JAPAN FREERIDE PROCAMP 2027

Planning freeride in Japan with pro riders? The season for legendary Japow is in full swing in January. Our Pro Camp Japan in the Madarao Kogen and Myoko Kogen area on the island of Honshu (3–13 January 2027) guarantees a daily supply of powder, legal riding in the Tree Run forest and original technical training in an elite group. Cost of participation from €2,504.

Info Pro Camp Japan Madarao & Myoko Japow 2027

7 days of elite freeride and slackcountry with the Pro Camp trainer | 8 nights (7 with breakfasts + 1 in Tokyo) | Local Japanese guides + Polish pro rider | Onsen baths | Small pro group (6–8)

Dates: 3–13 January 2027
Location: Madarao & Myoko Kogen, Honshu, Japan
Level: Pro / Expert (advanced freeride, fast pace and steep lines)
Profile: 100% freeride / slackcountry with the Pro Camp trainer
Cost from: €2,504 (Early Bird with the Premium Card)

Contribution and participation terms:
The regular contribution is €2,960. In addition, depending on the registration date and your club status, the following terms apply:

Premium Card holders:
• €2,504 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).
• €2,664 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 €118 (i.e. 4% of the regular contribution).
• €2,782 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).
• €2,960 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.

During the camp (3–13 January 2027) you get daily coaching support led directly by the Pro Camp trainer, analysis of your riding technique in deep snow and a selection of the best lines in the region in a small group of 6–8.

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

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Camp programme

Riding programme

• 7 days of intensive freeride / slackcountry riding with the Pro Camp trainer
• Individual tips and technical coaching in demanding Japanese conditions and Tree Run zones
• 100% legal riding in the Tree Run zones in Madarao and on the snowfalls of Myoko Kogen
• Cooperation with licensed Japanese avalanche guides
• Evening sessions in traditional onsens

Accommodation and transport

• Joint flight from Poland 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

Organisational details

The contribution includes

• 8 nights (7 in the mountains with breakfasts + 1 in Tokyo)
• 7 days of professional freeride training and technique correction led directly by the Pro Camp trainer (in a small group of 6–8)
• Care of local Japanese freeride guides (Japow Guides)
• Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to the Madarao/Myoko region and local transfers
• Access to onsens at the accommodation

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

• Training supervision by the Pro Camp trainer and local Japanese guides (small group of 6–8)
• Mandatory avalanche ABC + the ability to use it
• Daily Japanese avalanche briefing and assessment of snow conditions (beware of tree wells)
• Avalanche airbag 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 (€118) 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 (€118) 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, combined with original technical training with the Pro Camp trainer. Departure 3 January from Poland, return 13 January 2027.

Who is this trip for?

For advanced freeriders (Pro / Expert level), looking for dynamic riding, steep lines and technical tree skiing in a group of 6–8 under the eye of the Pro Camp trainer.

What is the contribution and what does it include?

• Premium Card holders: from €2,504 (Early Bird) to €2,664 (regular contribution).
• Other participants: from €2,782 (Early Bird) to €2,960 (regular contribution) + Wild Card €118.
The contribution covers nights with breakfasts, the Shinkansen journey, guide care, onsens and original training with the Pro Camp trainer.

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, a small training group under the supervision of the Pro Camp trainer, daily briefings and mandatory avalanche ABC.

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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