Want to try out some powder this week? Check out the test centers and ski resorts where you can rent popular fat skis and powder boards

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) Ski 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　

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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.htmlOfficial
social media | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Ishiuchi Maruyama Ski Resort | Niigata Prefecture

"Performance Rental" launched in Ishiuchi in the 2021-2022 season. This service allows you to rent high-performance, trendy skis and snowboards that will allow you to fully enjoy Ishiuchi's charms, such as powder, parks, and groomed runs. This
new initiative, which fulfills the wishes of those who have been interested in skis but haven't bought them yet, or who want to ski on skis that are more suited to Ishiuchi Maruyama than their own skis, was a huge hit last season.

The lineup includes popular freeride brands such as VectorGlide

■Fee:
¥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, 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 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

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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

Official website: http://kagurapowderstation.com/Official
social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Charmant Hiuchi | Niigata Prefecture

Charmant Hiuchi is known as a ski resort with heavy snowfall. During the peak season, the snow is usually over 5m deep. The resort's stance is "non-compressed snow," making it a paradise for powder lovers, with approximately 65% ​​of the area open to the public as ungroomed areas and runs. Enjoy the 1,100m non-stop powder run and tree runs throughout the resort

To fully enjoy Charmant's powder world, there is a wide selection of fat ski rentals for those who want to try fat skis or want fat skis but can't afford them yet. The official website also publishes a list of fat skis available for rental, with a lineup including LINE, EXTREME, ATOMIC, 4FRNT, and MAJESTY. The skis are also carefully listed with waist width (thickness) and a description of the type of fat, such as "fat skis for women" or "fat skis with camber." You can even swap skis mid-rental, which is a nice touch. While famous for its deep powder, Charmant is surprisingly a hidden gem, and the slopes are rarely crowded. It's the perfect environment for enjoying powder to the fullest

■Rental Fees
Expert Rental 1 day ¥4,500 | Half day ¥3,100

■ Charmant Hiuchi weather forecast

■Live camera

In front of the center house

Official website | https://charmant-hiuchi.jp/
Official social media | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Madarao Kogen Ski Resort | Nagano Prefecture

The quality and quantity of its powder is known as "Madapow," and Madarao Kogen has many fans who frequent it regularly. In addition to the powder, it is also known for its interesting layouts that make use of the undulating natural terrain, and it is particularly well-known for its number of tree run courses, which are among the best in Japan. Madarao has been working to expand its tree run courses since before the tree run movement began, so it is a long-established resort. The wide variety of tree run courses is impressive, and the long tree run skiing is also a strength

Madarao Kogen has a wide selection of fat skis for rent. Shirakaba Rental offers a wide range of skis, from fat skis around 100mm wide to big fat skis over 120mm, including brands like K2, VÖLKL, and BLASTRACK. Even skiers who don't have the courage to buy 120mm wide skis can easily try them out here. If you hit some deep powder on a day like this, it's worth experiencing the world of powder skiing. Madarao Kogen's Shirakaba Rental Powder Station also serves as a BLASTRACK test center, so you can rent the latest BLASTRACK models. Many people test ride them and then decide to buy them

You can switch bikes as many times as you like during the rental period! However, we recommend that you make a reservation in advance for the model you want to use as your main bike. Check the details page on the official website

■Rental fee

	1 day	2 days	4 hours
FREERIDE POWDER	¥4,300	¥7,300	¥3,500
SET (Ski/Boot/Pole)	¥5,500	¥9,700	¥4,500

■ Weather forecast for Madarao Kogen

■Live camera

From the Information Center towards the Giant Course

Official website | http://www.madarao.jp/skiOfficial
social media | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Mt. Dock | Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort | Nagano Prefecture

Mt'Dock is a rental shop located right in front of the Nagasaka Gondola, the main gondola at Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort. The owner is Yuta Ueno, a pioneer in the Japanese freeskiing world. The shop has a unique presence with its garage-style American style and also houses a cafe stand, and is bustling every day during the season

The staff is made up of experienced athletes and current riders. Thanks to the discerning eye of these specialists, they stock a wide range of the latest skis (ARMADA, SALOMON) and snowboards (BURTON, CAPITA, DEUS) from popular brands. They also operate as an ARMADA test center, so you can test ride the latest ARMADA models, which is another attractive feature

COMPASS HOUSE, which is also run by Mt. Dock owner Ueno Yudai, offers powder and backcountry guided tours, and if you join one of these tours you can test ride ARMADA's tour-oriented fat ski, the LOCATOR, which is getting a lot of attention for its excellent performance. Tour participants can try out the LOCATOR, which comes with a sticker and tech bindings, for just 5,000 yen.
( here )

■Price list is here

■How to rent:
If you make an online reservation by 5pm the day before the rental start date, you will receive a 10% discount. If you want to rent a tour ski, you must make a reservation by 5pm the day before.

To make a reservation for Mt.Dock rental, please click here: https://compasshouse.jp/rental-form/

■Weather forecast

■Live camera

Mount Kenashi summit

Official website | https://mtdock-nozawa.com/
Official social media | Instagram | Facebook