FAQ - AOMORI

BOOKINGS & CANCELLATIONS TERMS

Yes, full payment is required to confirm your booking with us.

> 30 days before trip date: Free cancellation, full refund

15-29 days before trip date: 50% cancellation fee, 50% refund

0-14 days before trip date: 100% cancellation fee, no refund

For all cancellations, a SGD 75 processing fee (per person) will be required.

Refunds will be provided to you on a pro-rated basis ONLY in the event of the following unforeseen cases:

  • Travel bans from Singapore into Japan ordered by government authorities
  • Travel bans from Japan into Singapore ordered by government authorities
  • Mandatory closure of entire ski resort area

If such an event occurs, a pro-rated reimbursement will be provided for services already paid for, that you have been unable to obtain or use. This is subject to the condition that the booking was made prior to the officially imposed travel restrictions.

Refunds will NOT be provided to you in the event of the following cases, including but not limited to:

  • In the event you get Covid-19, prior, during or after the trip.
  • Government advisories to limit travel
  • Failure to secure preferred flights
  • Failure to obtain travel VISA’s
  • Personal disinclination to travel
  • Extension of quarantine regulations
  • Other personal matters

If any of the above events occur, general trip cancellation terms will apply.

To ensure you are fully covered in any unforeseen events, we recommend purchasing a comprehensive Covid-19 travel insurance to cover you for the duration of the trip.

COVID-19 CONCERNS & TESTING REQUIREMENTS

From 7 September 2022, travellers from countries in the Group Blue including Singapore will not be required on-arrival test and isolation at their residence or self-secured accommodation.

Click here for more details.

Yes, we strictly require all guests to purchase a Covid-19 travel insurance that covers the full duration of the trip.

In the event you feel unwell or show Covid-19 symptoms during the trip, please proceed to take an ART swab test immediately. All persons sharing the same room/apartment as you will also be required to take an ART test. While waiting for the results, please take the necessary precautions to safe distance yourself from the rest of the group.

In the event an ART test is positive, please make it known to an official member of staff. Arrangements will be made for you to shift to a separate room. The others sharing the same apartment who test negative can continue on for the rest of the trip. 

Important: Please note that costs associated with Covid tests, quarantine stays and changes in flights will be fully borne by the traveller. To ensure you are fully covered in any unforeseen circumstances, we highly recommend purchasing a comprehensive Covid-19 travel insurance to cover you for the duration of the trip.

To facilitate verification by the relevant authorities, travellers from Singapore can use Notarise to digitally authenticate and endorse the pre-departure test and/or vaccination certificates.

https://www.notarise.gov.sg/

GENERAL ENQUIRIES BEFORE BOOKING YOUR TRIP

GENERAL TRIP DETAILS

Yes, a minimum age of 18yrs is required if you are joining our trips alone.

Yes, all trip dates are fixed and bookings will follow the specified dates strictly. Amendments to trip dates will not be permitted.

Yes, to stay with us 2 weeks in a row, simply make a booking for 2 trips. We know 1 week might not be enough to satisfy your powder cravings.

While we would love to share the stoke and show as many as we can around, we will not be able to allow others to tag along with us on the slopes. This is to ensure the best experience to all paying guests. The Ride Side’s hosted and guided sessions around the slopes are the most valuable part of our trip experience and what our customers are paying for. We need to ensure we keep to a good ‘guide to guest ratio’ for safe and fun time on the mountain.

If you are looking to be shown around the slopes with a fun group of like-minded individuals, we would love to have you book the trip with us and come along for the ride!

FLIGHTS & AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Each traveller is responsible for their own flight bookings and you may book flights based on your own preferences. 

All flights will be made to Aomori Airport (AOJ), Shinkansen/Train to Shin Aomori Station

By Train

  • JR train/ bullet train from Tokyo <> Shin Aomori Station

By Flight

  • Fly into Tokyo then take a domestic flight Haneda (HND) <> Aomori Airport (AOJ)
  • Fly international SIN > TPE > Aomori (overnight layover in TPE)

Please take note of the airport shuttle schedule to and from Aomori Airport (AOJ) – Details in next point below. You should plan your flight arrival and departure timings to best match these.

ARRIVAL
Airport Shuttle Pick-up schedule* (AOJ – Aomori Springs):
  • Shuttle 1:
    • AOJ Airport (4:00PM)
    • Shin Aomori Station (4:30PM)

*Shuttle timings are subjected to change based on available flight schedules. If you require shuttles outside this timing, you may let us know to make alternative arrangements

  • Shuttle Duration: Approx 1.5hrs
  • Flight recommendation: 
    •  To arrive at Aomori Airport by 3pm
    • To arrive at Shin Aomori Station by 4:15PM
    •  
DEPARTURE

Airport Shuttle Pick-up schedule* (Aomori Springs – Aomori Airport):

  • Shuttle 1: 10:00AM 

*Shuttle timings are subjected to change based on available flight schedules. If you require shuttles outside this timing, you may let us know to make alternative arrangements

  • Shuttle Duration: Approx 1.5hrs
  • Flight recommendation:
    • To depart Aomori Airport after 1:30pm

GEAR RENTAL & LESSONS

Ski & snowboard rentals are not included in the package price. You will be given the option to book them before your trip based on what you require. 

 

Please see full equipment rental prices here.

 

If you are unsure of your size, please leave an indicative size to the best of your knowledge, our team will help you with recommendations and fitting services on the ground.

 

IMPORTANT: Personal gear such as Goggles, Facemasks, & Gloves are not available for rental. It is recommended to purchase them prior to the trip if you do not have them. These items are available to purchase at The Ride Side in Singapore at your convenience.

Directions to :The Ride Side Snowboard Shop

We will not be arranging lessons during the Aomori Experience. Instead, we require all participants to be confident riders, who are comfortable navigating black terrain and preferably have some off-piste experience. For participants who are not as comfortable, you might not be able to access many of the areas we are aiming to bring the group to during the trip.


If you are looking to improve your riding with lessons, we recommend considering our Niseko Experience or Niseko Beginner Snowboard Camp instead. These trips have been designed for learning and we have special arrangements with our partner ski school that will provide lessons for the group.

ACCOMMODATION

Yes you may! This trip is designed for solo travellers to meet other like minded travellers and about 50% of our customers come as solo travellers. Simply book your trip and leave the rest of the planning to us. Once you reach your destination, you will meet the rest of the group that you will be spending the rest of the week with.

Single bed in a twin share room

You will share the room with another solo traveller. We will make arrangements to group travellers of the same gender together in the same room. In the event we are unable to do so, we will inform you of the rooming situation to find the most comfortable arrangement for you.

Yes you may put in a request for a female only room. If you are looking to book a twin share room and would prefer an all-female room, please leave a note in the comments field of your booking form. Our team will get back to you with a confirmation on the arrangement as soon as we can.

Yes you can! The accommodation comes with twin rooming configurations of 2pax. If you have a group in multiples of 2 pax, simply let us know and we’ll be able to allocate the rooms according to your preference.

MEAL ARRANGEMENTS

Breakfast

(i) Complimentary buffet breakfast is provided for throughout the trip

Lunch & Dinner

(i) Dining options will be limited compared to other popular Japanese resorts, however, you will still have a choice of several cafes and restaurants in the hotel and around the resort, ranging from hot bowls of ramen to rice bowls, buffet spreads and even burgers. Our team will bring you to some of our favourite spots around the area each day as we ensure you have the best of local cuisine throughout the week.

Yes, there are 2 restaurants and a bar in our hotel accommodation, several others within a walking distance of our accommodation.

  • The Rockwood Bistro
  • The Rockwood Food Hall
  • Iwaki Cafe & Bar
  • The Ramen House
  • Mountain Cafe

TRIP PROGRAMMING

AOMORI EXPEDITION SERIES

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 2 way airport transfers
  • Daily transport to up to 5 ski areas in Tohuku region
  • 6 day lift pass to Aomori Springs & external resorts
  • Daily mountain guiding
  • Japan travel permit & VISA application
  • Flights
  • Equipment rental
  • Food & personal expenses
  • Travel Insurance

To join the Aomori expedition, we require all riders to be a high intermediate to advanced level rider. This means that you should be comfortable turning down a black slope at the very least. As we will also aim to take the group off-piste and into powder fields, having basic experience in off-piste terrain will be an added bonus and you’ll be sure to enjoy yourself much more. 

 

If you are still not 100% comfortable navigating down black terrain, we recommend considering our Niseko Experience or Niseko Beginner Snowboard Camp instead. These trips have been designed for learning and we have special arrangements with our partner ski school that will provide lessons for the group.

All riders joining should be between a high intermediate to advanced level. This means that every should be comfortable navigating down a black slope at the very least. As we will also aim to take the group off-piste and into powder fields, having some experience in off-piste terrain will be an added bonus and you’ll be sure to enjoy yourself more.

Each morning, the TRS team will set meeting points to meet up and to take you around the ski resorts of Aomori and introduce you to the unique runs and highlights of each resort. Each day will be a different route to show you as much of the resort as we can throughout the week. The group will also be split up according to skill levels to ensure everyone explores terrain suitable to their ability and to ensure everyone gets more riding with less waiting!

 If you are an advanced level rider, you will be able to explore majority of the mountain as well as off-piste & backcountry powder runs. If you are not yet comfortable in off piste terrain, your exploration might be limited to your proficiency on the slopes. Do ask your guide on the suitability of the day’s terrain and skill level.

There will be up to 5 days of mountain guiding per week. Each session will be a half day morning session from 9am -12pm.

The daily guiding sessions are not compulsory to join in and you may choose to explore the resort on your own. There are no obligations to stay with the group for the entire trip.

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