The Hokkaido Powder Liner was held over two days, February 28th and 29th, 2022. This was part of a project implemented by the Sapporo Global Sports Commission, and was a monitor tour based at a hot spring inn in Jozankei, Sapporo, where participants skied at ski resorts such as Sapporo Kokusai and Teine, and even further afield at Niseko. The tour was guided by Daisuke Sasaki. Having guided visitors to various locations both in Japan and overseas, including Hokkaido, we spoke to him about the potential and appeal of ski trips based in Jozankei Onsen, and the effectiveness of guides, after the tour
-How was the two-day tour?
"I stayed at Jozankei Onsen and skied in the surrounding area. There are many hot spring inns nearby, so it feels like I'm in a hot spring resort, and it's great for relaxing. From here, there are Sapporo Kokusai and Kiroro, and although it's a bit far, Teine, and Rusutsu and Niseko, which are about the same distance away. There are many options. I was able to find some amazing snow over the past two days, so I think Jozankei Onsen has potential as a base."
--Kiroro and Niseko. Both had powder
"Niseko and Rusutsu are close in distance, but the weather is slightly different, and of course the weather is different from Kiroro. To enjoy skiing, it's important to have snow, but the weather is also important. It's not just good snow; you want to ski when it's sunny, and if there's strong winds in the forecast, you choose a place with less wind. Nowadays, you can gather all kinds of information and decide where to go. It's difficult to make a decision taking all of that into consideration, but I think that's also part of the fun of skiing and snowboarding. Building a base, staying there, and exploring good spots can be fun in a way that goes beyond just skiing."
--What exactly are the benefits of having Jozankei Onsen as your base?
"There's a wide variety of day-trip ski resorts, centered around Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, Sapporo Kokusai, Teine, and Jozankei Onsen. Also, while using each ski resort as a base, you can access the backcountry with lifts, allowing you to ski efficiently on many great slopes. Furthermore, because this area is close to the ocean, snow falls constantly. Having lots of snow is the best thing. Even on a global scale, I think the best feature of this area, centered around Jozankei Onsen, is the quality of the snow, so I think that's its biggest selling point
The conditions in each area vary from time to time, but having Jozankei Onsen as your base gives you a huge advantage in having many options. We have data and information from other people. In terms of information from other people, we have a strong network of guides. We make full use of that to gather information and choose the best place for the day. We don't just consider the amount of snow, but also how the snow has accumulated, the strength of the wind on the day, the way the sun rises, and also the pace of the customers when making our selections. When all of these factors come together well, it's more fun than you'd expect. For us, seeing our customers smile really gives us energy for the next time."
--If you don't have a geographical advantage, it can be difficult to choose such a location
"That's right. Even if you're in a good location, the hardest part is making the right choice. So if you get help from someone who is familiar with the ski slopes around Sapporo and can predict good snow, I think you can make the most of your precious travel time with precision. Going out on your own can be fun, but if you want to efficiently predict good snow and good weather and have a great experience, I think using a guide is a good choice."
-So you have a wide range to choose from and a guide to rely on in the field
"We guides train every day to be able to give the best possible guidance so that skiers and snowboarders can have fun and relax. Not only when guiding in the backcountry, but even in places that can be easily accessed by gates next to ski resorts, there is a lot of detailed and unpredictable terrain. For example, if someone were to step and fall into a river, it would be very difficult for the average person to get out. Even in such a situation, a guide can quickly pull out a rope and pull the skier out, and we are trained to carry them to safety even if they are injured. I think one of the contributions a guide can make is to provide a sense of security, and on top of that, we also have the know-how to efficiently guide them to good places. I think it is a good option in that it covers the aspects of enjoyment in addition to peace of mind and safety
The focus is on skiing on good snow, but if you add to that, the food that is unique to Sapporo and Hokkaido is also great. At Jozankei Onsen, you can relax and enjoy skiing the next day. And with the hot springs there's nothing to complain about."
It's not impossible to say that the conditions were just right for the two days, but the situation was better than we had imagined. What I was most glad about was that the audience was smiling. I felt that this tour had a lot of potential. Also, I think that having someone who can guide you is essential, even though I'm doing it myself (laughs). I would definitely recommend making use of a guide with the know-how."
Photo/ Tsutomu Nakata
Check out the tour report video
The person who taught me
Daisuke Sasaki
Born in Sapporo. Since starting as an apprentice mountain guide, he has competed in extreme competitions overseas. He has skied famous peaks around the world and set numerous records. Currently, as an international mountain guide, he has run "Guide Bankei" since 2010, providing backcountry skiing services both domestically and internationally
This season is back! Powder Hunt in Jozankei with Daisuke Sasaki, we're looking for participants for the monitor tour
This year, applications are open again for a tour that allows you to stay at Jozankei Onsen and select slopes based on the conditions on the day at Sapporo Kokusai, Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro, etc. As with last season, the tour guide will be Daisuke Sasaki of International Mountain Guides
This tour is titled "Jozankei Onsen Stay Monitor Tour",
・Those who have experience in backcountry or side country skiing, or who are able to move around and ski downhill without the need for help from others in backcountry or side country skiing
・Those who are willing to answer a questionnaire after the trip
is a condition for participation
Departure dates are January 13th and February 17th, with prices starting from 66,000 yen for a 2-night, 3-day stay and 88,000 yen for a 3-night, 4-day stay (2 people per room)
Applications for each course will close once the maximum number of participants is reached, so be sure to check if you're interested