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D219 
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Post subject: Japan - when's best?
 Posted: May 22, 2012 - 01:09 PM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 947
Status: Offline
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| Looking at the possibility of a trip to Japan next season. Anyone have any idea of what month(s) would probably be best - is it pretty closely aligned to the 'average' European season? |
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Aspect Snow - Snowsport Inspired Streetwear
www.aspectsnow.co.uk (discount for SCUK members)
UK Rider Owned and run
SCUK Member #31
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dunx
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Post subject: RE: Japan - when
Posted: May 22, 2012 - 02:09 PM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 10122
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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D219
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Post subject: RE: Japan - when
Posted: May 23, 2012 - 12:27 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 947
Status: Offline
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| Cheers Dunx - sounds like I may have to move around my planned European trip then. |
_________________
Aspect Snow - Snowsport Inspired Streetwear
www.aspectsnow.co.uk (discount for SCUK members)
UK Rider Owned and run
SCUK Member #31
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ctownjohn
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 27, 2012 - 10:48 PM
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First post: Jun 09, 2010
Total posts: 9
Status: Offline
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Yeah they have the same season as Europe, December-April depending on conditions obviously. I went out to see my brother who was working on a resort out there in late January-February for 10 days and when we went out there they had been having a bit of a dry spell but it dumped like crazy a couple nights and by the end it was the hip high powder you hear of from Japan.
We were at a resort called Hakuba in central Japan about an hour away from Nagano and 3-4 hours by train from Tokyo. There were about 4-5 other ski resorts in the surrounding area as well so there were a few options. Also we heard of Heli skiing/boarding available but we didn't try this so can't comment.
Word of advice, start to learn some Japanese now if your thinking of going out there. Either that or have your travel routes and everything sorted out before hand. We didn't speak any Japanese (stupid I know but we only decided to go a month before hand) and so had a bit of a hard time travelling. Only a few signs have English translations once you get out of the airport. The people over there are SUPER nice though and helped even when the only dialect we both spoke was pointing at things.
It was a good holiday though and good times were had all around =D. So if its hip high powder and an adventure your after I'd easily recommend it! |
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nickmotture
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 28, 2012 - 12:06 AM
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First post: Jan 09, 2006
Total posts: 11165
Location: Washington DC USA
Status: Offline
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D219
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 28, 2012 - 12:24 AM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 947
Status: Offline
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ctownjohn wrote:
So if its hip high powder and an adventure your after I'd easily recommend it!
Yeah that's the type of thing I'm looking for - unfortunately the realities of cost and thet face that some people who want to come have only done 3 weeks means it looks like I'll postpone until 2014. Still on the 'to do' list though! |
_________________
Aspect Snow - Snowsport Inspired Streetwear
www.aspectsnow.co.uk (discount for SCUK members)
UK Rider Owned and run
SCUK Member #31
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dunx
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 28, 2012 - 10:08 AM
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First post: Oct 07, 2004
Total posts: 10122
Location: Herts, UK
Status: Offline
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| I think it's always polite to learn a few words. Most Japanese learn to read English at school, but don't speak it very well. In the larger resorts (certainly Niseko) language isn't too much of an issue, but as Nick says in Tokyo it wasn't so easy. As for not being able to read the signs... you're never going to learn that much Japanese for a snowboarding trip! I got the feeling that Tokyo must be a bit like Paris, up itself a little. Everywhere else we went people were so friendly and helpful. They love the Brits! |
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SCUK Editor • Me on Facebook
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MotoXXX
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Post subject:
Posted: Jun 28, 2012 - 10:45 AM
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First post: Oct 24, 2010
Total posts: 159
Status: Offline
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| After visiting Japan around 8 years ago and then again 5 years ago, they made some big improvements to help tourists, first time i went the subway system was just in japanese, last time i went it was in english so very easy to get around, i speak a little japanese as i made an effort to learn some phrases, I found the majority of japanese people were happy i made the effort (but they also spoke english), i spent time in tokyo and all over, as well as Hokaido. I found tokyo pretty easy, amazing place |
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Nick7
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 02, 2012 - 04:59 PM
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First post: Sep 04, 2009
Total posts: 247
Location: Manchester
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| I cannot wait to go. Going end of Feb for a couple of weeks... I take it end of Feb early March is all good conditions wise. I must try to stop watching You tube vids of Niseko. I am planning on learning at least some basic Japanese phrases... Hated having no German skills in Mayrhofen this year. |
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White Light. White Heat.
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moo
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 02, 2012 - 07:48 PM
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First post: Nov 24, 2004
Total posts: 352
Location: No longer Whistler
Status: Offline
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nickmotture wrote:
Everyone in Niseko spoke english though.
You mean they all speak Australian!
The only phrase we learnt was domo arigato (thank you) or domo arigato goaimasu (thank you very much) and just it used all the time! Lots of the restaurants have plastic models of the food outside so you can point etc although some of the sushi I tried I had no idea what it was.
As above end Jan / Feb are the best, we went over new year 18 months ago and it only got good towards the end. |
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TubbyBeaver
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 16, 2012 - 08:02 AM
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First post: Oct 23, 2008
Total posts: 232
Location: Japan
Status: Offline
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Feb is good and often great, but for the top conditions its definitely January. Usually Xmas-New Year sees the big storm systems start consistently hitting Japan and the pow falls in earnest. Sure learn a few phrases but for the most part you should be ok. In the Tokyo area all train signs are in English as well as Japanese, Tokyo is like any other big city in that there are too many people for everyone to have a warm fuzzy feeling about so can come across a little bit cold.....but its not the case. Japanese people, even in Tokyo will often stop and ask a foreigner if they need help. They will go out of their way and help you find where you want/need to go if they can.
Hakuba is the most famous Honshu resort and does get great snow. It has some proper mountains and the scenery is breathtaking. That said, the couple of times I've been I haven't been too impressed with the snow.....but its that little bit further away from the Tokyo area that I rarely go so its just been bad luck that the few times I've went, the snow just wasn't good. I made a huge post in another Japan thread about the various resorts so I'll not bore you all again with the same info. It depends on what you are looking for out of your trip here....is it solely for snow or do you want that "Japanese" feel as well. Be warned however that the Apres scene isn't really a part of Japanese snow culture and you may well find that part of it disappointing. Niseko and Hakuba are the 2 areas where there is something akin to Europe and the US but a good few levels below.
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask and I'll try and answer/help you out as best I can. |
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