Itinerary

NOTE: This itinerary is a guide. The tour is dictated by the weather each day and your guide will fit around where the best conditions are. This is a powder tour so wider skis are recommended to get the most enjoyment on the tour. Your guide is there to show you lines you may not have discovered on your own.

Also note: the evening performances of the Geisha, Taiko Drum and Karate demonstrations may vary on which night they fall on the due to overlap in bookings.

Day 1
Make your way to Yudanaka (home of the snow monkeys) on either the amazing rail system or a shuttle from Narita or Haneda airport and be picked up at the station at Yudanaka and taken to your lodging at Ryokan Biyu or a short walk for those staying at Lodge Aibiya (further information on how to get to Yudanaka is contained in the FAQ’s and pre trip instructions). The area has a history of over 1,300 years as a hot spring resort and more recently was put on the map due to the 1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games. You are treated like a rock star at the Ryokan with exceptional service, immaculate surroundings and food to die for. Your first nights meal is at the Ryokan which is an experience in itself. Bring your camera. For those staying at Lodge Aibiya enjoy the many eateries around Yudanaka.

Day 2
Made up of 18 resorts, Shiga Kogen is the largest ski area in Asia with the highest lift access in Japan (higher and dryer). Because Shiga is so large and elevated, fresh lines can be found days after a snowfall. And because relatively few westerners have discovered this area the queues are almost non-existent and another bonus is that very few Japanese ski off-piste. After skiing, why not try an onsen to sooth any aches and pains followed by a local beer or wine from the lounge bar. Tonight is a chance to get to know the rest of your group so why not try the local restaurant Hakko which serves a variety of Japanese and Western dishes.

Day 3
Madarao (Madapow) is another of the Japanese ski fields that does not attract the hoards of gaijin’s (foreigners). This field seems to have its own micro climate and when it snows here it can be very light and deep. If you are looking for a change from the Japanese fare there is a restaurant on the mountain that makes the best burgers and pizzas. Tonight, we will travel into the town of Nakano to enjoy a meal at Kappa Sushi Train followed by the new signature event of a karaoke evening. There is a one song minimum either as single, duet or group to ensure everyone can ski the next day.

Day 4
After breakfast we will travel to Nozawa Onsen for some more action on the snow. Considered by some as the birthplace of skiing in Japan, its 300 hectares of terrain and 50km of slopes will not disappoint. If time permits at the end of the day we will take a walk through Nozawa Onsen township and enjoy the many shops and eating treats. For those at the Ryokan Biyu it is another exquisite meal in-house and those at Lodge Aibiya either eat out or cook in. For your nights entertainment participate in a Karate performance and teaching session from one of Japan’s Grand Masters at the Ryokan Biyu.

Day 5
After breakfast we will drive to either Togakushi or Ryuoo Ski Park depending on where the best snow is to be found. With seven lifts your time at Togakushi will have you smiling with some of the easiest access slack country around. This is a true authentic Japanese resort with no westerners to be touching our precious powder. Ryuoo is much the same with the areas only ropeway with some great tree skiing and steep open courses. Get together with the rest of your legends group and why not choose the restaurant Goen opposite the train station to toast your glasses and indulge in some quality Western and Japanese fare.

Day 6
After breakfast we will further explore Shiga Kogen. The great thing about the 19 connecting resorts at Shiga is that we may ski one area for the morning then after lunch relocate to another part of the mountain for more powder action. Your pass gives you access to the whole of Shiga and your guide knows where those private stashes are located. If time allows we will visit the local sake museum and taste up to 10 different sakes that are made on site. For those at the Ryokan Biyu it is another exquisite meal inhouse and those at Lodge Aibiya either eat out or cook in. The entertainment tonight is the taiko drum, shamisen guitar and lion dance performance at the Ryokan Biyu.

Day 7
Roadie time! This is the part of the trip where the group lightens the load. The skis and boards go on the roof and the boots in the back. Each person has a small bag akin to a carry-on bag in a plane. Time to bid farewell to our amazing hosts at Ryokan Biyu and Lodge Aibiya.

No visit is complete to Yudanaka without some interaction with the famous snow monkeys. This is the only place in the world you can see the snow monkey soaking in natural hot pools up close and personal.

The group then leaves Yudanaka for a 2.5 hour drive and on the way to Tenjin Lodge you will visit a very famous onsen in Japan named Takaragawa Onsen.

Dinner will be at Tenjin Lodge followed by a beverage and chat with your guide for the game plan the next day.

Note: This is a flexible tour and we do have the option if the group is agreed to do a half day ski in the morning for the extra cost of a lift pass if conditions are favourable for this.

Day 8
Game on. After breakfast if the Snow God has co-operated you are off to Tenjindaira (the locals call it Tenjin). This is where things start to get real. Tenjin is not an area to be trifled with and the area turns up the volume to what you have been experiencing thus far on the tour in regard to steepness, depth and risk. So on this part of the tour we engage our guide Kieren's knowledge and experience on this mountain to bring our guide to guest ratio to 2:6. Depending on the day the group may break into two groups of 3 guests skiing the same area, or run it with a lead guide and tail guide.

By the end of the day why not try a craft beer from the bar Tenjin Lodge, freshen up in the natural spring hot bath then we will go and dine at a Minikami favourite restaurant – Daruma.

Day 9
Because Tenjin gets so much snow, there are times it is just not possible to ski it. So a backup plan is needed which the Gunma area provides in the resort of Minakami Houdaigi nearby to Tenjin Lodge. You are not going to come across any westerners at Houdaigi and the mountain has a real local feel. Mount Hotaka (Hotakasan) in Gunma has various ski resorts sitting on its flanks, yet the Hodaigi Ski Resort is located on the northwestern slope and many of the runs face due north, so the snow quality is particularly nice.

Back to Tenjin Lodge for another amazing meal prepared by Bo and the team.

Day 10
After breakfast we will travel to Kagura which is a three-in-one ski resort that incorporates the areas of Kagura, Mitsumata and Tashiro. The Kagura Ski Resort is also interconnected with Naeba Ski Resort via a super long gondola, the Dragondola, to form one large ski area referred to as Mt Naeba. The real goodies are off the top lift which gives us access to a wide range of terrain with some very light snow if the Snow God plays ball. For our last night we will head back into Minikami to enjoy some authentic Japanese fare and relive our stories from the last 10 days.

Day 11
After bidding farewell to Bo, Kieren, Hana, Lucky and the team, you can either leave by train from Minakami if you wish to get the fastest route to Tokyo, or come back to Yudanaka if you want to continue with some skiing and riding.

Travel Luggage

When the group leaves for the Niigata and Gunma part of the tour there is only limited room in the van for luggage. Bring a ski or snowboard bag and pack your clothes around your gear and a backpack or small suitcase. The trip takes 2 and half hours from Yudanaka to Tenjin Lodge. Skis, boards and clothing will be stored on the roof in your bags and ski boots in the luggage compartment. This leaves room for one bag each and is limited to a pack or small suitcase the size you would put in carry-on luggage in a plane. If possible, you can store this gear in your AVI pack would create more room in the vehicle.

At the end of the tour you have the option of leaving by train from the Tenjin area or travelling back to Yudanaka in Nagano.

Accommodation & Meals

10 nights accommodation in summary:

• 6 x nights accommodation at either Lodge Aibiya (standard package) in twin share western room with shared bathroom, or 6 night at Ryokan Biyu in twin share Japanese style rooms with own bathrooms
• 4 x nights at Tenjin Lodge in twin share Japanese style room

Lodge Aibya

Lodge Aibiya is located in Yudanaka township and the perfect place to relax after a day on the slopes. Yoshi and Seongmi provide a high level of Japanese service backed up with western insights gained by working overseas. English speaking with a wealth of knowledge of the Nagano area, Yoshi and Seongmi will look after all your needs.

The Lodge has an option of quad share single western bed dorm rooms for group bookings and twin share rooms with shared bathroom. They have a twin room with double bed which is ideal for couples or for those that want to upgrade to the single supplement and there is the option to upgrade to the deluxe rooms with private bathrooms which can sleep up to four people.
 
There is a well equipped kitchen for those who would like to cook themselves (supermarket shuttle available) or you can enjoy the many traditional Japanese restaurants only a short walk away. There are two different types of lounge rooms and a separate cinema room. There are separate male and female shared shower rooms.

A free continental breakfast is provided each day with breads, cereal, fruits, yoghurt, coffee, tea and fruit juices.

Free WI-FI is available throughout the lodge. A gift shop with crafts made locally and beverages, local Shiga Kogen beer and snacks are available for sale. Experience the tradition at a local ryokan onsen for a small fee.

The lodge is only a 3 minute walk from the train station and local convenience stores are nearby.

Lodge Abiya

...western-style rooms...

.....a nice communal area

Ryokan Biyo no Yado

Ryokan Biyu no Yado is a 3.5 star Ryokan (Japanese Inn).

Rooms all come with private ensuite/bathroom and are Japanese-style with woven tatami floors and futon beds. All rooms have a flat screen TV, small fridge & kettle. Your room also has a traditional yukata which is not mandatory to wear at this Ryokan, although it is definitely comfortable attire after a day on the slopes.

The Ryokan also has some western rooms which are double the size of the Japanese rooms available as an up-grade for an additional cost.

There is a spectacular an indoor Japanese bathhouse (onsen) and outdoor hot spring (rotenburo) and there is also a private onsen available for rent for an additional fee.

The THREE night-time meals included in the Ryokan Biyu package are traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine served in the hotel dining area. Breakfast (also included) is either Japanese or Western-style. For the remaining night-time meals you have the choice of many authentic Japanese restaurants in down-town Yudanaka or Nakano, or you can buy additional meals at the Ryokan.

There are massage services available, free wi-fi in the common lounge area, a luxurious lounge bar and common seating area, drinks vending machines, grand piano, large screen TV, karaoke and a souvenir shop.

Ryokan Biyo..

...Japanese-style rooms...

.....spectacular onsen

Tenjin Lodge

Tenjin Lodge is a family-owned and operated mountain lodge, deep in the Joetsu National Park, and just minutes away from Tenjindaira Ski Resort. Your hosts, Bo Yeon, Kieren and their staff provide a homely experience for travellers, and their daughter Hana acts as entertainment manager, and the family pet Lucky is the ever attentive receptionist.

There are two types of rooms Western or Japanese style with their own toilet and wash basin, with shared lodge bathing facilities. Each room has a powerful winter heater with a fridge and free WI-FI throughout the property. The western rooms are first in best dressed as they are limited in number. There is also a family room that sleeps up to six people.

The male and female baths are fed by the same natural mountain spring which supplies water to the lodge. They are not onsens as the water is heated to temperature and the room has a pleasant ambiance with views of the forest outside. The water is not re-circulated so the baths are operating on a constant flow. Each bathroom has two showers which run hot 24 hours of the day and during the ski season the baths are available between 5pm and 8pm.

Breakfasts are served at the Lazy Bear Restaurant in house and are made up of either the western breakfast consisting of a hearty serving of scrambled eggs and toast or the mountain breakfast consisting of warm oatmeal served with chopped seasonal fruit and yogurt. Both breakfasts come with coffee/tea or juice. The evening meals at the lodge consist of Italian pastas, South East Asian and Korean dishes.

You will also travel into the local town of Minakami for two of the nights to sample some of the tasty cuisine from the local restaurants. A must is Restaurant Daruma – Japanese Izakaya in Minakami where the Master is always welcoming and he serves up some great value cuisine.

Tenjin Lodge..

...western-style rooms...

.....a nice communal area

2023 Rates & Inclusions

Rates

Prices are in Japanese Yen per person
Package	Twin-Share	Single Occupancy Add
*Deluxe Package	459,000	36,000 at Ryokan Biyu
**Standard Package	419,000	24,000 at Lodge Aibiya

• Base rates & invoice currency is in Japanese Yen - convert to your currency here
• Rates are per person
• *Deluxe option includes 6 x night accommodation at Ryokan Biyu in single or twin share Japanese style rooms with own bathrooms and includes breakfasts and two dinners and 4 x nights at Tenjin Lodge in twin share Japanese style room and includes breakfasts and two dinners
• **Standard options include 6 x night accommodation at Lodge Aibiya in single or twin share western room with shared bathroom and includes breakfasts and 4 x nights at Tenjin Lodge in twin share Japanese style room and includes breakfast and two dinners

Inclusions

• 10 nights accommodation (various options), all breakfasts & 2 dinners
• 8 days of lift tickets
• Free pickup and drop off at Yudanaka train station for Ryokan Biyu guests and a short walk from the train station for those staying at Lodge Aibiya (ask about direct shuttle options)
• Transport to the world-famous snow monkey park (does not include admission fee)
• 8 days fully guided (max 1:6 guide to guest ratio), ski guides for 1 day at Tenjin (max 2:6 guide to guest ratio)
• Free transport to the signature night of Sushi train followed by a karaoke evening with the locals of Yudanaka (does not include meal and karaoke cost)
• Interactive Geisha performance
• Interactive taiko drum, shamisen guitar and lion dance performance
• Karate performance from a Grand Master champion of Japan
• Evening tour in a Pistenbully snow cat to the highest lift access point in Japan 2307metres to see the snow monster trees and includes hot drinks and homemade breads
• Local sake factory sampling tour
• Visit to the famous Takaragawa Onsen
• Walk around 1300 year old historic Shibu town

Add-ons

• Avo safety pack (transponder, shovel & probe) - 2,000 yen/day; requirement for all guests riding off-piste
• Private room upgrade
• Traditional Thai massage at ¥5000 yen per hour for full body
• Full ski rental store which includes clothing, helmet, goggles, gloves, ski boots, poles, carving skis & fat skis
• Extra nights and guiding

Not Included

• Travel to Yudanaka - see hyperdia.com
• Flights - search for cheapest flights here
• Ski travel insurance - buy travel insurance online here
• Lunches, snacks, alcohol, dinners (apart from those advertised above)

Booking Policy for the 2022/2023 season

• 20% of the full cost of the tour will secure a reservation for any of the JPC Tours products. This is fully refundable until 31st August 2022 for any reason and may be further extended.
• On 1st September 2022 the card on file will be charged a further 30% and the final 50% will be charged on 1st December 2022. Failure to receive balance payments by the 15th September 2022 and 15th December 2022 respectively, will result in cancellation of the reservation which will then be subject to our standard cancellation policy.
• For bookings after 1st September 2022 there is a 20% deposit required to secure a reservation with the remaining balance due 60 days before commencement of the tour.
• From 1st September all bookings are to be subject to our standard terms and conditions or by our COVID-19 exclusive policy (see below)

COVID-19 Exclusive Policy

If a COVID-19 travel ban is in effect, prohibiting international travel to and from Japan or to and from your home country, or if a mandatory quarantine is required after arrival into Japan or upon return to your home country:

Up to 30 days prior to your ski trip start date the following applies:

• You may cancel and receive a refund minus the service fee of ¥15,000 per person.
• or you may receive a 100% trip credit towards a future JPC Tours trip, with no service fee applied.

Less than 30 days before your JPC Tours trip start date the following applies:

• You may cancel and receive a 50% refund with a 50% cancellation fee.
• or you may receive a 75% trip credit towards a future JPC Tours trip, with a 25% cancellation fee.
• Due to the substantial time and financial investment required in getting our trips prepped for winter, sudden cancellations even under Covid related circumstances will incur the above-mentioned cancellation fees.

Terms of Agreement & Policies/Booking Information
Please carefully read the policies below before you make a reservation.

CUSTOMER INFORMATION FORM

To enable us to complete your arrangements you must complete the customer information spreadsheet as complete as possible at the time. This does not guarantee your booking as we need to confirm that the accommodation you have requested is available. If there is no availability for some/all of your components we will advise you of this and offer an alternative where possible. The alternative product offered may be a different price and prices will be adjusted accordingly. The information which you provide may be used by JPC Tours for further communication to you (unless requested otherwise) but no information will be divulged to any third party.

BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY

Once we have confirmed your accommodation requirements JPC Tours will send you a deposit invoice of 20% of the total booking which is nonrefundable once received. We do hold the deposit in credit for you if you wish to book with us at another date. You will then have 7 days to reconfirm your space with your deposit. The payment options for the deposit are through our New Zealand or Japanese bank account or via PayPal as bank transfer or credit card. Any fees associated with the transfer are the client’s responsibility. The final balance is to be paid 60 days prior to the commencement of the tour either via our New Zealand or Japanese bank account or through PayPal. We also have the option to pay by cash yen at the start of the tour for those who wish to avoid the transaction fees and perhaps gain by purchasing cash yen at the time you consider the best rate. If you pay directly into our New Zealand or Japanese account from an overseas institution you are required to cover any applicable fees. This is usually a fee on your end and a $30NZD/¥4000JPY fee when the funds land into our account. If we have been charged any fees for accepting such transactions these fees will be passed on in full. Paying through PayPal there is a 3.4% fee to be paid at your end or via credit card 4.5% through paypal.

CANCELLATION

Once we receive written notification that you are cancelling your trip the following fees will apply. Of the total price of the reservation, a fee of 25% will be charged for all cancellations made more than 3 months before the start of your trip. Cancellations made between 1 and 3 months prior to the start of your program will be charged a 50% fee. Cancellations made with less than one month of advanced notice will not be refunded. Unfortunately, due to the time-sensitive nature of our business, and the difficulty in re-booking a trip close to the departure date, we cannot make exceptions to this policy.
JPC Tours cannot be held responsible for snow conditions. Trips cannot be cancelled or amended on the basis of snow conditions. No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave a tour for any reason after the tour has begun. Refunds will be at the discretion of JPC Tours if you are involuntarily forced to leave a tour for any reason. No refunds will be given for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals, services, lift tickets or any component of the tour not utilized.

AMENDMENTS

If you need to amend any arrangements after your original booking these must be advised in writing. One amendment is free of charge. Any further changes will incur administration costs of ¥3000 per amendment plus any costs levied by our overseas agents and suppliers. Any change to an existing booking constitutes ‘an amendment’. A transfer to another tour is viewed as a cancellation and not as an amendment, and cancellation fees will apply.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

JPC Tours receives bookings subject to the following conditions.
1. A booking is accepted only after JPC Tours receives the deposit and issues the client a Confirmation Invoice. The balance must be received 60 days prior to the commencement of the tour; otherwise JPC Tours may treat the booking as cancelled by the client.
2. Date changes are subject to availability. Date changes may be requested at any time up to 2 months prior to your departure date. Date changes made between 2-3 months prior to the tour will be charged a ¥20,000 fee per person. A ¥10,000 fee will be charged per person for all date changes made more than 3 months prior to the tour.
3. Where this booking would otherwise be subject to the provisions of the Consumer Guarantee Act (C.G.A) 1993, if the supply is a supply for business purposes the client agrees that the services are supplied for business purposes in terms of section 2 and 43 of the C.G.A 1993, and that the provisions of the said Act do not apply to the supply to the client. Such client is not a consumer for the purposes of these booking conditions.
4. Adventure sports activities involve many risks, dangers and hazards. These risks and hazards are outlined in our release of liability, waiver of claims, assumptions of risks and indemnity agreement which all participants are required to read and sign before participating in a JPC Tour. This agreement will affect your legal rights should you be involved in an accident. Managing risk is JPC Tours number one priority. Our guides manage significant hazards inherent to side country pursuits (e.g., avalanche, inclement weather, tee-accidents, rock fall, and high winds) but they cannot eliminate them. Please clearly understand that skiing in bounds and out of bounds is an inherently hazardous sport and both actions are only undertaken with the full knowledge and consent from the participant that these are inherently dangerous activities. You are choosing to engage in an activity in which skiers have been injured and worse. While these accidents are indeed infrequent, they may occur at any time and be out of our control. We ask that participants acknowledge that risk and make their own choices about whether to engage in this activity. We ask that each participant is physically and mentally fit, is properly attired and equipped, and continues to assess him/her-self throughout the tour to ensure as safe a time as possible. We ask that participants honestly and accurately describe themselves, in terms of fitness, health and skills, and their equipment to their guides, and that they adhere to the advice of their guide.
5. Due to the inherent risk involved in alpine pursuits, and in the interest of your safety, JPC Tours strongly recommends all participants to bring insurance that provides full medical and emergency evacuation coverage. JPC Tours will NOT provide insurance for participants on any JPC tour. If a participant does not have proper insurance documentation, he/she will be liable for her own medical and emergency evacuation expenses and will receive no refund, date change, or any kind of compensation from JPC Tours. Please take this seriously and lean on the side of caution.
6. JPC Tours reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, including a confirmed tour, due to circumstances beyond our control. If this occurs, you will be given the option of changing to another tour or receive a full refund. JPC Tours is not responsible for any incidental expense you have incurred as a result of your booking. If you choose and alternative tour and it is at a lower value than your original tour, you will be refunded the difference. If the alternative tour is of a higher value, then you will pay the difference in price. Thankfully this has never happened to date.
7. JPC Tours role as tour operator is to arrange through third party suppliers the hotel accommodation, train journeys, rental vehicles, ski passes, cultural activities and other facilities which together provide the holiday arrangement detailed in the itinerary. You should note:
a) That your vacation arrangements are subject to terms and conditions imposed by, hoteliers, train operators, rental car operators, ski resorts and other suppliers of services. Many of those terms and conditions limit or exclude the liability of the supplier and may often be the subject of international convention between countries.
b) JPC Tours does not own or control the hoteliers, train operators, rental car operators, ski resorts or the various suppliers, and JPC Tours does not actually provide those services itself. JPC Tours will take all possible care to ensure that its suppliers have a reputation for maintaining a high standard.
However, JPC Tours is unable to accept responsibility in any way for day-to-day problems with the services provided or for any loss, damage, delay, inconvenience or injury to persons or property, or any other loss howsoever arising. In particular JPC Tours is unable to accept responsibility for any aspect of your holiday arrangements affected by matters over which JPC Tours has no control including, without limitation, war or threat of war, riots and civil strife, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, weather conditions, fire, flood, drought, industrial disputes or governmental or official action or reasonable apprehension of the foregoing, cancellation, curtailment, or rescheduling of flights, or any failure on your part to obtain the correct visas and valid passport for travel.
8. While JPC Tours will use its best endeavors to operate all tours as advertised, reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made without notice where deemed necessary or advisable by JPC Tours.
9. JPC Tours does not accept responsibility for disruption, inconvenience, cancellation or alteration directly or indirectly caused by or aggravated by the failure of any computer data processing equipment or media microchip integrated circuit or similar equipment, software or processing, storage or retrieval system.
10. It is a condition of the acceptance of your deposit in respect of this tour that all monies paid to JPC Tours, whether by way of deposit or otherwise in respect of the tour, may be disbursed by JPC Tours as and when it sees fit or in respect of the services to be provided or fees payable under the tour program and the payment of a deposit for the tour shall be deemed to be a direction by you to JPC Tours to disburse such monies as foresaid. All monies received by JPC Tours are deposited in its name with its bankers, until appropriate disbursement to the suppliers of services or their agents.
11. The flight segment of the tour is to be arranged by the customer and JPC Tours cannot be held responsible for any consequences that may arise due to your air travel arrangements.
12. Receipt of a deposit will be taken as an understanding by JPC Tours that the participant has read and agrees to abide by these terms and conditions stated.
13. The booking conditions and the supply of services herein shall be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of New Zealand, and both the client and JPC Tours irrevocably submits themselves to the jurisdiction of New Zealand courts in respect of any proceedings arising out of or relating to these booking conditions or services provided hereunder.

YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE

Passport and visa fees, insurance, excess baggage charges, extra meals, laundry, drinks, souvenirs, items of a personal nature including medication, departure taxes, and tipping are not included in the price of your holiday. Entrance fees to venues detailed in the itinerary will generally be included, unless specified otherwise in the itinerary.

PASSPORTS & VISAS

A valid passport is required for travel and some countries require that it be valid for at least 6 months after the date of departure from those countries. Japan works on a 90 holiday visa for most countries however some countries are excluded from this and require further documentation before travel into Japan is permitted.
The above information should be taken as a general guideline and JPC Tours will endeavor to resolve any issues that may arise in a prompt and professional manner.