Escape the crowds. Discover Japan like few skiers and riders ever do.
TOHOKU, JAPAN
January 9-17, 2026
Nomad Inc’s 9-day Tohoku Backcountry & Cat Skiing Tour blends world-class powder with authentic cultural immersion.
Think storm-chasing through legendary snow monster trees by day and unwinding in steaming onsen baths by night. This is skiing and riding at its purest—untracked, unforgettable, and deeply connected to place.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
DEEP POWDER
Chase storm cycles through legendary “snow monster” forests and glide down endless lines of untouched powder.
CAT SKIING ADVENTURE
Spend a full day cat skiing at a hidden, abandoned ski area—your private powder playground.
EXPERT GUIDES
Led by IFMGA/ACMG-certified guides (with bilingual support), focused on safety, smart terrain choices, and finding the best snow every day.
TRIP PHOTOGRAPHER
A dedicated photographer captures the action—so you can stay present in the moment and return home with professional shots of your Deep Powder Surf.
AUTHENTIC CULTURE
Stay in traditional ryokan inns, sip sake in local houses, and experience Japan beyond the tourist trail.
ONSEN BLISS
Reset tired legs in natural hot springs after each powder-filled day.
UNFORGETTABLE CUISINE
Savor regional specialties and multi-course Japanese dinners you’ll dream about long after the trip ends.
Why TOHOKU?
Japan’s north remains one of skiing’s best-kept secrets—less crowded than Hokkaido, but every bit as deep. Here, you’ll find terrain shaped by snow ghosts, charming mountain villages, and a culture that welcomes you in with warmth, tradition, and flavor.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive to Hirosaki in Aomori + Welcome dinner with the group
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Nearest airport: Aomori (AOJ)
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Nearest bullet train station: Shin-Aomori station
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Arrive to Aomori and make use of a local transfer to reach Hirosaki where you settle in our hotel, a traditional Japanese ryokan and onsen resort (details on arrival options in logistics section below)
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6:00pm group and guides meet-and-greet
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Hosted welcome dinner
Day 2-3: Hakkoda backcountry
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Daily breakfast at our Japanese ryokan
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Drive to Hakkoda Ropeway, reknown for lift assisted off-piste and touring, deep snow and panoramic views of the volcanic landscapes of Aomori Prefecture
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2 full days exploring Hakkoda's deep snow, skiing amongst the "snow monster" trees
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Hosted dinners at our ryokan
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Soak and recharge in the ryokan's soothing onsen baths
Day 4: Ski Mt. Iwaki backcountry and travel to Hachimantai
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Breakfast
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Tour and ski the sleeping behemoth of the area, Mount Iwaki. A dormant volcano with breathtaking terrain, perfectly located nearby the sea of Japan, receiving copious amounts of dry japow.
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At the end of a rewarding day, we reach our comfortable, well-appointed onsen hotel in Hachimantai where we will stage our snow chasing adventures for the next 2 days.
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Hosted dinners by your guides
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Recharge in the soothing onsen
Day 5: Hachimantai cat skiing
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Breakfast at our hotel
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A former ski resort converted to a cat skiing and touring paradise. We join forces with Hachimantai Cat Ski to ride the most iconic lines under the blue sky or in the middle of a raging snow storm.
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Afternoon return to our hotel to enjoy the onsen spa before dinner
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Dinner hosted by your guides
Day 6: Hachimantai & Appi Kōgen ski touring
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Breakfast at our hotel
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Exploring the dry japow of Hachimantai one more day, we tour from the famous Appi Kogen ski area after a warm-up lap or directly head up into the backcountry for a longer tour from a quaint Onsen village
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Return to our hotel to relax in the onsen before dinner
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Dinner hosted by your guides
Day 7: Ski Mount Iwate
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Breakfast
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Welcome to the Morioka area with the dramatic Mount Iwate volcano as a backdrop. We access the higher ridges via one of Morioka's local ski resorts and go touring from there.
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After skiing we head to beautiful Lake Tazawa to check in to our traditional onsen lodge with shared bath
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Dinner hosted by your guides
Day 8: Tazawa Lake and Mt. Akita Komagatake
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Breakfast
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We wake up to the beautiful area Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake
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Ski and explore the outer space like landscape with vast untracked slopes from abandoned ski resorts, seductive ridges and spacious birch forests before a well deserved onsen soak, celebration beers and a traditional farewell dinner.
Day 9: Departure Day
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Breakfast at our hotel
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In the morning, we provide assistance with your transfer to reach the Morioka train station taking the efficient Japanese bullet train to Tokyo international airports
The ACCOMMODATIONS
What's INCLUDED
Support:
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2 full-time, certified, PowderQuest guides (Japanese and English speaking)
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Lift tickets
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Cat skiing
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Private 4x4 van
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Photographer
Accommodations:
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8 nights of accommodations
Meals:
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Daily breakfast
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All dinners, hosted by our guides
Not Included:
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Arrival to Aomori/Departure from Morioka. See Logistics tab for instructions.
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Lunches
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Alcoholic/ non-alcoholic beverages
Solo Travelers: Will be paired with another guest in a twin share room
Single Occupancy: Limited single rooms available for a $995 upgrade
Payment: A 25% deposit is required to secure your reservation. Final payments are collected 90 days before trip departure.
