As the winter ski season reaches its peak, the slopes of Japan¡¯s major resorts are growing increasingly busy now that foreign tourism has resumed, and many may be looking to take their vacations a step further by going backcountry skiing.
But the death on Sunday of two men in Nagano Prefecture, including American world champion freestyle skier Kyle Smaine, was a tragic reminder of the risks involved in backcountry ski trips, even for expert skiiers.
Here is what you need to know about backcountry skiing in Japan:
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