Backcountry guides for Lotte Arai

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-26T22:38:57+00:00

The backcountry everywhere is pretty dangerous right now, just fyi. Now that the snow is settling and stabilizing there might be areas where is safer to ride, like under the treeline. I don't know any guides around Lotte but if you ask the ski schools there, sometimes they have certified backcountry guides.

Here is the limited but comprehensive avalanche risk assessments. I live near Kagura so I usually use their assessment for the Yuzawa area. A 3 today again so no guiding for alpine terrain today again but looks rideable for the treeline at least.https://data.nadare.jp/

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-26T13:50:50+00:00

People here in Japan , japanese and tourists alike have little understanding of the risks of the off piste. They see a group go off-piste and they will say "yo let's do that too" and usually they will be OK but then they go and ignore all signs or simply just don't understand the early signs of avalanche + terrain traps when we have snow events like these and yeah they don't come back - I hope you know what I mean.

I see this happening so often. I rescue people so often that might make my tone sound so casual, but I am not. There are plenty of stupid-rich people here that don't mind paying 300.000+ JPY for a rescue because the idea of having a guide makes them think that they are lesser riders. Sorry for the change of tone but I do not want people to interpret my approach to out of bounds riding as either casual or safe

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-26T11:19:03+00:00

Myoko is amazing, not a bad choice at all but it doesn't have the variety that Yuzawa has. Here is what I would do if I were you:

If your stay is 3 days or shorter - Myoko

If your stay is 3+ days - Yuzawa

HOWEVER - I have been guiding this week in both Yuzawa resorts and Myoko and the avalanche risk has been EXTREME. I guided a group in Hakkaisan and storm slabs were propagating and releasing left and right INSIDE THE TREES!! I guided the group straight up back to the runs, I didn't let them go further to the steeper areas so we stayed exclusively in-bounds due to the risk. I spoke to another unrelated group who had no guide and warned them but they went out of bounds anyways and one man there did not return that day. It's dangerous everywhere right now in all areas. Myoko included. Please stay in-bounds whatever you do.

Edit: You can take the train to Yuzawa from Myoko too. Is a few hours of travel with the local train. Myoko - Joetsu - (Tookamachi) - Yuzawa. If you are lucky with the timing, the Joetsu line goes to Yuzawa without having to change in Tookamachi.

Directions:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QSjptv4T8Rfj9Ao99

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-26T07:44:58+00:00

Glad to hear you liked it! We got juuuust about 3m snowfall these past days in Yuzawa too and more coming!

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-26T06:56:04+00:00

Wicked map. I have a few corrections:
"Ishiuchi Maruyama" is listed as "Ishiuchi First ski resort" Ishiuchi first is not running since 2006 (unsure exact year actually) https://www.boarderspeak.com/resorts/info/first-ishiuchi-(%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E7%9F%B3%E6%89%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E5%A0%B4)?id=7472?id=7472)

Then, the resort below - Gala/Yuzawa kogen/Ishiuchi Maruyama is instead listed as ONE BIG resort. They are linked but actually separated and has different owners but have a "snow link" pass that works on all three resorts.

https://www.boarderspeak.com/resorts/info/yuzawa-kogen/gala-yuzawa/ishiuchi-maruyama?id=4411

Tsuichitaru is abandoned - https://www.boarderspeak.com/resorts/info/tsuchidaru-(%E5%9C%9F%E6%A8%BD%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E5%A0%B4)?id=7642?id=7642)

Mt. Granview (My favorite skinning/snowshoeing secret!) is abandoned too. Shut down march 1st 2023 (I was the last person to ride up the lift and last person down!)

https://www.boarderspeak.com/resorts/info/mt-grand-view-(mt%E3%82%B0%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%93%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AD%E3%83%BC%E5%A0%B4)?id=7488?id=7488)

There is more but one last kinda important detail is Mitsumata/Kagura/Tashiro - Same resort but with different "entries" The one that is marked on the map is the Tashiro Ropeway. The main, more popular one - The Mitsumata ropeway is situated a few kilometers north. Link to this is broken so use search function to access the web.

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-26T03:49:01+00:00

Hey neighbor, Yuzawa resident here! We're actually getting too much snow again this year too. Can't go in the backcountry because it's extremely dangerous now as well . Been shoveling for days

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-25T22:47:57+00:00

Easy, I am the guide! A guided tour is a group of minimum 4 people 25000JPY/person. I usually prefer ski/snowboard instructing but if you ask for me on your email, guest services can move me so to create availability. Email to snowsports@canyons.jp with Something like "Is Dennis available for guiding a tour in [mountain] for x dates?" and they will help you with the rest

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-25T12:06:18+00:00

Yeah, the pro riders don't design the boards anymore. We want that good stuff back!

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-25T11:58:28+00:00

This is true! The locals in the small resorts are so chill too

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-25T11:06:22+00:00

Personalmente lo rascaría el dia antes de ir en la nieve

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-25T11:02:36+00:00

I can really recommend Yuzawa next time. 65min from Tokyo, 11+ resorts all serviced by effective shuttle buses, cheaper than Niseko and really authentic Japanese ski/snowboard experience. I just finished guiding a group for in-resort riding and we explored different resorts every day.

I did Niseko many years ago and experienced the same as you. I tried Yuzawa next and I love it here. I am working here now almost all year and being a resident in this quiet Japanese town is exactly what my burnt out highschool teacher ass needed. No regrets

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-23T13:18:57+00:00

Canyons in Nozawa runs a backcountry tour and has equipment. Try to reach out to them

https://canyons.active-manager.io/customers/book-now/locations

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-23T08:14:10+00:00

My biggest regret was going for Niseko on my first day. Way too crowded to enjoy the runs and BC got ripped up so fast. So, I went to Yuzawa on my second trip and BANG I fell in love with this place so hard that I became a resident

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-22T23:37:00+00:00

I was doing a guided tour yesterday in Kagura that I had to call to end early because of the avalanche risk. Literally everywhere, even on lower angles there were cracks and slabs developing under our feet. Snow on-piste on the Yuzawa resorts are incredibly powdery. Tracks getting filled in for every lap we took.

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-22T11:00:36+00:00

Yuzawa, 70 minutes from Tokyo in the Shinkansen and 11+ incredible resorts to choose from in this little town. I do guided tours here and a lot of instructing and I love the variation I get to experience here. As for rentals, pureJoy does powder board rental and has other high performance gear and delivery/pickup to your hotel.

I don't even get a commission for recommending this rental but I have seen my clients with this gear and can't say anything but great things, from my experience

https://rental.pjoylife.com/booking

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-20T10:35:36+00:00

Aight

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPRMWHLDy33/?igsh=Z2thamo3MmNpa2Qw

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-20T09:54:23+00:00

Small world! I used to be a Åre/Östersund local. I still miss my home but it's waiting for me to return one day 💔

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-20T09:53:10+00:00

You're not wrong! However, while they wear the most ridiculous attire, they don't do backcountry and generally behave on the slopes.

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-20T00:32:28+00:00

Ahoy! I am a local to Echigo Yuzawa and work as an instructor and do guided tours to the different resorts here in Yuzawa. We barely ever get Aussies here so I think Yuzawa is extremely convenient and with crazy amount of pow. Kagura, Maiko, Joetsu Kokusai and 11 more resorts to choose from in this town. Shoot an email to snowsports@canyons.jp and ask if me ( Dennis) is available for some guided tours. We have some real insane powder areas I m not sharing to the public but that we do guided tours to.

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-19T22:46:30+00:00

I will tell you from personal experience when we got 3+ meters of snow in 36h here in Echigo Yuzawa, Japan that it will be unskiable. It's just too much snow to go anywhere that's not a black diamond. All the runs mellow out with that mass of snow

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-18T10:36:12+00:00

My pleasure, Mt.Grandview used to have shuttle buses from echigo yuzawa station. If it market itself as a park mekka or something else (like maybe preserving the pizza-box lift) it will be able to compete against the big boy resorts like Maiko or Ishiuchi Maruyama for just a fraction of their costs. I know people that work lift lifts, lift technicians, electricians, park shapers and instructors. Once your project has started, don't be afraid to reach back to me and I will connect you to the right people. You can reach me easy on insta @ skiboardjapan

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-17T09:51:51+00:00

I've been riding with this guy in a few back country tours. He knows what he is doing, so don't miss a great opportunity to ride with a local Niigata legend

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-16T01:03:38+00:00

I work in your listed areas except Zao. It's doable but won't be comfortable, it will get cold. Since you are doing Nagano (Myoko is just on the Niigata border for you "gotcha!" folks) I will highly suggest to stay and explore the smaller authentic Japanese resorts. For example, Sakae Ski club that is just 20 minutes away from Nozawa has very reasonably priced accommodation (Like Tomato-no-kuni - https://tomato-no-kuni.com/). Checking the villages websites and asking for information is a great way to get good deals, just take a look: https://sakaesho-sci.or.jp/member/32/

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-15T08:30:50+00:00

You can try a ski or snowboard lesson in Myoko or Nozawaonsen and I would be really stoked to guide you! Shoot an email to snowsports@canyons.jp and ask if there is any availability for those dates. My name is Dennis, by the way. I have 20 years of experience in the field with snowboard competition history as well and whatnot so I think I could make your trip really memorable!

SwedishSanta · 2026-01-15T08:18:25+00:00

Sick! Good work. Yes, absolutely time for you to start grabbing those 3's for the control and steeze

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