Hokkaido Japan; Central Hokkaido or Niseko
So planning the bucket list to Japan next year for a 10 day lift accessed backcountry tour. I plan on doing a tour with WhiteRoomTours and they have tours that covers central Hokkaido (based out of Furano) or split between Niseko/Otaru area. These tours tend to search out the best conditions of the resorts around the areas and ride the sidecountry around the resorts. What would you recommend? I mainly have done my trips I the US or Canadian Rockies so I am used to really steep terrain (just got back from an epic Revelstoke trip) which I know Hokkaido doesn't offer but I do want some good steeps and very deep snow.
Also how late is to late to go such that I can all but guarantee the blower snow I am searching for (I know this is impossible to predict)? The group has work limitations so we have to go after Jan 26th. Feb 5th is Chinese new year which I have been told to avoid at all costs due to 1000's of Chinese tourists flooding the area. Is there risk to a mid to late Feb trip?