Backcountry Exploration in Central Hokkaido since 1981

For over 40 years, Alpine Backcountry Guides has been leading skiers into the mountains of Central Hokkaido, home to some of the world's most reliable powder snow.

Combining expert local knowledge, internationally recognised guiding standards, and a passion for exceptional mountain experiences, we create seamless adventures tailored to every guest.

Whether you're chasing deep tree skiing, volcanic alpine terrain, or your first backcountry experience, our team handles every detail—so you can focus on the skiing.

Explore, Ride, Experience Hokkaido

Why Choose Alpine Backcountry Guides?

When choosing a ski guiding company in Japan, it's worth considering not only where you ski, but who is guiding you and how the operation is run behind the scenes.

Alpine Backcountry Guides is a fully licensed Japanese company operating in compliance with Japanese employment, taxation, and business regulations. Every member of our guiding team holds the appropriate legal right to work in Japan, and our company contributes directly to the local communities where we operate through local employment, taxation, and long-term investment in the region.

Our operation is led by IFMGA-certified ski guides and is built around internationally recognised standards for mountain guiding, avalanche forecasting, and risk management. Behind every day in the mountains is a dedicated safety framework that includes daily operational meetings, formal weather and avalanche assessments, terrain management protocols, and ongoing communication between guides and operations staff. This structured approach allows us to make informed decisions and deliver consistently high standards of safety and professionalism throughout the season.

We are highly selective in who joins our team. All guides come from professional mountain backgrounds in ski patrol and mountain guiding. Their existing experience is further supported through extensive internal training focused on local terrain knowledge, operational procedures, guest care, and the unique challenges of guiding in Hokkaido's winter environment. All our guides hold qualifications in professional level avalanche safety and first aid.

While deep powder may be what brings guests to Japan, professional guiding is what allows them to make the most of it. Our commitment to doing things properly, both on and off the snow, ensures that every trip is supported by experienced people, robust systems, and a culture of continuous improvement.

The result is an operation built on professionalism, accountability, and a genuine passion for the mountains. When you ski with Alpine Backcountry Guides, you're choosing a team that invests as heavily in safety, training, and operational excellence as it does in finding great snow.

A word from our founder, John Morrell

I have been lucky to have had a career ski guiding in central Hokkaido since 1984 and have been skiing backcountry and resort here since 1981.

If there is one word that sums up central Hokkaido’s most important feature it is this; consistency. Many places in the world and throughout Japan have great powder snow.  What sets central Hokkaido apart from the pack though, is that the odds here favour deep, light, soft, powder snow. Powder snow is the norm here.

That is why we have skiers coming year after year, certain in the knowledge that their best chance of deep powder is in central Hokkaido. It's coupled with our 40 years of experience and knowledge of putting people onto the world’s best lines, season after season.

Whether you are looking at resort or backcountry or combinations of both, we can advise you or guide you on your adventures. I look forward to you joining us for some great powder skiing and a great cultural experience in central Hokkaido. 

John Morrell
Tomamu