Thread: Japan trip in planning.. need some help!

Hey, I've done some searches and found quite a lot of info and hit up poachninja, and powderhounds as well but was wondering if anyone could help out. I'm planning on heading out to Japan with a buddy of mine for two weeks in mid Jan, and we don't really want to just stay in one resort. We want to do a fair bit of exploring of the skiing Japan has got to offer, big and small. I love the small resorts.

So! Besides the obvious places like Nieseko and Hakuba what are some resorts that we should try to hit? What is the best way of moving from resort to resort, public transport or renting a car? And what is the situation in Japan with inbounds and out of bounds?

We'd also like to see some of the culture so if there are any resorts with nice spots nearby, or on the way that be cool.

contact Hohes on here, he will have all the info that you need.

Some info I used to plan my last trip
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/j...cture=Hokkaido

International Drivers Permit http://www.csaa.com/travel/plan-a-ro...driving-permit


Bus to Niseko http://www.nisekotourism.com/en/plan...ess-to-niseko/ No Online booking
http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/access/index.html The main two bus companies are listed on this page but they have no english page

http://www.ixsmtravel.com/index.php?...&products_id=4 This one offers on line booking - 2,300 yen
http://www.niseko.cc/niseko/services/transportation.jsf this one has online booking- Hokkaido Resort Liner 2300 yen
http://www.goodsports.co.jp/white_en...iseko-chitose/ White Liner - On line reservations 23,00 yen

Bus to Kutchan http://www.nisekotourism.com//files/...metable_en.pdf This is the bus to the train station. No reservation required.

Grand Shuttle http://www.grand-hirafu.jp/winter/en...n/shuttle.html The buss around Hirafu

Niseko United shuttle http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/access/index.html bus around to all the resorts

Niseko United http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/index.html includes general us info, ski info lifts, wheather....includes local shuttle bus

Train
Hokkaido Rail http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/index.html
Route Map http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/.../route_map.pdf
New Chitose Airport→Sapporo→Otaru　　Otaru→Kutchan→Oshamambe Timetable http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/.../ttable/04.pdf

Lodging in Niseko
Kimamaya http://kimamaya.com/Kimamaya/Kimamay...din_Hotel.html t
Hokkaido Tracks http://www.htholidays.com/niseko-accommodation/

Consulate
Canadian Conslate in Sapporo http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca...ang=eng&view=d
Canadian Embassy in Tokyo http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca...ang=eng&view=d

Niseko rules Maps http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/rules/11-..._Rule_JPEN.pdf top view pdf...simple...with gates. and names and guidlines for skiing and bdy coordinates.
Avalanche Info http://niseko.nadare.info/
Grand Hirafu trail and food map http://www.grand-hirafu.jp/winter/en...p_11-12_en.pdf

Onsen guide http://www.powderlife.com/magazine/i...ko-onsen-guide

pochninja http://www.poachninja.com

Here are a few pictures

shit that might happen to you....

but totally worth it...

Shit, thanks a lot for the info and stoke! Didn't think crevasses were an issue in Japan? Did you end up renting a car or doing public transport when you went?

'Crevasse' = very big glide cracks in a deep pack.

Even in Hakuba a rental car is a benefit, not to mention if you want to move around the country/regions a bit more. Though If you want to ski Hokkaido and Honshu, perhaps get two separate rentals with a flight in between.

We took public transport when I went but then we just stayed in Niseko. Then we took the train up to Otaru and Sapporo for some fun exploring. I like your idea of going to the other less well known places and a car would be good for that. I think there are 400 ski areas in Japan.

Hi mate, have a look at ski.com.au forums- we aussies are all over Japan and there is heaps of great info and contacts in there, with threads for most major areas of Japan. You're probably best, in a 2 weeker, to look at either Hokkaido(Niseko rusutsu furano kiroro etc) or Honshu(Hakuba, Myoko, Zao, Naeba etc) theres heaps of info on all of these places

http://forums.ski.com.au/forums/ubbt...=924151&page=1

This is perhaps the most comprehensive Japan TR I've ever seen and provides all the baseline info for many places in both Islands and is a great frothbuilder to boot! See ya over there!

Can only speak for Hokkaido

Basing yourself in the Niseko Resort Area of Hokkaido you have access to Niseko United (Annupuri, Niseko Village, Hirafu, Hanazono).

Using public transport you can also ski

Moiwa
Rusutsu
Kiroro
Teine

(between 1/2 - 2 hrs each way from Hirafu)

Renting a car gives you far more flexibility and shortens the travel time.

You can also get to Sapporo Kokusai, Chisenupuri and in the interior

Asahidake
Kamui
Tomamu
Furano

The Snow Japan web site link will give you the lowdown on the above.

So too this

http://www.skiing-hokkaido.com/

This is what last season on Hokkaido looked like for me

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ht=sr+hokkaido

he's going with his buddy, any one got any info on hookers and boozing out there?

Japanese beer (lager) in a bar approx 500 yen
Imported beer in a bar approx 500 - 1,000 yen

Single shots of liquor in a bar approx 600 - 1,000 yen

Bottles of wine in the supermarket 500 - 1,500 yen
Bottle of gin in the supermarket 1,000 yen

Originally Posted by Mike Pow

Single shots of liquor in a bar approx 600 - 1,000 yen

Good data Mike.

Taking it further:

4 liters of local whiskey approx 2500 yen, drink at home, no sausage fest, still sleep alone, still wake with a hangover, still ski powder.

Buy this book!!
Easily the best english language guide to the major Japanese ski resorts / areas
(randomly it also has a vague friend / fellow scot-skier on the front cover).

In process of planning similiar trip myself... sounds like Japan is a proper maze of small mini golf resorts.
First decision you need to make is Hokaido (i.e Tokyo) or Honshu (i.e Sapororo).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Snow-Search-...0469660&sr=8-1

Splitting two weeks on Hokkaido and Honshu only leaves a week for each, plus travel in between, so not that much time. Do you want to waste travel time, or ski as much as possible?

One week Hokkers, maybe just ski the Niseko/Rusutsu/Moiwa area. It's like 4+ hours I believe to Furano, or maybe we just had bad conditions, so it can waste a bit of time. Why not save that area for another trip?

If you wanna head out there I really love Kamui - small, but when the powder is on, it's on. Best snow I ever had. Furano has some great terrain. Patrol can be anal, but they seem to be relaxing a bit. Asahidake and Tomamu are also other options.

Honshu - Hakuba, Nozawa, Shiga, Myoko are all outstanding.

Recently my wife left Sapporo by plane at about 6pm and arrived in Hakuba around midnight, perhaps a bit earlier, can't quite recall. Admittedly this included having a private car in the equation and having no stress with language and only a small bag. But you can ski a full day at Niseko then catch first lift next morning in Hakuba if you rig it right.

Thanks for the info.. and the booze. Least its not as pricey as Norway!

With car rental being about 350GBP/500USD a head, I'm guessing public transport will end up being cheaper, even by Japanese standards. By the links so far it seems that public transport to/from the big resorts seems fairly easy, is it a similar tale for the smaller resorts?

I get what you mean by the time wasted by travel, and you definitely have a point. It might be better, and cheaper, to hit up one part and try to see as much in that area. I hear good things about Chisenupuri... Fuck this trip is starting to get more expensive!

Anyone know/been to any good cheap hostels in the Niseko area then?

edit: Also, any idea on how late I can leave accommodation booking for the smaller areas? What sort of prices I can expect from outside-Niseko area Hokkaido prices?

Originally Posted by gibbsy

Hi mate, have a look at ski.com.au forums- we aussies are all over Japan and there is heaps of great info and contacts in there, with threads for most major areas of Japan. You're probably best, in a 2 weeker, to look at either Hokkaido(Niseko rusutsu furano kiroro etc) or Honshu(Hakuba, Myoko, Zao, Naeba etc) theres heaps of info on all of these places

http://forums.ski.com.au/forums/ubbt...=924151&page=1

This is perhaps the most comprehensive Japan TR I've ever seen and provides all the baseline info for many places in both Islands and is a great frothbuilder to boot! See ya over there!

As well, if you wanna do Hokkaido and Honshu in the same trip an idea is to use Chuo Taxi to transfer from Narita/Haneda airport to Nagano areas- it's a little expensive but it'll mean you are picked up at the airport from Sapporo and dropped to yr accommodation in Nagano- late, but ready to ski the next morning. Worth an extra 30 bucks if you ask me, as it means you get the most ski time in both places.(say 6pm Sapporo flights will get you to Hakuba by 1am)

In Niseko we got a pretty square deal at the Hilton of all places. They often do a 2nd room half price stay 7 pay 6 deal. Its pretty mainstream but huge buffet breakfast you can piullage for all day snacks, plus gondola out the back door was not too bad. Alternatively, Annupuri lodge is quite reasonable pricewise but a little further from where most restaurants are.

I went for a week in Niseko last year in mid January. Had an incredible time. Stayed in the Niseko United area, but probably shoulda done at least a day at Kiroro or Rusutsu, where crowds are much smaller = more untracked. If/when I go back I definitely want to go the smaller route. Asahidake looks pretty sweet. Just so many choices..

only reason to go to Asahidake is if you want to ski highest point on Hokkaido. The lift served terrain sucks and the lodging is over priced. I would skip it. Furano looked interesting although I did not ski there.
here is a link to write up and photos of our trip. some travel info there. We took public transport. Very easy and really did not miss much skiing time. A vehicle could get you to some more out of the way areas.
http://www.scottfennell.com/dehydrat...n&report_id=12

Thanks for the info and stoke, things are coming along nicely with the planning and looks like we'll be booking flights/accom (for first part) tomorrow.

Was wondering if there was another good base? We're probably going to spend 5-6 nights at Niseko. Is it worth doing the big hike to the Furano area, for the last 4 nights before we go back to Tokyo? Or am I being silly and should I just spend it in Niseko and do day trips elsewhere?

The latter IMHO

I'll throw in my 2 cents here. Myself, wife, and a buddy went to Hokkaido this past February. Research seemed to indicate "if you want to go to Australia, go to Niseko. If you want to go to Japan, go to Furano".

We went to Furano for four nights + two nights in Sapporo. We stayed at North Country Inn at Furano - awesome. We did not have a car and we were OK. Skied two days at Furano resort, one day touring with a guide we hired, and one day at Sapporo Teine the day before heading home. Three out of the four were powder days.

If you need more blog posts to sift through, here are two from our trip:
http://ericfahsl.com/index.php/blog/20-hokkaido-skiing
http://acengineeredknits.blogspot.co...ano-japan.html

Have fun!

Originally Posted by Mike Pow

The latter IMHO

Is that because of the skiing? Or the cost/travel issues?

Cheers for the links blasta34