Learn the skills to confidently ride powder and trees
For intermediate snowboarders. If you’ve every dreamt of floating surfy turns through deep Japan powder, then join us for our Japan Powder Progression Tour at Rusutsu Resort.
You’ll spend the week riding at Rusutsu Resort with our head coach and guide Christina Bruno. She will be your biggest cheerleader and empower you to become the best snowboarder you can be. She will build your snowboarding skills to confidently ride off-piste, in powder and even venture into the trees. Plus, she knows all the secret tree zones and powder stashes. You’ll explore parts of the mountain you didn’t know existed, avoid lift lines, hit the best spots for snacks and of course, show you all the epic photo spots for the ‘gram.
If you haven’t heard of Rusutsu before, what you need to know is that it’s the kind of place where it’s snowy all winter long, and you’re likely to score the best powder turns of your life! Expect plenty of hoots and high-fives when you ride with the girls.
This is a premium, all-inclusive trip where you’ll stay on-mountain in a luxe hotel. No packed tourist buses, no driving and no stress – just walk out of your hotel and you’ve got premium access to Rusutsu’s legendary powder and trees. Join us for this very special week in this dream destination.
Dates
Register your interest for winter 2024
Guest to Guide Ratio
6 guests : 1 guide
Price
Register your interest for winter 2024
Tour Type
Progression - for intermediate snowboarders
Why Travel With Mint
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
OVERVIEW
Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info
RUSUTSU - A POWDER PARADISE
Rusutsu is just a 40 minute drive from Niseko and is our favourite place to snowboard in Hokkaido for a number of reasons. It's a large resort by Japan standards and there's plenty of terrain to keep you occupied for a whole week. It has the most incredible powder and tree riding to be found anywhere in the world; it's relatively quiet compared to it's neighbours; freshies are easily found into the late afternoon; you can ride fall-line tree runs straight off the lifts; there's countless opportunities to pick your line with the resort spread across three mountain peaks; and to top it all off, high quality gondola's and hooded chairlifts will keep you toasty on the cold days.
COACHING & GUIDING
The focus of this tour is to improve your snowboarding in an incredibly fun and supportive way. Your coach is on-hand to build up your snowboarding toolkit with a combination of coaching and guiding. The coaching is fun (no lessons or drills) and you'll get loads of tips and feedback while riding the resort. While we have daily coaching sessions, you'll have plenty of time freeriding with your guide which is why many people choose to join this trip for an awesome week of snowboarding with a great group of women!
AFTER HOURS
After riding there's plenty to do. Visit the luxe new indoor/outdoor onsen, hit après with the Mint team, head to the local izakaya for a drink with the locals, visit the 7-Eleven for snacks, go shopping in the kooky mall and amusement park or just relax in your room and enjoy the views over the snowy landscape. Each night we'll regroup for dinner where you can enjoy Japanese and Western food prepared with the freshest local Hokkaido ingredients and maybe a sake or two. Sound like the perfect snowboard trip? Then grab your friends or come solo, just make sure you don’t miss out!
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
You could visit a resort with your friends and try to figure out where to go, but why not get all the answers from day one? Answers that can make or break your snowboarding holiday. Your guides will get you into the secret tree zones and powder stashes, exploring parts of the mountain you didn't know existed, avoiding lift lines, showing you the best spots for a banging lunch or an epic photo spot for the 'gram. Your guide will give you a locals perspective from day one and keys to this incredible powder kingdom.
LUXE SKI-IN/SKI-OUT ACCOMMODATION
We want your holiday to be as stress-free as possible, so that’s why you’ll stay on-mountain at the Rusutsu Resort Hotel. Max out your time on snow and ride first to last chair, or have the option to head back to the hotel early. Staying in a ski-in/ski-out hotel makes this possible. Our twin rooms have high quality linen and duvets, plenty of room for your equipment, ensuite bathroom, free WIFI and thoughtful touches like bathroom toiletries, robes and slippers. Each room has amazing views to the surrounding snowy landscape. The hotel has an onsen, restaurants, bars, a small convenience store, sauna, wave pool, rental shop, snowboard stores and day spa.
ALL-INCLUSIVE TRIP
At Mint Tours we believe premium is the new normal, so we’ve included everything on this trip so you can focus on just one thing, riding pow! Apart from riding every day with Christina, you'll get to stay in ski-in/ski-out luxury accommodation with breakfasts, dinners, guiding, tips and airport transfers included.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Here’s what you can roughly look forward to each day:
MORNINGS
The breakfast buffet is open from 6:45am and we encourage you to enjoy breakfast at your leisure. The mornings are a great time to hit the onsen or stretch before snowboarding. Your staying at a ski-in/ski-out hotel, so you’ve got plenty of ‘me’ time before we hit the first chair at 9:00am. Each day we’ll take the gondola to the resort base and start each day with a light warm-up. Once at the resort, your guides will brief you on the location and the days plan.
AT THE RESORT
Your guide Christina is on hand from first to last chair so you can really max out your time on-snow. After all, the focus of this tour is snowboarding! Throughout the day you’ll do a combination of coaching and guiding. The coaching is fun (no lessons or drills) and you’ll naturally progress your snowboarding by riding more vertical, more terrain, more powder snow. While we have daily coaching sessions, you’ll have plenty of time exploring the mountain with your guide. As always, good vibes and fun times are had when you’re riding with the girls. There will be plenty of hoots and high fives as you float turns through the powder. Expect anything from deep, dry pow in the trees, wide open pistes, bowls, gullies and maybe even a lap or two through the park. Our priority is to find you the best snow and terrain and to help you improve your snowboarding in a fun, safe and supportive environment.
EVENINGS
After riding it’s up to you! Head to après with to catch up on all the happenings of the day, airdrop your photo’s for the ‘gram, hit the onsen, take a swim, go shopping, visit the ‘combini’ for snacks, or head to the local izakaya for a drink with the locals! We want to make sure you have enough ‘me-time’ to enjoy your holiday. Each night is different and we’ll change the plan to suit the groups interest and energy levels. Evenings are always fun and a great time to catch up with everyone over some delicious food and a few drinks. Each night we enjoy a group dinner together at the Hokkaido Buffet. This isn’t your average hotel buffet, it has an amazing selection of locally sourced Hokkaido produce including fresh seafood, local meats and plenty of options for vegetarians. The perfect way to finish off the evening is with a late night onsen before you fall into bed to do it all again the next day.
WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.
WHO IS THIS TOUR FOR?
This tour is perfect for intermediate snowboarders who want to ride the whole mountain and find new challenges. The focus of this tour is to improve your snowboarding in an incredibly fun and supportive way. We do this through a combination of coaching and guiding. The coaching is fun (no lessons or drills) and you’ll naturally progress your snowboarding by riding more vertical, more terrain, more powder snow.
While we have daily coaching sessions, you’ll have plenty of time freeriding with your guide which is why many people choose to join this trip for an awesome week of snowboarding with a great group of women!
At a minimum you’ll need to be able to link turns on most runs consistently. We’ll give you the techniques to make your riding more dynamic, build your off-piste skills so you can confidently ride powder and trees and even learn a few tricks.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, visa requirements and transportation information.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snowsports and an eagerness to explore all that Japan has to offer. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 beds per room.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR?
This is a small group tour with 6 snowboarders. Our groups are big enough to create a nice social vibe, but small enough so you can snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time snowboarding!
IS THIS TOUR RIGHT FOR ME?
Whether you’re looking to progress your snowboarding, or just want to ride in Japan with like-minded women, we’ve got you covered. Throughout the week we will have coaching and guiding for intermediate snowboarders:
You are happy linking turns on most runs both consistantly and confidently, although sometimes come into difficulty on steeps or challenging snow conditions. You want to ride the whole mountain and find new challenges. We’ll give you the techniques to make your riding more dynamic, start carving your board, learn a few tricks and take you off-piste, into the powder and through the trees.
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR?
For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. 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.
WHO ARE THE COACHES?
You’ll be led by friendly, knowledgeable and qualified coaches who are passionate about sharing their knowledge.
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No, flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can recommend the best flight options.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered by comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We offer all of our tour guests discounted snow specific travel insurance.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED?
Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure.
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 specialists. 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 RUSUTSU?
Airport transfers from Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Rusutsu are included. We’ll provide you with a guide with options to get to Rusutsu. If it’s your fist time to Japan or if you’re unsure about travel arrangements, often we can link you up with other tour guests to travel with.
HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY?
Speak with one of our tour specialists. 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?
We can arrange rental equipment for most destinations, however we do recommend bringing your own equipment.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
We will send out a packing list for this tour. Japan can be a cold place in winter, with temperatures typically ranging from 0 to -20. We strongly recommend that guests dress in clothing specific for traveling in backcountry areas. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, lightweight insulated layer, merino base layers, merino gloves and waterproof gloves, goggles with low light & high light lenses, sunglasses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet. We recommend that all guests bring their own snowboarding equipment for the tour (board, boots, bindings & outerwear). Powder boards are recommended.
WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR?
Your group will be made up of travellers 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.
ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED?
You can book this tour with or without lift tickets.
Rusutsu is an Epic Pass destination. Guests who hold a valid EPIC Pass can get a complimentary 5 day lift consecutive lift ticket for Rusutsu Resort.
For guests who don’t have an EPIC Pass, we have a 5 day lift ticket available for purchase.
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- Twin Share Accommodation
For 6 nights you will stay at the ski-in/ski-out, Rusutsu Resort Hotel. All guests will stay in a twin share room. Our rooms feature 2 comfortable single beds with high quality linen and duvets, plenty of room for your equipment, ensuite bathroom, free WIFI and thoughtful touches like bathroom toiletries, robes and slippers. Complimentary access to the onsen (hot spring) is included throughout your stay.
- Daily Snowboard Coaching and Guiding Sessions
Each day we hold guiding and coaching sessions. These typically run from first chair at 9:00am through till 3:00pm. You’ll get to explore the mountain and cover more ground with Christina leading the way. You’ll progress your skills with a combination of coaching and guiding and by riding more vertical, more terrain, more powder snow and by exploring further off-piste and deeper into the trees. Push yourself by following an experienced coach as they guide you to the best snow and terrain each day.
- Freeride Tips
Throughout the week Christina will give you tips and feedback to help you charge through the trees, blast through the powder and get your all mountain freestyle dialled.
- All Breakfasts
For breakfast, join us at the restaurant which serves all your Japanese and Western favourites, including eggs cooked to order, home-baked bread, french toast, croissants and much more, all prepared with local produce.
- All Dinners
For dinner, join us at our hotel restaurant. You will be treated to the freshest local seafood, delicious meats and vegetable dishes, poke bowls, Japanese soups and noodles just to name a few. For those with a sweet tooth, the irresistible dessert buffet isn’t one to be missed.
- Airport Transfers
From Sapporo New Chitose Airport. Simply jump on the bus and in no time you’ll be transported to our powder paradise. Our door-to-door transfers make the trip a breeze. On departure day, we’ll drop you back at New Chitose Airport.
- Fully-Escorted Tour
Your coach stays with the group throughout the tour. They are not only with you all day on-snow, they are also on-hand each evening. They are always more than happy to share their experience with you on the mountain, and share a drink and some laughs at the end of the day.
All our Japan Tours are 6 nights and run from Sunday to Saturday. You’ll ride every resort mid-week to maximise your time on-snow and avoid the weekend day-trippers. If 6 nights isn’t enough, then book one of our multi-tour combo’s. Join us in Rusutsu, then start a new tour in a different destination the following day. Ask us about tour combo ideas.
DATES
Register your interest for winter 2024
PRO-TIP – GO PRIVATE!
If you have your own group of snowboarding friends, pick your own dates and book a private departure – with your own coach and all the benefits of a Mint group tour. Get in touch to discuss.
PRICE PER PERSON
Register your interest for winter 2024
* Rusutsu is an Epic Pass destination. Guests who hold a valid EPIC Pass can get a complimentary 5 day lift consecutive lift ticket for Rusutsu Resort. If you don’t have an EPIc Pass, you can add lift tickets at time of booking.
RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT
To secure your spot on tour, a 50% deposit is payable. The balance is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:
1. ONLINE
Click on ‘Enquire’ below and send us your details. Once we receive your request one of our Japan Tour Specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.
2. OVER THE PHONE
Call us and follow the prompts to speak to one of our Japan Tour specialists.
Within Australia (03) 5296 0314