Rhythm Rides FAQ

The big difference between the two is the terrain we will be riding. In-resort guiding will focus on the terrain inside the resort boundaries. This doesn’t mean just the groomers. There are plenty of tree runs to be found inside the resort boundaries.

As soon we step outside the resort boundaries, we will end up in the world of the backcountry. The main difference with backcountry terrain is that the resort does not maintain or control the conditions to mitigate risk to the users (like avalanches.) This is the reason is is highly recommended to always go with a guide who can assess these risks, and choose the safest and most enjoyable terrain for you. This is also the reason why we carry avalanche safety gear when we step outside the resort boundaries.

Guiding inside the resort boundries of Grand Hirafu, Hanaozno, Niskeo Village & Annupuri resort is available. Tours are available as either 6 hours or 4 hours in duration and can includes

• Up to 6 guests
• A qualified guide

Guiding is available in the same four Niskeo United Resort areas & backcountry terrain. Your tour will include

• Up to 5 Guests
• Backcountry safety gear including beacon, shovel, probe 
• A qualified guide

This is our most flexible tour, which opens up a range of possibilities with travel to surrounding resorts & accessible slack-country terrain. 

Along with a flexible location, your tour includes:

• 5 guests included for trips that intended to access the backcountry
• 6 guests included for trips that will stay in the resort
• 7 hours duration including a 1 hour lunch break
• Additional time for travel.
• Free transport  Avalanche safety gear, including beacon, shovel, probe & backpack if you have booked a BC Access tour

Good question! Slackcountry – refers to the terrain which is accessed via a lift however it is out of the resort’s operational boundaries. Typically this means there are no or little avalanche control measures. So it is in actual fact easily accessed Backcountry. 

Backcountry Terrain – This is usually referred to as terrain which is accessed without the use of lifts. This means you will need touring equipment or snowshoes to walk up the mountain and then ski down. There are also no avalanche control measures undertaken, which is why most people choose to hire a qualified Guide when venturing into the wilderness.

• Guiding in the Niseko United areas & accessible terrain for up to 5 guests.
• 3 or 6 hours in duration
• Avalanche safety gear, including beacon, shovel, probe & backpack

This is our most flexible tour, which opens up a range of possibilities with travel to surrounding resorts & accessible slack-country terrain. 

Along with a flexible location your tour includes:

• 5 guests included
• 7 hours duration
• 1 hour additional travel time or onsen time.
• Private Transport for up to 5 guests.
• Avalanche safety gear, including beacon, shovel, probe & backpack

Unless you have booked a backcountry experience, lift passes will be required for your Custom Guided Tours. Most tours will access terrain which is accessible by the resort lifts.

Generally, this will not be a problem. The major concern with mixing a group of skiers/boarders is the ability level of the group. In particular, for snowboarders in slack country terrain, the ability to hold a strong traverse and maintain speed on the flats can be concerning for skiers & if this is not an area of strength then appropriate terrain may need to be chosen which will not put a snowboarder in a tough spot. Please reach out to our Guest Services Team to discuss your group’s suitability for a mixed tour.

Our goal is to provide the best experience in the backcountry. Our experienced guides will be able to show you an amazing experience pretty much every day in the winter of Hokkaido. Occasionally the weather will be too harsh to get out there. On those days we will be work with you to find a new date for your tour.

Our tours are available for private bookings only, however we often find there are other guests also looking for a touring buddy. Get in touch with us about your plans and we will be able to let you know if other riders are looking to share a backcountry experience.

Travel insurance that will cover wintersports activities with a guide. If you plan to go into the backcountry terrain you should check your insurance policy for this type of activity.

In Midwinter, Hokkaido will be in the negative degrees 24 hours of the day. The temperature in town can go down to – 8 degrees and further up the mountain it will be even colder on those days. Carrying layers with you to wear under your jacket is highly recommended.

For our Niseko Guiding days we recommend you to meet us at either Gondola Base in Hirafu or Dot Base. You can choose this option when you are booking with us. For our Day Trip Tours and Backcountry Tours our guide will confirm a pick-up time & will collect your from your accomadation

This is completely up to you . Our Guides can fully customise your tour to include the amount of hiking you would like to do, during your day. They can also adjust the plan over the day depending on your energy levels.

Yes, we highly recommend that you bring or hire Premium Powder Equipment to get the most out of your day.  Powder in Japan is often deeper and drier than anywhere in the world. This is amazing but it can also be challenging. powder-specific equipment has really made leaps and bounds in recent years, & having the right equipment can take you from zero to hero in no time! If you are unsure what you should book, please contact our Guest Services Team.

Yes, our backcountry tours all operate out of the resort. If you are a skier, you will need to hire Touring Equipment, if you are a snowboarder you have an option to rent Snowshoes or a Splitboard.

Yes, at the start of every tour, regardless of your experience your guide will run you through an avalanche safety briefing. This will include

• Beacon functions & basic use
• Probe assembly & basic use
• Rescue basics including (search and receive modes) 
• Beacon function & range test.

It is important to understand when venturing into any backcountry or slack-country terrain that conditions can never be 100% safe. Backcountry touring can be a hazardous activity and while all measures are taken to be informed  & make good decisions accidents & avalanches can still occur. 

With this in mind, we take a safety-first approach & have a number of daily procedures in place to be as informed on conditions & hazards as we can be. This information is then used along with your skill level & goals to form a trip plan which is low risk, but high reward.

Our safety procedures include (but are not limited to)

• Daily review of local official forecasts – Niseko Avalanche Bulletin. We operate within the Niseko Rules, and will not Guide you outside the gates when they are closed.
• Daily review of other global weather forecasting models
• Ongoing assessment and recording of weather, temperature & snow conditions
• Ongoing assessment of local hazards & changes in conditions
• Daily Guide briefings to review all conditions and trip plans & create a hazard assessment rating.
• Actively involved in the local guiding community in which we encourage & receive open communication on conditions.

For our backcountry products we would recommend that you start with an Introduction to Backcountry product providing you are comfortable with the following;

• Experienced & comfortable with powder riding
• Minimum Advanced Rider 
• A reasonable level of fitness to allow walking uphill & riding downhill a minimum of one time.

If you would really like to try touring equipment but are not ready to rely solely on uphill travel, we may be able to customize your experience to involve some lift-accessed backcountry with touring equipment. 

If this sounds more like your experience we would recommend booking a Custom Guided Tour. However please note; prior arrangement with our Guest Services Team would be required.

Niseko Resort Guiding – In-Resort
Can access the terrain which is accessible within the four Niseko United Resorts but does not access the backcountry terrain.

Niseko Resort Guiding – BC Access
Can access the terrain which is accessible within the four Niseko Resorts & its backcountry terrain via the Niseko Gate System are limited to the terrain which is accessible by the Niseko lift system. But don’t worry, there are a lot of options available.

Day Trip Guiding – In-Resort
have the opportunity to visit a variety of resorts in the area. Please speak with our Guest Services Team to find out where your tour could take. The tours will not access any backcountry terrain. Please contact our guest services team to discuss what resorts we could take you too

Day Trip Guiding – BC Access
also have the opportunity to visit other resorts in our area and their accessible backcountry terrain via gate systems. Please contact our guest services team to discuss what resorts we could take you to.

We will provide an avalanche backpack which will include a beacon, shovel, and probe in it.  Along with this, we recommend putting in your backpack.

• Spare goggles- (nothing worse than foggy goggles at the top of a run)
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Water
• Energy bar
• Change of neck warmer & gloves
• Warm layer
• Light hat to hike in.

It is worth noting that guiding can often be hot work! Walking uphill often requires you to take a layer off. This will stop you from overheating & sweating & then later getting cold when your gear is wet. It is also a great idea to bring some extra layers so you can adjust  your layering during the day

For our resort guided tours which stay within the resort boundaries a skill level of 4 – Refining Turns is recommended as this will allow you to ride a variety of terrain on your tour. For any product which accesses the backcountry terrain (Resort Guiding -BC Access or Backcountry Touring) a minimum skill level of level 5 –  Intermediate is required.