Journey into Japan by Morrell Adventure Travel

04/05/2021

Berridale and backcountry sound good together!

❄️👍🏼❄️

02/12/2020

In this galaxy far, far away...

https://www.mountainwatch.com/Snow-news/furanos-week-that-was-powder-for-the-first-week-of-the-season/

It was an over-the-knee powder day that bucketed from first lift to the last one.

14/01/2020

31/12/2019

Backcountry ski Japan

We’re full steam ahead with guiding now but before we close out 2019 and start a new decade tomorrow, we’ll share a few memories and photos from our guides’ training. These are from and days.

Our team wishes you a healthful and contented 2020 — may your troubles be few and fleeting.

To the many in Australia who are battling an unprecedented fire season, we would wrap you in a blanket of snow if only we could.

29/12/2019

Backcountry ski Japan

Backcountry ski Japan

Its a tough job, but someone has to do it! Yesterday's tour showing current snow and skiing conditions in central Hokkaido presented by Alpine Backcountry Guides. www.backcountryskijapan.com www.backcountryskihirejapan.com

20/12/2019

Backcountry ski Japan

Big welcome to our 2019-2020 team!

Looking forward to a few later season arrivals but this is our great starting base!

Speaking of bases, has 140cm of snow at the top of the ropeway and has cracked 2m now.
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Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable northern winter season and we look forward to seeing you in Hokkaido.

We’re also on:

Alpine Backcountry Guides

Alpine Backcountry Rental

And introducing:

Alpine Backcountry Lodge Tomamu

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08/12/2019

Furano Snow / Lavender Report - Hokkaido, Japan

Just a bit pretty

https://www.facebook.com/210377559367801/posts/775918059480412?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo

Spam attack finished now, but how glorious is this?

❄️💙❄️

28/11/2019

Furano Snow / Lavender Report - Hokkaido, Japan

Furano Snow / Lavender Report - Hokkaido, Japan

We filmed these clips on November 23, 24 and 26 to bring you a taste of the relaxed feel at Furano resort. Children 12 and younger ski for free here and the resort is a huge part of the local community and the economy. Enjoy!

26/11/2019

Mountainwatch

Reflecting on journeying in Japan.

Every November, John Morrell heads to Bougakudai in the Tokachi mountains to check the snowpack. Here's what he's reporting and what he loves so much about Furano.

02/11/2019

Go Sammy!

First turns for the season in Hokkaido!

Sam Morrell getting his turn and burn on in Tokachi mountains today.

📷 John Morrell for Alpine Backcountry Lodge Tomamu and Backcountry ski Japan

27/07/2019

Cycle Japan Tours

We love to ride. So for 2020, the Olympic year in Japan, we are having some fabulous new rides that will help you scratch that cycling itch. First up is our new "Big Hokkaido Ride". This is 14 days of riding close to 1200km and features the very best of Hokkaido. Here are some pics of the area we have just researched, the very northernmost point of Japan down to the World Heritage Shiretoko area. Keep an eye on our site for details which will be posted late August. The big Hokkaido ride will be a one off ride only and is scheduled for June July 2020. www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

25/05/2019

Cycle Japan Tours

Sunshine sunshine sunshine, maybe too much, 36 today but great to ride under blue skies, through the Mts, onto the coast and up the mighty Shimanto River. Tomorrow we finish the Shikoku section, then our final day is the Shimanami Kaido, across the islands and towns of the inland sea with weather holding till the end. www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

04/04/2019

Cycle Japan Tours

Cycle Japan Tours

Yep, it's still too cold in Hokkaido, but beautiful and crisp out on the bike amidst the snow covered fields and mountains. Looking forward to losing a few layers and cycling through the cherry blossom lined roads of Shikoku next week. www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

02/04/2019

Cycle Japan Tours

Summer is coming! (but first spring...please). Our scheduled tours start down in the warmth of Shikoku in Southern Japan next Monday. Hokkaido has to wait another few weeks before we can call it cycling season up here. Contact us to join one of our cycling Japan adventures. www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

06/03/2019

And that’s a wrap!

Well..... except for moving hundreds of skis out and dozens of road bikes in to our shop in Kitanomine.

Oh, and the backcountry day tours we are still running to Asahidake and Tokachi, where it’s deserted with deep, dry central Hokkaido powder snow still.

But we’ve said a few of our thank yous and started our goodbyes and with one eye on skiing, the other on cherry blossom cycling in Shikoku, and a heart twitching for a fishing trip, we wind down.

What a team we had this year. We hope you had chance to meet them!

John & Lucy Morrell
Furano

14/01/2019

A different adventure for this Morrell today! Lucy

Furano ice wine. Mmmmmmm have you tried it?

It’s made from a unique hybrid variety of red and green grapes called number two.

This morning was the perfectly chilly conditions to freeze the water inside the grapes and yield a pressing of what will be a syrupy, higher alcohol treat I can recommend for gifts and am told is supremely good over ice cream.

Well done to the local community volunteers who chatted and laughed in the -20C ish conditions. Just beautiful this morning and warming for the soul.

13/01/2019

Furano Snow / Lavender Report - Hokkaido, Japan

Could not be more beautiful here right now.

It’s been too long between time lapses, wouldn’t you agree?

you are magnificent this morning.

That is all.

01/01/2019

Backcountry ski Japan

Backcountry ski Japan

Happy new year and many happy powder turns from all of us here at Alpine Backcountry Guides and Rental. We couldn't think of a better way to ring in the new year than testing some new powder boards, in this case the DPS Wailer 112 Alchemist. Part 2 to follow as soon as the new year daze wears off! www.backcountryskihirejapan.com

18/12/2018

The morning commute sometimes when you’re living in

13/12/2018

Backcountry ski Japan

https://www.facebook.com/228163474011493/posts/1162648180563013/

Early season still and we are waiting for more snow to fall to get the area fully skiable but today was a great Tokachi powder day. Still needs another metre or so to fully cover the bushes on the high ridges ad for the reosrt off piste but Alpine Backcountry staff Remi, Roman and Noe werent complaining. www.backcountryskijapan.com

02/12/2018

We returned home to yesterday so today was biiiiiiiiig.

Grace and Lucy had a ski while John put away the big orders delivered to our small shop Alpine Backcountry Rental

Check out the resort report here: Furano Snow / Lavender Report - Hokkaido, Japan

But before any of that, we all headed out to Bear Creek which looks magnificent. Cannot wait to explore our private backcountry. Bear Creek Furano - Morrell Adventures

23/05/2018

Read their latest posts to see what's new and learn more.

12/05/2018

Cycle Japan Tours

Konnichiwa!

We’re well into our spring cycling season on our 3rd trip already and we have 2 more later this month.

John’s nearly cracked 800km in the saddle and he’s only just begun. Grace and I have come to join in for a weekend and we’re currently in the thatched roof village of Shirakawago on Honshu, in the Japan Alps.

In summer we ride around Hokkaido where it’s cooler, and then come autumn head back down south to enjoy Momiji, the spectacular changing leaves, in Shikoku and Honshu.

See you here one day!
Cheers, Lucy
www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

12/04/2018

On the move this spring!

Our Shikoku spring cherry blossom tour is half way through. "Sakura" blossoms were early this year but we managed to catch some dazzling pink displays in and around the beautiful Iya gorge. Floating high above the neighbouring valley of the mighty Yoshino river are the climbing carp or "Koi Nobori" that are strung out to celebrate children's day in Japan, which is coming up soon (5th May). www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

27/02/2018

Mountainwatch

Put a few thoughts down recently after a group of skiers were rescued.

Furano's backcountry is an amazing place, but things can definitely go wrong if you're not prepared!

31/12/2017

Backcountry ski Japan

After 37 years we’re still journeying into Japan. Hope 2018 brings you what you enjoy most.
The Morrells.

Time moves on. The last snow report for 2017 and everyone at Alpine Backcountry wishes all the best for 2018. May it be filled with deep powder and smiles. www.backcountryskijapan.com www.backcountryskihirejapan.com

25/11/2017

Furano Snow / Lavender Report - Hokkaido, Japan

The Morrells are Journeying deep into Japan today!

I remain ever your faithful servant in . Tough job but I accept the challenge!

14/10/2017

Cycle Japan Tours

Day 6 today of our Autumn Noto and The Japan Alps ride. Left the beauty of the Noto coast yesterday for a stay in the UNESCO world heritage village of Shirakawago, and today, in "Little Kyoto" Takayama in the heart of the Japan Alps. Tomorrow we cross the alps to the Gifu Prefecture and the town of Gujo Hachiman. www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

14/07/2017

Cycle Japan Tours

Round 2 of our Cycle Hokkaido started 3 days ago and the crew are loving the blue skies and the heat is a good excuse for a few ales at the end of each day. Some pics from Shiretoko World Heritage area and the magnificent caldera lakes district with its jewel, Lake Mashu. www.cyclingtoursjapan.com

13/04/2017

Backcountry ski Japan

John and Sam journeying into Japan!

The season of powder continues here in the Hokkaido Powder Belt. After a good 2 weeks of snow melt and great spring skiing, we have been blessed with a late blast of winter and the gondola has turned it on today. Superb, with trainee guide Samuel Morrell. www.backcountryskijapan.com