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Japan’s Powder Belt is located between Nagano and Niigata prefectures, across the area known as the Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu. This region includes Madarao and the Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park. Thanks to its proximity to the Sea of Japan, it receives an impressive annual average snowfall of 13 meters.
A land steeped in ski tradition, it is home to both Japan’s first ski resort and its longest continuously operating one. The area preserves its rich local culture, attracting visitors who come not only for the snow but also to enjoy traditional festivals and relaxing hot springs. Compared to popular destinations like Niseko and Hakuba, it can still be considered off the beaten track for foreign tourism, with many small resorts that feel private during weekdays.
With access to over 20 ski resorts including Shigakogen, Nozawa Onsen, Lotte Arai, Madarao, and the resorts around Myoko such as Myoko Suginohara and Seki Onsen, this package offers diverse terrain with big steep, untouched tree skiing zones, and more than enough japow to keep you riding all week long.
UPDATE FOR SEASON 2025-2026
We offer two different options for the package:
- Total Experience
Blends freeride and apres-ski guiding, cultural discoveries, hot springs, restaurants, and scenic mountain charm. It’s a seamless introduction to enjoy powder and traditional Japanese culture. - Snow Junkies
Enjoy the freedom of a tailored ski safari with the convenience of an all-included Breakfast & Dinner accommodation, or the freedom to cook your meals at an apartment setting. Apres-ski is not included, and you will get drop at your accomodation after the skiing is over.
NOTES
- Groups of at least 4 friends will receive a 10% discount.
- Contact us if you wish hotel accomodation with breakfast and dinner included.
DAY 1
Arrival at La Colina Retreat. Your first dinner at a Japanese restaurant—where you'll meet the crew and your guides—is on us. Together, we’ll check your gear and review the snow conditions and weather forecast for the week ahead. Optional additional day or night skiing at Madarao is available.
DAY 2
First contact with Madapow, a fluffy powder paradise with arguably some of the best tree skiing in Japan.
DAY 3-5
Each day, your guide will select the best resort based on conditions. You'll receive daily updates on weather, avalanche forecasts, and local activities through our dedicated website. In the evenings, unwind in a different outdoor hot spring, dine at a variety of traditional or modern restaurants, or cook a cozy meal in your apartment with local ingredients.
DAY 6
Departure from La Colina Retreat. If your flight is later in the day and you still have energy, enjoy one more ski day at Madarao at a discounted rate.
- 6-night shared accommodation at La Colina Retreat apartments. Contact us to arrange a private apartment or half-board at hotel (around 50,000yen extra)
- All ski resort transfers
- 5 days of lift passes
- Welcome dinner at japanese restaurant (drinks excluded)
- English/Spanish/French/Japanese speaking mountain guide for resort and side-country (5 days)
- Discount on premium equipment rental at La Colina Gear
- Daily bulletin board including weather forecast, avalanche reports, recommendations of best ski areas, restaurants, activities, etc.
- Pick-up/drop-off at Iiyama, Kurohime or Myokokogen train stations.
- Avalanche safety training (This will give you the confidence to use your equipment with the aim of giving you more skills and knowledge to take away with you at the end of the trip.)
- TOTAL EXPERIENCE package includes apres-ski activities: Visit to hot-springs, local villages, introduction to local restaurants, etc
- Direct transfer between La Colina Retreat and Narita/Haneda/Toyama/Shinshu-Matsumoto/Niigata airports. Contact us and we will arrange it for you.
- Courier baggage delivery from La Colina Retreat to the airport
- Insurance
- Backcountry ski tours (non-lifted access)
- Additional activities
- Lunch/dinners
- Hot Springs entrance fee
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Tom– :
As an advanced freerider group that have skied in Canada and the Alps, we appreciated how the guides balanced safety and adventure. They used daily weather/avalanche updates to choose the safest, most fun zones and kept the group moving so we scored fresh lines every day. The gear rental was great, we fall in love with WNDR Alpine skis. Top-notch operation
Susan– :
We came for the japow and La Colina absolutely delivered. Every day the guide picked the best resort for the conditions, the tree runs around Madarao were amazing, and the visit to the abandoned resort something you can only do here. Comfortable apartment, smooth transfers from the train station, and relaxing onsen evenings made this one of the best ski weeks we’ve ever had. Highly recommended for serious powder hunters.
Stefan– :
I’m an intermediate-advanced skier looking to get more confident off-piste, and this trip was ideal. I came alone, and some days I was able to join a group, while others I was by my own with a guide. The private on-mountain coaching helped me step up my technique fast, and I was able to follow the group on the most adventorous days. The hot springs were a lovely touch after a long day on the mountain, and as the guide said, the best part of skiing in Japan.
Dan– :
We booked this for a group of six and it was perfect: private accommodation in a luxury chalet, friendly multilingual guides (it was reassuring to see our guide speaking Japanese with the ski patrols each morning at every resort to check conditions), and incredible lines with no crowds or lift queues. The guides chose the best resort each day for the conditions. We don’t know how they did it, but every choice was a hit. I still remember the day we went to Nozawa: at lunch a guy from Utah we spoke to told us it was the best day on the mountain he’d had all week. Would book again in a heartbeat.
Nacho– :
Habíamos oído de los viajes de La Colina en España por un amigo común, y decidimos reservar para nuestro grupo de 4 personas. La experiencia fue perfecta, aunque hay también que decir que tuvimos mucha suerte con la nieve, excepto un día que no nevo, aunque los guías nos llevaron a un fuera de pista en una cara norte que tenía una nieve espectacular y sin pisar. Hay que decir que se nota que los guías se conocen muy bien la zona, llevandonos cada día a sitios increibles. Lo mejor fueron las estaciones pequeñas de dos o tres remontes. Al principio no estábamos seguros de que fueramos a tener una buena experiencia, pero la verdad es que engañan sobre el papel. Prácticamente los remontes estaban abiertos para nosotros solos, nos metimos por sitios que nunca se nos hubiese ocurrido a nosotros, y la calidad de la nieve era espectacular. Definitivamente un acierto de paquete que lo recomendamos a todos nuestros amigos.