We Hunt Powder
Sidecountry most days • Backcountry when it pays • Loaded out for whatever the snow asks for
About Our Furano Private Guide Service
Based in Furano, Hokkaido, we offer a boutique private guiding service for those seeking the legendary powder of the Hokkaido Powder Belt. Our locally-resident guides know the terrain, micro-climates and snowpack intimately and prioritize safety while chasing the deepest powder snow daily, staying away from and ahead of crowds. We are respectful of all people, riding styles, cultures, and laws. We curate your trip and each day we optimize and adapt. Shimogoryo Base is a cut above.
The Terrain We Hunt In
These are not separate tours to choose between. They are the modes we move through as the day and the conditions dictate.
- Sidecountry — easy gateway laps just beyond the ropes, ideal for many laps and maximum vert in a day. Where we spend most of our time, and often the best option when it's snowing.
- Lift-accessed backcountry — quicker access to untracked powder using resort lifts, then skinning into exclusive terrain away from crowds. Ingress can be easy, but the volcanic topography can be complex to navigate and egress.
- Full-hike backcountry — earn-your-turns touring deep into the Hokkaido Powder Belt for the most remote, untracked powder snow. The Daisetsuzan and Furano ranges, as well as smaller powder holes here and there.
Every day out is private, exclusive and tailor-made to your group's ability, with decisions driven by local knowledge of micro-climates, snowpack, terrain and daily safety conditions.
Where We Guide in Hokkaido
Our Furano-centered operation reaches across Central Hokkaido and the the "Powder Belt". Depending on conditions and your goals, we guide in and around Furano, the Daisetsuzan range including Furanodake, Tokachidake, and Asahidake. Resort, sidecountry and backcountry at and around Tomamu, Kamui and smaller areas like Pippu — chasing the best powder snow and terrain that this amazing region features each day.
Our Guiding Tenets, What Sets Us Apart
- Safety First! We are parents, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. We are certified first responders, ride within our ability, accept circumstances beyond our control, and carry approriate emergency and communications kit. Enough said.
- Honesty About Experience and Ability We will meet you and your group at your level, within certain limits. We are not ski instructors, though we are happy to refer your kids or others in your group to instructors we trust and transport you all to make the vacation awesome for all ages and abilities. Check your ability here
- Partying is Third We are strictly anti-drug, as is Japan. Each morning we ask that you be physically and mentally ready.
- Customizations Welcome Not a one-size-fits-all approach to your trip or the price. We'll help you curate your perfect tailor-made Hokkaido ski experience including equipment rental, transportation, food (restrictive dietary needs), accommodation (often hard to find), and special needs.
- Stuff Happens Don't pay for missed days due to injuries or dangerous weather/snow conditions.
- Bilingual & Culturally Sensitive We bridge Japanese and Western ski cultures as smoothly as possible and have fun doing it.
- Legitimacy Licensed, legal business avoiding grey zones.
- Your Experience as a Result You will have an amazing time. The snow is deep here, but so is your entire experience. Check out our testimonials.
Ready for your Hokkaido Ski Adventure? Fill out our secure form and we'll be in touch.
Contact Shimogoryo Base GK, Furano, Hokkaido, Japan
For ski guiding inquiries, use our contact form or email us directly at info@shimogoryobase.com if you experience issues with the form.
Guide-to-Guide Web Services
Shimogoryo Base is not just a guiding company — we are a web and IT services company for other guides, and small businesses. The founder of Shimogoryo Base GK is an internationally known multidomain technologist with a quarter century of experience building. We build websites, single-page applications, mobile applications, automations, and full-stack custom projects that incorporate your custom business logic, cost less than canned services, and we hand you the keys to your own IP. We also perform market research and generate reports. We build private AI-native infrastructure including custom private data layers. Save money and time and own your data and IP with software built by guides, for guides.