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This is Who We Are

 

Niseko Zen is a boutique Guiding company and ski school based in Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan. 

 

We keep a close eye on the weather and how this will affect the snow conditions to make sure our guests are going to ski or board in the best powder available.  

 

We have a qualified and experienced team that utilizes our local knowledge and connections to acquire a great variety of information to keep the groups safe and having a great time! 


Our Guide team are all trained locally and have seasons of experience taking care of guests in the mountains. We require all of our guides to hold professional avalanche and rescue certifications.

 

We are working to grow the professional guiding community in Hokkaido.

Saki Hayashi

CEO
 
Canadian Avalanche Association Operations level 1
Wilderness First Responder (80hours)


Languages: English, Japanese

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Torin Barnes

Operations Manager
 

Pre Hospital Emergency Care 

​New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management

(Level 6)​​

Canadian Avalanche Association Level 2 equivalent​​​

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Languages: English

Julian De Giusto 

Operation Coordinator & HR
 

AADIDESS Ski instructor level 2 

Avalanche Skill Course 1 (New-Zealand)

Equivalent ASC2 (Peter Billous)

Wilderness First Responder (80hours)

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Languages: English, Spanish

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James Oertli

Marketing Manager/ Photographer
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Year round Hokkaido local
Avalanche Skills Training 1


Languages: English, French, Italian, Swiss-German

Ayu Setogawa

Local Guide & Snowboard Instructor
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Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors level 1
Avalanche Skills Training 1
Resort Powder Specialist



Languages: English, Japanese

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Facundo Galleano

Backcountry Guide & Ski Instructor

 

AADIDESS Ski Instructor level 1

Ski Patrol level 2 (Argentina & France certifications)

Ski Patrol Instructor EASP (Argentina School of on slope safety)

First Aid Instructor (France)

Recco System Operator

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Languages: English, Spanigh, Italian, Catalan, French

Diego Alollio

Safety Management Support

Backcountry Guide & Ski Instructor
 

Professional Ski Instructors of America - Telemark Instructor Level 2

American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education -Instructor Trainer

American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education 1 & 2 Avalanche Course Leader

American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education PRO level 3

Professional Ski Instructors of America - Ski Instructor Level 1

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Languages: English, Spanish

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Bruno Gerardi

Backcountry guide &Snowboard/Ski Instructor
 

Snowboard Instructor level3 ISIA stamp AADIDESS

Mountain Guide ISAGM (UIMLA certified) 2023

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Languages: English, Spanish, Basic Italian, Basic French

Jon Runchke

Backcountry Guide & Ski/Snowboard/Telemark Instructor

 

AADIDESS Snowboard Instructor level 1

AADIDESS Ski Instructor level 3

AADIDESS Telemark Instructor level 3

Wilderness First Responder(80hours)

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Languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
 

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Charlie Yates

Local Guide & Snowboard/Ski Instructor
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Canadian Avalanche Association Operations level 1
Wilderness First Responder (80hours)
 

Languages: English, Japanese 

Juan Berthold

Backcountry Guide & Snowboard/Ski Instructor
 

AADIDESS Snowboard Instructor level 3 ISIA

Wilderness First Responder (80hours)

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Languages: English, Spanish

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Lars Meier Blattner

Backcountry Guide & Ski Instructor

 

Pre-Hospital Emergency Care 

Avalanche Risk Management Level 5 

Industrial Rope Access Technician level 1 

New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance Ski Instructor level 1 

Snowsport Patrol Level 4​​​

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Languages: English, Swiss-German. 

Mora Otsubo

Ski Instructor​Kids Ski lessons Specialist

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Ski Instructor for kids AADIDESS​

First Aid Crouse (pcr&basics)

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Languages: English, Spanish

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Pedro Matrantuoni

Snowboard Instructor & Backcountry Guide
 

Canadian Avalanche Association Operations level 1

Wilderness First Responder (80hours)

Snowboard Instructor level 3

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Languages: English, Spanish

Jonathan Skinnider

Ski Instructor & Backcountry Guide
 

Canadian Avalanche Association Operations level 1

Canadian Avalanche Association Avalanche Search and Rescue Advance Skills

Canadian Avalanche Association Introduction to Weather

Wilderness First Responder (80hours)​​

 

Language: English

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Florencia Carrasco

Ski Instructor
 

Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B)

American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education Avalanche Pro 1 

AADIDESS Level 3 ski instructor 

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Languages: English, Spanish

Sofia Mejia Llamas

Ski Instructor & Photographer

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PSIA level 2 

PSIA Children Specialist 2 

PSIA Freestyle 1 

AADIDES Kids Specialist. S. C. de Bariloche, Argentina 

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Languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese 

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Mattias Moreno

Ski Instructor
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AADIDES Ski Instructor level 1
UIAA/FASA International Mountaineering Course (5days)
First Aid Crouse (PCR & basics)


Languages : English, Spanish

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Reilly Kane

Ski Instructor

New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance Ski Instructor level 1
Red Cross Comprehensive First Aid Course
Basic Emergency Care Course
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Language: English
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Alexander Hadi

Ski Instructor & Resort guide

CADI Ski Instructor level2
Wilderness First Responder (80hours)
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Language: English
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Tamaki Yamasawa

Ski Instructor & Backcountry Guide

New-Zealand Snowsports​ Instructors Alliance level 1
Japan Mountain Guide Association Ski Guide stage 1
Japan Mountain Guide Association Mountain stage2

Janapanese Avalanche Network Operations 1

Languages: English, Japanese
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Partner Companies 

Tobira GG AKA Kazan Japan Travel  

Kammui Japan 

Tokyo Way 

Nisade Alpine Developement 

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