The concept is "safe and fun"
They offer guiding tailored to the level of everyone, from beginners to veterans. They regularly hold avalanche seminars and powder lessons to improve the level of their guests and increase the safety of the tour as a whole
"Backcountry skiing is an activity that takes place in the winter mountains. It is not a mountain that anyone can easily enter. To enter the mountains in winter, you need knowledge and skills. First, you should gain experience by taking a reliable guided tour, and develop your knowledge, skills, and experience."
We want to convey the wonder and fun of the Gassan area
The Mt. Gassan/Mt. Yudono area of Yamagata Prefecture, long known as "Idewa," is a historic region with beautiful four seasons. IDEHA is proud and honored to offer guide services in this area.
Listen carefully to the silence of the surrounding area, where the only sound is the wind. A desolate world of white and gray stretches out before you, making the Mt. Gassan area a sanctuary during the harsh winter.
From mid-January to early March, powder snow is at its peak. This region boasts some of Japan's heaviest snowfalls, with overnight snowfalls of over one meter not uncommon.
Here, you can carve tracks as if you were reserving the vast powder runs. In the primeval forest of beech trees over 100 years old, you can enjoy wide-spaced tree runs in the finest powder.
IDEHA offers two types of services in the Mt. Gassan/Mt. Yudono area: standard hiking tours and CAT (snowmobile) tours.
IDEHA Mountain Ski Tour and Powder Trip
[Hiking Tour]
This is a popular IDEHA tour. The one-day powder trip takes about 3.5 hours to climb and 1.5 hours to ski, for a total of about 7 hours (including preparation, lunch, climbing back up, and rest). The tour is limited to 10 people, making it very flexible
The event will be held in the Ubagatake, Yudono, Gassan, Asahi and Zao areas. It is aimed at people with backcountry experience, with a skill level of being able to safely ski and board down slopes of around 25 degrees. The course has obstacles such as beech trees, so participants must be able to react quickly and control their speed.
Check the IDEHA website for the event date, and reservations can be made up to three days before the event. IDEHA will introduce you to accommodations affiliated with IDEHA for participants from afar.
representative
Takahiro Ishizawa
I was born and raised in a remote corner of Zao and grew up enjoying skiing in the fields and mountains from a young age. I have been guiding at Gassan for 27 years and I never get tired of the joy of skiing in this area. I guide with the hope of sharing this excitement with everyone
As a drone pilot for Cocoheli, he is also involved in searching for lost people in mountainous areas and promoting safe mountain climbing
[Qualifications]
JMGA Mountain Guide Stage I
, JMGA Ski Guide Stage II
, Japan Telemark Ski Association certified instructor
*JMGA: Japan Mountain Guides Association
JAN: Japan Avalanche Network
Guide Area
| Main guide area | Gassan area |
| Other areas | Mt. Chokai area, sometimes Zao area |
| Representative name (guide qualification) | Takahiro Ishizawa (JMGA Mountain Guide Stage I, JMGA Ski Guide Stage II) |
| Main guide name (guide qualification) | Takahiro Ishizawa (JMGA Mountain Guide Stage I, JMGA Ski Guide Stage II) Isao Ninohe (JMGA Mountain Guide Stage II, JMGA Ski Guide Stage I) |
| Number of guides | 4 full-time employees (4 of whom are qualified) |
| Guide Ratio | 1 guide: 5 guests |
| Percentage of guests | Skiing/Snowboarding (7 vs. 3) / Men and Women (7 vs. 3) |
rental
| Snow Safety Gear | Beacon Probe Shovel (Available/Paid) |
| backpack | Something that can be fitted with boards (available/charged) |
| Skiing | Skis with touring bindings (none) |
| Climbing gear | Climbing skins/snowshoes (none) |
Fee
| 1DAY | From 8,800 yen (excluding tax) |
| others | A tour using a CAT or snowmobile (Gassan Powder Trip) costs 21,000 yen |
The actual tour content
| First time participating | BC experience | The most difficult | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity time | Approximately 4 to 6 hours | About 6~8 hours | 8 hours or more |
| Total altitude difference | 300-500m (depending on the route and conditions) | 500-800m (depending on the route and conditions) | Over 1000m (depending on the route and conditions) |
| Average hike time | About 1.5~2 hours | 2~4 hours | More than 4 hours |
| Slope Contents | Enjoy the gentle slopes with an average slope of 15 to 20 degrees safely. Beech tree course, open ranch course | Enjoy powder and granular snow slopes with an average slope of 25 to 30 degrees | The average slope is over 30 degrees, and the course requires a long time and requires both physical strength and skill. There are also tours using crampons and ice axes |
Information
| address | 2-10-24 Higashiyamagata, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| TEL | 090-7067-0667 |
| ideha@khaki.plala.or.jp | |
| WEB | http://www.ideha.jp |
| Social Media | ideha |
*This information is current as of July 2025
*The information posted is as of October 2023
