# Japan / Hokkaido Group Trip Brief ## Quick Summary - **Group dates:** Jan 2–9 in Niseko / Hokkaido - **Likely area:** Hirafu / Grand Hirafu, unless we find a better-value hotel with reliable transportation - **Main plan:** Resort days + 3 guided backcountry days - **Possible add-on:** 1 Chisenupuri snowcat day - **Needed soon:** Confirm who is officially in, lodging preference, and guide days - **Pricing note:** USD estimates below are approximate and based on a rough planning exchange rate of **¥162 = $1 USD**. Final costs will change based on the exchange rate and any card/transfer fees. --- ## Overview Starting this group chat so we can begin organizing what is probably our official Japan group trip. The current plan is to go to **Hokkaido / Niseko** in early January for snowboarding, skiing, backcountry touring, and possibly a snowcat day. Right now we are thinking: **Fly out:** January 1 **Arrive in Hokkaido:** January 2 **Group hotel stay:** January 2–9 **Main area:** Niseko / Hirafu area **After Jan 9:** Christian and I may do our own thing and explore more of Japan. --- ## Flights I have a flight watcher set for around the time we want to go to Japan. Right now, **Denver to Hokkaido** is showing around **$1,500**, but prices are expected to drop, so we’ll keep watching. Everyone should probably set a flight watcher from whatever airport you’ll be flying out of. Search around **Jan 1–9**, with the goal of arriving in Hokkaido on **Jan 2**. The airport we’ll likely fly into is **New Chitose Airport / Sapporo area**, then transfer to Niseko. --- ## Where We Should Stay We probably do not have to book lodging immediately, but we should start narrowing down the area. The easiest place to stay seems like **Niseko / Hirafu**, ideally close to **Grand Hirafu / Niseko United**, so we have easier access to: - Resort skiing/snowboarding - Restaurants - Shuttles - Guide pickups/transfers - Gear rentals - Hot springs / onsens The guide recommended these hotels: - **Aya Niseko** - **Setsu Niseko** - **Skye Niseko** - **Ki Niseko** All of those have hot springs, which would be amazing after ski/tour days. We can also look at Airbnb/condo options if they are central enough, but a hotel or condo-hotel near Hirafu may be easiest since we probably do not want to rely on a rental car. --- ## Lodging / Transportation Notes ### Hirafu / Grand Hirafu Area This still seems like the easiest area for the group if we want the most convenient access to restaurants, resort days, shuttles, and general Niseko activity. ### One Niseko Resort Towers One Niseko Resort Towers may be worth considering if the price is much better or if we want more of an onsen/hotel feel. The main transportation note is that it seems more convenient for **Moiwa** and **Annupuri** than for Hirafu / Grand Hirafu. From the hotel website, transportation appears to include: - Complimentary shuttle between **Kutchan Station** and the hotel - Complimentary shuttle to **Moiwa**, around 5 minutes - Complimentary shuttle to **Annupuri**, around 10 minutes The thing to double-check before booking is transportation to **Hirafu / Grand Hirafu**, since that seems to be farther away and may require a taxi, private transfer, or other shuttle option. My current thought: **One Niseko could be good value, but Hirafu / Grand Hirafu is probably easier for the group.** --- ## Backcountry Guide Details The guide has availability for a **private backcountry tour any day between Jan 2–9**. They are focusing on **backcountry touring only**, not lift-assisted tours, because the resorts have been crowded. That means we should expect to hike/tour each day. Touring gear is available to rent from **Niseko Basecamp**, and guests joining the guide’s tours get a **15% discount**. If resort conditions are exceptionally good, they may be able to switch to a lift-assisted day, but in that case we would need to pay for our own lift tickets and also cover the guides’ lift tickets. --- ## Private Backcountry Tour Pricing **Private Backcountry Tour:** ¥184,000/day **Approx. USD:** about **$1,135/day total** **Includes:** tax, avalanche gear, guide, and transfers **Ski touring equipment required** Pricing is still **TBD based on final group size**. The email says the base private tour is **¥184,000/day for up to 5 people**, but a group of **6–10 may require an additional ¥184,000/day**. If that is the case, the 6–10 person total would be: **6–10 person private tour estimate:** ¥368,000/day **Approx. USD:** about **$2,270/day total** We should confirm the final per-person cost before booking. --- ## Guide Cost Estimate by Group Size These are rough estimates using **¥162 = $1 USD**. ### If the guide cost is ¥184,000/day total | Group Size | Per Person / Day | Approx. USD / Day | Per Person for 3 Days | Approx. USD for 3 Days | |---:|---:|---:|---:|---:| | 4 people | ¥46,000 | ~$284 | ¥138,000 | ~$852 | | 5 people | ¥36,800 | ~$227 | ¥110,400 | ~$681 | ### If the guide cost is ¥368,000/day total for 6–10 people | Group Size | Per Person / Day | Approx. USD / Day | Per Person for 3 Days | Approx. USD for 3 Days | |---:|---:|---:|---:|---:| | 6 people | ¥61,333 | ~$379 | ¥184,000 | ~$1,135 | | 7 people | ¥52,571 | ~$325 | ¥157,714 | ~$974 | | 8 people | ¥46,000 | ~$284 | ¥138,000 | ~$852 | | 9 people | ¥40,889 | ~$252 | ¥122,667 | ~$757 | | 10 people | ¥36,800 | ~$227 | ¥110,400 | ~$681 | My original rough estimate was around **$226.66 per person per day**. That estimate works if the total is split across **5 people at ¥184,000/day** or **10 people at ¥368,000/day**, but it may be higher if we have 6–9 people and the second group/guide cost applies. --- ## Backcountry Tour Area Options The guide said the options for the day include: - **Lower Yotei** - **Shiribetsu** - **Nitonupuri** - **Goshiki** Right now, I’m thinking we maybe do **3 guided days**, likely: 1. **Lower Yotei** 2. **Shiribetsu** 3. **Goshiki** That would give us a good mix of terrain and scenery without making the whole trip only backcountry days. My loose read on the options: - **Shiribetsu** sounds like one of the most fun overall group days. - **Lower Yotei** sounds like a classic Niseko-area backcountry option. - **Goshiki** sounds scenic and cool, especially with the onsen area. - **Nitonupuri** could be a backup or alternate option. --- ## Snowcat Option The guide does **not** run snowmobile tours, but they said we could book **1 day of cat skiing at Chisenupuri**. ### Chisenupuri Snowcats **Price:** ¥175,000/person/day **Approx. USD:** about **$1,080/person/day** **Type:** Unguided cat skiing **Includes:** - Tax - Transfers from Niseko - Lunch **Pickup:** 8:00–8:30 AM **Drop-off:** 4:30–5:00 PM Individual bookings start **July 1**, but if we’re interested, we can give them our preferred date and get added to the waiting list. This could be a fun add-on day if the group wants one bigger, more unique ski day without hiking/touring the whole time. --- ## Possible Trip Structure This is not final, but the trip could look something like: | Date | Plan | |---|---| | **Jan 1** | Fly out | | **Jan 2** | Arrive in Hokkaido, transfer to Niseko, check in | | **Jan 3** | Resort day or warm-up day | | **Jan 4** | Guided backcountry day | | **Jan 5** | Guided backcountry day | | **Jan 6** | Resort, rest, onsen, or explore Niseko | | **Jan 7** | Guided backcountry day | | **Jan 8** | Optional snowcat day, resort day, or free day | | **Jan 9** | Group trip ends / depart Niseko | This gives us a mix of guided backcountry, resort time, and recovery days. --- ## Rough Cost Snapshot These are not final, but this gives everyone a planning range. | Item | Yen | Approx. USD | |---|---:|---:| | Denver to Hokkaido flight watcher | — | ~$1,500 | | Private backcountry guide, base rate | ¥184,000/day total | ~$1,135/day total | | Private backcountry guide, possible 6–10 person rate | ¥368,000/day total | ~$2,270/day total | | 3 guided days, total base rate | ¥552,000 total | ~$3,410 total | | 3 guided days, possible 6–10 person total | ¥1,104,000 total | ~$6,815 total | | Chisenupuri snowcat | ¥175,000/person/day | ~$1,080/person/day | --- ## Decisions We Need to Make Soon 1. Who is officially in? 2. Are we all good with **Jan 2–9** for the Niseko portion? 3. Do we want to book **3 guided backcountry days**? 4. Do we want to add **1 Chisenupuri snowcat day**? 5. Do we want a hotel/condo-hotel near Hirafu, or should we look at Airbnbs? 6. Do we want to consider One Niseko Resort Towers if the price is better, even though Hirafu may be less convenient? 7. Once we know the final group size, we should confirm the exact guide pricing. --- ## Current Leaning My vote right now would be: - Stay in or near **Hirafu / Grand Hirafu** - Do **3 guided backcountry days** - Choose **Lower Yotei, Shiribetsu, and Goshiki** - Consider adding **1 Chisenupuri snowcat day** - Keep some resort/free days so the trip does not feel too exhausting - Keep One Niseko Resort Towers as a backup/value option, but only if transportation still works for the group