<span style='font-size: 17pt'>Updated Crew List</span> The starting point for information on Japanese travel: http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Japan Hakuba fattwins: Hakuba resident damian: Hakuba resident timmyhugecans: Hakuba resident HakubaBCbum: Hakuba resident TJ: Hakuba resident Dave:Feb & March Sandy: 07 January - 09 January, 22 January - 26 January, 19 February - 22 February Trekky: Feb and March Loklok, son, daughter, and probably +1: Early Feb - one week Donza: 16 February - 03 March mjmmjm: 09 February - 02 March Petesguitar1 1+: 20 February - 05 March BPL, 1+ & kids: 24 January - 20 February stovemiester: 04 February - 17 February Mamabear: 10 January - 18 January Slim: 03 March - 10 March AndrewR: 10 December - 26 February Kimski: 20 February - 26 February Cregs: Mid Feb - Mid March K@os: 18 February - 26 February summit_32: 29 December - 07 January Risca1961: 31 December - 04 January darkrabbit: 03 January - 11 January Mark102: 02 January - 29 January loklok: 22 February - 28th February sara777: 05 February - 21 February GSea: 11 February - 21 February fdxrate: 2 February - 15 February churchy: 03 February - 07 February Nozawa Onsen Fat Boy: Nozawa resident Sandy: Long weekend January smackies +3: 20 February - 25 February Slim: 24 February - 02 March Kimski: 27 February - 06 March Risca1961: 04 January - 07 January TotalyRottn: 14 January - 16 January Tommmm: 31 December - 08 January pigface and cin + partners: 20 February - 25 February Sandy: 27 January - 30 January Myoko Kogen Myoko Guy: March Sandy: Long weekend in February Born2Ski: 12 January - 29 January snowjunky: 02 February - 09 February JT & Japanuary Crew: 16 January - 31 January Risca1961: 07 January - 10 January Madarao Kogen TJ: 19 February for day trip Shiga Kogen Sandy: A few days in February snowjunky: 11 February - 18 February TotalyRottn: 17 January - 24 January pigface and cin + partners: 25 February - 29 February YehYeh: February 7 - February 19 churchy: 08 February - 12 February Kagura/Naeba/Yuzawa DeesOnSkis: Late January 2011 Sandy: Late February, and some days in March. Sandy: 03 January - 05 January Hokkaido Weekender 6 person crew: 07 February - 15 February (Niseko and further two weeks TBA) malibu: Tomamu - 29 December - 02 January (with some day trips to powder fun elsewhere) fifa: Tomamu, Furano, Asahikawa Feb 6th for a few weeks. kieranskis: Tomamu - 17 February - 22 February Rabid K9: Western Hokkaido - All of February Niseko Go Native: Niseko Resident OpTic: Mid to late January Mamabear's #2 bearcub: 31 December - 02 March pat42 + GF: Niseko and surrounds for 3 weeks in jan. tdc: 16 January - 22 January Smitty484: 12 February - 16 February RatherB@thesnow: 05 February - 14 February Tex + 5: 19 January - 29 January (WOOHOO) Mrstr_Chief: 18 January - 28 January Crispy013: 26 January - 05 February Weekender: 7 February - 14 February beexy + few mates: 10 days, dates unknown. Neslot: 25 January - 22 February Vermillion: 14 February - 21 February Mamabear: 18 January - 25 January Glider: 16 January - 24 January SnowDogg: 03 March - 10 March kieranskis: 07 February - 17 February PiedPiper: 24 February - 04 March rugbyskier: 24 January - 28 January Furano FuranoFreshPow: Resident spaceman347: 6 weeks from December Smitty484: 02 February - 07 February smackies +3: 11 February - 20 February (+ Kamui, Asahidake, Tomamu) McNads: 12 February - 19 February Mrstr_Chief: 29 January - 03 February Weekender: 15 February - 21 February malibu: 02 January - 14 January SnowDogg: 25 February - 03 March freddy: 3 months from mid-January rugbyskier: 30 January - 05 February Rusutsu Smitty484: 07 February - 12 February RatherB@thesnow: 02 February - 05 February McNads: 05 February - 12 February tdc: January 11 - January 16 Other - add in name(s) of resorts Sandy @ Minakami: 06 January All over the shop: Annago +3: Jan 11 to Feb 2 - Hakuba, Nozawa, Myoko Mamabear +3: 12th to 25th Jan. Hakuba and Niseko DeesOnSkis: Jan 10-25 Yuzawa, Minakami, and Katashina K@os: February 12 - February 17: Honshu SkiandRideGuide: All over Hokkaido and Honshu in February Still deciding: Petesguitar1 +1: Mid Feb, back in March Ceecee: 01 February - 21 February ianski: 10 days in March Accommodation http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Japan (search by region) Travel: http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Japan#Transport Snow reports and forecasts: http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Japan#Climate Back Country http://www.myokokogen.org/mbss/english/index_e.php http://myokokogen.net/nordic.htm http://steepdeepjapan.com http://nisekosnow.net/niseko-backcountry/index.php Maps Akakan Resort Akakura Onsen Hakuba Nozawa Onsen
I've booked the Sydney - Tokyo leg already. Got in early to secure business class return on FF points
how long you going back to Furano for? Im thinking of basing myself there for part of the trip next year, but use it to get around to the other resorts in the area...I am planning on having a car.
I'll be going back to Hokkaido to do virtually the same trip as the last 2 - 1 week at Rusutsu & 1 week at Furano. Considered multiple other options including Canada, but the most important thing to me is as many relatively uncrowded pow days as I can get for my buck. That being said, I don't think there is any more safe option then 'the other' resorts in Hokkaido. Added to this, I now know the resorts very well, where to find a plethora of hidden gems. I may not know them all, but I certainly know of enough to keep me satisfied. Will be there from Feb 5 through Feb 19.
I'll be there for approx 6 weeks again. I've got friends there now and I love the noodles from Ramen Corner
I'll probably be heading back to Hakuba again. Would be pretty keen to try some other resorts though If I can get some more time off work. Already bought some new skis in preparation for Japan BC lines so I have to go now!!!
Yeah still deciding but it looks like the following for 2011: Feb: Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen for a week Sept: Canada autumn sightseeing trip
Id say we'd be going back. Id like to go to Hokkaido this time though, any thoughts/recommendations where to stay? Or it will be back to Shiga Kogen for a week or so.
Yer, Ill do some reasearch. Thanks smitty for the site. But can anybody recommend an area that has steep terrain, and good powder runs (depending on snowfall) on the north island from previous experiences?
Hokkaido is a big place, but basically there is a choice of two main regions. 1. Niseko and surrounds including Rusutsu which is pretty well documented. 2. Central Hokkaido with Furano being a good place to base. Furano itself have some steepish runs and you can sample a number of different areas on day trips eg. Asahidake, Kamui, Tomamu, Sahoro and Tokachi for BC. There are plenty of other small resorts about the place with a few near Sapporo but the above two options would be the first options. oh and it is Hokkaido, so you are always going to find powder.
Anyone thinking about doing a full season here, the proper way - with no work, just skiing/boarding? For me: there is still 2 months of good skiing to go, with a few scrappy days in June. Next winter still seems like a lifetime away but I aim to hit Hokkaido in late March with the campervan for a few weeks
My guess: 60,000 yen per month for accommodation. 60,000 for season ticket. 60,000 yen per month for food and limited booze (more than enough!). Living in Japan for 3 months for 100 days on snow = about $5500, and you could do it far cheaper. Plus flight and travel expenses. Solution: Only get drunk once a month for the next 9 months. Don't go to the snow in Australia this winter. Don't buy anything new. Save every cent. Oh, add on $1000 for beacon, shovel, probe, backpack, snowshoes and hiking poles. Essential in this country if you want to make the most of it for a full season. Thats not a season expense, it is an investment in your future (trust me). But it will lead to a splitboard, and they are not cheap.
You make it sound very tempting. I was actually looking at 2 months next season (Jan and feb)I have to be back in march for uni. However a friend and I are going to go to Europe the following June so I had to postpone it. However the costs you just posted are very doable indeed!!
Uni student, and I assume no wife, mortgage, kids or oppressive debt. It doesn’t really matter where you choose to do a season of fulltime riding, now is a very good time to do it.
An uber cheap Jetstar sale.....http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/cheap-flights/2for1-japan.aspx?utm_source=jq_home&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=japan_2for1_sale_20100325 oh wait. NADEALS I'd love for you to comment on this sale? I thought JAL was going bankrupt and other airlines weren't going to have sales this year? I think Jetstar have had 3 sales since you posted that comment.
Well, they should be big enough for the big days! (Keep in mind though, Happo backbowls are not always powder, or at least not powder+stable+good vis at the same time – in fact they are far less reliable than areas not quite as accessible from the lifts).
If anyones keen to goto Hokkaido it seems the flights are better timed now. See below Flight 1 Monday, January 17, 2011 Departure: 9:20AM Sydney, Australia - Kingsford Smith, terminal 1 Arrival: 5:10PM Tokyo, Japan - Narita, terminal 2 Airline: Japan Airlines JL772 e Aircraft: Boeing 777-200/300 Operated by Jalways Change of plane required. Time between flights = 1:30. Flight 2 Monday, January 17, 2011 Departure: 6:40PM Tokyo, Japan - Narita, terminal 2 Arrival: 8:25PM Sapporo, Japan - Chitose
The 777's are great I reckon except there is no aircon thingy above your head. I'd prefer a777-200 to a 747 any day of the week, in cattle class anyway.
JAL's 747's are very old and tired. Especially the ones that used to fly Osaka - Syd So yeah 777 all the way.
I love it that Japanese don't go looking for the spare seats. Geez they're great. We're always all over it.
I don't love it when find a spare seat or three -while your wife is asleep.. she wakes up and panics and can't find you....
currently planning my trip to Japan.. listing all the things i need, searching for a good deals, etc.. _________________________ tour packages | travel agencies | hotel booking
Just waiting for the Jet* birthday sale Reckon we'll do minimum 2 weeks next year, sometime around Feb. Now where did I put that credit card?
Looking at this years paperwork - I booked my Jet* 2 for 1 deal on June 16th June 2009. So, maybe they will release a similar deal in just under three months time. If so, I'm booking! Nozawa back I come
Been spending this morning getting some ideas together for next winter. Looks like I will be in Japan from 21 Jan to the 5th Feb with 14 nights on snow. Thinking we fly into Chitose, pick up a car...spend 2 nights in Kiroro Snow World, 4 in Niseko, 5 in Furano and 3 in Tomamu. Then I can hit up other places as day trips with the car.
Looking at three weeks in Feb. My mates want to go back to Nozawa. I want to check out Zao and somwhere in Hokkaido. Lots of planning time ahead.
Updated Crew List Hakuba Nozawa Onsen Myoko Kogen Shiga Kogen Kagura/Naeba Hokkaido Smitty484: Jan 21 - Feb 05 (Kiroro Snow World, Niseko, Furano, Tomamu and places in between) Possibly 6, could end up with just me. Haha. McNads: Rusutsu Feb 5 - Feb 19 Niseko Furano spaceman347: 6 weeks from December McNads: Feb 5 - Feb 19 All over the shop: smackies: February for 3 weeks Travel http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi - Train timetables and fares http://keinanbus.com/english/index_e.htm Transfer bus - Myoko and snow resort transfers http://myoko-nojiri.com/access/ http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/ http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/charge/index.asp Accommodation http://myoko-nojiri.com/hotels/ - look for the links to each resort area http://www.naganogo.com/nozawa-onsen-accomodation/ http://www.ski-resorts-japan.com/resort-accommodation http://nozawaonsen.com/english.html http://hakubaconnect.com/ http://www.whitehorse-hakuba.com http://www.penkepanke.com/english/ (Hakuba) http://www.hakubalunahotel.com Snow reports http://myokokogen.net/weather.html http://www.naganogo.com/places/nozawa-onsen/ http://www.snowjapan.com - look for [Resort Name] Now! reports Snow forecast http://www.snow-forecast.com http://myokokogen.net/snow_alert.html - snow reports/forecast by email Back Country http://www.myokokogen.org/mbss/english/index_e.php http://myokokogen.net/nordic.htm http://steepdeepjapan.com
Well normally i'm not this anal, but with possibly a few people coming on the trip, I wanted dates set so that if Jet* sale fares pop up we can all just book at once.
Still life in this season - bucketing down with snow today. Japanese school holidays at present so you should see the crowd at Tangram.
Noticed Jet* have 2 for 1 fares to Melb>Gold Coast> Osaka today offers ends on the 31st MARCH!!
Damian, we did go backcountry there and yes, an afternoon tour outside the resort was fantastic. The snow quality was excellent:
