In reply to Cathy:
TetonGravityResearch forums might be a good start... Atleast around SLC, people do go out quite a bit and I had no problems hookin' up with partners while I was there. But then again I had been active on TGR and some other forums I the past, so this made things easier.
And as was stated above. Americans tend to be rather friendly and social... So joining them should be rather easy.
That said, I would not Focus solely on touring whilst lift served skiing can be a hoot. The snow is good and most resorts offer controlled sidecountry (slackcountry).
Fat skis might be required. I was skiing on 185 cm long skis, that were 136mm at the waist and still my whopping lard ass of 75 kg ended up neck deep on them turns. It was good, as in really the best snow on earth... Though haven't yet sampled Hokkaido, only the main island of Japan.