Day tours
La Colina Retreat is at one of the snowiest places in Japan and provides access to an amazing array of resorts to get you to the pow you’re after, whatever the weather dishes out. We adapt to your skill level and can offer resort guiding, lift access freeride touring, and full touring/split boarding backcountry tours. There are also options for CAT skiing.
Season 2024/2025
Welcome to Powder Snow Country
It’s no longer a secret. Every year more and more snow aficionados come to Japan in winter to experience powder snow (“japow”), and with consistent record snowfalls in Madarao and the Myoko area, you sure are in the perfect mountain base.
Ski resorts
For those skiers/snowboarders who want to get the best out of a one-day visit to a ski resort and learn firsthand the best possible terrain, our guides will recommend and guide you in any of the 20 ski resorts nearby.
Freeride
Madarao and Myoko areas arguably offer the best lift-accessed powder freeriding in Japan, and our local guides are willing to share their secret powder stashes.
Backcountry
Plenty of terrain to escape the masses and enjoy fresh powder lines awaits. Whether your motivation is to do backcountry skiing chasing pow lines, or ski mountaineering in more exposed terrain, the possibilities are endless.
*Prices for guests staying at La Colina Retreat. Non-guests pay a 20% extra on all snow activities.
Contact us for multi-day trip discounts.
Ski Resorts Touring
The first time you visit a ski resort may be a little intimidating, particularly when on top of not knowing the terrain/snow conditions, you are visiting a foreign country. We will tailor the ski resort tour to your needs. Whether you want just to know the best slopes, where to eat the most delicious katsukare (pork cutlet curry), or assistance on your first Japow experience, this package will get your needs covered.
| Ability level | From beginner to advanced skiers, we will adapt the tour to your ski level |
| Area | Madarao-Tangram, Myoko Area (Suginohara, Akakura, Alpen Blick), Nozawa onsen, Shigakogen, Lotte Arai, Seki Onsen, Charmant Hiuchi, Yamaboku, Kurohime, Togakushi, etc |
| Time | Half day: 3h Full day: 6h + 1h lunch break |
| Number of people | From 1 to 8 people per guide |
| Included | Guide fee and ski/snowboard rental discount at La Colina Gear |
| Details | It doesn’t include transfers*, lift tickets, insurance, lunch, or snacks. |
| PRICE | |
| Madarao-Tangram | Half day -> ¥20,000 Full day -> ¥35,000 |
| Other ski resorts | Full day -> ¥45,000 |
Freeride
La Colina Retreat is between Myoko and Nozawa onsen, right in the middle of the powder belt of Japan. This is an area that receives some of Japan’s heaviest snowfalls, usually surpassing Hokkaido snow level by meters. We can help you to make the best of your trip to the region, guiding you through the legendary Seki Onsen off-piste terrain, Lotte Arai’s Freeride World Tour Qualifier courses, Nozawa Onsen lift-accessed couloirs, or the less-known Charmant Hiuchi off-piste slopes.
With plenty of ungroomed tree runs and permitted off-piste skiing, Madarao-Tangram is an anomaly within the usual restrictive Japanese ski resorts. Only Niseko’s and Hakuba Cortina rival this permisiveness, which makes the less crowded Madarao Tangram the place to find untracked slopes. The best thing is that you can comfortably reach different variants from out-the-resort areas to secured routes within the resort, or bootpack to the top of Mt. Madarao to access even better tree runs. Like in hardly any other ski area, the variety makes sure that all skiers/snowboarders regardless of their skills can find their sweet spot when riding.
| Ability level | From intermediate to advanced skiers, we will adapt the tour to your ski level. * Avy kit required (beacon, shovel, transceiver) |
| Area | Madarao-Tangram, Myoko Area (Suginohara, Akakura, Alpen Blick), Nozawa onsen, Shigakogen, Lotte Arai, Seki Onsen, Charmant Hiuchi, Yamaboku, Kurohime, Togakushi, etc |
| Time | Half day: 3h Full day: 6h + 1h lunch break |
| Number of people | From 1 to 6 people per guide |
| Included | Guide fee, conditions briefing, gear checking, ski/snowboard/avy kit rental discount at La Colina Gear |
| Details | It doesn’t include transfers*, lift tickets, insurance, lunch, or snacks. |
| PRICE | |
| Madarao-Tangram | Half day -> ¥25,000 Full day -> ¥50,000 |
| Other ski resorts | Full day -> ¥60,000 |
Freeride routes examples:
Backcountry adventures
For people who are venturing into the backcountry for the first time, or for experienced backcountry skiers who just want to enjoy powder snow, our backcountry tours are perfect.
We offer local backcountry guiding across the Myoko–Togakushi Renzan National Park (Madarao, Myoko, Kurohime, Izuna, Takatsuma, Tenguhara), Hiuchi, Yakeyama, Awatateyama, Shigakogen and North Shiga. No matter the weather or snow conditions, from December to May we have a special place to show you.
Ask us about one of these locations, or simply let us know your objectives (e.g. get to the best powder lines, reach a famous peak, enjoy the best views), fitness, and experience level and we will gladly prepare a customized itinerary at no cost or obligation to you.
Mt. Madarao peak can be reached easily in 20-30min, sometimes even just walking through a snow path. From there, it is possible to continue skinning to Daimyojin-dake and get breathtaking views of Lake Nojiri, visit the ghost ski resort of Madarao Toyoda, or drop to finalize the day at the hot springs of Madaraoyu. For the more adventurous and not afraid of covering more uphill distances, Mt. Hakama and the ghost ski resorts of Myoko Panorama Park or Pine Valley are also good options for a full-day tour.
| Ability level | From intermediate to advanced skiers, we will adapt the tour to your ski level * Required: Avy kit (beacon, shovel, transceiver), touring skis/splitboard, snowshoes and skins. |
| Area | Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park, Hiuchi, Yakeyama, Awatateyama, Shigakogen and North Shiga. |
| Time | Half day: 3h Full day: 6h |
| Number of people | From 1 to 6 people per guide |
| Included | Guide fee, conditions briefing, gear checking, avy kit rental and backcountry gear discount at La Colina Gear – please bring your own touring ski boots. |
| Details | It doesn’t include transfers*, lift tickets, insurance, lunch, or snacks. |
| PRICE | Full day -> Private: ¥40,000 | Group (min 2p): ¥20,000 per person |
| Madarao-Tangram | Half day -> ¥30,000 Full day -> ¥60,000 |
| Other mountains | Full day -> ¥70,000 |
Inquiry Form
Discounted ski lift tickets
-
Product on sale
タングラムスキーサーカス専用リフト券 （１日）Tangram Ski Circus 1 Day Pass¥3,000 – ¥4,000 -
Product on sale
斑尾全山共通リフト券 （１日）Mountain 1 Day Pass¥3,000 – ¥5,500