Mixed ability couple on the powder zone tour in January 2025

We had a great experience with Japan Powder Culture tours and would recommend it to anyone who wants to experience great powder skiing and Japanese culture with good food and decent accommodation. We had a great group to ski and dine with and Jase's organisations kept us on schedule and maximised what we got out of our time in Yudanaka.

Background
I'm relatively experienced at skiing but no expert powder skier l. I'd worked a season in zermatt as a guide, race trained for 10 weeks and completed about 6 weeks ski mountaineering/touring routes.
My girlfriend could ski any piste but had no powder experience and would not be confident in bad steep conditions.

Overall
This trip worked because we could get split up based on our ability but meet at lunch and in the evenings and had the option to free ski together if we wanted. Jillian got instruction from an 80 year old legend and tips from Dan the guide as well. Dont worry about which trip to go on, other than the roadie its really just about the number of days skiing and if culture shows are included.

Pros
Snow - the best and most consistent I've ever experienced. The lines re generally shorter than Europe and almost always tree akiing with the odd 300m line of wide open but nog the conix steep couloirs type (Maybe if you go to Tenjin).

Food - the restaurants and mountain food was excellent. It's rarely as fancy or modern as european resorts but the quality and price is as good if not better.
Gear - Jase has great quality powder skis. I brought 100 touring skis but we had so much snow (waste deep on 1 day) that i hired 122 black crows. I could have skied my own fine 2bh but it was nice to have good fat skis.
Onsens - the hotel omodaka had great indoor and outdoor onsens
Guides - Naru, Jase and Patrick did a great job of finding great lines. Jillian got instruction on powder skiing and tips from hutch and Dan.
Organisation - Timings are kept tight and information shared. Jase runs a tight ship.

Cons
Not so much a con but the accomodation is a little more basic than you may expect if you compare it to a chalet type european option. Omodaka is warm and comfortable and the cultural aspect of staying in a Japanese trad hotel and room was cool. The breakfast was OK with plenty options but not a highlight. There isnt really a bar but the cultural evenings are great and you're generally pretty tired so its not a biggie.

Conclusion
A great experience with guiding and some instruction with a great group of guides and people on the trip. Hotel is comfortable enough and OK price considering the guiding. Most of the guides are very experienced and can give instruction but they are not all as qualified/experienced as you would see in Europe (not really an issue but dont think you are getting instruction 9-5). Jase is pretty direct (which helps with herding the cats) and likes to joke around so bring your sense of humour and you'll have a laugh.

We loved it and had a great time. Value for money was pretty comparable to Europe with accomodation being a little lower standard than France/Switzerland for the same price but the amount of powder skiing in trees was unmatched.
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This was my first trip with JPCT and I already know it won't be my last. Before coming on the tour I'd skied about 20 days, mostly in Australia and New Zealand. As a solo traveller, I was looking for a ski tour that was more focussed on skiing (rather than partying and sightseeing) and JPCT fit the bill perfectly. Jase runs a well-oiled machine and things run like clockwork. I was picked up shortly after my arrival on the first night to arrange gear from the quality supply that Jase has amassed. Boots were expertly fitted by his team as well as skis and poles sorted. We were up early the next morning and I was paired with a snowboarder of similar ability for the day to assess where our skill level. My guide for the day determined that my skill was enough to ride powder the following day so we went and changed out my skis that evening. Day 2 I was in the same group but we went out with a different guide in search of powder at Shiga Kogen. He threw us straight in the deep end and by the third run of the day we were skiing tree runs through untouched powder. Throughout the following days I was lucky to be solo with a guide one day, have a few easier days to let the legs recover and then on the final day was in a larger group with some more advanced skiers. It was by far my favourite day of the tour as we skied from one end of Shiga Kogen to the other and back, finding powder at every opportunity with Jase as our guide. There were times I underestimated my ability but he assured me that he wouldn't suggest I ski anything that I wasn't capable of (and he was ultimately right). I was challenged, in the best possible way and I finished the tour with a full cup and so grateful for the week with Jase and the team. Jase is so passionate about what he does and it shows. He loves to show people the paradise he has discovered at Shiga Kogen and surrounds. Across 6 days on the mountain, we were able to find powder despite there not being snowfall every night. The resort we visited is relatively untouched by foreigners which meant that across the week, we didn't wait longer than 10 minutes in a lift queue - and that was their busiest time of the year (New Years) . My skiing improved a lot over the week as well. Each guide was able to provide a different perspective or insight that helped to improve my technique. I would without a doubt recommend this tour to anybody wanting to ski (or snowboard) powder in Japan. I cannot thank Jase and the team enough for the experience and look forward to booking another trip with them soon.
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This is a fantastic trip and would thoroughly recommend.

I was guided by Jase, Harry, and Dan over a 6 night trip and they were all amazing. Their knowledge of the mountains is unreal and they can take you through some really interesting terrain and fresh powder runs. Jase made sure the logistics were worked out for us - all we had to do was turn up and everything was sorted out. Shiga Kogen was such a cool mountain to visit with very few foreigners and no queues.

I was stoked with how Jase and the team took us off piste a lot for fresh tracks and tree runs, but it also felt safe. They take safety pretty seriously and provide you with the right gear (e.g personal locator beacon, probe, spade). Overall my improvement was massive and really appreciate how well I was looked after.

I’m sure I’ll be back at some point in the future!
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This is a fantastic trip and would thoroughly recommend.

I was guided by Jase, Harry, and Dan over a 6 night trip and they were all amazing. Their knowledge of the mountains is unreal and they can take you through some really interesting terrain and fresh powder runs. Jase made sure the logistics were worked out for us - all we had to do was turn up and everything was sorted out. Shiga Kogen was such a cool mountain to visit with very few foreigners and no queues.

I was stoked with how Jase and the team took us off piste a lot for fresh tracks and tree runs, but it also felt safe. They take safety pretty seriously and provide you with the right gear (e.g personal locator beacon, probe, spade). Overall my improvement was massive and really appreciate how well I was looked after.

I’m sure I’ll be back at some point in the future!
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If like me, you’ve spent years skiing at crowded resorts with limited runs and come to think of ‘powder’ as a mystical concept reserved for ‘gods’ and ‘fairy tales’ then read on, if not, then read on.
We were a group of 8 skiers of mixed abilities (intermediate through advanced) who had a fantastic time. For me it was a triple AAA experience. What resonated most was not having to do any ‘thinking’ or ‘planning.’ Jase had everything sorted from dawn to dusk to optimize our skiing experience. We just needed to turn up on time for the morning shuttle. From there Jase and the team took care of everything - determining which ski fields, which runs, which cafes and when to call it a day. The guides kept in contact via walkie talkies calling out the best slopes allowing groups to move around the mountain to optimize the skiing.
The gear was top notch. Jase and the team took time to kit us out properly, answer questions, and explain how to carry the skis etc. We were lucky to be fitted with brand new powder skis – that never happened before!!
The guides were an absolute highlight. Super friendly, unreasonably patient, and able tutors. Whether you are after some ‘basic tips’ or a detailed ‘how to’ lecture grounded in textbook theory the guides will oblige. While I had no favorites, Naru deserves special mention. An unassuming local Japanese man of modest stature, he exuded rare mana and gravitas. With years of back country experience and deep-set eyes of penetrating wisdom he’s a bloke I’d like at my back if something ever went wrong! The group concept was very flexible. Depending on the day, ability, and conditions it was easy to move between groups whilst also keeping with my son, which was important. Jase rotated the guides around too meaning we got to ski with a different guide each day adding to the experience.
I like food a lot and a lot of it. The on-field restaurants were superb with a ton of well-priced delicious options to choose from– they left the staple NZ Ski field ‘stale pie and soggy chip’ for dead. Jase helped us with some excellent restaurant recommendations in the evening. The Sushi-Train was a blast, and the 2 x in-house dinners were quite an event offering a banquet of traditional Japanese cuisine.
Another positive was the injection of Japanese culture. The only other time I’d skied Japan was at Niseko. Whilst the skiing was great, from a cultural perspective I might as well have been in downtown Melbourne. This time round Jason peppered the tour with narrative, a Karate & Taiko show, Magic & Geisha performances, traditional music, lion dancing, temples, shrines, forest walks etc. Do as little or as much of it as you like but be sure to at least soothe your muscles with a daily dose of hydrotherapy in the traditional Japanese ‘Onsen’!
As for Jase. Well, he’s quite the character. I think he starts every day with at least 5 cups of dark roasted coffee and a happy pill. I’ve never met anyone with quite the energy, exuberance, and enthusiasm as Jason. He’s well planned, organized, attentive to the group’s needs and adds real personality to the tour. A lot of fun to be around.
As for that elusive concept known as ‘Powder’? Well, I’m pleased to say the weather gods obliged and Jason’s team found plenty for us. It was weird at first, but Jason’s simple directive ‘attack it Campbell like you own it’ had me growing in powder confidence in no time.
Go ahead and book a tour with ‘Japan Powder Culture Tours’- There’s zero chance you’ll regret it.
Enjoy - Campbell
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What an amazing family trip!

As a family of four with two teenage boys (aged 15 and 13), we found the whole experience with JPCT truly fabulous. JPCT certainly delivered a safe and fun environment and we all gained personal growth in our skiing ability during the 5 days. All the details are taken care of by Jase and his team of guides, including the search for the best daily snow and conditions.

All you have to do is make sure you are on the bus in the morning (don’t be late, the bus always arrives on time and Jase makes no apologies for that) and the rest is taken care of by JPCT. Even your skies are taken up the mountain for you and at the end of the day, the santa sack of snow boots arrives like magic 😊

We enjoyed meeting and skiing with other people of a similar ability in our group from all around the world.

Jase and his crew pride themselves on their 3 pillars (Safety, Fun and Improvement) and that is always considered. The guides were friendly and interactive with our teenage boys and they have you skiing the right terrain to improve and be challenged without the feeling of ever being in danger or out of control.

When fatigue set in later in the day for the oldies (aka Mum and Dad), our boys were able to keep skiing with the group, with us knowing they were in safe hands with the guides.
Special mention to Oscar, Gus and Harry for delivering some outstanding days of skiing. They also knew the yummiest spots to stop for lunch.

Jase has an incredible sense of humour and provided us with many laughs. He reminded us daily, to stop and smell the roses. He is also very respectful of the Japanese people and their environment and always remained professional and across the tour in detail. He goes to a lot of effort to make sure everyone has a great experience (and has an endless list of great places to eat on the nights we were not eating in).

The trip is busy, so be prepared for skiing all day and cultural activities all night. Rest assured you will sleep well each night but highly recommend fitting in an onsen each evening, to reinvigorate those tired muscles (there aren't any lift lines where Jase takes you, so no time to recover whilst on the slops).

It was a real escape from our busy lives back home, but at the same time gave us an active holiday with memories and stories to share at the dinner table for years to come.
Thank you, Jase and the team at JCPT for giving us an unforgettable ski holiday experience. Can't recommend you guys enough.
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This was an amazing trip with a great mixture of skiing and cultural activities. Jase and the guides were knowledgeable of the various skiing resorts and knew the best places to get powder. Transport up the mountain was easy and stress-free. Jase also knew all the best spots to get food and would kindly drop us at places for dinner. All the people on the trip were friendly and approachable which made the trip much more enjoyable as a solo traveller. Couldn’t recommend this trip enough and will definitely be coming back!
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This tour ı really so enjoyed there was all culture and snowboarding all all guide also kindly and helpful they tried all best for us ı would like join again🙏🙏
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Well, frankly I don’t want to review as it may create more awareness of Jase’s powder and culture tour - which is an apt description of the experience. His guides are world class each with awesome attitude (and skills) and will help develop your talents if that is what you want.

The tour delivers as much skiing and culture as you want, if you have the stamina. I found myself recovering in Sauna and Onsen rather than kicking on with cultural experiences post skiing on some days.

I was there in early Jan ‘24, the god of snow Okami (as I learned on tour) didn’t deliver as we hoped, but we still managed to find powder and otherwise awesome skiing everyday - going to different resorts in search of best conditions is a plus.

In my week there were learners, intermediates, advanced and expert groupings, with riders (yes snowboarders are accommodated..) moving across guides or even having 1:1 sessions to develop to join other groups.

As with me, I was on my own, like many others, but there were couples and families on tour.

I am going back, I didn’t mention some of the temples and shrines that you visit coming back from given resorts, a real plus, you would otherwise not experience this.

Thanks Jase and awesome guides.
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I already booked my next trip with Jase and his crew. It will be my 4th and surely not my last.
For me what makes Japan Power and Culture Tour is obviously the ski experience. Skiers and boarders are placed in groups according to skills, and each group led by expert guides with deep experience on where to find the best snow on that day. This brings me to ski areas with snow quality and with challenges tailored to my ability. Each day brings a new experience and with the reassurance of skiing with a guide.
But the social bonding is also unique – with different cultural programs every evening under the guidance of Jase.
Overall JPCT is such a good experience not to be missed whether expert or beginner!
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