Great snow conditions, every day is so different and fun, awesome instructors/guides who know what they're doing.

You can make it more fun and exciting for yourself if you actively try to make friends with people who enjoy the same things you do (eg. bar hopping) or you could make it more relaxing by simply enjoying a walk around the quiet town in the evening. If you're staying at the Biyu, a daily visit to the onsen is a must-have.
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We had a wonderful time with Japan Powder Culture Tours. From gear fittings and transportation to entertainment nights and accommodation bookings, Jase and his team has made our experience feel seamless. We especially got a lot out of spending each ski day with our instructors Dan and Liam who guided us through the foundations and provided great technical feedback too. Would recommend this package for anyone who just wants to rock up and ski without worrying about the nitty gritty of planning.
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I booked a 4 day/ 5 nights solo trip package with JPCT in mid-December 2022 and spent time in Tokyo either side of the dates I had booked as recommended by Jase. I would highly recommend doing this as it enables you to see multiple aspects of ‘winter in Japan’ as a first timer. This was my dream trip and JPCT was the best part.

After heading out to Nagano on a bullet train (an amazing experience in itself), I was met by Jase and his chipper team of ski instructors. The team are really easy to get on with and it was clear they would go the extra mile to make the trip special. They answered any questions I had and were extremely professional throughout the entire trip. I felt that my safety was prioritised as a beginner; this helped me form a really good relationship with the sport of skiing and has encouraged me to take it on in more trips. The age differential across the instructors means that there is always someone in the team you can get along with that has a similar age to you.

The accommodation was stellar and situated in a small town inhabited by only Japanese residents and tourists. It’s amazing that Jase has garnered a relationship with the locals, that enables only his guests to see ‘behind the curtain’ at some of the nicest and most private ski fields in Japan. Staying in a traditional-yet luxury hotel (Royokan Biyu), eating from traditional menus, and doing an Onsen (public hot water bath) each night formed the ultimate package, that felt exclusive to Japanese locals.

I was initially concerned that the 12th of December would be too early in the season, however the snow conditions prevailed, and I was welcomed with falling snow each morning as I walked out and sat in Jase’s van. The skiing was fantastic, and I was spoiled by virtually 1-1 teaching from people in the ski team, since it was earlier in the season. I picked up a multitude of skills and tools (at least 10 skills) that will forever be valuable in future skiing expeditions. I didn’t need to worry at all about logistics as Jase already had everything covered well in advance (he even had food recommendations at each restaurant we visited). Jase recommended I take 1 day out of the trip as a Japan culture day. I liked this experience as I was able to view some of the less known cultural hubs in the local towns. It’s also a great idea as I was able to rest and come back stronger on the next day. Each night Jase had organised cultural experiences, were local Japanese artists and cultural leaders would come and perform. These were extremely personalised to our small group and offered extensive interaction.

The overall theme of this tour was that I was being given access to the ‘real’ Japan, that is not overtly available to international tourists. This was emphasised in every aspect of the tour from the accommodation to the skiing to the cultural experience. It has reshaped my view of taking a holiday, and this will be a key criteria I use when booking future holidays in other countries. Would 10/10 recommend- you would be missing out if you went with any other tour group.
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We joined Jase and his team for 3 days in skiing and it was nothing short of a magical experience. Hailing from the ass crack of the equator, we had never even seen snow before, let alone skiied. Pre-trip, Jase patiently answered all our queries and efficiently arranged the booking process and was key in making us feel at ease and excited.

As part of a highly customised tour, Liam and Dan were the padawans who took care of the beginner group and they were not only patient, encouraging and skillful, but also flexible at adjusting to our individual learning speeds. We felt comfortable being under their care and pushing ourselves knowing they had our backs.

There are many other areas we were impressed with, including the group's dedication to ensure we had the best snow conditions throughout all three days and Jase's top notch driving skills! The cherry on top is all the other activities that Jase and team organised, including taking us out to local haunts for dinner; beautiful, non-touristy spots that truly felt special; taiko drums and geisha performance; karaoke nights; the list goes on.

The biyu was an excellent choice of accommodation. Staff (including honorary staff Jase) were friendly, helpful and the onsen after a day of skiing was absolutely divine. Yudanaka is a quaint town with proximity to the snow monkeys and Shibu Onsen, great for exploration.

Overall, it was an extremely smooth and enjoyable process that was fun, safe and we found a new, very addictive hobby. We thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend to anyone looking for a good experience. Miss the team and can't wait to be back!
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The Japan Powder Culture Team are a brilliant bunch to tour with, based in a quaint, as yet unspoilt town in shooting distance of over 18 resorts it's an ideal base to combine culture (monkeys, temples, castles, onsens etc) with world class powder and some of the highest resorts in Asia. The expert team take all levels & all ages out onto the slopes wherever is best on any given day for the conditions, so you aren't confined to a single location. Highly recommended!
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We took 4 days beginner package in the beginning of January 2020. I would definitely recommend this tour, booking experience was very smooth and Jase responded to all our questions promptly. We stayed at Aibiya place, which is very nice and clean. It was convenient to use JPCT services as we didn't have any equipment and skiing clothes, everything was provided, even socks :) We both enjoyed riding the hills (beginner group and advanced ). Jase and team organized everything on very high level. Looking forward to join the tour next season.
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What a fantastic week of excellent snow / powder, no crowds, blue sky and sunny days, great company and excellent instruction and guiding! My son and I have skiied a little before and significantly improved our confidence, skills and control over 4 days skiing with Jase, John, Tyson and George. I'm amazed at the quality of skiing and absence of crowds in the Shiga Kogen area. We also enjoyed the traditional ryokan and onsen experience in Yudanaka, a lovely little town with awesome local restaurants, as well as cultural performances and side trips to various "hidden gems" such as the Tokagushi shrine. Truly an end to end local cultural experience - Jase and the team could not have been more helpful with every aspect of our trip. Highly recommend!
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I loved every second of my trip with Japan Powder Culture Tours. Jase was extremely nice, attentive and professional with us. Even though we were very beginners, we had the best support and in the end we were able to really improve! Can’t wait to come back next year!
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We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children aged 12 and 15 who have never skied before hence joined the 'Nagano' Beginners package. We had a fantastic time with both Jase and John being excellent ski instructors.

They were both kind, patient and had lots of funny stories to tell as well. We were picked up every day at 8am by personal shuttle bus from our very comfortable lodgings and taken to the ski fields, in our case Shiga Kogan which was only around a 20 minute ride away.

This company is unique in that it is highly personalized and the ski instructors know the huge ski resorts and the different areas extremely well and therefore take you to areas suitable for your skill level and experience.

It would be difficult to do these resorts by yourself if you are English speaking only as they are predominantly run and frequented by the local Japanese only.

Not only was the skiing wonderful, but it was a complete cultural experience as well. Yudanaka which was our base for 4 days is a delightful quaint little old style Japanese town with wonderful little restaurants and atmosphere. The whole area is an Onsen area (hot natural spring bathing pools) which makes it very unique and a wonderful place to relax and recover after a day on the mountain.

Shibu Onsen is another quaint and famous little town next to Yudanaka which is well within walking distance. The famous snow monkeys are also very close by and 15 minutes away by bus from Yudanaka and well worth visiting whilst there.

Jase and his team provide all your gear, from boots, skis, goggles, jackets etc. The gear was all very high quality and Jason spent a significant amount of time the night before we hit the mountains kitting is up and making sure everthing fit and was comfortable.

With regards to accommodation, the tour offers two options. Ryokan Bidu which has it's own Onsens or Aibiya Lodge. We ended up staying at both which were both excellent. Aibiya Lodge is listed as the more budget option however I must say the standard of the lodge is excellent and the hosts of the lodge Yoshi and Seongmi are both amazing.

Overall, I would highly recommend Jase and his company. The intention of our trip was for the kids to learn how to ski and that they certainly did plus more!
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You have to understand, skiing is not a big pastime in South Africa. We’re a summer country and can boast about winning the Rugby World Cup, but not about sending pro ski-racers to the Winter Olympics. I’m not even an athletic person and don’t do any kind of sport.

However, I had one ski lesson while on holiday in New Zealand at Coronet Peak (or Concrete Peak, as our instructor described it) and actually liked learning it in combination with the cold weather.

I’ve also always wanted to visit Japan, and after Binging “beginner ski package Japan”, found “Japan Powder Culture Tours.” And so, with nothing but blind faith and sheer determination, I signed up for Chase’s beginner package.

Skiing for five days was exhausting and challenged me both physically and mentally. I fell, a lot, and cried, fell again, cried and got up again. Here, strength training before going definitely helped. However, under Chase, John and Fraser’s guidance, the five of us in our group progressed from absolute beginners to just about ready to do slightly more perfect parallel turns. I am not quite intermediate but almost there.

In late December, the weather was unpredictable but this actually helped condition us. We skied in perfect weather on Christmas, but also in very cold, windy and snowy weather on other days, where visibility was low. We learned to walk in different kinds of terrain on our ski boots and how to carry our ski equipment like pros. In between, there were great conversations on the bus up and down the mountain every day (which ranged from the insightful to the hilarious) and, oh, kick-ass music to keep us going.

Importantly, I’d like to mention here how important it is to have an instructor who helps you choose and fit the correct ski boots. I did not have a great time skiing in NZ, largely as the rental shop did not provide me with the correct boots. Chase offered great practical advice in choosing and fitting the correct ski boot, which meant I had a pain-free five days of skiing and this greatly contributed to my enjoyment of this ski holiday. The muscles that hurt the most after the first day was, surprisingly, my arms, as I relied a lot on my ski poles for balance and thrust.

Finally, I do need to mention what a wonderful town Yudanaka is as a base for skiing Shiga Kogen. I stayed in a wonderful hostel (Aibiya Hostel), as part of the package. I had some great Udon and enjoyed the wonderful onsens after a long tiring day on the slopes.

Overall a mostly great experience that I would recommend to any new beginner skier who wants to build their confidence.
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