season snow training course schedule
The on-snow training course is practical learning in the field, tailored to the backcountry skiing experience level. It is an on-snow training course that teaches various avalanche countermeasures in the actual field, for everyone, from backcountry beginners without solid avalanche safety knowledge, to people who have skied in the backcountry quite a bit but have never participated in avalanche detection activities, to experienced people who lack confidence in their understanding of the terrain or working in groups
This snow training course will begin again in January for the 2024-2025 season. The application period is as follows. It is extremely popular every year and fills up quickly, so backcountry skiers who are interested should consider taking the course as soon as possible
■ Basic Safety Camp (BSC) Schedule
JAN is currently accepting applications for the following courses.
*To enhance the effectiveness of the field training, pre-course e-learning is required (accessible via PC/smartphone).
JAN-sponsored courses
| Course name and venue | schedule |
| BSC Skiing - Yamaboku | January 4th (Sat) - 5th (Sun), 2025 |
| BSC Skating・Hakuba 1 | Thursday, January 9th – Friday, January 10th, 2025 |
| BSC Skiing・Hakuba 2 | January 12th (Sunday) - 13th (Monday/Holiday), 2025 |
| BSC Skating・Hotaka 1 | January 18th (Sat) - 19th (Sun), 2025 |
| BSC Skating・Hotaka 2 | Wednesday, January 29th – Thursday, January 30th, 2025 |
| BSC Skiing Hakuba 3 | February 4th (Tuesday) - 5th (Wednesday), 2025 |
| BSC Skiing・Hakuba 4 | February 9th (Sunday) - February 10th (Monday), 2025 |
| BSC Skating, Numata, Hokkaido | February 10th (Monday) - 11th (Tuesday/holiday), 2025 |
| BSC Climbing/Water | February 23rd (Sunday) - 24th (Monday/Holiday), 2025 |
| BSC Skiing, Myoko | Wednesday, March 5th – Thursday, March 6th, 2025 |
| BSC Skiing・Hakuba 5 | March 8th (Sat) - 9th (Sun), 2025 |
- Recruitment: 16 people each
- Application deadline: Once capacity is reached or one week before the course begins
- Fee: 25,000 yen (course fee only. Does not include accommodation, transportation, or ski lift tickets)
- If you would like to take the course but the dates don't suit you, BSC is held in three formats: "sponsored," "co-sponsored," and "provider." The content is the same in all formats, so check the JAN official website for details
■ AvSAR Basic Course
This one-day basic course focuses solely on avalanche search and rescue. It is recommended for those who have purchased an avalanche beacon but are unable to practice enough due to being alone, or who want to thoroughly learn the basic skills
| Course name and venue | schedule |
| AvSAR Basics - Yamaboku | Friday, January 3, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics/Hakuba 1 | Wednesday, January 8, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics/Hakuba 2 | Saturday, January 11, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics/Norikura | January 13, 2025 (Monday/Holiday) |
| AvSAR Basics - Hotaka 1 | Friday, January 17, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics - Hotaka 2 | Tuesday, January 28, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics/Hakuba 3 | Monday, February 3, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics/Hakuba 4 | Saturday, February 8, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics - Numata, Hokkaido | Sunday, February 9, 2025 |
| AvSAR basics/water | Saturday, February 22, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics/Myoko | Tuesday, March 4, 2025 |
| AvSAR Basics/Hakuba 5 | Friday, July 7, 2025 |
- Recruitment: 16 people each
- Application deadline: Once capacity is reached or one week before the course begins
- Fee: 25,000 yen (course fee only. Does not include accommodation, transportation, or ski lift tickets)
By taking the BSC (2 days) and the AvSAR Basic Course (1 day), you can learn the comprehensive and important basics of avalanche safety measures. To maximize the effectiveness of the training, it is recommended that you take the AvSAR Basic Course first before attending the BSC
■ Advanced Safety Camp (ASC)
The ASC (3 days) is a course for experienced participants. It requires prior attendance of the BSC and AvSAR basic courses. All three days are focused on field training, and the content is adapted to the tour format, making it more practical
This three-day advanced training course is aimed at those who have taken the BSC and AvSAR Basic Courses and have extensive field experience. Participants will learn more practical terrain understanding, group management, and the avalanche hazard assessment process. Through field tours over the three days, participants will learn about the complexities of spatial variation in snow cover and will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of behavioral management that pays attention to the terrain. This course is recommended for those aiming to obtain the Level 1 Avalanche Worker professional course and for group leaders
*To increase the effectiveness of the field training, there will be e-learning prior to the training (this can also be done on PC/smartphone)
| Course name and venue | schedule |
| ASC Mountaineering Yuzawa | January 31st (Friday) – February 2nd (Sunday), 2025 |
| ASC Skiing - Hotaka | February 4th (Tuesday) – February 6th (Thursday), 2025 |
| ASC Skiing and Mt. Yotei | February 22nd (Sat) - 24th (Monday/Holiday), 2025 |
- Recruitment: 12 people each
- Application deadline: Once capacity is reached or one week before the course begins
- Fee: 35,000 yen (course fee only. Does not include accommodation, transportation, or ski lift tickets)
To increase the effectiveness of the field training, there will be e-learning available in advance (this can also be done on PC/smartphone)
