Japan 23/24 Season

**PassTheDutchie** · 12-07-2023, 04:48 PM

Trigger pulled: spending a week+ in Niseko in Jan. Quick question: keep hearing about "having to make reservations" for places to eat out. How far out would one need to do so?

**powholic** · 12-07-2023, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by PassTheDutchie

Trigger pulled: spending a week+ in Niseko in Jan. Quick question: keep hearing about "having to make reservations" for places to eat out. How far out would one need to do so?

I’ll be on that trip! 1/15 to 1/27. I get in later to
CTS and need a transport to Niseko.

Are there any buses later than 19:45? I can’t find one. I land at 19:15 and bus line says min 40 min to get on shuttle. Hokkaido resort liner is the last bus i can find.

Buddies arrive 3 days later and are renting a car.

Otherwise around $250 for a shuttle?

Yes, staying with the mobs near grand hirafu. Will travel for skiing, rather be near the hustle.

Bringing ON3P Jeffery 118 181 and skinny goat touring 110 183. Bringing two boots as pivot not friendly to 10mm difference in boot dimension.

Or I mount up my Praxis powder boards mcConkey style reverse reverse with AT binders. They are fun in the pow.

**boltonoutlaw** · 12-08-2023, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by PassTheDutchie

Trigger pulled: spending a week+ in Niseko in Jan. Quick question: keep hearing about "having to make reservations" for places to eat out. How far out would one need to do so?

Call now

**TahoeJ** · 12-08-2023, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by PassTheDutchie

Trigger pulled: spending a week+ in Niseko in Jan. Quick question: keep hearing about "having to make reservations" for places to eat out. How far out would one need to do so?

Depends on the size of your crew but just a few people and it’s a non issue. There’s always the food trucks as a backup plan.

Note: Unless half the restaurants closed during Covid?

Best advice I received when it comes to forecasts in Japan is to ignore them. Our last day in Sapporo the forecast said 4-5 inches and then it snowed 3 feet.

**Mike Pow** · 12-08-2023, 10:59 AM

My experience of 13 Winters in the Niseko Resort Area is https://www.snow-forecast.com/ is spot on for freezing level and wind direction.

They under-report snow accumulation.

**boltonoutlaw** · 12-08-2023, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by TahoeJ

Depends on the size of your crew but just a few people and it’s a non issue. There’s always the food trucks as a backup plan.

Am here now and can say it's definitely not a non-issue. In addition, more restaurants are requiring deposits with advanced reservations.

**TahoeJ** · 12-08-2023, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw

Am here now and can say it's definitely not a non-issue. In addition, more restaurants are requiring deposits with advanced reservations.

Interesting, good to know. I was last there in 2019 so it’s understandable that some things have changed.

**satori** · 12-09-2023, 01:17 AM

Originally Posted by CascadeCrudSkier

Not sure if you're intending on the questions posed there to be answered here or in the other thread but...

I'll echo that doing a 3 day ski trip while visiting during Jan/Feb isn't a very good use of your time. If you're coming to see Kyoto and Tokyo then plan for spring or autumn. This time of year is my favorite. The middle of winter isn't ideal to tour the cities as it's cold, windy, and most of the gardens / shrines aren't really very attractive. Then again, everything is relative so if that's the plan you're committed to then it's better than not coming to Japan.

For the skiing portion, get your lodging portion sorted quickly as prices are high and availability is low. I'd recommend Nozawa Onsen if you can get a room there over Hakuba, it's a far better experience w/ a SO or group who isn't there to focus on skiing. Ask the hotel for dining recommendations upon arrival. If you've already committed to Hakuba then restaurant recs are: sushi/soba: kikyo-ya, ramen: tottsuan, pizza: blizzard in Happo, lunch if skiing Cortina or Norikura: konisu cafe

For Kyoto I really enjoyed an izakaya near Kyoto station called kurakura, it's worth swinging through if you're there for dinner. Don't miss senbon torii on Mount Inari or Kiyomizu temple. This was kiyomizu on Monday, not pictured are the crowds of people for the autumn leaves.

Attachment 477865

Got married in Higashiyama at Yasakajinja. Beautiful area there in fall.

It’s raining currently in Hokkaido which is absolutely shocking but see there’s a lot of snow on the way and cold temperatures too. This is been a shit start which reminds me most recently of 2019.

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

**boltonoutlaw** · 12-09-2023, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by satori

It’s raining currently in Hokkaido which is absolutely shocking but see there’s a lot of snow on the way and cold temperatures too. This is been a shit start which reminds me most recently of 2019.

Almost all of Yotei is rinsed

**Mike Pow** · 12-09-2023, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw

Am here now and can say it's definitely not a non-issue. In addition, more restaurants are requiring deposits with advanced reservations.

You can thank the SE Asian visitors for that, Hong Kong and China especially.

They book a load of restaurants each night, make a last minute decision where they want to go (they normally travel in a large pack), go there but don't tell the other restaurants / cancel reservations.

And they don't care about losing a deposit.

Messes the whole system up.

**Brian in SLC** · 12-09-2023, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by powholic

I’ll be on that trip! 1/15 to 1/27. I get in later to CTS and need a transport to Niseko.
Are there any buses later than 19:45? I can’t find one. I land at 19:15 and bus line says min 40 min to get on shuttle. Hokkaido resort liner is the last bus i can find.
Buddies arrive 3 days later and are renting a car.
Otherwise around $250 for a shuttle?

I get in evening of 18 Jan (8pm) and instead of a private shuttle just booked a night at the airport. Ski bus in the morning (Good sports white liner). Should get me to Hirafu in time for a half day of skiing if I choose. Seems like a good option.

**m2711c** · 12-12-2023, 07:03 AM

**powholic** · 12-12-2023, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Brian in SLC

I get in evening of 18 Jan (8pm) and instead of a private shuttle just booked a night at the airport. Ski bus in the morning (Good sports white liner). Should get me to Hirafu in time for a half day of skiing if I choose. Seems like a good option.

My brother is getting in that night right before you. I think he’s getting a taxi. PM me if interested in details.

**powholic** · 12-12-2023, 08:54 PM

I’m most likely getting a private car night of 1/16 from CTS to Niseko. If by chance anyone is interested PM me. I land 19:15.

**chairman pow** · 12-13-2023, 02:08 AM

Any Japan-bound people looking for some pretty minty and ready-mounted (326 bsl) black crow design Francis Bacons in 184 let me know....wouldn't be hard to get them to you in-country and would save you lugging them here.

**KillerMonkey** · 12-13-2023, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by m2711c

need more stoke videos.

**byates1** · 12-17-2023, 07:15 PM

**Mike Pow** · 12-18-2023, 05:18 AM

It's on like Donkey Kong on Hokkaido

**beer30** · 12-18-2023, 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by Mike Pow

It's on like Donkey Kong on Hokkaido

Meaning the snow is falling?

**boltonoutlaw** · 12-18-2023, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by beer30

Meaning the snow is falling?

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**BiggC** · 12-18-2023, 08:57 PM

I've got flights booked to Tokyo and I've got 7 days to go skiing with my wife from Jan 15-21. We're going to go for 50/50 resort/touring. Central Hokkaido is our first choice, but I've been holding off on booking domestic flights and hotels until we find out more about the conditions.

Am I being dumb by hedging at this point? Is there a scenario where it's low tide Hokkaido but good snow in Nagano/Hakuba in January?

Final JONG question: I don't really want to shlep around separate touring and resort skis and boots, am I going to regret bringing a single pair of Moment DWTs?

**beer30** · 12-19-2023, 01:22 AM

Oh yeah! Less the a month till I’m there.

**SUPERIOR** · 12-19-2023, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by BiggC

I've got flights booked to Tokyo and I've got 7 days to go skiing with my wife from Jan 15-21. We're going to go for 50/50 resort/touring. Central Hokkaido is our first choice, but I've been holding off on booking domestic flights and hotels until we find out more about the conditions.

Am I being dumb by hedging at this point? Is there a scenario where it's low tide Hokkaido but good snow in Nagano/Hakuba in January?

Final JONG question: I don't really want to shlep around separate touring and resort skis and boots, am I going to regret bringing a single pair of Moment DWTs?

At this point, the base in Hokkaido is set with realistically 3-6 feet of snow on the ground, and more in drifts.

Warm storms (rain) can happen anytime in Japan, but would be quite unusual in Hokkaido mid Jan.

I think you’d be happy skiing DWTs at some of the smaller resorts and backcountry. Places like Niseko and Rusutsu do get chewed up, so heavier gear helps with crud.