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Japan 2025 , 2/25 – 3/15
It’s immensely hard to summarize this trip into words — but here’s our best shot.
Our 2025 Japan trip was one of the longest, most ambitious international journeys the OKC Ski Club has ever tackled. And we didn’t just go skiing — we went exploring, temple-hopping, city-hopping, culture-soaking, and tofu-consuming across the country.
From Tokyo’s bright lights and bullet trains to the peaceful snow-covered slopes of Hakuba, and from historic castles in Matsumoto to the stunning, postcard-perfect Shirakawa-go, we truly did it all.
🏔️ We Skied. We Boarded. We Ate All the Ramen.
Nestled deep in the Japanese Alps, Hakuba delivered on every skier’s dream: endless fresh powder (hello Japow!), jaw-dropping mountain views, and that amazing blend of modern lifts and traditional hospitality. Whether you were carving blues or charging down blacks, there was something for everyone — even if your “ski legs” hadn’t quite shown up yet.
Let’s not forget the onsens, those magical hot spring baths that healed sore legs and gave us our nightly zen. Add in après drinks, izakaya nights, and one member inventing the term “tofu hangover” (yes, that’s a thing now), and you’ve got the ultimate alpine-meets-culture mashup.
🛕 Shrines, Snow Monkeys & Snowstorms
Our journey didn’t end on the slopes. We traversed Japan’s cultural gems, visiting places like:
- Matsumoto Castle – one of Japan’s most beautiful original castles.
- Kanazawa’s samurai and geisha districts – complete with gold-leaf ice cream.
- Takayama – where old Japan still lives in every wooden beam.
- Kyoto – home to countless temples, bamboo forests, and the kind of beauty that stops you in your tracks.
Oh, and of course — we saw the snow monkeys. And one of us may or may not have brought back a Snow Monkey on a stick as an unofficial trip mascot.
📸 Relive It, Post by Post
Want to experience it all? Head to our Facebook page and scroll from the bottom up to follow our journey day by day. Photos, stories, snow, smiles — it’s all there.
🎉 To Everyone Who Came: Thank You
To everyone who joined us — thank you. Seriously. Seeing Japan was amazing on its own, but seeing it with this crew made it unforgettable. Sharing laughs on the slopes, quiet moments in temples, and the chaos of Tokyo side streets brought us all a little closer.
Until the next great adventure — whether it’s across the ocean or down the Rockies — keep those skis waxed and your sense of adventure ready.
—
Ryan
Keeper of the Snow Monkey on a Stick
Day 18 (repeated)
Well good morning Oklahoma! YOUR ski club has now arrived from the future. We even arrived before the sun came up due to a healthy tail wind scooting across the Pacific at 680+mph ground speed.
During the flight we had a club social meeting in the galley….because stretching ?
#Japan2025
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Day 18
Off we go! Traveling back in time. Departing 1:05pm 3/15 and arriving 6:53am 3/15 The same day!
The completion of a great trip with enough bags for 60 people. 💼🧳🛍️💼🛍️🧳
Memories galore and many experiences we have never had. The Japanese people are wonderful. Always aiming to please and taking pride in their work. It was a refreshing change to take it to a new level.
If you are a friend or relative of someone traveling with the group, give them a few days to adapt to the time change. They may be incoherent, sleepwalk, randomly take a nap, and generally act odd. They may also bow to you and say “arigato” randomly.
豆腐二日酔い
If you know you know.
#Japan2025
#whereintheworldisokcskiclub
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Day 17!
Today we journeyed from Kyoto to Tokyo via Shinkansen (bullet train) at over 179mph. Thankfully we didn’t lose anyone in the subway or station. Nothing compares to Japanese railway stations.
After a slight delay due to a possible bird strike we were on our way. Arrive in Tokyo and navigate to the exits with a large group✔️
Afternoon free day that involved more shopping, eating, bowling, playing with the animals, and watching Pac-Man on a 50 story building.
Let’s grab some sleep before the big journey home.
#Japan2025
#whereintheworldisokcskiclub
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Day 16 ✔️
Free for all day as we all checked things off our list for Japan. Some shopped, some almost fell in the river, some got their feet chewed on, all ate more Japanese food, some lost their fingers to the deer (well not really but it will make you watch the video), some rode the subway and bus (yes super quiet), some hopped on a boat to brave the roaring rapids (again, not really but we are working on click bait here), and all had a great time!
Kyoto reminds us of walking around New York, but cleaner, safer, more welcoming, and oddly enough, you saw no police. So maybe not like New York. Never mind.
Tomorrow bullet train back to Tokyo!
#Japan2025
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Day 15 (has it been that long?)
Today we wrapped up our last tour. Everyone asked if they could see another shrine and temple so we saw our last. We have seen maybe 1% of all the shrines and temples and feel like we have a great grasp of them.
Tenryu-ji, Bamboo Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge, lunch where we had to take off our shoes, Uji's Byodo-in, and Fushimi's Inari Taisha. Upon returning we said goodbye to our wonderful tour guide Teddy and sent him on his way with a gift from the ski club for all his hard work.
Tomorrow we venture out again with some free time to wrap up Kyoto. There might be some shopping , more Japanese food, and other adventures.
#japan2025
#whereintheworldisokcskiclub
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Day 14.
Slight recuperation and hit the road to the Kinkakuji and Ryoanji temples. Grab a tofu lunch and then to the Kiyomizu-dera and Ginkaku-ji temple. Another full day!
Wait? Shall we hit the Nishiki Market and partake in the food and shopping ? Shut down the place you say ? ✔️✅
Did someone say there is more tomorrow ? Hold our sake!
#Japan2025
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Day 13
Today we moved from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go to Takayama for an awesome lunch then to Kyoto!
Shirakawa-go is a world heritage site full of old “thatch roof” houses from as early as the 1200’s.
Takayama has an old town district full of shops, sake, and restaurants. We enjoyed a wonderful sukiyaki meal and some wonderful sake and yuzu.
Finally made our way to Kyoto and settled in. Some exploration was done and we found some Mexican food for a change of pace.
Tomorrow Kyoto gets introduced to OKC Ski Club
#Japan2025
#kyoto
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Day 12 was upon us and we knocked another one out of the park. Samurai Street started off the day and then let to to a hoppin Higashi Chaya district where at a bare minimum we sampled the gold leaf ice cream in high class fashion (pinkies up). Shopping was done….are we gonna need to buy another suitcase ?
Stopping at the Omicho Fish Market for some fresh snacks and some yummy waygu. Seeing all the seafood on display with cooked and fresh crab (still moving on their blocks of ice mind you) was quite the sight. A good hundred small restaurants abounded the fish market where you could eat anything you wanted. Sometimes it’s best not to ask what it is 🤣
We wrapped up the night with more wandering, shopping, eating, and a mission to find a gift for Teddy.
Next stop Kyoto!
#Japan2025
#kanazawa
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Had to count the days on the hand……
Day 11? Is that right?
Today was movement day where we changed locations from Hakuba north along the Sea of Japan to Kanazawa. Our Japan liaison Ayuko saw us off on our next adventure with a deep bow and a wonderful hug.
We enjoyed lunch at a French restaurant (right?) before we explored Kanazawa. Starting off with the Suzuki Daisetsu museum, to the Oyama Shrine, to the Kanazawa Castle Ruins, to the Kenrokuen Garden we had our fill of sights that were breathtaking and definitely picture worthy. We actually saw the oldest fountain in Japan that is completely naturally fed.
#Japan2025
#kanazawa
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Day 10
Today we ventured “off piste” to Nagano and the snow monkey park. In true ski club fashion we ordered up a blizzard to greet us as we flirtatiously enjoyed the rambunctious creatures that could care less if we were there or not. We were background music in their opera. After the fabulous outing we stopped for a specially prepared lunch and sake. Next stop the small town of Obuse to sample sake and chestnuts. Then we wrapped up at the Zenkoji temple in Nagano.
How can we even explain what we did today? Words cannot bring you to what we did.
If you were ever on the fence about a Ski Club international trip ever again this one should push you over the edge falling forever. We do extreme trips with memories that are never forgotten.
Next stop Kanazawa and Kyoto!
#japan2025
#travelfriendsalways
#snowmonkeypark
#nevermissitagain
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Day 9
白馬樅の木ホテル Hakuba Mominoki Hotel
Another ski and board day under our belts! From Happo One to Tsugaike to Goryu we spread out for our last day conquering the Japanese Alps. We had another round of snow overnight with variable visibility today. And yet we were joyful for another round of Japanese mountain food and beverages to satisfy our hunger.
The Onsen has been great to soak in each day and there is nothing like finding heated toilet seats everywhere!
Mecha Godzilla!
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Day 8 and another ski day! Today we hit Iwatake after 11” dropped overnight. The bus ride was packed to the gills with all seats and jump seats occupied. The snow continued and was a wet snow for the rest of the day. The dance parties commenced on the mountain as we played frogger avoiding the ants on the hill. Meanwhile the pitchforks came out after someone decided to lead the group down a black full of sticky mashed potatoes. IFKYK
Loss of time became reality today when we realized we have been here for a week now. It seems like much longer as our schedules have been full and we have seen and done so much. And no, not everything can be shared on the socials 😜
白馬樅の木ホテル Hakuba Mominoki Hotel
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Day 7
Wonderful day with great visibility in a new location. It isn’t even possible to explain the fun we are having. From meeting old friends that aren’t even on our trip to everyone having such a good time. Great crew. New friends. And snake juice.
IFKYK.
#Japan2025
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Day 6 and we woke up to snow dropping and a nice dump until the afternoon. So many pictures and videos from today we have to “condense”. You really can’t make up how much snow is here….when the upper lift gets shut down because they can’t dig it out. When you can ski figure 8s between the chairs. When the lifts are below the snow level. When you just know this is why we came.
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Day 5
The first ski day is in the books. We hit the slopes early today since they started spinning the lifts at 8am. Today’s word of the day was “moist” as we had low deck cloud cover that dropped down to 3k ft with slightly warmer temps that gave us some melted precip. Warming huts were considered drying huts today. No matter. We explored and had a great first day skiing in the Japan Alps.
Some of us partook in the onsens as a new experience enjoying the lovely hot springs.
Happy hour was next where we tagged a beer stein and planted our flag in the pub. Evidently stink bugs are no joke here in Japan and disposed of with ninja skills.
Tomorrow rinse and repeat!
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Day 4 commenced with a departure from Tokyo to Hakuba via Matsumoto where we stopped to visit a miso brewery and castle.
The miso brewery is well older than any of us and run by a sixth generation brew master. Each batch is brewed via the “old ways” and takes 3+ years to complete its journey. We learned about the various processes, ingredients, and benefits of all natural miso. Finally we finished up with a special made lunch prepared with various miso ingredients. We left well satisfied.
Next we stopped at Matsumoto Castle to explore the grounds and learn the history of the location and people that saved and restored the castle. 140 non-ADA compliant steps awaited us as we summited the 6 floors to the top. Two samurai’s awaited us at the bottom where we entertained those that surrounded us with our acting and posing.
Finally we pulled in to our new home 白馬樅の木ホテル Hakuba Mominoki Hotel for the next 7 nights where we were greeted by friendly staff, walls of snow, roaring fireplaces, and metric load of Aussies here for vacation and for the Snow Machine Japan music festival this week.
Now it’s time to Ski and Board the Japan Alps like Okies know how to do!
#japan2025
#hakuba
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Day 3
Tokyo free day saw the group go multiple directions. Some hit the food circuit, some went shopping for kimonos, some visited the cat shrine, some visited the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, some did some more shopping, and some rode the subway (and didn’t get lost)!
Next stop Hakuba…..time to head where the snow has been deep deep deep.
Day 3 done ✔️
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Day 2
We started off the day with breakfast in a HUGE hall of more food than you could shake a bamboo stick at! The “fruit” guy literally gave you the eye and pointed at you to come take some of his kiwi fruit. There must have been over 200 tables for people to sit and enjoy their breakfast. All of them were full and there was a line out the door.
Next “Teddy” took us to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Imperial Palace entrance, Asakusa Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Street, and the Tokyo Sky tree. We experienced new cultural locations, heights way up in the sky and finally wrapped up the evening at Gonpachi where we wined and dined Japanese style. Uma was proud. Btw Mochi ice cream balls are the cats meow!
Day 2 completed ✔️
White strawberries eaten✔️
Stuffed 26 people in an elevator ✔️
Waygu beef eaten✔️
Eel tendon eaten ✔️
Shoes removed to eat dinner ✔️
New snow forecast reviewed ✔️✅✔️
Follow along tomorrow for more shenanigans
#Japan2025
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Day 1
Never without an adventure! We almost had to break out the walkie talkies for the pilot and flight attendants. Our plane intercom was having an issue. Deplane and they gave the plane the CTRL-ALT-DEL to reboot the whole thing! Lucky for us that fixed it and we were able to re-board with a 2 hour delay. The pilot made up some time on the 14 hour flight as we hugged the Canadian coastline, crossed Alaska, kept our distance from Russia, and made a beeline for Japan. Tokyo was lit up as expected and we could make out the snow capped mountains in the distance. After we cleared customs our guide “Teddy” was waiting for us patiently. Grabbed our waiting bus and off to the hotel. Not quite the penthouse but the 20th floor view will work!
Day 1 travel day completed ✔️
25 souls accounted for✔️
Weather forecast for the mountains. ✔️
Incoming snowstorm increasing! ✔️✔️✔️✔️
Goodnight back home….its 11:43pm here.
#Japan2025
#moreadventurestomorrow
🍱 🍣 🥢 ✈️ 🚆🗻⛩️🕋🥩🐒🚌 ... See MoreSee Less
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