Niigata, Japan Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding Guides – Triforce

Snowtrip Tip 1: Be sure to book with your small group only.

Triforce is content to enter into the sidecountry/backcountry with large groups of 10 or more. We`re not. Why hire a guide to cross tracks and bump into each other all day? It`s something we`ll never understand and it`s something we would like to see shift in guide service ownership. Be sure to secure guiding for your small private group only. Otherwise, your adventure into the untouched powder fields of Hakkaisan or Kagura could turn into a less than exclusive traffic jam off-piste.

Snowtrip Tip 2: So is it worth it? Should I book with Triforce?

As for normal daily group guided terrain, you can visually scope out a lot of the area “officially” open to skiers/boarders above the chair lift on far rider-right of Hakkaisan ski area (above terrain park on ski map). It`s super fun with steeps, gullies, trees and pow everywhere, and can be reached in less than 5 minutes by foot following a short ride down from the main gondola along the upper trail to riders right. The problem is that off-trail riding policies at Hakkaisan are strict. Triforce has a monopoly on terrain and patrols it watchfully. If you`re experienced (and willing to go on stealth missions off-piste risking your lift-pass) you could likely avoid the expenditure. But if you`re an inexperienced or mid-level off-piste pow rider, a booking with Triforce will provide you with the necessary alpine safety experience you`ll need to stay safe. Likewise — and non-negotiable in our view due to extreme danger — if you want to explore the true madness off the top of Mount Hakkai, Triforce is recommended for advanced out-of-bounds assaults in Niigata.

Snowtrip Tip 3: Bring avalanche safety gear or rent it from Triforce.

Triforce has a full supply of backcountry accessories for rent, including their own powder-specific snowboards & splitboards from Voltage Design, but it`s best to bring your own avalanche safety gear. Familiarity with your own  equipment is important no matter where you`re riding, but especially when you`re thrust into a new environment. Although not as menacing at face value as high-alpine glacial ski destinations in Europe or cliff-heavy resorts in North America, don`t think for one second the mountains of Minamiuonuma & Yuzawa are any less dangerous or less magnificent for free riding. Here`s a backcountry skiing & snowboarding safety gear checklist to help give you ideas of what to bring into the wintry high country.

Snowtrip Tip 4: Eat without fear.

Normally, eating at a ski area isn`t too advisable in our opinion. Tons of fried, heavy junk food doesn`t really make us want to charge the mountain (maybe charge the R2-D-poo robotic Japanese toilet). But a lot of Japanese ski areas offer better food experiences than you`ll find in other parts of the world. Lunch is included in your Triforce backcountry tour day, so take advantage. Go for the combo platter or mega chicken sandwich and wash it down with a local Hakkaisan beer from Izumi Brewery.

Snowtrip Tip 5: Bring home a homemade Japow slayer.

Everyone wants to bring home a memorable keepsake that`ll remind them of their epic snow trip to Japan. If you return home with a Voltage Design snowboard or split-board, it`ll be impossible to forget the waist deep, blower days you experienced as you float through freshies on your home mountain.