2026 Season

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INVITE ONLY  FIRE FESTIVAL ACCESS 

We visit four big and small mountains in the Japan Alps region on a comfortable private bus between the accommodations.  

1/8-1/10 Hakuba Happo (Epic pass). Happo offers breathtaking scenery and a variety of runs that keep advanced skiers and riders entertained.  

1/11-1/12 Iiyama. A local hub to ski secret stashes around the town, or to visit Madarao on Indy pass. Explore and dine in the local town known for many temples.

1/12-1/14 Myoko Akakura. Akakura is an onsen town centrally located among 6 Myoko resorts. Suginohara and Arai, Myoko's ikon resorts, are accessible by a shuttle bus. 

ADD-ON Sunrise snowcat ride at Suginohara, home to one of Japan’s longest runs. ($50/pp, min 4 max 8)

1/14-1/16 Nozawa Onsen – Ski one of the oldest, most loved resorts by Japanese skiers during the day. Attend the village guest only, sacred ritual of the annual Nozawa fire festival (道祖神火祭り, Dosojin Himatsuri) to celebrate Nozawa Onsen's profound snow culture and the end of our journey. 

Six breakfasts and four dinners, land transportation from Hakuba to Nozawa, and seven lift tickets are included. 

Note: Airfare, train to/from airport, travel insurance, lunches, and four restaurant dinners in Iiyama and Myoko are not included. Ikon, Epic, and Indy passholders receive lift ticket reimbursements. 

  ECONOMY HOUSESHARE OPTION 

Hop on Japan's world-famous bullet train from Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa Station. After traveling at 275km/h (170 mph) for  70 min, you will arrive at a ski/onsen town in the deep snow, nicknamed "snow country". 

This walkable town is adjacent to Yuzawa snow link resorts. The town also acts as a transit hub to over 10 public shuttle bus routes to nearby ski resorts. Some Indy and Ikon resorts are reachable by public transportation. 

This itinerary provides an economic, no-meal option in a shared 7-bedroom house from $2,300 per person. Single occupancy is available for an additional fee. Standard hotel option with 2 meals are also available at $3,200 per person. 

Note: Lodging, lift tickets, and local transportation are included. Buffet-style breakfast and dinner are included in the standard hotel stay option. Airfare, travel insurance, and transportation to/from the airport are not included. 

PEAK SEASON POWDER ALERT

At Yuzawa, Snøedge President and part-time town resident Tomo will select the best mountain each day based on weather and snow conditions. In this Snow Country, winter is a serious business - February sees snowfall nearly two-thirds of the month, often for four to five days in a row.

The secret to enjoying powder chasing here is flexibility, and willingness to learn how the locals live with snow. When lifts are on wind hold, or lift chairs are buried under fresh snow, take time to explore Yuzawa’s famous onsen town. Stroll the streets, savor local cuisine, shop for traditional crafts and immerse yourself in vibrant culture. Don't worry, there is no snow on the sidewalk. A spring water sprinkler system is built-in the roads in the town center, and you can hop on a frequent free shuttle bus.

Note: Lodging with buffet style breakfast and dinner, lift tickets, and local transportation are included. Airfare, travel insurance, and transportation to/from the airport are not included. 

SKI THE BEST OF YUZAWA

Yuzawa is the gateway to some of Japan’s most iconic ski destinations, offering terrain for every type of skiers and riders. From the legendary Naeba, host of World Cup ski events, to Kagura, a backcountry paradise, and the Yuzawa Snow Link, where three resorts—Yuzawa Kogen, Gala Yuzawa, and Ishiuchi—are seamlessly connected with a single lift ticket, 

The options are endless. Just beyond Yuzawa, you’ll find Joetsu Kokusai, Japan’s second largest ski resort, and Mt. T, newly added to the Ikon Pass and renowned for its challenging backcountry terrain. For those seeking adventure off the groomers, guided backcountry and side-country tours are available for an additional fee (subject to availability). 

Note: Lodging with buffet-style breakfast and dinner, lift tickets, and local transportation are included. Airfare, travel insurance, and transportation to/from the airport are not included. 

NEW IKON RESORT 25-26

This is a self-guided, 3-day add-on trip for participants of Yuzawa Powder Chase 3 trip ending February 21st. New to the Ikon pass this season, gliding through deep, powdery snow between legendary snow monsters (Juhyo,樹氷), is on many skiers' and riders' once-in-a-lifetime bucket list. 

Note: One night in Yamagata city without meals and two nights at an Onsen hotel in Zao with two meals/day are included. Travel insurance, lift tickets, and transportation to/from Zao are not included. Allow 3.5-4hours one-way, and an additional $150 for the transportation by bullet train and local bus to the resort.

NEW IKON RESORT 25-26

This is a self-guided, 2-day add-on trip for participants of Yuzawa Powder Chase 2 trip ending February 13th or Yuzawa Powder Chase 3 trip starting February 15th. New to the Ikon pass this season, Myoko Suginohara boasts one of the longest runs in Japan.  

A snowcat ride to the summit starts at 5:45am. An additional first track gondola access at 8:40am is also included. 

Note: Two nights in a Japanese-style room without meals and a snowcat & first track gondola program participation are included. Travel insurance, lift tickets, and transportation to/from Myoko Suginohara are not included. Allow 2.5-3hours one-way by local train and 15 min taxi to the resort.