Location: Madarao mountain resort
The strongest cold air mass of this winter is currently flowing in, bringing the biggest cold wave of the season. Blizzards are occurring mainly in northern Japan, and caution is needed in the mountains. Weather forecasts predict that the strong cold air mass will remain until the end of this week. The trend of low temperatures will continue through the end of the month. Naturally, this means that heavy snow and powder snow are expected in the mountains!
Now is the perfect time to try out thicker fat skis and powder boards that are great for deep powder, or models other than your own! Here we'll introduce you to some nearby ski resorts where you can test ride fat skis and powder boards, as well as rentals. So why not give some fat skis and powder boards a try this weekend?
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu | Hokkaido
Niseko is the world-famous mecca of JAPOW. Its powder return rate is also one of the highest in Japan. Grand Hirafu is characterized by its 22 diverse runs and large-scale night skiing. Many of the runs have a variety of slopes and undulating terrain, so even skiing on the same Niseko powder is extremely fun. The night skiing runs are the largest in Japan in terms of both run size and variety. Skiing at night on Niseko's continuously falling fresh snow is a fantastic experience and an amazing feeling
Grand Hirafu's rental corner, the Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu Rental Annex, serves as the test center for Icelantic Skis and BLASTRACK. Grand Hirafu was the first Icelantic ski rental location in Japan to start in the 2021-2022 season. As a result, there is an extensive range of models available for rental, and it's great to be able to try out popular models like SABAPRO and NOMAD
Other lineups include fat skis from Vector Glide and DPS. There's also an interesting "Japan Brand Corner" with a selection of Niseko-based brands like ROKO SKI and Gentem Stick snowboards. If you rent for two days or more, you can fully enjoy Niseko's night powder on fat skis, which you've always wanted to try out
■Price
(Premium) Skiing Only: 1 day ¥6,500 | 2 days ¥12,000 | 3 days ¥1,400
*Rental details:https://www.grand-hirafu.jp/winter/rental/#icelantic
■Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu Weather Forecast
■Live camera
Current state of the area around Ace 2nd Center Four bus stop
Official Website |https://www.grand-hirafu.jp/winter/
Official Social Media |Facebook|Twitter
Geto Kogen Ski Resort | Iwate Prefecture
Geto Kogen Ski Resort has the highest snowfall in Japan and has been the first in Honshu to fully open for the past three seasons, showing amazing snowfall. Powder is the norm, and heavy snowfall is also a given. As of January 25th, there is 290 cm of snow on the summit, and with the current cold wave, about 30 cm of fresh snow has fallen in 24 hours
Geto is proud of its exceptionally vast tree run areas. The 14 tree run areas are each unique and diverse in terms of slope, distance, natural terrain, snow depth, and tree spacing. The scale and excitement are incredible. The ultimate package of "heavy snow + powder + tree run" is the best in Japan, and as Geto advocates that "tree run is best enjoyed in powder!", they also rent out fat skis that are perfect for Geto. We'll introduce the list below. Wapan skis are quite rare!
You can also change the model during the rental period, which is great for trying out different options. What's more, the on-site "Shop JaJa" offers an on-time service where you can purchase the fat skis or powder boards you rented if you like them
SPECIAL rental fee/single item
| Brand (SKI) | Price/day (bindings included) | Mid-way exchange/fees | Rental location |
|---|---|---|---|
| K2 & LINE ski | ¥4,500 | Possible (up to 2 times)/Free | Rental 2 |
| Ogasaka ski | ¥4,500 | Possible (up to 2 times)/Free | Rental 2 |
| Majesty | ¥4,500 | Exchange required every 2 hours/-Free | Shop JaJa |
| 4FRNT & Wapan ski | ¥4,500 | Exchange required every 2 hours/-Free | Shop JaJa |
| Brand (SNOWBOARD) | |||
| GENTEMSTICK | Possible/Free | Mountain Information | |
| BAKERY | Every 2 hours/free | Shop JaJa | |
| TEMPLETΩN | Every 2 hours/free | Shop JaJa |
*Rental details:https://www.getokogen.com/winter/02rental/index.html
■Weather forecast for Geto Kogen Ski Resort
■Live camera
Official Website |https://www.getokogen.com/winter/index.html
Official Social Media |Instagram|Facebook|Twitter
Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort | Niigata Prefecture
"Performance Rental," which started in Ishiuchi during the 2021-2022 season, is a service that allows you to rent high-performance, popular skis and snowboards that allow you to fully enjoy Ishiuchi's attractions, such as powder, parks, and groomed runs.
This new initiative, which fulfills the desires of those who "have been interested in a particular board but haven't bought it yet" or "want to ride with a board that is more suitable for Ishiuchi Maruyama than their own," became very popular last season.
VectorGlide, FACTION, LINE, and ATOMIC, as well as the much-anticipated fat skis. This season, ICELANTIC, EXTREME, and SEASON have also been added, making the selection even more powerful. For snowboards, the lineup features the latest models, primarily from the ever-popular brand BURTON.
■Price:
¥4,900 per day
■How to rent:
Apply for rental in advance on the Ishiuchi Maruyama website and receive a QR code. On the day of rental, present the QR code at the resort center ticket counter, pay the fee, and then pick up your gear at the rental counter. Since you can make a reservation in advance, you can rent the equipment smoothly on the day.
*Rental details:https://ishiuchi.or.jp/school-rental/rental/
■ Weather forecast for Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort
■Live camera
Near the Sunrise Express stop
Official Website |https://ishiuchi.or.jp/
Official Social Media |Instagram|Facebook|Twitter
Kagura Powder Station | Kagura Ski Resort | Niigata Prefecture
Kagura is a popular ski resort with good access from the Kanto region, heavy snowfall, and a high altitude, making it renowned for its snow quality. Kagura Powder Station, located at the base of Kagura Ski Resort, is the perfect spot for those wanting to enjoy powder and backcountry skiing in Kagura. It's also a hub for freeskiing information in the area, with rare, local tips for enjoying the Kagura area. The shop stocks everything from gear and accessories needed for backcountry skiing to the latest items you'll want to use during the season
They also offer backcountry guide services, and hold events such as a beginner-only one-day tour, a two-day, one-night Wadagoya tour, and backcountry training sessions. Skiers and snowboarders who want to try powder or the backcountry can rent all the necessary gear except for ski boots, including fat skis, powder poles, and avalanche gear. To make the most of Kagura's powder, they have a wide selection of the latest fat skis and powder boards from 4FRNT and K2. You can not only try out fat skis on Kagura's slopes, but you can also join a tour and try them out as part of your backcountry experience
■Rental Fees
Skis: ¥5,000 per day | Poles: ¥500 per day
*Rental details: http://kagurapowderstation.com/rental
■Kagura Weather Forecast
■Live camera
Kagura area
