About Powder Recon
About Powder Recon Japan
At Powder Recon Japan, we think that travel should be an adventure. Specializing in places a little off the beaten track, we take our guests into the heart of Japan, where tourism is as rare as a queue for the lifts. The way we see it, you can ski Niseko with the crowds in a resort that has arguably lost its traditional charm, or you can choose to experience the real Japan...
Through years of experience, we believe the ski resorts offered through our packages and tours deliver a unique riding experience with far fewer crowds, less westernized influences and more untracked powder. The village where we are based and the day trips we offer are set up to instill our guests with a rich sense of Japanese culture. Season on season, our previous clients come back again and again, and we think we know why…
History & Expertise
Powder Recon has been operating out of Myoko Kogen since 2006. The company was established by a group of friends who wanted to share their passion of the Japanese culture and incredible snow conditions that consistently fall in the Niigata prefecture.
Founder and head guide, Bryce, began his time in Japan as a kindergarten teacher in Niigata City, after years of snowboard instructing in Lake Tahoe. On days off from teaching, he would head to the mountains, exploring the multitude of ski resorts within Honshu and beyond. Over the past 15 years, Bryce has ridden in excess of 200 Japanese resorts areas, with a focus on getting the most out of resorts’ sidecountry and backcountry. Nine years on, the knowledge and work ethic Bryce has imparted to his guides has developed Powder Recon into arguably the most reputable powder enthusiast company in the area.
Our aim at Powder Recon is to provide our guests with the ultimate riding experience by tapping in to the combined local knowledge and expertise of our highly skilled guides.
Flexibility
Powder Recon packages and tours cater to all abilities and group combinations. So whether you’re a beginner or an aspiring pro, a snowboarder or skier, travelling with your partner, friends or family, Powder Recon can cater to your needs. Be it a weekend, a week or an entire month that you’re looking to book with us, our staff will go above and beyond to secure your preferred accommodation, arrange lift passes and of course, guide you on the mountain.
Exclusive Services
- Specialised boutique services: Powder Recon is a small company by design, accepting much smaller numbers of guests than other companies in the industry. We do not cater 'en-masse', as we prefer to deliver unique holiday packages to the individual/group. As such, we can provide tailored packages for your group incorporating guiding, rentals or even assistance in organising local cultural experiences.
- Complimentary guiding services are offered each weekday morning at alternating mountains. Guiding begins at first lifts and runs until midday, allowing you and your travel party free time to explore your favourite lines in the afternoon. This service is included in your package and is designed to get you and your group to the most suitable resort/terrain for your ability, both on and off-piste. Our staff members are well known on each mountain we visit and for this reason, we are often granted extra riding privileges by ski patrol to take our guests to parts of the mountain where other skiers/snowboarders can’t. A 1:6 guide/guest ratio is in place to ensure that everyone gets the most out of this exclusive service.
- Complimentary 4WD transportation each weekday: While it is possible to access a few mountains via local shuttle service from the main village, Powder Recon’s vans get you there and to 6 other mountains on offer with minimal fuss and maximum convenience. Door to door service, we aim to make it to each mountain in time for first lifts, every time.
- Rental service: Designed with convenience in mind and to optimize your experience in super-fine, deep powder, our ever expanding rental range is of the highest quality. Along with the best rates in the village and our rental tech gurus Hugo and Elke on hand to ensure you’re fitted to the very best ski/board for your ability and intentions, you can't go wrong when hiring through Powder Recon.
Personalised Service
Travelling in Japan can be a little overwhelming at times, even if you’ve done it before! There is not a lot of English spoken (especially in the areas that we specialize in) and as such, navigating from one point to the next can be a challenge. Two weeks prior to your arrival in Japan, we will email you with our ‘essential information pack’, outlining absolutely everything you need to know about getting to Myoko Kogen in style and comfort. The Essential Information Pack covers topics like;
- How to send your ski/board bags to Myoko via courier at the airport.
- Where to buy your JR East 5 Day flexi pass from – complete with diagrams!
- Detailed maps of Tokyo for those who are staying in the city prior to heading into the mountains
- Current train timetables (both metro and shinkansen)...
- And more
The reason that Powder Recon can provide such services is because we are armed with seasons of experience as well as staff who are fluent in Japanese. Our guests have access to 24hr in village/on tour support, which guests can utilize at any time to make reservations at local restaurants, organize to courier bags back to the airport or assist should there be any medical issues.
So let us show you what skiing and snowboarding in Japan is REALLY about – incredibly fine powder, a rich and vibrant culture steeped in history that provides an experience unique to anywhere else in the world – and all without the stress that comes along with planning an overseas holiday.
