Dog sledding experience DOG SLED
You don't have to go to Hokkaido! You can experience the authentic dog sledding experience on the vast grounds of Minakami Kogen Ski Resort, the only place in Honshu!
Run through the vast silvery world with your dogs!
The breathtaking views here will make you forget that you are in Japan, and that you are only about two hours from Tokyo!
Dates: January 3rd (Sun) - March 31st (Wed), 2027
*Advance reservations required. *The menu is for a group of two. Please make a reservation for two people.
The table can be scrolled left and right
| Plan | Event period | Start time | Travel time | Fee ※ | Target Audience | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe ride plan with mushers A full-fledged dog sled experience where you ride a dog sled with a professional musher (guide). |
January 3rd (Sun) - February 28th (Sun) | ①10:00 ②11:00 ③12:00 ④13:30 | 55 minutes | 18,000 yen per person x 2 people | Ages 7 and up | |||||
| 3/1 (Monday) - 3/10 (Wednesday) |
①9:00 ②10:00 ③11:00 ④12:00 | |||||||||
| Massing Ride Experience Plan After the training and practice, you will have the opportunity to pilot a dog sled by yourself. |
January 3rd (Sun) - February 28th (Sun) | ①10:00 ②11:00 ③12:00 ④13:30 | 50 minutes | 15,000 yen per person x 2 people | 13 years of age or older | |||||
| 3/1 (Monday) - 3/31 (Wednesday) |
①9:00 ②10:00 ③11:00 ④12:00 | |||||||||
*Weight restrictions: Guests weighing 90kg or less are allowed to participate. Please note that we will ask you for your weight when you make a reservation. (If you weigh more than that, please contact us.)
*The dog sledding experience will be conducted by two people taking turns on the outbound and return trips.
*If you wish to participate alone, you will be charged the fee for two people.
*If you are under 12 years old, please book as a pair with an adult.
*When participating, please bring warm clothing (ski wear, etc.), snow boots, and depending on the weather, a hat, goggles, and gloves.
*The contents of the experience may change depending on the weather, snow conditions, etc.
[About blackout dates]
The 12:30 PM show on January 24th (Sun), February 28th (Sun), and March 28th (Sun), 2027 will be cancelled due to the "Disc Dog Show" event.
March 6th (Sat) and March 7th (Sun), 2027: Due to the holding of the "16th Minakami Dog Sports Festa"
Experience Report
Safe ride plan with mushers
- Travel time: 55 minutes
- A 10-minute ride for each person on a 2km course.
- Dogs love to run! The Alaskan mix has a refined body like a marathon runner.
1. Meeting the Musher (Dog Sled Driver)
In front of the information counter inside the Hotel Ski Center, you will be asked to wear ski or snowboard wear, snow boots, and gloves!
2. Get on the snowmobile!
Move to the "field" where the dogs are waiting
3. Lecture begins!
First, you will learn how to ride a dog sled.
4. Practice first!
Experience how to balance and turn on a dog sled while being pulled by a snowmobile!
5. Meeting
Say hello to the dogs you'll be looking after!
Everyone is very energetic!
6. Learn how to put on a harness
Caring for the dogs is also an experience!
7. Try your hand at hitting the dog sled line!
We helped them quickly get ready while listening to the explanation that each dog has a role to play.
8. Ready!
Sorry to keep you waiting everyone!
9. Let's go!
The musher will take you to the starting point on a dog sled. You'll be amazed at how fast it goes!
The participants will be given a ride on another snowmobile to follow behind.
10. And...
The speed, the exhilaration, the dogs' breathing...
An inspiring experience in a silvery white world surrounded by nature!
Once you reach the turning point, switch riders.
In the second half, we'll run all the way to the front of the hotel!
11. Thank you!
Let's express our gratitude to the dogs who worked hard!
12. Before We Say Goodbye
At the end, we helped reconnect the ropes.
You might even become good friends with your dog and he'll look back at you and say, "Let's run together again!"
Come and experience the excitement and thrills that you can only get here with your dogs!
User comments:
- It feels so good!
- I was surprised at how fast it went!!
- The view was incredibly beautiful!
- It wasn't scary at all! The mushers supported me so I didn't have to worry about falling!
- The dogs were very well behaved!
Massing Ride Experience Plan
This is different from the safe ride plan with Musher!
Participants can operate a dog sled by themselves! A full-scale experience project
In the first half, you will be thoroughly taught how to ride and operate the vehicle. Once you have learned how to call out to the dogs, you can even try operating it by yourself!
An exhilarating activity you've never experienced before, where you can run through a world of silvery white snow with your dog!
Introducing the musher
Hirai Syunsuke
A representative Japanese disc dog player active around the world.
He became the youngest person in the world to win the US Championships at the age of 19, and later won three consecutive titles.
Since around 2010, he has expanded his activities to Europe, winning tournaments in various countries.
By holding seminars and games locally, the organization has helped discover and improve the level of many players, and is very popular in Europe.
They also won consecutive world championships in 2022 and 2023.
He has many original tricks in disc dog, and is known as the "Trickster" for his originality and creativity.
Kosuke Hirai
A representative Japanese disc dog player active around the world.
He began dog sports at the age of 19, and with his outstanding throwing skills, he and his dog partner Jake have consistently stood on the podium at world championships. He is also active in various dog sports, including dog sledding and flyball, and is frequently requested to teach disc dog seminars around the world.
2019 USDDN World Finals Super Open Freestyle Runner-up
2019 AWI World Championship Winner
2017 USDDN World Finals Super Open Freestyle Winner
2016 European Championship 2nd place and many others
Dr. Mona / Monami Hirai
Veterinarian, Animal Chiropractor, IVCA Certified Disc Dog Player/Flyball Player/Dog Sled Musher/Dog Scooter Musher
2019 DogTownCups Super Pro T&F Winner
2018 USDDN Disc Dog World Finals, USA, 3rd place
2017 Spain USDDN DogFrisbee European Championship Winner European Champion
2016 Asia Disc Dog Championship Winner, Asian Champion
2016 USDDN Disc Dog World Championship Winner, World Champion, and many others
Belongs to "Dogtown Workshop"
About reservations
Reservations are required. Reservations will be accepted starting October 1st, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
Cancellation fees
If you cancel for your own reasons, the following cancellation fees will apply:
2 days ago...50%
The day before and on the day: 100%