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jazza 
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Post subject: Japan Baby
 Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 02:22 PM
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First post: Oct 08, 2009
Total posts: 6
Status: Offline
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Hi all
im heading to OZ soon and was looking to maybe stop in japan for some of the white stuff on route, can anyone recommend any good companies to organise this or best resorts to go to
cheers
James |
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nickmotture
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 - 02:52 PM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 10414
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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woody2shooz
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 21, 2011 - 06:54 AM
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First post: Oct 08, 2006
Total posts: 335
Location: Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Status: Offline
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what he says
how long are you thinking of?
for short stays better sort your own flights and book into a B&B type lodge. They'll sort you out with transfer from the airport to resort and get you discounted lift pass etc. |
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MagSeven
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 21, 2011 - 08:08 AM
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First post: Jun 09, 2005
Total posts: 5
Location: Hokkaido
Status: Offline
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Pretty easy to DIY. If its a short stopover, you'll get more riding time if you look at the mountains in Honshu that are a train ride from Tokyo.
If you have longer, then you could fly up to Hokkaido. Also, I believe during the winter there are direct flights to Oz from Sapporo. (although maybe only to Perth?) |
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dunx
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 21, 2011 - 11:10 AM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 9314
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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| Niseko all the way. I went just after high season last March and loved the place. Amazingly beautiful and different. |
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SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook • Neverland
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MickRich393
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 21, 2011 - 12:06 PM
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First post: Sep 19, 2010
Total posts: 50
Location: Kanagawa, Japan
Status: Offline
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| As above - skip the companies and spend the money you'll save on soaking up the culture and shredding some of the best powder you'll ever ride! I've probably jinxed it now and we'll have the worst winter on record! There are shedloads of resorts to choose from so it depends on when you're coming, how long you're staying and what sort of riding you like/want, etc, etc. |
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TubbyBeaver
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 23, 2011 - 03:04 AM
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First post: Oct 23, 2008
Total posts: 188
Location: Japan
Status: Offline
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a few SJers congregating one here....NIIICE!!
Of course Niseko and the Hokkaido resorts are awesome, but depending on your budget and time frame, the added cost and time of getting up there may be better served by hitting up the Honshu resorts....all easily accessed by Bullet train, bus of pogo stick from tokyo (ok the Pogo stick might not be a good idea) Resorts on Honshu that are top notch........
Hakuba-8 or 9 resorts in the same valley, when its not on in one, it'll be on in another. High mountains, lots of vert and back country to explore...do get a guide though. Village has some good apres options which isn't always the case in Japan.
Shiga Kogen- Quite simply HUGE!! A huge skiable area as its actually many resorts all linked into one. The snow here is as good as I've ever seen and the huge area means that even during peak times, the lift lines are short and there are fresh lines everywhere. Downside is that nightlife is almost non-existent and after soaking in the onsen the only real option is a few cans of beer in your room before drifting off to sleep.
Nozawa Onsen- Good snow, good terrain. A real traditional Japanese Onsen (Hot Springs) Town that will give your trip that bit of a culture tinge.
Myoko Kogen- Great area for snow, 3 or 4 ski resorts on the same mountain. A compact village at the Akakura side that has a few options for food and drink. Also nearby is Nozawa Onsen and also a multitude of smaller resorts that are worth a day's visit for a change of scenery.
Yuzawa- Situated a mere 70 mins on the Bullet Train away from Central Tokyo, this area boasts a fantastic snow quantity and quality record. The big guns in the area are definitely Naeba, the Bubble era's top spot for Japanese skiers from Tokyo. Snow is good and resort has enough to keep you interested. Village has a few restaurants and bars as well as the ubiquitous onsens to soak your tired bones in after a days shredding. You could stay up in Naeba or stay down in Yuzawa town and take the frequent shuttle buses up to the resort, which is about 40 mins away from central Yuzawa. The best powder in the area is undoubtedly at Kagura. The tallest resort in the area and is spread over 3 wide areas of Mitsumata-Kagura and Tashiro. Mitsumata is the access area for most people, and has a few runs and a snow park. usually ride across to the kagura gondola and that'll take you up the mountain proper. from the top there is a great array of trees and back country entrances, be careful though and be kitted out properly or take a guide. In bounds the patrol is relaxed and the tress hold the powder all day long. 1 thing though, due to its proximity to Tokyo, this can get very busy on weekends, weekdays are definitely your friend here. Yuzawa also has a load of other great resorts that are worth a gander GALA Yuzawa has its own Bullet train station, an hour and a half after leaving Tokyo station, you can literally be clicking in and gettig your first Japow face shots......again this place can get very busy on weekends. Kandatsu, Ishiuchi and many more are easily accessed by public transport from Yuzawa station. I live just south of Tokyo and use this area a lot for day trips.
These are the main spots on Honshu that are easily accessed from Tokyo, another a little further afield, but still reasonably easy to access ais Zao Onsen-come and see the frozen trees that the locals call Snow Monsters, beautiful onsen town in Yamagata. Good snow, good people.
as you can see there are loads of areas to check out, good luck!
TB |
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MickRich393
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 03:53 AM
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First post: Sep 19, 2010
Total posts: 50
Location: Kanagawa, Japan
Status: Offline
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Some good info there TB!! Catch up with you on the new, improved SJF soon!  |
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TubbyBeaver
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 - 11:56 AM
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First post: Oct 23, 2008
Total posts: 188
Location: Japan
Status: Offline
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| yeah mate for sure! See Fuji-san got her first dusting of snow...Nice!! |
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Kuri
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Nov 09, 2011 - 07:01 AM
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First post: Nov 09, 2011
Total posts: 1
Status: Offline
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All Hokkaido rocks but if you've got to name a single resort Niseko is the easy choice: easy to get to, quite reasonable prices once you're on the ground, a wide range of accomm at every price point and CRAZY good snow.
Gotta say I totally disagree with the Niseko's too far away / too expensive... do some research and you see it's actually quicker to get to Niseko than it it is to the Nagano resorts listed above. Better still to fly London to Hong Kong then direct to Chitose.
Oh, and the biggest difference between Niseko and almost everywhere else in Japan is the super positive attitude to back/slack/side country access. Unless you're heading to Japan to ride groomers get to Niseko - just like pretty much every pro film crew does each season...
Check this for some footage:
Clip from Neverland (Pearce, Muller & Ettala in Niseko & Hokkaido)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpbfQXIk1fk
If you are looking to put something together yourself check out the JNTOs website. It's got a new system on there where you can book everything you need (Accom, transfers, lift tickets and more) direct and get some good deals... Check it out at:
http://skijapan.seejapan.co.uk/cw/sj/support.jsf
Be warned though: Once you've tasted the pow in Hokkaido almost nothing else will ever satisfy you again...  |
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dunx
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Nov 09, 2011 - 08:49 AM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 9314
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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Here's my write up from my trip to Niseko.
www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-11063.html
I can't speak highly enough of the place and we were treated like kings. That was great, but it was a shame we didn't really find out much about the budget side of staying there. When we got to Tokyo we went out and found the dirtiest restaurant we could. |
_________________
SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook • Neverland
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DXRAZOR
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Post subject: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Nov 09, 2011 - 08:58 AM
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First post: Dec 06, 2009
Total posts: 245
Status: Offline
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| I bet the dirty side was still great |
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TubbyBeaver
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Post subject: Re: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Nov 09, 2011 - 01:25 PM
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First post: Oct 23, 2008
Total posts: 188
Location: Japan
Status: Offline
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Kuri wrote:
All Hokkaido rocks but if you've got to name a single resort Niseko is the easy choice: easy to get to, quite reasonable prices once you're on the ground, a wide range of accomm at every price point and CRAZY good snow.
Gotta say I totally disagree with the Niseko's too far away / too expensive... d o some research and you see it's actually quicker to get to Niseko than it it is to the Nagano resorts listed above. Better still to fly London to Hong Kong then direct to Chitose.
Oh, and the biggest difference between Niseko and almost everywhere else in Japan is the super positive attitude to back/slack/side country access. Unless you're heading to Japan to ride groomers get to Niseko - just like pretty much every pro film crew does each season...
Check this for some footage:
Clip from Neverland (Pearce, Muller & Ettala in Niseko & Hokkaido)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpbfQXIk1fk
If you are looking to put something together yourself check out the JNTOs website. It's got a new system on there where you can book everything you need (Accom, transfers, lift tickets and more) direct and get some good deals... Check it out at:
http://skijapan.seejapan.co.uk/cw/sj/support.jsf
Be warned though: Once you've tasted the pow in Hokkaido almost nothing else will ever satisfy you again...
Eh?? No its not. Do your own research........the Nagano Resorts, from Tokyo will take you 4 hours door to door using the Shinkansen and then a shuttle bus from Nagano station. The other train I think is the Keisei liner from Shinjuku station and is about the same. Yuzawa, in Niigata, is 70-90 mins away from Tokyo station by shinkansen (depending on if you get the express or not), you can literally be on the snow in under 2 hours from leaving Tokyo station....impossible to do in Niseko. You have to get from Tokyo to the airport, an hour before the flight at the least, 1 hour for the flight, another for getting your bags and finding the right stand to get the shuttle bus, you gotta wait for the bus, then its 2-2 and half hours by shuttle bus to the resort itself....that all adds up to over 4 hours. Unless you book your flight 3 months in advance, it can be very difficult to get one of the discounted cheap flights, so you are looking at at least 20,000 yen return for the flight alone and probably more. Of course Niseko is more expensive to reach from Tokyo than the Honshu resorts, it also takes longer.......but if you have the time and are fine paying that little extra then of course iits gonna be worth it, Niseko rocks. But since there are loads of other places nearer to Tokyo that also rock, I thought I'd put a little out there as people abroad tend only to here of a few places, when the reality is different. To hint that all other resorts in Japan don't allow back/slack/side riding is misleading to say the least. Niseko has a great set up and well controlled gates that let you know the conditions and on this note IS the best managed in Japan.....but I often ride off the side/slack in many other resorts and have never had my pass yoinked....many places will turn a blind eye to it.
Anyways, to the OP, if you have the time and the money then for sure hit up Hokkaido/Niseko, you won't be disappointed....however if you are thinking budget and or time then the Honshu resorts can all deliver as well
BTW I mean that it can be more expensive from buying an extra domestic flight from Tokyo, if you are able to build it into your UK-Oz ticket then I'd do that. I was making the assumption you'd be flying into Tokyo first. |
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jazza
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Nov 09, 2011 - 10:03 PM
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First post: Oct 08, 2009
Total posts: 6
Status: Offline
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| thanks for all the replies good info, looking at prices unfortunately niseko although a dream is looking too expensive unless someone has a flight sale ha ha, maybe start looking at resorts near tokyo, my mrs experienced proper pow in whistler now is a powder monkey so hopefully get some, any ideas on cost for accomodation in Honshu/ nagano regions? |
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TubbyBeaver
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Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Japan Baby
Posted: Nov 10, 2011 - 10:33 PM
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First post: Oct 23, 2008
Total posts: 188
Location: Japan
Status: Offline
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| you are looking at about 5-7000 yen per night per person in a Japanese style Pension. That will usually include breakfast and sometimes dinner. There are a couple of backpacker like places that'll give you a night for 4000 yen. Have a look in Hakuba, Hakuba Powder Lodge has bunk rooms as well as private. The guy that runs it is a Canadian and knows his way around the area....he's guided a few top BC skiers around. What you will find though in Japan is that the Apres scene is pretty non existent outside of Niseko and to a lesser extent, Hakuba. Nozawa Onsen has a good few restaurant/bars, Yuzawa has a few. Shiga Kogen has almost zero unless you stay in the Ichinose area where there are a lot of hotels grouped together and and you can visit the bar/restaurant in each of them. |
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