Recently, the number of shops and guide clubs offering "BC cross-country" tours, where you walk while wearing skis with scales, has been gradually increasing, and they are now holding tours regularly.
This time, I'll share my experience of a BC cross-country tour with well-tuned, a ski hiking specialty shop that opened in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido in December 2025.
"Welcome to Welltuned"
If you're thinking of actually trying backcountry cross-country skiing (ski hiking), I recommend joining a tour that will carefully teach you everything from how to handle your gear to how to walk and ski
Many tour operators and guide clubs offer rental gear, allowing you to try out equipment before purchasing. This lowers the psychological barrier to buying, encouraging you to try it out at least once
"Welcome to Welltuned"
The person who greeted us was Mr. Ito, the owner of well-tuned, a shop specializing in ski hiking that opened in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido in December 2025
On this day, we went on one of the main ski hiking tours offered by well-tuned, a course that takes you through a forest inhabited by Ural owls.
The tour is designed to be enjoyable even for first-timers.
Let's follow the tour through photos
The Tonebetsu primeval forest in Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido, which we visited on the tour, is a hilly area with a total area of approximately 500 hectares and about 19 km of well-maintained walking trails. The elevation is approximately 150m. The forest has a two-layered structure like an inner and outer rim of a caldera, with streams and ridges intricately interwoven, allowing for countless possible routes
In Mr. Ito's tours, he selects the most suitable route for the day from several options, taking into account the wind direction, snow conditions, and the skill level of the participants
The concept is the same as backcountry skiing. The only difference is that the altitude is lower and the risks are reduced. The forest blocks the wind, and the fluctuations in conditions are smaller, allowing for more flexible decision-making
Furthermore, this forest offers a variety of routes, from flat trails to hilly courses with ups and downs, allowing you to grow according to your skill level. You can enjoy the same forest again and again by changing the difficulty level, and the fact that "it's a forest where you can continue to play on your own even after buying your gear" is a major attraction
Tonebetsu Nature Park, also known as "Owl Forest," is the perfect field for enjoying backcountry cross-country skiing
The BC cross-country skiing I experienced this time was completely different from typical backcountry skiing, which is aimed at sliding down slopes. It
's not a "vertical adventure" aiming for peaks, but a "horizontal journey" moving sideways and deeper into the wilderness along the contour lines. You don't need any special skills; you can enter nature as if you were just walking. You climb gently, ski smoothly, and then move on again.
The rhythm of walking and skiing seamlessly connected without having to change skins was more comfortable than I had imagined.
Mr. Ito says:
"Most people have never done it before. That's why the quickest way to learn is to just try it. The great thing about backcountry cross-country skiing is that you can easily get into nature. It doesn't have to be a special mountain; any familiar terrain can be your field."
True to its word, we were able to venture deep into the forest without difficulty. Unlike skiing on groomed slopes like those on a ski resort, we were constantly reacting to the small undulations underfoot, relying on the grip of our scale-covered skis to traverse the snowfield. That freedom is the essence of backcountry cross-country skiing
The tour also provides an opportunity to experience that decision-making process and rhythm in a safe environment
And after leaving the forest, I noticed that my perception of the equipment had changed. The differences in board width and weight, and boots, were now linked to my experiences, allowing me to visualize them concretely. I realized that backcountry cross-country skiing isn't a "game you start after you've gathered all the equipment," but rather a "game where your understanding deepens through experiences in the field, and your own style develops."
≪Hokkaido≫
■Iwamizawa City
Well-tuned
opened in December 2025 as a ski hiking specialty store. In addition to handling gear, they also hold ski hiking tours based at the store on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
https://www.instagram.com/well_tuned_
Shops and guide clubs where you can learn about BC cross-country tours and gear
While the number of stores carrying the gear and the guide clubs offering tours are still limited, they are gradually increasing in number and spreading throughout the country.
Here, we've picked out some noteworthy stores and guides.
≪Hokkaido≫
■ Sapporo City, Jozankei
a nature-based
outdoor activity center, takes its name from the Norwegian word for living naturally surrounded by nature. They offer outdoor activities through the rich natural surroundings of Sapporo and Jozankei. Tours require advance reservations.https://www.friluftsliv.website/
≪Tokyo≫
■ Chiyoda Ward
FISCHER TUNING BASE
is a direct store of FISCHER, a long-established manufacturer of cross-country skiing equipment. With a lineup unique to FISCHER, which also focuses on backcountry cross-country skiing, it's the perfect place to choose your gear.https://www.fischersports.jp/base
Nagano Prefecture
■ Iiyama City, Hokuryuko Lake
Greenfield,
which offers SUP tours on Lake Hokuryu in the summer, has started offering ski hiking and snowshoeing tours as winter activities. Depending on the snow conditions, it may even be possible to walk on the lake. Tours require advance reservations.
https://www.nozawagreenfield.com
■Kijimadaira village
ALP SKI TEAM
, which promotes Okushinano as a town for skiing and outdoor activities, offers outdoor sports throughout the year. They also offer backcountry cross-country skiing gear rentals and tour consultations.https://sportheim-alp.com/ski_school/
Niigata Prefecture
■ Myoko Plateau
Stride Lab Myoko is
an outdoor shop located in front of Myoko Kogen Station. With the message "Let's walk in the mountains, let's sleep in the mountains," they propose fun and healthy outdoor activities. They also regularly hold BC cross-country experience tours. Tours require advance reservations.https://www.instagram.com/stride_lab_myoko
Fukui Prefecture
■ Fukui City
THE GATE MOUNTAIN
has started carrying ski hiking gear this season and is also holding mini-tours for beginners and those with no experience. Tour information is updated regularly on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thegate_mountain
Photo by Takahiro Nakanishi