Iwanai
Rising above the Sea of Japan, Iwanai offers both stellar views and intense terrain in a private setting with cut trails and spectacular bowls served by at most two snowcats and only a short lift at the bottom serving the general public. Iwanai offers a uniquely private experience with the option to rent out whole cats or the entire resort for special groups and events while joining guided general group tours is open on days when the mountain is not chartered for private use. Lunch in the clubby base lodge comes with a choice of superb sushi from the fishing town visible from the runs as well as curated wagyu burgers among other choices.
GETTING THERE
Iwanai is a 2.5 hr car ride from Chitose, or a 40 minutes from Niseko.
The Resort
Situated adjacent to the Sea of Japan, Iwanai is a local resort that is best known for its cat skiing operation. Iwanai has a variety of terrain from wide open former course runs, old glades and steep bowls. The best is the amazing sunset you will see over the Sea of Japan while making your way down the last run.
accommodation
When skiing Iwanai, we recommend staying at the accommodation options in Niseko.
On mountain
The powder is of course amazing and the best way to access this is the snow cat tour. Each run delivers 450-650m of vertical and depending on the conditions and the skill level of your group, you can get 6-9 runs per day.
