Japan: 2021 By RequestsThe JaPOW trip is one of our favorites. Great snow, culture, food, and people. We always have a great group that bonds really nicely. This is a unique opportunity to ski in Japan with a fun group of people and our own ski instructor. That's right, Jon will be offering optional mini-lessons and guiding to help you get the most out of your ski trip! In addition, we have a spectacular place to stay in a central location with a friendly, relaxed, and comfortable atmosphere, delicious food, knowledgeable staff, and modern traditional rooms (think bathrooms with heated toilet seats and bedrooms with tatami mat floors). This trip is SO. MUCH. FUN.
What makes our location so special?
We will take care of transportation needs from the minute you land in Tokyo. Besides the great skiing, we will have an optional rest day to visit the famous Japanese snow monkeys, a local sake and micro beer brewery, sushi lunch, and a tour of the Zenkoji Temple. Our last night and day will be spent in Tokyo exploring this incredible city. Itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Narita Airport (NRT), Tokyo. Travel to our lodge. Day 2 - Day 6 Spend 6 nights in a local mountain village. Ski and ride the best snow in the valley each day at one of the seven ski mountains in the area. Jon will be offering complimentary ski clinics to those interested. Enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine and soak in the outdoor hotsprings (we have a beautiful one at our lodge). If you would like a day of a different kind of adventure, there is a great tour to hike to the snow monkeys, visit the Zenkoji temple, and sample unlimited sake at a brewery. Day 7 Travel by train from lodge to Nagano and high speed bullet Shinkansen train from Nagano to Tokyo. Spend the night out and about in Tokyo. Day 8 Explore Tokyo to find some breakfast, check out of the hotel, and make your way to the airport OR stay longer and enjoy Japan on your own. Includes
• 7 nights in Japan (6 at the mountain Lodge, 1 night stay at a hotel in Tokyo). All accommodations are shared lodging with 2 people per room. (May be possible to arrange triple or quads by special request, depending on availability). • 6 breakfasts at the mountain lodge and 1 Traditional Group dinner • 2 Lunches • 2 days of lift passes • Unlimited Onsen use • Linens, Robes, Slippers, Towels, Toiletries, Hair dryers • Wifi • Airport transfer from Narita International Airport (NRT) to mountain lodge • Transfer by train from lodge to Tokyo • JR East Nagano Region Rail Pass, valid for 5 of 14 days • Private ski bag transport from lodge to airport for one bag per person. This a great way to avoid hauling heavy ski bags around train stations and city streets. Your bags will be waiting near the ticketing and check-in counter for your departure airline. • Travel with trusted guides Sharon Cavanaugh and Jon Lawson. See sidebar. We stay in a little-known, small traditional ski village in Japan not yet over run by tourists. It features numerous Onsens of varying styles and the snow is as plentiful and deep as is found on the North Island. A real undiscovered gem. Over the years we have been going here, it is getting noticeably busier. If you are considering this trip, don't delay - join us in 2020 and sign up now. It may be discovered by the next year! Not Included
• Airfare • Alcohol • Additional Lift tickets beyond the 2 we provide are not included although we do have some access to discounts. • Additional Lodge food and beverages outside of 6 breakfasts and 1 dinner such as specialty espresso coffees, cocktails or wine from the bar, additional dinners, or beers from the ubiquitous vending machines. The lodge will keep a tab for you and accept payment in cash or credit card at check out. • Rental Equipment • Taxi rides around town • Snow Monkey, Temple, Sake, Sushi Tour • Breakfast in Tokyo • Travel insurance is required. (approximately $75) Get a quote through the form on this page. Requires Deposit. Read the details in the Ts&Cs.
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Trip Overview
Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights Dates: 25 Jan - 2 Feb 2020 Group Size: 12 Spots 2 Guides 6:1 Ratio Locations: Niigata, Japan Tokyo, Japan Activities: Skiing & Boarding Guiding & Coaching (by request) Onsens Japanese Food & Drink Snow Monkeys and Temples Sake Brewery Laughing with fun people Details Transportation Transfer from Airport to Lodge Transfer by Bullet train back to Tokyo Ski Bag transfer from lodge to airport Accommodation 6 Nights -Slopeside Lodge (Double Occupancy) 1 Night - Hotel in Tokyo Meals Daily Delicious Breakfast Buffet One Group Dinner Two Lunches Skiing & Riding Lift tickets included for 2 days 7 Resorts in the area Walking distance to two resorts Highlights Amazing Japanese Powder Private Ski Coaching from Jon Relaxing Hot Springs Visit the Snow Monkeys Beer from Vending Machines Meet New Friends Great Culture Local Guides and Knowledge Tell Epic Stories Back Home Price*: $3535 per person Super-Stoke Early Booking Rate Available Until March 31, 2019: $2795 per person (Read the details in the Ts&Cs) * Ask us about special discounts for groups of 5 or more * Are you living in Japan or already going to be there? Ask us about the discounted price to meet us at the lodge. 
About Us
Jon Lawson is a professional skier. He is a certified PSIA Rocky Mountain Trainer. He has been an Instructor Trainer since 1991 and has been recognized as a Top 100 instructor in North America. He was a Colorado Ski Instructor of the year Finalist in 2011. He will serve as our own personal powder instructor if desired and if the situation arises, our open-mic entertainment. 
Sharon loves adventure and making new friends. A casual skier since she was a teen, she's spent the last few seasons living at ski resorts across the northern hemisphere befriending ski instructors and practicing her skills. To celebrate a day of powder skiing, she may break out her patented dance moves.
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If you would like to prepare your skills before the trip, join Jon in Colorado for some lessons through Copper Mountain Ski & Ride School.
And just to get you more excited about your trip, check out John Trousdale's video: Myokoing | Undiscovered Powder Skiing in Japan
And just to get you more excited about your trip, check out John Trousdale's video: Myokoing | Undiscovered Powder Skiing in Japan
Read stories below from our friends who joined us on previous trips to Myoko.
"It's nice to not think about the details and just know you are signed up to be somewhere exotic learning how to do something new and will meet friendly, like-minded people along the way."
"I went on the JaPOW ski trip with Zelement in February 2016 and skied in powder for the first time! Jon gave me some great tips on how to ski in powder and I surprised myself how well I did. Zelement combines unusual places people don’t usually think to go with fun physically challenging activities. Its nice not to think about the details and just know you are signed up to be somewhere exotic learning how to do something new and will meet friendly, like-minded people along the way. And with Sharon’s planning, you’ll never have to worry about the food – it’ll be good!"
- EMILY HARTMAN, San Francisco, USA
"Top notch trip planning, attentive hosting, adventuresome guiding, and the best ski instruction available. Jon and Sharon run a great program that I can't recommend enough."
"Why is a Zelement ski trip a great time? Top notch trip planning, attentive hosting, adventuresome guiding, and the best ski instruction available. Having joined trips in the US and Japan as well as on-resort ski lessons, every event was exciting, well run, and beyond expectations. Jon and Sharon run a great program that I can't recommend enough.
Sharon tunes in to her guests and then works the back end logistics so that even the spontaneous "wouldn't it be cool if" items seem carefully planned. When you muse about something over happy hour, and then the next morning it's all planned and ready for you...that makes for a great vacation. She makes it look easy, and that makes for a fun trip where wishes come true.
Jon has a life-long passion for skiing and it shows every minute. Whatever Mother Nature (or Ullr depending on how you roll snow-spirit wise) brings, you want to get the most out of it. Jon has both the classic training (as an instructor-of-ski-instructors) and the guiding experience to craft an experience that finds the "goods" and ups your ski game. Whether you want to charge untracked powder in the backcountry all day, work on the finer points of tree skiing, or just play around in your comfort zone, Jon will tailor a ski experience that keeps a smile on your face from first tracks to last chair.
If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, away from the corporate packaged 'experiences' - go freestyle, go with Zelement!"
"Why is a Zelement ski trip a great time? Top notch trip planning, attentive hosting, adventuresome guiding, and the best ski instruction available. Having joined trips in the US and Japan as well as on-resort ski lessons, every event was exciting, well run, and beyond expectations. Jon and Sharon run a great program that I can't recommend enough.
Sharon tunes in to her guests and then works the back end logistics so that even the spontaneous "wouldn't it be cool if" items seem carefully planned. When you muse about something over happy hour, and then the next morning it's all planned and ready for you...that makes for a great vacation. She makes it look easy, and that makes for a fun trip where wishes come true.
Jon has a life-long passion for skiing and it shows every minute. Whatever Mother Nature (or Ullr depending on how you roll snow-spirit wise) brings, you want to get the most out of it. Jon has both the classic training (as an instructor-of-ski-instructors) and the guiding experience to craft an experience that finds the "goods" and ups your ski game. Whether you want to charge untracked powder in the backcountry all day, work on the finer points of tree skiing, or just play around in your comfort zone, Jon will tailor a ski experience that keeps a smile on your face from first tracks to last chair.
If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, away from the corporate packaged 'experiences' - go freestyle, go with Zelement!"
- ED BASSETT, Happy Repeat Customer, COLORADO, USA
"Jon has a great ability to identify the one thing that will make the biggest positive impact on your skiing. Then he succinctly explains it in a way that makes sense to YOU.”
"As an avid skier I have had the opportunity to work and train with many exceptional ski instructors over the years. But there has been only one that truly stands out: Jonnie Law. Of course he has the solid technical knowledge of skiing and exceptional physical skills, but what truly sets him apart from others is his ability to teach. No, do not expect speeches on the hill full of technical jargon. That is not the way Jonnie teaches. He has a great ability to identify the one thing that will make the biggest positive impact on your skiing. Then he succinctly explains it in a way that makes sense to YOU. That can encompass demonstrations, drills, or just a mental focus for your skiing. His confidence in his clients’ abilities and truly individualized feedback bring the best skiing out of everyone. He is very passionate about the sport and genuinely wants everyone to succeed and achieve their best while also having fun. Basically, if you ski with Jon you are pretty much guaranteed to have an awesome time."
- MONIKA MAYER, RN, MSN, PSIA Level III Ski Instructor
"Zelement is all about experience. The attention paid to maximizing the client experience is a game changer.”
"Experiences over things. That's the mission statement for my wife and me. We took our first international within a year dating. We have been fortunate enough to visit a variety of places and now that we have a child we've started introducing her to the beauty of the world. Over the past few years our travel focus has shifted to make sure that we augment our journey with unique experiences. Things like biking Croatia, Slovenia, getting married in Nicaragua and doing a self-driven safari in Namibia. Hands down the best experience was the JaPow tour we did with Zelement in February 2016.
Zelement is all about the experience! The attention paid to maximizing the client experience is a game changer. This isn't an anodyne thing. Most people go to Japan and go to Sapporo, which offers a resort experience familiar to most westerners. Instead Zelement took us to Myoko, which is blessed to be within 30 minutes' drive of 5 amazing resorts. The small town atmosphere created a cozy experience and enhanced group camaraderie. On the slopes the highlight for me was the day spent carving through knee deep powder, with 20-30 other people at a two lift resort. Calling it an intimate ski resort would be an understatement. The woman that sold us our lift tickets in the morning was also preparing lunch at the cantina. There was also the day that half the group spent with Jon and Sharon doing tree laps, learning how to properly ski the trees. Before this trip I already loved Japan and I already loved snowboarding. Now I love both even more and have been trying to figure out how quickly we can go back. Zelement made this a trip to remember. If you're looking for an experience beyond that of flying from point A to point B and taking selfies, try a Zelement Adventure."