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Incident record

Two snowboarders who left the Kiroro course late in the day get lost and are rescued

Jan 31, 2026 · 16:00 · Kiroro, Hokkaido

Two snowboarders with little backcountry experience and no guide left the course at the Kiroro ski area after 16:00 and got lost about 50 minutes later. They called 110; the ski patrol found them about an hour later and they were down after 19:00, unhurt.

A summary of public reports, written by Ski in Sky and checked against each source. It is not an official investigation, and it may change as investigations continue.

What happened

The two snowboarded at the Kiroro ski area, then after 16:00 went outside the course into the backcountry. About 50 minutes later they lost their way and called 110 saying they did not know where they were. The ski patrol found them about an hour after the call and they were off the mountain after 19:00. Neither was hurt. Police said they had little backcountry experience and no guide.

They left the course 'after 16:00'; the 110 call came about 50 minutes later. Time is approximate.

Where

Outside the ski areaOutside the course of the Kiroro ski area, Akaigawa village.

Known only to the area.

Link to the ski area

Near a ski area, not inside it

UHB: 'キロロスキー場でスノーボードをしたあと、午後4時過ぎからコース外へ出て、バックカントリー' (after riding at Kiroro they went outside the course after 16:00). Outside the course, so not attributed to the resort.

People

Died0

Injured0

Rescued2

What is known about the cause

Not confirmed

Sources

  1. UHB (Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting) ↗ · 2026-02-01

Last checked against the sources on 2026-10-22.