Tour Types

Explorer Tours

Explorer Tours
Japan, Canada, Europe, Chile

For Intermediate to Advanced riders, Explorer Tours take you beyond the groomers and into the good stuff — powder stashes, tree runs, and untouched in-bounds terrain. You’ll ride with a small group and expert guides who know the local zones inside out. With a flexible itinerary, you’ll chase fresh snow across multiple resorts, discovering hidden lines and new terrain each day. The riding on these tours is at a moderate pace — fast enough to keep things fun, but relaxed enough that you won’t feel rushed. There’s time to take it all in, catch your breath, and enjoy every run. Whether you’re chasing lines through the trees or soaking in the views from the lift, it’s all about keeping the vibe enjoyable and steady. Join our Explorer Tours to ride with a like-minded crew that shares your passion for adventure. Bring a solid foundation, an open mind, and a readiness to go beyond the groomers. Whether it’s deep trees, hidden stashes, or storm-day surprises — we embrace whatever the mountain throws our way.

JAPAN

AIZU EXPLORER

Escape the crowds and ride deep at one of Japan’s last true hidden gems. The Aizu Explorer Tour is a fully loaded week chasing storms through the mountainous Aizu region of Honshu—home to a network of under-the-radar resorts with tree runs, natural features, and all-day fresh tracks. There’s no set itinerary—your guide reads the weather in real-time to get you where the snow’s best. Off the mountain, soak in lakeside onsen, feast on handmade soba and award-winning sake, and experience the quiet charm of this off-the-beaten-path region. This is an authentic, powder-packed road trip through one of Japan’s best-kept secrets.

JAPAN

MYOKO EXPLORER

Ready for a week of non-stop powder laps? The Myoko Explorer Tour drops you into a legendary snow magnet. This little onsen town consistently gets hammered with some of Japan's heaviest snowfall. When we say waist-deep, we mean it. Surrounding our base in Myoko is a stacked lineup of resorts: Seki Onsen, Lotte Arai, Mt Kosha, Togakushi, Cupid Valley, Madarao, Tangram, Myoko Suginohara, Akakura Onsen and Kanko to name a few. Our mission for this tour is simple: ride powder, every single day. And our expert guides are on it.

JAPAN

MORIOKA EXPLORER

If you’re chasing Hokkaido-quality snow without the crowds, the Morioka Explorer Tour needs to be on your radar. This week-long road trip is all about riding deep, dry powder in Northern Honshu’s lesser-known resorts—places packed with tree runs, natural terrain, and untouched lines. After every day on the mountain, we wind down with a post-shred onsen. Your base for the week is Morioka, a lively regional city with plenty to explore once the lifts stop spinning. Think nightly ramen missions and izakaya hopping. This is a stress-free, high-reward way to ride Japan’s hidden powder zones.

JAPAN

YAMAGATA EXPLORER

The Yamagata Explorer Tour takes you deep into one of Japan’s most underrated snow zones. Yamagata is home to quiet, storm-loaded resorts, deep in-bounds powder, and perfectly spaced trees—with barely another rider in sight. Over the week, you’ll road trip between a curated mix of these hidden gems with your expert guide, chasing the best conditions each day. Off the mountain, soak in mountain onsen, feast on local specialties like handmade soba and yakitori, and stay in cozy hotels. With a small crew, private transport, and everything dialed—from lift tickets to dinners—this is the ultimate deep Japan experience, far from the crowds.

ITALY

MINT WOMEN ITALY

Your Italian adventure begins as you arrive in Milan and journey to Livigno, a remote gem nestled deep in the Alta Valtellina, bordering the famed St. Moritz in Switzerland. The village has an authentic alpine charm and a welcoming local vibe. Its high elevation and unique microclimate, guarantee a long and snowy winter. When spring awakens elsewhere, Livigno frequently welcomes significant snowfall in March, making it a prime late-season haven for chasing powder. Spend the week shredding with your guide, Christina Bruno for a week of pure mountain vibes!

FINLAND

ARCTIC ROAD TRIP FINNISH LAPLAND

Explore the real Arctic with an epic road trip through Finnish Lapland’s northernmost ski areas—Pyhä, Luosto, Saariselkä, Levi, and Ylläs. Ride uncrowded slopes, powder-filled fells, and frozen forests, then live the Arctic life with husky sledding, northern lights hunts, smoke saunas, ice-hole swims, and authentic Lappish culture. If you’ve been dreaming of a trip that goes beyond the ordinary, this is it. The Arctic Circle Road Trip is a deep winter experience that blends world-class terrain, raw natural beauty, and uniquely Finnish adventures into one seriously memorable week.

CANADA

POWDER HIGHWAY ROAD TRIP

Join the Powder Highway Roadtrip to ride Revelstoke, Panorama, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Mt Norquay with our local Canadian guides. This trip is all about chasing good snow, linking up fun terrain, and riding with a small crew who’s stoked to explore. You’ll progress your skills by riding more vertical, more terrain, and more powder. Off the mountain, soak in the best of Canadian après—think hockey games, craft brews, hot springs, and vibrant mountain towns. Stay in comfortable hotels close to the lifts, restaurants, and nightlife, with all transport and logistics taken care of. Just show up ready to ride.

SWITZERLAND

LAAX OPEN

Join us for a week at the Laax Open—the ultimate trip for riders who crave world-class competition, legendary terrain, and vibrant après scenes. Stay at the iconic Riders Hotel in Laax and soak up the energy of one of snowboarding’s biggest events, where the best in the world battle it out. When you’re not watching the pros, ride with expert guides who know every hidden line and prime snow stash. Plus, enjoy exclusive parties and social events that bring together the best of riding, culture, and fun in one unforgettable experience.

CHILE

CHILE ROAD TRIP

Our Chile tour kicks off in Santiago before heading south to the volcanic Nevados de Chillán, with a stop in the scenic wine region. At Chillán, you’ll ride varied terrain—from tree runs and natural half-pipes to bowls and groomers—while staying five nights at the luxury ski-in/ski-out Termas Chillán, complete with gourmet meals and slope-side hot pools. The trip finishes back in Santiago with two nights in the vibrant Vitacura district and a day riding high-altitude Valle Nevado, known for its stunning Andean views and dry snow.

Anywhere
But Ordinary

Anywhere
But Ordinary

Anywhere
But Ordinary

Anywhere
But Ordinary

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Let our team of Japan Specialists find you the best deals available for your next Japan holiday. We can create a package to suit your taste and budget. Mint Tours is a full-service travel agent, so we are able to take care of your flights, accommodation, transfers, rentals, lift tickets, insurance, stopovers and any other arrangements for your trip.

Niseko United Ski Resort
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With its colossal amounts of snowfall and legendary freeriding, Niseko resort has something for everyone. Located on the western coast of the island of Hokkaido, is widely known as having one of the most consistent and biggest snowfalls in Japan. The ski resort is quickly becoming world renown boasting some of the best and most reliable powder conditions to be found. Niseko is the largest of Hokkaido ski areas with 4 interlinked first-class resorts, Annupuri, Hirafu, Hanazono and Niseko Village (Higashiyama). These 4 adjoining resorts make up Niseko and offer spectacular skiing and snowboarding opportunities to the novice, intermediate or expert, and offer the powder hound with unparalleled, pristine powder experiences 7 days a week. Niseko has one of the largest night skiing areas in Japan with the lifts open daily from 8.30am to 9.00pm. Niseko offers some great ski-in ski-out accommodation and a wide variety of self-contained apartments, private houses, western hotels and pensions catering to all budgets + READ MORE

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Rusutsu Ski Resort
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Located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Rusutsu Resort is one of the best places to experience skiing and snowboarding Hokkaido’s famous light dry powder along with the luxe resort lifestyle. It is one of the most popular and upmarket resort hotels in Hokkaido, offering a variety of accommodation options and an endless array of quality facilities and services. Rusutsu’s slopes are spread over two distinct ski areas and spanning 3 peaks, the highest of which is Mt Isola, 994m high. From this peak on a clear day, you get a stunning panoramic view of Mt Yotei, Lake Toya and the Pacific Ocean. When it’s overcast and the views are not on offer, rest assured there will be powder to ride as it will typically be dumping in Rusutsu. The areas are connected by gondola and lifts, part of which make up the 18 lifts and 4 gondolas to enjoy alongside the terrain park, side country park, night skiing, and some of the best fall-line tree-skiing and snowboarding in Hokkaido + READ MORE

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Furano Ski Resort
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Furano is situated in Hokkaido’s beautiful Daisetsuzan National Park. The ski resort with over 950 vertical meters of skiing is one of Japan’s biggest and most famous resorts. Snowboarding and skiing Furano is spectacular, with virtually every run giving you great views of the peak of Mt. Furano and the summits of Hokkaido’s highest mountains. A wide expanse of lifts including two gondolas and seven lifts gives skiers and snowboarders access to a huge variety of terrain. Furano regularly holds World Cup events with the men’s downhill being the mountain’s specialty. On the slopes, Furano offers attractions for every level of skier, expert courses, long fast runs, fantastic tree skiing and long wide, easy cruising runs for beginners. Off the designated ski slopes, Furano offers an array of alpine alternatives, dog sled rides, snowmobiling, 4WD motor bikes, backcountry and alpine tours, parasailing behind a snowmobile and visiting the huge Buddha at Ashibetsu + READ MORE

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Kiroro Ski Resort
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Arguably the most snowfall in all of Japan, this is THE location for powder skiing and back country. Paired with top quality accommodation choices from world renowned Starwood Group’s Sheraton and Tribute-Portfolio brand hotels, and a number of off-slope activities, Kiroro makes a great holiday destination for friends, family and couples alike. Kiroro would have to be classed as one of the most modern and comfortable ski resorts in Japan. This recently refurbished and extremely well planned world class resort offers just about everything for a great ski vacation. The resort itself is situated about 40 kilometres west of Sapporo, close to the picturesque seaside town of Otaru. Skiing and snowboarding at Kiroro is extremely enjoyable, with a super fast lift system providing access to wide-open runs, and a variety of terrain well suited to beginners and intermediates. The resort has a well-designed lift network making it easy to get around the hill with a minimum of lift rides + READ MORE

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Asahikawa
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Known as the new ‘ski city’ of Japan, Asahikawa is Hokkaido’s second-largest city and boasts a reputation of having the most days with snowfall in all of Japan, as well as the record for the coldest temperature (-40°C) meaning conditions are consistently deep and cold all winter. Base yourself in one of our select Asahikawa hotels and make it your base to not only explore the Daisetsuzan National Park, home to the famous Mount Asahidake ropeway, but also the lesser known ski areas – Kamui, Canmore and Pippu ski resorts. If you still have the energy, there’s even options to go night-skiing at nearby Santa Present ski area which is only 15 mins from the city centre. Being a thriving city of 350,000 people, Asahikawa has a buzzing entertainment area with plenty of noodle shops and izakaya restaurants, where you can try the local speciality of Asahikawa ramen and the ‘Japanese’ famous Otokoyama sake + READ MORE

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Tomamu Ski Resort
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Situated close to the Hidaka National Park and only a short way from Sahoro and Sapporo and sporting an expansive ski area as well as some luxury accommodation, Tomamu is a snowboarders paradise, with plenty of fantastic runs, great activities and situated in a convenient and close location. Not only are there a range of great family-friendly activities available, with sled parks and snowshoe tours, there’s also some fantastic advanced and legal off-piste runs, cross country skiing and backcountry tours to keep the adrenaline pumping. Most of the fun takes place between November and early April, with many of the facilities closed throughout the warmer months. The town itself is quite small with only a few hotels, all owned by the same company. This means that everything has been fantastically designed to be close together, easily accessible and with outstanding facilities. The two largest hotels are located within walking distance of one another + READ MORE

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Sapporo
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Sapporo not only provides great sightseeing, dining and shopping spots but also full-scale ski resorts that are within easy reach of the city. With many areas receiving heavy snow, the snow quality is typically good right through till early Spring.

Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is only one hour away from the city and attracts skiers locally and globally. Although there are total of seven courses, the resort offers lots of powder snow and a good amount of off-piste and trees to entertain you for a day trip. Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort is open from November until May. You can enjoy the powder snow all season around due to the heavy snowfall in the area. The snow tends to stay intact till spring.

Sapporo Teine Ski Resort hosted Winter Olympic events in 1972. The resort  + READ MORE

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Hakuba
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The Hakuba Valley offers more terrain, vertical rise and advanced ski slopes than anywhere in Japan. Having hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games and numerous FIS World Cup events, the Hakuba Valley has a well-established international reputation as a world-class ski destination. From one end of the valley to the other and with 10 resorts accessing over 130 ski runs as well as providing access to incredible off-piste terrain of the Japan Alps, Hakuba’s reputation as a serious skiers and snowboarders’ destination is well balanced across all levels. This combination of world-class skiing, abundant snowfalls, sunny skies and over 9 ski resorts truly makes Hakuba Valley a precious gem among the rugged Japan Alps. From the complete novice to the expert skier, the Hakuba Valley provides some of the best skiing in Japan. Everything from gentle beginner slopes, to steeps, bumps and long groomers, and of course, plenty of fresh powder. Happo One Resort is +READ MORE

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Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort
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Nestled in an idyllic landscape, surrounded by imposing mountain ranges, lies the classic resort of Nozawa Onsen. With skiing first being introduced in 1912, history has shaped the present in this timeless mountain village. Well known as one of Japan’s premier classic resort destinations, this impressive area has cultivated its warm après-ski charm throughout its long history of winter sports. Even though Nozawa offers some of the best skiing in Japan and a host of other alpine adventures, this often takes a back seat to the magical feeling of the village when it is blanketed in the copious amounts of snow it receives every winter. The fairytale-like enchantment of this winter wonderland has long captivated the Japanese as they relax in the abundant natural hot springs that are seemingly around every turn. Nozawa offers travellers and alpine winter sports enthusiasts fantastic skiing & boarding opportunities. This combined with warm traditional experiences staying at authentic Japanese ryokan + READ MORE

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Shiga Kogen
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Shiga Kogen is situated in the heart of the Johshinetsu Kogen National Park, and is by far the largest ski resort in Japan, with 21 interlinked resorts all on one lift ticket! Shiga covers a huge area and offers a great diversity of natural terrain. Shiga Kogen is an interesting ski resort in terms of its unique layout; a long winding road weaves through the ski resorts, with ski-in/ski-out hotels dotted along the way. Rather than an accumulation of  buildings in the form of a village, the solitary hotels tend to cater to all guests needs – breakfast, dinner, hot springs and some form of entertainment. If one were to specify an area as the main village, it would be Ichinose area, a wide open area with a number of hotels, and a scattering of restaurants. Most hotels in Ichinose area cater to the budget travelers, with both Japanese and Western styles available. Snow conditions and quality are superb and Shiga has one of the longest seasons in Japan due to its high altitude + READ MORE

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Myoko Kogen
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Seeing Myoko Kogen for the first time, the mind boggles as to how one place can simply get so much snow. Myoko Kogen receives endless snowfalls which literally blanket the entire area right throughout its long winter season. One of the pioneering ski resorts and one of the largest ski areas in Japan, Myoko Kogen was originally established in the early 19th century and soon developed a reputation as Japan’s first international ski resort by the 1930s. With four main ski areas; Akakura Kanko, Akakura Onsen, Suginohara and Ikenotaira along with a myriad of nearby ski resorts, Myoko Kogen offers an incredible variety of terrain, near perfect conditions with the deepest of deep powder, big vertical, long ike corduroy pitches, magnificent gladed tree runs all with an astonishing 13 plus meters of snow each winter. Mt. Myoko, once an active volcano is now Myoko Kogen’s rich source of thermal spring waters. With a plethora of natural onsen hot springs, Myoko boasts not only spectacular snow, but the Myoko Valley is literally teeming with relaxing + READ MORE

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Lotte Arai
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The legendary Lotte Arai Mountain & Spa is back on the winter lovers resort map; closed in 2006 and reopened in December 2017 under new management, Arai is renowned for the biggest snowfalls on the ski resorts on the mainland. Now with a whole new upgraded luxury resort, Arai will lead the way in offering prime resort-style ski experiences in Japan and throughout Asia. Situated in the Joshinetsu national park nearby Myoko Kogen, and with the towering peaks of Mt Myoko, Mt Huichi and Yakeyama in the background, Arai offers some of the most spectacular scenery you will find in Japan. Covering an area of 1,020 hectares and at the foot of Mount Ohgenashi, Arai’s close proximity to the Japan Sea ensures snowfall depths of over 500 centimeters over the winter months. Arai has a broad based appeal with both skiers and snowboarders(approximately 44:56 ratio). It is a small ski resort with just 5 ski lifts but it does boast a very impressive 951 metres (3120 feet) of vertical descent, and skiers at all levels have fun on the Resort’s eleven ski trails. Freeskiers and snowboarders rate + READ MORE

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Madarao and Tangram
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The interconnected resorts of Madarao and Tangram are becoming increasingly popular with their excellent quality snow,  great tree powder skiing, side country and not to mention perfectly groomed slopes.  Located in the Nagano prefecture, Madarao and Tangram are also extremely close to some of the nearby bigger and more popular resorts of Myoko, Nozawa and Arai, making it a great destination for day or overnight trip during your holiday too. The resort of Madarao offers a mix of accommodation, most popular choices are the slope-side larger hotels, with the remaining properties being more Japanese-oriented pension lodges.  Madarao also has a small scattering of restaurants and western bars, offering all travelers to the area an authentic and fun experience. The Tokyu Resort Hotel Tangram is the dedicated ski-in ski-out accommodation at Tangram resort offering guests the full resort hotel experience with swimming pool and relaxing indoor & outdoor onsen + READ MORE

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Appi Kogen
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Be happy in Appi! There is no doubt the pristine powder snow, well-groomed slopes and ski-in-ski-out resort hotel, will help you achieve this. This well laid out ski resort was built in during Japan’s economic bubble period and features a glitzy hotel with many first-class facilities and services. Enjoy a variety of terrain; ski the deep and steep up high, or learn on the lower slopes, taking in the beautiful views of the adjacent national park. With over 20 runs, you will have plenty of slopes to keep you busy through to the late afternoon. After heading in from the slopes, spend your afternoons relaxing in the therapeutic onsen baths, in the swimming pool, or at the in-house bar. Night skiing is also available if you have the energy to push on throughout the evening. If you’re feeling energetic and adventurous, and looking to stretch the legs a little, why not take a bus into the closest town, 30 minutes drive away, to experience local traditional restaurants and drinking establishments + READ MORE

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Naeba and Kagura
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Naeba is vibrant and expansive resort, offering a wide array of ski runs, easy access to nearby resorts and a huge variety of accommodation. It’s perfect for skiers of any level with a large range of slopes and is also perfect for families with a large range of facilities designed to make both parent’s and children’s visits an enjoyable one! The Naeba Prince Hotel is arguably a skier’s paradise, spread across the foot of the slopes and offering sleeping for 4,000 guests with over 23 restaurants and a range of spas, a childcare centre and bars to enjoy an après-ski drink, plus more. For families the convenience of close access to everything and a range of children’s activities makes it easy for all members to enjoy the holiday. The size and scale of Naeba will impress – it’s home to the country’s largest ropeway, the “Dragondola” that connects the nearby resorts of Tashiro, Kagura and Mitsumata ski areas. Backcountry tours are available as well as snowshoe tours and ski schools for all experience levels, and English + READ MORE

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Geto Kogen
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Geto Kogen is a powder paradise. Located to the west of central Kitakami city in the south-western region of Iwate Prefecture. Uniquely positioned in a relatively narrow section of the Northern Japanese Alps, Geto enjoys heavy, and heavily concentrated falls. There are less ranges for the snow to be spread out over and Geto regularly tops the Japanese snow depth charts. Bowl-shaped, Geto Kogen also catches windblown snow from the nearby peaks, and creates a ‘powder pocket’ for our enjoyment. Geto Kogen is still a secret to many, but famous among those who know it for offering some of the best tree riding in Japan. The tree runs are all on the trail map, in-bounds and readily accessible. That combines with some of the most consistent and regular snow in all of Honshu. While there might not be many accommodation options, there is something to suit most budgets, from dorm beds on-mountain, through to great value Ryokans just just a short drive away + READ MORE

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Zao Onsen
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Zao Onsen offers an authentic Japanese experience to travellers, with traditional ryokans, small hotels and beautiful onsen all making this a unique place to visit in Japan. The onsen are one of the reasons many people come, and the other is the large range of skiing and snowboarding options, with nine different ski areas, 42 lifts and 741 acres of snow to enjoy. Located in a spectacular mountainous area, visitors are also treated to stunning views and fantastic scenery. This also means that it’s worth visiting throughout the warmer months, too, with hiking tours and fantastic greenery to be enjoyed. The small size of Zao means that almost everything is within walking distance, including the slopes and public onsen. Although most of the hotels have private onsens for guests to use, the public onsen offer a traditional experience and a beautiful environment to relax in. All of the hotels and ryokans, while small, will offer services for skiers and snowboarders, such as complimentary shuttles + READ MORE

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