From the Desk of Death Label:
"Real adventure is best defined as a journey from which you may not come back alive, and certainly not as the same person."
—Yvon Chouinard
Rishiri Island is one of the most secluded snowboarding destinations in the world. It remains a relatively untouched location in the far northern part of Japan.
The island has just over 5,000 inhabitants, and it's about 60 km to drive all the way around it. In the very center lies Mt. Rishiri, a dormant stratovolcano rising to an elevation of 1,721 meters.
Riding powder in Hokkaido is world-renowned for its abundant, light, fluffy powder that results from the weather systems blowing down from Siberia. Compared to other Hokkaido ski areas, Rishiri Island is much farther north and closer to Siberia and the weather source, so the powder, locally known as Shimapow, is generally even better than the Japow you get anywhere else in Japan. However, the snowpack is also far more unpredictable compared to the rest of Hokkaido, partly due to the massive snowfalls and its proximity to the ocean.
Mount Rishiri isn't perfectly cone-shaped like, for instance, Mount Fuji; time has carved out a wide array of ridges and valleys stretching from the center of the island to its coast, meaning that the wind can't simply wrap around it. It's more like several mountains in one—a full 360-degree, self-powered snowboard paradise for the experienced backcountry aficionado. Despite the almost constant wind, you can always find shelter and, most likely, the best powder in the world if you know where to go.
Riding in a place like this requires extensive skills and experience in avalanche awareness, route planning, emergency preparedness, and essential gear. In case of an accident, help is usually far away.
On the evening of February 2, 2024, Masaaki Irie, Tatsuya Nagumo, PJ Gustafsson, and Reo Yasuda set off for Rishiri Island on a snowboard adventure they will remember for the rest of their lives.
This video recap is part of a feature named "Welcome" that you can read in Slush Magazine VOL 4.1, October 2024.