Guided Tours (1 Day)

Niseko

Niseko Back Bowls

Rusutsu

Sapporo Kokusai

Sapporo Teine

Kurodake

Start your trip with insider knowledge, avoid lift lineups and get straight to the best off-piste skiing Niseko has to offer. Given the size of the Niseko area, the number of bowls, confusing signage and often poor alpine visibility, this is a highly valuable tour that will help you get off on the right foot as soon as you hit the slopes. This tour stays inbounds, but will take you to the best of Niseko's marked and unmarked off piste runs so you know all the local spots and the best way to get around all four of the Niseko resorts.

This tour is suitable to all levels of skiers and riders (excluding beginners) and can involve informal instruction throughout the day if you are looking for tips to improve your skiing or riding skills. Click here for Gear List

On the other hand, if a tour of Niseko's legendary back bowls is what you're looking for, our professional guides will take you beyond the ropes to the best backcountry skiing on the mountain. We'll make sure that conditions are right, outfit you with the appropriate safety equipment (if you don't already have your own) and take care of the directions. Most of the runs visited on this tour require short hikes to access but legwork is kept to a minimum with all runs skiing back to chairlifts. Weather permitting, we'll finish the day by dropping off of the back side of the mountain down to a secluded hot spring. After a relaxing dip and refreshing beverage, our shuttle vehicle will take care of the return journey.

If you would prefer to get deeper into the backcountry tour and don't mind putting in the extra effort, please visit our backcountry tours section. Click here for Gear List

Nearby Rusutsu resort boasts an extensive network of high speed lifts accessing some of the best gladed powder skiing in Hokkaido. Black Diamond Tours will pick you up from your accommodation bright and early to make the short half hour drive over to Rusutsu in time to catch first lifts. This is one resort that does get somewhat busy, so stick close to your guide and ahead of the punters.

This trip is also offered as an unguided adventure. Please see our Rusutsu group tours section here. Click here for Gear List

A favorite of Sapporo locals, Kokusai is a small resort with the entire resort accessed from one 8 passenger gondola. Despite its size, Kokusai has a surprising amount of varied terrain and a laid back attitude to off piste skiing allowing us to ride fresh powder all day long.

As an added bonus, Kokusai sees a different weather pattern than the Niseko range and often offers great conditions when Niseko and Rusutsu are tracked out so if you are already in Niseko and conditions aren't perfect give us a call and we will let you know if things are in better shape on the Sapporo side.

This trip ends with a relaxing soak in the renowned hot springs of nearby Jozankei town on our way home. Click here for Gear List

Another impressive resort about 2 hours from Niseko and the personal favorite of our owner (along with most locals in the know). Take in incredible views of the ocean, mountains and the sprawling city of Sapporo 1000 meters below. This resort has a number of lifts but there's only one that really matters... an ancient cable car built for the 1972 Olympic Winter games.

Despite its age, this lift rapidly ascends the steepest and best part of the resort allowing access to some of the best fall line skiing in Hokkaido. If you manage to keep up with its 15 minute cycles all day, you probably won't be walking the next.

Warning: This is a great hill for advanced skiers and riders, confident on steep, narrow slopes and tight trees but has limited terrain for intermediates. Click here for Gear List

This is a mountain, not a ski resort and should be respected as such. One of Hokkaido’s best kept secrets, Kurodake offers some of the steepest fall line skiing on the island and an open management policy allowing skiers and riders to explore anything and everything the mountain has to offer. The ropeway accesses the steepest and most challenging terrain on the mountain although route-finding in this area is a little tricky so you’ll be thankful your Black Diamond Guide is around to show you the moves. Above the ropeway, there is a short double chair accessing mellow powder runs and finally the peak above this. The only way to the top requires a fair bit of sweat but you’ll be rewarded with one of the longest top to bottom runs in Hokkaido.

Kurodake guided trips operate based on demand and due to the distance involved (about 4 hours driving from Niseko), pricing varies dependent on transport method and other options available (combine with a visit to Asahidake, Kamui, Furano or Teine and save!!!). If you are interested in visiting this area, please inquire for further details and find out how to fit this into your perfect powder holiday.