FREERIDE JAPAN 2027

Planning freeride in Japan? The season for legendary Japow is in full swing in January. That is why our camp for skiers and snowboarders in the Madarao Kogen and Myoko Kogen area on the island of Honshu (3–13 January 2027) guarantees a daily supply of powder and legal riding in the Tree Run forest. It is the perfect moment to catch peak conditions in the Japanese Alps – without the crowds known from Hokkaido. Cost of participation from €2,005.

Info Freeride Japan Madarao & Myoko Japow 2027

7 freeride and slackcountry days | 8 nights | Local Japanese guides + Polish team leader | Onsen baths | Group of 8–14

Dates: 3–13 January 2027
Location: Madarao & Myoko Kogen, Honshu, Japan
Level: 6/10 – freeride for intermediate+ riders
Profile: 100% freeride / slackcountry (lifts + short ascents)
Cost from: €2,005 (Early Bird with the Premium Card)

Cost of participation and terms:
The regular contribution is €2,370. In addition, depending on the registration date and your club status, the following terms apply:

Premium Card holders:
• €2,005 in the Early Bird option (lowest amount – combines the −6% discount for early registration and your permanent −10% club discount). The Early Bird option is valid until 20 October 2026 (i.e. exactly 75 days before the club trip starts), or until cancelled or changed by the Club board.
• €2,133 as the regular contribution (you have a permanent 10% discount on the regular contribution and do not pay the Wild Card).

Wild Card holders:
• Mandatory Wild Card contribution (joining the club on a trial basis) of €95 (i.e. 4% of the regular contribution).
• €2,228 in the Early Bird option (−6% for a quick decision from the regular contribution, valid until 20 October 2026 / 75 days before the club trip).
• €2,370 regular contribution

Payment in two convenient installments:
1/3 of the contribution you pay as a reservation, and the remaining 2/3 only once the minimum group has been fully secured.

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Why is Madarao the best freeride in Japan? (And not Hokkaido)

Because there you do not play roulette with bans or logistical paralysis.

Hokkaido is overrated and overcrowded. Most resorts there ban riding in the forest under the threat of confiscating your lift pass. In addition, during heavy snowfalls local transport and country roads can stand still for days.

Unlike the north, Madarao and Myoko Kogen on the island of Honshu are a completely different story. The region is only 2 hours from Tokyo airport by the super-fast Shinkansen train, so you arrive reliably, quickly and without the risk of getting stuck in the countryside.

Snow, terrain and on-site care

Siberian air currents crossing the Sea of Japan collide with the high mountain ranges of Honshu, dumping gigantic amounts of powder here – so there is often even more of it than on the northern island. Most importantly: Madarao Kogen is the capital of legal freeride in Japan. It was the first resort to officially designate and prepare Tree Run Course zones for riding in deep snow between the trees. The official trail map is available on the Madarao Mountain Resort website.

Are you interested in safe and legal freeride in Japan? Our dates (3–13 January) guarantee a fresh supply of powder and are the ideal moment to catch peak conditions.

The contribution includes 7 days of freeride / slackcountry riding with lifts and local licensed guides, 8 nights (7 in the mountains with breakfasts + 1 in Tokyo), the Shinkansen journey and local transfers. However, flights are not included.

The terrain offers outstanding, fluffy snow, well-designed forest lines and relaxation in traditional onsens after riding. We stay in a comfortable hotel with breakfasts, from where we set out daily for the best spots in the area.

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Camp programme

Riding programme

• 7 days of freeride / slackcountry riding using the lift infrastructure
• 100% legal riding in the Tree Run zones in Madarao and on the snowfalls of Myoko Kogen
• Wide forest clearings, waist-deep powder and natural terrain
• For the more ambitious: trips into slackcountry terrain and technical sections in deep snow
• Care of certified local Japanese guides

Accommodation and transport

• Joint flight from Warsaw on 3 January 2027, return on 13 January 2027
• 8 nights: 7 in the Madarao/Myoko area (with breakfasts) + 1 in central Tokyo
• Rooms for two
• Smooth journey by Shinkansen train from Tokyo to the mountain station and a 2* or 3* hotel
• Evening relaxation in Japanese hot springs (onsen)

Organisational details

The contribution includes

• 8 nights (7 in the mountains with breakfasts + 1 in Tokyo)
• 7 days of care by local freeride guides (Japow Guides)
• Care of a Polish team leader
• Local transfers on site to the ski spots
• Training in moving through the Japanese forest and safety rules

The contribution does not include

• Flights Warsaw – Tokyo – Warsaw
• Ski passes (paid for on site for the given day)
• Other meals (lunches and dinners in local izakaya)
• Ski/snowboard equipment and avalanche ABC
• Insurance for extreme sports (freeride)
• Tips and personal expenses

Note: Professional insurance covering off-piste riding with search and rescue is required (e.g. a Polish “Bezpieczny Powrót” policy, Alpenverein or equivalent) and riding in the forest – approx. €80. Therefore, we verify policies on site.

Safety

• Local Japanese guides (1 per 6 participants)
• Division into smaller groups according to skills
• Care of a Polish team leader
• Mandatory avalanche ABC + the ability to use it
• Avalanche course before the trip recommended
• Avalanche backpack recommended

Visa and documents

Polish citizens do not need a visa because visa-free travel for up to 90 days applies. A valid passport is required.

How to sign up

First, fill in the form and pay the required contributions. New participants first pay the Wild Card (€95) and then the main camp contributions.

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Cancellation terms

1. Cancellation more than 90 days before the start of the camp
   In this case we refund the contributions paid, less the actual administrative costs and commissions (max. 3%).
2. Cancellation between 90 and 45 days before the start of the camp
   In this case we refund 50% of the contributions paid.
3. Cancellation later than 45 days before the start of the camp
   However, the contributions are non-refundable in this case.
4. Failure to pay the Final Contribution
   It is treated as a cancellation, so the rules above apply. In addition, the Wild Card is forfeited.
5. Wild Card
   However, it is not refundable on its own in case of voluntary cancellation. On the other hand, if the camp is cancelled by the Club, it remains valid for 12 months.

FAQ — Frequently asked questions

Registration terms and organisational matters

Can anyone sign up for this camp?

Yes, provided you pay the Wild Card (€95) or hold an active Premium Card, and you have skills in off-piste riding on skis or a snowboard.

How many riding days does the camp include?

It includes 7 full days of freeride and slackcountry riding in Madarao and Myoko Kogen. Departure 3 January from Warsaw, return 13 January.

Who is this trip for?

For intermediate and above (level 6/10). The ability to manoeuvre smoothly in powder and in denser forest (Tree Run) is required.

How much does the camp cost and what does the contribution include?

• Premium Card holders: from €2,005 (Early Bird) to €2,133 (regular contribution).
• Other participants: from €2,228 (Early Bird) to €2,370 (regular contribution) + Wild Card €95.
The contribution covers nights with breakfasts, the Shinkansen journey, guides, the team leader and local transfers.

What does the contribution not include?

The contribution does not cover flights, ski passes, other meals, equipment, avalanche ABC or insurance covering freeride in Japan.

Do I need a visa?

No. A valid passport is enough (visa-free travel for up to 90 days).

What equipment do I need to bring?

Your own skis/powder snowboard and a complete avalanche ABC set (transceiver, probe, shovel) with the skill to use it. An avalanche backpack is recommended.

What about safety?

Safety is provided by local certified guides (1:6), division into smaller groups, a Polish team leader and mandatory ABC with transceiver checks before every outing.

What about meals on site?

Breakfasts are included in the hotel (7 in the mountains + 1 in Tokyo). Lunches and dinners participants organise on their own (local izakaya).

Comparison of camps and costs

How does the Freeride Transfer Club contribution compare with agencies from Poland and abroad?

Organising a trip on your own (for 1–2 people) involves very high costs of cars, fuel, more expensive hotels and hiring a guide (approx. €690 – €910 per day for the group). Such a trip pays off only with a well-matched group of 4–5 people – but if even one person drops out, the costs of the others rise drastically. In addition, commercial foreign and Polish agencies add high margins. Thanks to the non-profit formula our camp is hard to beat:

Cost of one riding day: Freeride Transfer Club vs Alpine ski-touring agency (DACH)
Therefore, we compare the most expensive competing camp with ours. As a result, this is how the amount spent per riding day (7 riding days) translates into value and scope of services:

Why is Madarao Kogen better for legal freeride than the well-known resorts of Hokkaido?

Madarao has officially designated Tree Run zones. Here is a comparison of terrain, amount of snow and costs against the most popular places in Japan:

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