Dates & Price

All of tours run from Sunday to Saturday. You’ll ride every resort during the week (Monday – Friday) to avoid the weekend day-trippers and maximize your time on-snow. Rates are based on accommodation seasonality.

Week 1 – 4 – 10 January, 2026 – USD $3,990 per person, single room
Week 2 – 11 – 17 January, 2026 – USD $4,190 per person, single room
Week 3 – 18 – 24 January, 2026 – USD $4,190 per person, single room
Week 4 – 25 – 31 January, 2026 – USD $4,190 per person, single room
Week 5 – 1 – 7 February, 2026 – USD $4,190 per person, single room
Week 6 – 8 – 14 February, 2026 – USD $4,190 per person, single room
Week 7 – 15 – 21 February, 2026 – USD $4,190 per person, single room
Week 8 – 22 – 28 February, 2026 – USD $3,990 per person, single room
Week 9 – 1 – 7 March, 2026 – USD $3,990 per person, single room

Extra Nights

Extra nights at OMO7 Asahikawa Hotel can be added to your booking. For guests traveling from North America or Europe, we strongly recommend arriving on Saturday so you have some time to recover from the travel and jetlag before the tour starts. Saturday night indicative price is around USD $110 for a Single Studio Room, including breakfast. Price is subject to change and is based on availability at time of booking.

Multi-Tour Booking Discount

If 6 nights isn’t enough, book a multi-tour combo. Finish the Asahikawa Freeride Tour and start a new tour in a different destination the following day. Multi-tour booking discounts will be applied as follows at time of booking – Book 2 tours, get $100 off, book 3 tours, get $200 off.

Book Your Group

If you have a group, large or small, get in touch to discuss your travel plans – [email protected] or +1 503 994 1919

When it comes to your travel experience, choosing a knowledgeable and reliable partner matters. At Mint Tours, we bring over 20 years of dedicated expertise in Japan to the table, ensuring you’re in capable hands. Here are a few reasons why you can confidently entrust your journey to us:

Travel Worry-Free: Choose a Japan Tour Operator That plays by the rules

When you book with Mint, know that you are booking with a Japan tour operator that strictly adheres to all local rules and laws. Our registered Japanese company ensures full compliance, providing a secure and protected travel experience. You’ll be led by our qualified local and international guides, authorized to work in Japan, with your safety proactively managed through constant conditions assessment and guides expertly trained in all aspects of backcountry safety and emergency response. Rest assured, you’re booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise, a registered travel agent, and a member of AFTA and IATA, operating under the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.

Our Team: Your key to an unforgettable Japan trip

We leverage our deep local knowledge to guide you to the quieter ski areas and even some of our closely guarded secret stashes. This means fewer people vying for the goods and a much higher probability of you scoring those coveted, untouched powder runs, guaranteed.

Safety is Our Priority: Expertly guided for a secure Japan journey

Guest safety is our top priority. Our daily operations are guided by continuous weather and snowpack monitoring, informing all decisions. A specific safety plan is also in place for each guiding area. Your guide is rigorously trained in avalanche hazard mitigation, backcountry travel, and emergency medical response, and holds qualifications along with ongoing professional development and active certifications. 

Book with Confidence: Your qualified & registered travel partner for Japan

Your Japan journey, simplified and tailored by experts. Mint Tours is a full-service travel agent ready to handle not only your tour, but all the extras – from insurance and stopovers to pre- and post-tour plans. Backed by years of focused expertise in Japan, our credentials speak for themselves: we have partnerships with Japanese resorts and destinations, we’re AFTA and ATAS accredited, and members of IATA and ATTA, allowing us to craft truly expert arrangements for your trip.

What To Expect For Your Tour

During the tour, the aim is to ride a lot of powder and trees. Of course weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride in variable conditions. Here’s a guide of typical conditions:

December and January is storm riding season. Expect cold temperatures and snowy or stormy conditions. Frequent storms mean that you will often spend back-to-back days riding deep snow and in the trees.

February sees regular storms, however the weather is more settled which opens up more options for locations and terrain choices, including the volcano, Asahidake. Temperatures sit well below freezing and the snow stays in great condition, even days after a storm.

March is what the locals refer to as ‘secret season’ thanks to regular snowfall and zero crowds. The weather can be a mix of sunny or snowy/stormy, so always be prepared for anything. More hours of sunlight means there’s plenty of opportunity for longer days on the mountain and to explore some of the further afield options.

Day 1 – Sunday ‘Arrival Day’

Welcome to Japan. Make your way to the meeting point at Asahikawa Airport where your guide will meet you and drive the group to the hotel. Check in opens at 3:00 pm. After check in, you’ve got some free time to settle in to your room, unpack and set-up your equipment for the adventure ahead. In the evening, meet your guide for an info and welcome session. Your guide will explain what’s in store for the week, the current weather, run through equipment and answer any questions you have. Then join the crew for dinner. It’s a great opportunity to get to know everyone on tour as most guests are traveling solo.

Pro-tip – for guests traveling from North America or Europe, we strongly recommend arriving on Saturday so you have some time to recover from the travel and jetlag before the tour starts. Extra nights at the hotel can be added to your booking. 

Day 2 to 6 – Monday to Friday ‘On-Snow Guided Days’

You’ll spend the next 5 days riding the surrounding Asahikawa Resorts. The tour itinerary is flexible so you can ride at the best resort on the day. Your guide will monitor storm cycles to ensure you’re scoring the best conditions as weather and snowfall affect each resort differently. There’s over half a dozen resorts to choose from and driving times can range from 30 – 70 minutes and largely depends on weather, snowfall and the groups appetite for adventure. Each day will follow a similar format:

Mornings – The breakfast buffet is open early and you can enjoy breakfast at your leisure. Your guide will advise the departure time the evening before which is typically around 7:45 am. Each morning your guide will explain the weather and snow conditions for the day and advise the group where you’ll be riding. Load up the van and drive to the resort.

Throughout the day – Once at the resort the aim is to spend a full day on-mountain. Your guide will take the guess-work out of it and give you a locals perspective from day one. Be the first into the trees, hit the secret powder stashes and explore beyond the resort boundaries. They also know the best places for lunch and have all the photo spots on lock.

Afternoons – After riding, your guide will make plans according to time, the groups interest and energy levels. You could find yourself at an onsen, stopping off at a sushi train, a quick visit to the 7-Eleven or another local spot before returning to the hotel.

Evenings – On return to the hotel, you’ve got free time. Head to the hotel onsen and sauna to relax, grab a drink in the lobby bar, or wax your board ready for the following day. Your guide will plan a few group dinners throughout the week and most of the restaurants are just a short walk from the hotel. Join the crew to share a few stories about the days’ turns over a bowl or ramen, a stack of sushi or at one of the many traditional izakaya before turning in for the night.

Day 7  – Saturday ‘Departure Day’

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by check out. All good things must come to come to an end, and after a big week of riding deep, Japanese powder, your guide will drop you back at the airport or train station and say goodbye.

When you are ready to book, you’ll be asked to self-evaluate if this tour is a match for your ability. We want you to have an unforgettable experience, and your ability plays a central role in your enjoyment and safety. When self-evaluating, please be realistic about your current ability, experience, pace and fitness. If you can’t decide if this is the right tour for you, call our team for a chat. They are always happy to provide further insights or recommend other tours.

Ability Requirements

To join this tour, you must be able to ride at an advanced ability level. An advanced rider can confidently say ‘yes’ to the following statements:

✔ You have a strong technique
✔ You frequently ride off-piste at a resort or in the backcountry
✔ You ride at a fast pace in alpine and treed terrain
✔ You can ride in all conditions from deep pow, hard pack, crusty or tracked snow
✔ You maintain a fast and continuous pace riding in tight trees
✔ You maintain a fast and continuous pace on traverses and flat sections
✔ You maintain your line on hard traverses (toeside and heelside)
✔ You are confident riding in low visibility conditions (snow or fog)
✔ You can safely navigate around hazards, i.e. trees, open creeks, tree wells, holes etc.

Pace

You ride at a fast and continuous pace with few rest breaks. You may slow down a little when faced with challenging snow conditions or tight trees, but mostly maintain a strong and fluid pace and know that you can manage the conditions well. 

Fitness

We’re not looking for you to be an Olympic athlete, but you do need some fitness endurance to comfortably ride for the duration of the trip. You’ll spend five, full and consecutive days on-snow with few rest breaks. At times short hikes (5-10 minutes) may be necessary. 

What to Expect

If you haven’t ridden in Japan before or you’re not sure what type of terrain and snow to expect on tour, here’s an example of a run you may encounter while being guided on tour:

Take a chairlift to the peak, exit the resort boundary and enter the backcountry. Boot pack for 5 minutes along a ridge with compacted snow. Strap in and get ready to drop. Before you reach the treeline, you will need to make a short, hard traverse across wind-crusted snow, then transition to riding a section of open trees with a moderate pitch and deep, untracked powder. Further down, the run funnels through steeper trees with variable snow. To enter back into the resort, you take a hard traverse through a gully, avoiding open creek hazards, then ride low angle, tight trees on a narrow and undulating track with hard packed snow. Once within the resort boundary, ride back to the chairlift.

What Is a Freeride Tour?

Mint’s Freeride Tours offer you the best chance to ride deep, Japan powder. Our experienced guides have an in-depth knowledge of the resorts we visit, which gives you the ultimate advantage when you’re chasing deep, un-tracked snow. On this tour you will ride a mix of in-bounds resort terrain as well as backcountry zones. The backcountry zones are mostly lift-accessed, however there are times when a short boot pack is necessary (typically 10 minutes). During the tour you will ride a lot of powder and tight trees so please be prepared to ride in the trees for 5 days straight. Of course weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride in all conditions.

Are Lift Tickets Included?

Yes, all lift tickets are included for this tour. Please note that none of the resorts that we visit on this tour are on the Ikon or Epic Pass.

Who are the guides

Your guide is rigorously trained in avalanche hazard mitigation, backcountry travel, and emergency medical response, and holds qualifications along with ongoing professional development and active certifications. They are also genuinely stoked to make your trip legendary – think shredding secret stashes with a new best friend who also happens to have the expert skills to keep you safe and the good times rolling.

Budgeting For The Tour

An estimate of spending money for the week is around USD $350 – $450 to cover lunches, dinners, snacks and incidentals. Here’s an indication of what you can expect to pay for meals and activities:

• 6 x Lunches – expect to pay USD $10 – $15 per meal
• 5 x Dinners – expect to pay USD $20 – $40 per meal
• 1 – 2 times Onsen entry fee when using an onsen outside the hotel – expect to pay between USD $3 – $7 per visit

How Far In Advance Do I Need To Book?

The Asahikawa Freeride Tour is our most sought-after Japan trip, and availability can be limited. While we can’t guarantee how quickly it will fill, we advise booking early to secure your desired travel dates. Historically, tours tend to reach full capacity by the end of June, significantly before our final booking cut-off of 90 days prior to departure. Book now to avoid missing your chance!

What Is The Terrain Like?

On this tour you will ride a mix of terrain, from resort to lift-accessed backcountry. There’s a range of terrain to access from alpine, playful or challenging tree runs, some with features such as pillows and drops. Expect deep snow, soft landings and lots of fun features. Generally speaking, Japan doesn’t have steep terrain, but be prepared for riding in tight trees and deep snow. The backcountry zones are mostly lift-accessed, however there are times when a short boot pack is necessary (typically 10 minutes). Snowshoes/split boards/touring skis are not required. Verts snowshoes will be provided if necessary.

Who’ll Be Riding With You?

Get ready to connect with fellow snowboarders who are just as stoked about snowboarding in Japan as you are! A shared love for the culture and the mountains makes for great camaraderie. (Please note: This tour requires an advanced snowboarding ability level.)

To help create the best riding groups, we’ll ask you a few questions after booking. Our experienced guides then carefully consider a range of factors – a blend of logistics, safety, and riding style (ability, pace, and fitness) – to create well-matched groups. Rest assured, we always prioritize your safety and enjoyment when forming these groups.

While we aim to group you with riders of similar ability and pace whenever possible, it’s not always guaranteed. If you’re traveling with friends or family of varying levels, please let us know during booking. If any group concerns arise during the tour, chat with your guide ASAP. We’ll always try to find a solution, and if adjustments aren’t possible, we’ll gladly explain why. Your epic Japan experience is our top priority!

What Happens On Arrival and Departure Day?

Arrival and departure days are your travel days to and from the tour – no snowboarding is planned for these days. Upon booking, you’ll receive our comprehensive tour guide. This essential resource provides a step-by-step breakdown of the arrival and departure process, along with crucial information on flights, meeting points, your gear list, recommended travel times, visa requirements, and transportation logistics.

What If I’m Traveling Solo?

The accommodation for this tour is Single Rooms i.e. you have your own private room for the tour. About 99% of our guests are traveling solo, so you’ll be in good company. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snowboarding and an eagerness to explore all that Japan has to offer.

How Many People In My Group?

Your tour group will have a maximum of 6 guests, and 1 guide.

Which Resorts Will We Visit?

The Asahikawa Freeride Tour has a flexible itinerary so you can ride at the best resort on the day. Each day your guide will make the decision on which resort to ride based on a number of factors including weather, snowfall, group ability and interest. The better known locations are Kamui and Asahidake, then there’s the local secret spots that you’ll get to discover when you join us on tour.

Can I Arrive Early or Stay On After The Tour?

Yes, pre or post tour accommodation can be arranged. For guests flying from the US or Europe, we recommend arriving on the Saturday before your tour starts to help with jetlag. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist.

Are Flights Included?

No, flights are not included, but Mint can provide you with a list of the best flights to book to match up with your tour and arrival or departure times.

Do I Need Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is mandatory. Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses, snowsports and emergency repatriation. We also strongly recommend it covers trip cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects. For US citizens, we recommend Spot Insurance https://www.getspot.com/trip-affiliates/mint-tours.

What Happens Once I’ve Booked?

Once you sign up for a tour, you’ve got a dedicated tour manager as your point of contact. They can assist with any pre-trip questions about flights, transfers, insurance or what gear to bring. Your tour manager can also arrange pre or post tour travel to other resorts or cities.

90 days before the tour starts – you will receive a Pre Departure Guide which contains important information to help you prepare for your trip. You will need to complete a digital waiver, participant information form, ability questionnaire and advise your arrival and departure flight details.

On arrival day – your guide will add you to a WhatsApp group which will be used for tour communication throughout the week.

How Do I Check My Ability Level?

The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our tour managers. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options.

How Do I Get To Asahikawa?

Once you’ve booked, you’ll be provided with a guide which contains all the info on how to get to Asahikawa, either by flight or train.

How Do I Check Availability?

Speak with one of our tour managers. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment.

Can I Rent Equipment?

Complimentary use of avalanche safety equipment is included as part of the tour (pack, beacon, shovel and probe). In addition to this, Verts snowshoes are also provided complimentary when required during the tour. Quality rental equipment is not available in Asahikawa. Please bring everything you need with you.

What Equipment Should I Bring?

Guests will need to bring their own equipment for the tour. Powder specific equipment is recommended. When you book, you’ll be provided with a gear list of what to pack. 

Who Will Be On My Tour?

Your group will be made up of travelers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snowboarding and an eagerness to explore all that Japan has to offer.

Gratuities

We’re committed to making your Mint Tours experience incredible! Gratuities for guides are not included in the tour cost and are never mandatory. However, if you’d like to recognize their exceptional service, a tip of 10-20% of the total trip cost is a typical and much-appreciated gesture. Gratuities can be given directly to your guide at the end of your tour.

How to book

To reserve your spot, email [email protected] with your preferred dates and one of our travel managers will send you a quote, availability and further information for the tour.

Deposits and Payments

A 50% deposit is payable to secure your booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to tour departure.

Terms and Conditions

View our terms and conditions HERE