Build Confidence Beyond Groomed Runs
For intermediate snowboarders who know their way around the mountain but want to get beyond groomers, this trip is built to bridge the gap. Riding powder, trees, and steeper terrain is a different game, and Beyond Groomers is designed to help you build the confidence and skills to handle it properly.
Throughout the week, you’ll ride with a dedicated coach and a small crew all working toward the same goal. From powder and trees to improving control, flow, and confidence, the coaching focuses on the fundamentals that actually make a difference when conditions turn on.
Most days are spent at Aomori Spring, one of Japan’s snowiest resorts, with quiet slopes, playful terrain, and plenty to explore. As the group progresses, your coach will introduce Aomori Spring’s advanced tree zones and powder areas. Lift-accessed terrain with a backcountry feel, without the full commitment.
Midweek, you’ll head out for a day trip to another nearby resort to put your new skills to work on unfamiliar terrain. The ride home usually includes a 7-Eleven stop and sushi train session. Non-negotiable.
You’ll stay slopeside, just steps from the gondola, making it easy to roll straight onto the snow each morning and ride back to the door at the end of the day. Off the mountain, the week is all about onsens, good food, snowboard chat, and unwinding with the crew after a full day on snow.
Dates
2027 Dates TBD, join the waitlist now!
Price
$3,990 – Single Room
Ability
Intermediate Snowboarders
Group size
Max 6 riders
Why Travel With Mint Tours
With over 20 years operating in Japan, Mint Tours is a fully licensed Japanese company delivering small-group snowboarding trips across the country’s quieter regions. Our team works legally in Japan and operates to local standards, ensuring every trip is professionally run and fully compliant. As an accredited travel provider, we offer the security and reliability of a globally recognized operator, backed by deep local knowledge and a team committed to delivering a well-managed experience from start to finish.
What You’ll Work On
BUILDING CONTROL THROUGH YOUR FUNDAMENTALS
The week starts by refining the core movements that underpin your riding. You’ll focus on edge control, body position, and how you manage pressure through your turns. These are the foundations that carry across all terrain, and getting them dialed is what allows everything else to start working properly. With time on snow and consistent feedback, you’ll build a more stable, repeatable way of riding that holds up when conditions change.
RIDING POWDER WITH CONFIDENCE
Powder is what brings most riders to Japan, but without the right approach it can quickly become tiring or unpredictable. You’ll work on staying centered, managing speed, and using the terrain to your advantage so deeper snow starts to feel natural. With the right technique in place, you’ll use less effort, maintain better flow, and start to enjoy the kind of riding Japan is known for.
NAVIGATING TREES AND VARIED TERRAIN
Tree runs introduce new challenges, from tighter spaces to constantly changing snow and terrain. You’ll focus on line choice, turn shape, and controlling your speed so you can move through trees with more confidence. As your awareness improves, you’ll spend less time reacting and more time riding with intent, making better decisions as you go.
HANDLING STEEPER PITCHES
Steeper terrain often exposes where things break down. You’ll work on maintaining control when the slope angle increases, managing speed without relying on braking, and staying composed when the terrain demands more from your riding. With the right approach, steeper runs become something you can handle with confidence rather than avoid.
CONSISTENT FEEDBACK AND TIME TO APPLY IT
You’ll ride in a small group with the same coach throughout the week, allowing feedback to stay consistent and build over time. Changes aren’t rushed, you’ll have the space to make adjustments, apply them, and repeat them across multiple laps. This is what allows improvements to stick, rather than just feeling different for a run or two.
OFF-SNOW SESSIONS AND VIDEO FEEDBACK
Progress doesn’t just happen on the mountain. Short off-snow sessions and video feedback help you understand what’s actually happening in your riding, not just what it feels like. Seeing your riding and talking through it with your coach builds awareness, reinforces key changes, and gives you a clearer approach to take into the next day.
ESSENTIAL INFO
OVERVIEW
This program is designed to take resort riders and unlock the mountain beyond the groomed runs. Each day builds on the last, with a clear skill theme in the morning and guided riding in the afternoon to put it into practice. The week is structured, but flexible – every session is shaped around the group and the conditions of the day.
MONDAY – FOUNDATION & FEEL
Before stepping onto snow, your coach works through a full equipment check – binding setup, stance, angles – so everything is dialed in and feeling right. From there the focus shifts to body position and steering. Small adjustments that make a big difference all week long.
TUESDAY – TURN SHAPE & SPEED CONTROL
We dive into the mechanics of turn shape – how to make turns bigger or smaller, open or closed, and how to use the mountain itself to manage speed. This is the foundation of confident riding in any conditions.
WEDNESDAY – READING THE MOUNTAIN & INTRO TO POWDER
Today we focus on terrain awareness – reading changes in pitch, absorbing bumps, and adapting your riding to whatever the hill throws at you. We also turn our attention to powder – how it feels underfoot and how to start working with it rather than against it.
THURSDAY – TACTICS FOR TREES & VARIABLE CONDITIONS
Trees are one of the most rewarding places to ride – and one of the most demanding. Today we work on the skills that make them accessible: upper and lower body coordination, reading a line through the trees, and looking where you want to go rather than where you’re nervous about. We also cover practical tactics for controlling speed in tight or variable conditions.
FRIDAY – PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
The final coaching day is about freedom and flow. Everything from the week is ridden with intention. As the week has built, so has your riding. For groups who are ready, later in the week your coach will start opening up Aomori Spring’s more advanced tree zones and powder areas. Expect untracked snow, untouched lines, and a feeling you won’t forget. It’s the moment the whole week has been pointing toward.
BONUS SESSIONS
Depending on conditions and the group, we’ll also weave in intro to carving, creative binding setups for different body types, freestyle and creativity – butters, small jumps, powder slashes – and anything else that fits the moment. No two weeks are exactly the same.
Every day is tailored to the group and the conditions – this is a guide, not a script.
OVERVIEW
Welcome to a week dedicated to unlocking the mountain beyond the groomed runs. Each day builds on the last, with morning coaching sessions, afternoon riding, and evenings to rest and recharge. By Friday you’ll be riding terrain that felt out of reach on Monday.
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL DAY
Make your way to Aomori Airport, where your Mint coach will meet you for the transfer to Aomori Spring Resort. After check-in, you’ll have time to settle in, unpack, and get your gear sorted for the week ahead. That evening, meet your coach and crew over dinner. We’ll run through the plan for the week, check the forecast, and go over equipment. It’s a relaxed way to kick things off and meet the group. Most guests are traveling solo, so the group comes together quickly.
Pro tip: Flying in from Europe or North America? Arrive in Tokyo a night or two before to shake off the jet lag. Extra nights can be added to your booking.
DAY 2 – FOUNDATION & FEEL
Breakfast – Hotel buffet to start the day.
Morning – Before stepping onto snow, your coach works through a full equipment check – binding setup, stance, angles – so everything is dialed in and feeling right. Then it’s on the gondola and into a couple of warm up laps to shake the legs out and get a feel for the snow. Your coach will run through the theme for the day before getting into it. Today the focus is on body position and steering – the foundations that everything else this week builds on.
Lunch – A break at one of the mountain restaurants. A good chance to warm up, refuel, and talk through the morning.
Afternoon – Applying the morning’s skills on snow, with your coach alongside and feedback along the way – time to explore, experiment, and let the morning’s work sink in.
After Snow – The group regroups back at the hotel for an informal debrief and catch up.
Evening – Video review.
Dinner – Buffet dinner at the hotel, with the option to upgrade to the a la carte Japanese restaurant. After dinner the onsen, pool table, and bar are all there.
DAY 3 – TURN SHAPE & SPEED CONTROL
Breakfast – Hotel buffet to start the day.
Morning – A couple of warm up laps to kick things off, then your coach runs through the theme for the day. Today is about turn shape – one of the most useful tools you can develop as a rider. How to make turns bigger or smaller, open or closed, and how to use the mountain itself to manage speed.
Lunch – A break at one of the mountain restaurants to refuel and regroup.
Afternoon – Applying the morning’s skills on snow, with your coach alongside and feedback along the way – time to explore different terrain and let the turn shape work sink in.
After Snow – The group regroups back at the hotel for an informal debrief and catch up.
Evening – Wax and tune clinic.
Dinner – Buffet dinner at the hotel, with the option to upgrade to the a la carte Japanese restaurant. Onsen and the usual evening routine follow.
DAY 4 – READING THE MOUNTAIN & INTRO TO POWDER
Breakfast – Hotel buffet to start the day.
Morning – A couple of warm up laps, then your coach runs through the theme for the day. The mountain is never flat or predictable, and that’s a good thing. Today is about learning to read it – changes in pitch, bumps, variable snow – and starting to work with the mountain rather than against it. We also turn our attention to powder for the first time.
Lunch – A break at one of the mountain restaurants to refuel and regroup.
Afternoon – Applying the morning’s skills off the groomed runs, with your coach alongside and feedback along the way – time to explore, experiment, and start to find your feel in the powder.
After Snow – The group regroups back at the hotel for an informal debrief and catch up.
Evening – Video review.
Dinner – Buffet dinner at the hotel, with the option to upgrade to the a la carte Japanese restaurant. The onsen earns its keep after a day like this.
DAY 5 – TACTICS FOR TREES & VARIABLE CONDITIONS
Breakfast – Hotel buffet to start the day.
Morning – A couple of warm up laps, then your coach runs through the theme for the day. Trees are one of the most rewarding places to ride – and one of the most demanding. Today is about making them accessible: where to look, how to move, and how to control speed in tight and variable conditions.
Lunch – A break at one of the mountain restaurants to refuel and regroup.
Afternoon – Applying the morning’s skills in mellow tree runs, with your coach alongside and feedback along the way – time to explore, experiment, and find your rhythm in the trees. For many guests this is a highlight of the week.
After Snow – The group regroups back at the hotel for an informal debrief and catch up.
Dinner – Buffet dinner at the hotel, with the option to upgrade to the a la carte Japanese restaurant. The week is coming together and the energy in the group tends to reflect that.
DAY 6 – PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Breakfast – Hotel buffet to start the day.
Morning – A couple of warm up laps, then your coach runs through the plan for the final day. Today is about freedom and flow – pulling everything from the week together and riding with intention. Turn shape, terrain reading, powder, trees – it all comes together here.
Lunch – A break at one of the mountain restaurants. A good moment to reflect on the week and what’s clicked.
Afternoon – Riding with intention across the best terrain the mountain has to offer. For those who have progressed through the week, your coach will have started opening up the more advanced tree zones and powder areas. These are parts of the mountain that felt out of reach on Monday.
After Snow – The group regroups back at the hotel. The last debrief of the week – always a good one.
Dinner – The last dinner of the trip. Buffet at the hotel with the option to upgrade, or make a night of it at the a la carte restaurant. A good one to linger over. Then it’s across to the karaoke bar to send the week off in true Japanese style.
DAY 7 – DEPARTURE DAY
Breakfast – Last breakfast at the hotel, then pack up and check out. We’ll drop you at Aomori Airport for the journey home.
Every day is tailored to the group and the conditions – this is a guide, not a script.
INCLUDED
✔ 6 nights accommodation, single room with ensuite (1 person per room)
✔ 5 full days of coaching in a small group
✔ Daily feedback, including video review and off-snow sessions
✔ Small group, 6 guests
✔ 5-day lift ticket
✔ Private transfers to and from other resort
✔ Scheduled transfers on arrival and departure day, Aomori Airport
✔ 6 buffet breakfasts
✔ 6 buffet dinners
✔ Pre-tour support from our Japan Tour Manager
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
✘ Flights and travel to Aomori
✘ Travel insurance
✘ All lunches (allow USD $6 to $15 per meal)
✘ Onsen fee outside the hotel (allow USD $5 to $7 per visit)
✘ Personal incidentals and hotel extras
✘ Guide gratuities (discretionary)
DATES AND PRICE
All tours run Sunday to Saturday with five full days of guided riding Monday to Friday.
Week 1 – January 17 to 23 – USD $3,990 per person – Single Room (1 person per room)
Week 2 – January 31 to February 6 – USD $3,990 per person – Single Room (1 person per room)
Week 3 – February 14 to 20 – USD $3,990 per person – Single Room (1 person per room)
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT
A 50% deposit is required to secure your spot.
The final balance is due 90 days before your tour start date.
AVAILABILITY
Each tour runs with a maximum of 6 guests. Spots are not held and are available on a first come, first served basis. Your place is only confirmed once your deposit has been received. Peak weeks fill quickly, so if you have a preferred date in mind it’s worth securing it early.
WHO BEYOND GROOMERS IS FOR
Beyond Groomers is built for Intermediate Snowboarders who:
- can link turns consistently on groomed intermediate runs (typically blue and red runs)
- are comfortable controlling speed through their turns on groomed blue and red runs (not relying on stopping or skidding)
- find steeper terrain exposes gaps in their riding (e.g. side-slipping on black runs)
- have a good level of fitness and are prepared for full days on snow
- are ready for five full days of focused coaching
- want to start riding powder and trees
- may have little or no experience in powder or trees
WHO IT’S NOT FOR
Beyond Groomers is not the right fit if you:
- are still learning to link turns on groomed green, blue, or red runs
- rely on falling leaf or side-slipping to control your speed on green, blue, or red runs
- have low fitness levels or cannot handle a full day on snow
- are looking for a relaxed snowboard trip without structured daily coaching
ALREADY RIDING IN POWDER AND TREES?
If you’ve spent time in powder, trees, or steeper terrain and want to ride it with more speed, flow, and consistency, you’ll get more out of the Flow Tour.
NOT SURE IF CONTROL IS THE RIGHT LEVEL?
Our Tour Managers know the program inside out. If you’re unsure whether Beyond Groomers is the right level for you, get in touch and they’ll talk it through.
QUESTIONS OR READY TO BOOK
If you’ve got questions or want to check availability, get in touch with our team and we’ll walk you through the details.
Ready to book? Reach out and we’ll get your spot secured.
🌐 Send a request HERE
📧 Email [email protected]
📞 Call +1 503 994 1919
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
View our terms and conditions here