Bamboo Tail
番亭Guidefrom ¥17,050, about CAD 153 or USD 108 (October 2026 rates)Seasonal
Bamboo Tail (番亭) is a Japanese backcountry guide service in Hakuba led by JMGA-certified ski and snowboard guides, and suits riders who read Japanese or travel with someone who does. A one-day tour costs ¥17,050 a person, which runs well below the English-language outfits in the valley.
What they offer
| Offering | From | Duration | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Day Tour (ワンデーツアー)For riders with powder experience who can use a beacon. Meets at car park No. 3 at Hakuba Happo-one. | ¥17,050 per person, about CAD 153 or USD 108 (October 2026 rates) | Meet 7:45, finish 14:00–16:00 with 2–4 hours of climbing | Mid-December to early May |
| Beginner TourFirst-time guests start here or on the Light One-Day Tour. | – | – | – |
| Light One-Day Tour | – | – | – |
| Private tour | – | – | – |
| Freeride lesson | – | – | – |
Organizer Yu Takeo is a former JSBA pro snowboarder who holds JMGA Ski and Snowboard Guide Stage II and JMGA Mountain Guide Stage II. Tours range across Hakuba, Otari and Omachi and reach over the prefectural line into Itoigawa. The standard One-Day Tour meets at 7:45 in the No. 3 car park at Happo-one and spends two to four hours climbing before the ride out.
The site and the booking system are in Japanese only. Bamboo Tail asks first-timers to start on its Beginner or Light One-Day tours, and every guest needs mountain or hiking insurance before the day. The same company runs a second base at Takasu in Gifu.
Worth knowing
- Bamboo Tail requires mountain insurance; if you have none, the company points you to short-term cover when you book.
Quick answers about Bamboo Tailよくある質問
Are Bamboo Tail's guides JMGA certified?
Yes. Bamboo Tail lists two guides with JMGA Ski and Snowboard Guide Stage II, one with Stage I and three with JMGA Mountain Guide Stage II. Several also hold JAN Avalanche Level 1.
How much does Bamboo Tail charge?
Bamboo Tail lists One-Day Tour (ワンデーツアー) from ¥17,050 per person (2026), about CAD 153 or USD 108 (October 2026 rates) (Meet 7:45, finish 14:00–16:00 with 2–4 hours of climbing).
Is Bamboo Tail open all year?
Bamboo Tail opens for part of the year. A guest died on a Bamboo Tail tour in March 2026. The company paused all tours, reviewed its safety management and resumed guiding on 1 April 2026. Bookings for 2026/27 opened on 1 October 2026.
In the journal and guides
