Japan 2011- 2012 Trip Plans/Thoughts/Reviews Thread

[smitty484]

I thought about whether or not I should start this now, considering what is going on in Japan at the moment. However I thought it would be a good idea to get the stoke on for next year in order to maybe encourage a few more people to travel to Japan next year, which in turn will only help their economy. Just checking the crew list from last season and it looks as if everyone has returned from their holidays, so now it's time to start discussions about next year

And yes I know March is still good for snowfalls, but most of us can't enjoy that

If I have missed any of the residents living in the Japanese resorts, let me know. GN has been left off Niseko this year!!

<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
itchy_knee: Hakuba resident
Wizard: Hakuba for the season
Mark102: January 10 - March 15
rugbyskier: January 9 - January 13
stovemiester: January 20 - February 10
ponyrider: February 13 - February 17
TACKIE #1: Christmas - early February
TACKIE: Late January - Mid March
TropicalPow: January 26 - February 03
Smitty484: 28 January - 24 February
Pelm1: 03 February - 17 February
Sandy: 26th December - 2nd January
Budgiesmuggler: 2 January - 7 January
Sandy: 10 February - 13 February
Annago +1: January 13 - January 29
the other white meat: January 16 - January 26
BofSki and Red Marmalade: February 26 - March 03
Flohrie: 30 January - 18 February
smackies: 25 January - 05 February
cal32: 23 February - 25 February
Donza: 15 February - 24 February
skimax + skimax jnr: 20 January - 28 January
CarveMan & CarveGirl: January 26 - February 04

Nozawa Onsen
Fat Boy: Nozawa resident
seekingpow: 07 February - 13 February
dickyknees63 + Family: 14 January - 21 January
rugbyskier: January 18 - January 20
ponyrider: February 18 - February 23
sara777: 25 February - 03 March
skichic: mid January for 10 days
Oldskiier: 11 January - 16 January
gibbsy and crew: 25 January - 04 February
PMG + 1: 29 January - 03 February
DWD + TBC: 15 January - 23 January
Budgiesmuggler: 27 December - 2 January
Sandy: 03 February - 05 February and possibly late Feb/early March
BALTO: February 12 - February 22
miro67: 31 January - 07 February

Myoko Kogen
seekingpow: 14 February - 22 February
qwill: 2 or 3 weeks in January
BofSki and Red Marmalade: 04 March - 10 March
MarkGC: 21 January - 28 January
rugbyskier: January 14 - January 17
TropicalPow: February 03 - February 14
snowjunky: 02 February - 09 February
Oldskiier: 05 January - 10 January
gibbsy and crew: 19 January - 25 January
PMG + 1: 03 February - 08 February
cams: 16 December - 26 March
smackies: 20 January - 24 January
Peejay: 22 January - 02 February
skichanger + 3: 19 January - 14 March

Madarao Kogen
snowjunky: 09 February - 14 February

Shiga Kogen
ausi ski bum: December/January for 10-12 days.
snowjunky: 14 February - 21 February
Sandy: 13 January - 15 January
miro67: 24 January - 31 January

Kagura/Naeba/Yuzawa
Markopolo, mid January one week
Sandy: early March

Hokkaido
Mrstr_Chief: 2 weeks, February.
claydough: February 02 - February 16 (Niseko and Rusutsu)
Crispy013: February 03 - February 26
bluestick: January 17 - February 18

Niseko
Go Native: Few weeks
ratherb@thesnow: 12 days from 23 January
Bindo: 11 February - 19 February
Fonty: 16 January - 28 January
Texy and crew: 27 January - 10 February
chivvo: 14 January - 20 January.
Crispy013: 8th February - 25th February
surfie_guy1: 28 January - 9 February
SEJ: 11 January - 15 January
Charles: February 02 - February 09
Mercyrx3: January 27 - February 11
GSea: 23 February - 27 February
deepsno: 10 January - 22 January
nickmaaaate: 06 February - 19 February
CarveMan & CarveGirl: 15 January - 25 January
snow-pixie: 04 December - 12 December

Furano
FuranoFreshPow: Resident
freddy: December 20 - March 14 (ish)
spaceman347: December 25 - February 08

Rusutsu
GSea: 15 February - 23 February

Dynaland, Gifu
ojisan: 22 January - 24 January



Other - add in name(s) of resorts
Sandy: 27 January - 29 January: Zao Onsen
SEJ: 15 January - 30 January: Daisetsuzan National Park (back country)
MG and family - Asahikawa/Kamui/Asahidake: 5 February - 12 February

All over the shop:
JoeKing: Honshu in Mid January - Hakuba, Myoko and Nozawa Onsen
Budgiesmuggler : Nozawa/Hakuba/Myoko 27 December - 07 January

Still deciding:

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.dancingsnow.com/
http://myokokogen.net/nordic.htm
http://steepdeepjapan.com
http://nisekosnow.net/niseko-backcountry/index.php
Hakuba Avalanche Bulletin: http://nadare.jp/alert/index.html

Maps
Akakan Resort
Akakura Onsen
Hakuba
Nozawa Onsen

Similar Threads
Nozawa Onsen
Furano
Myoko
Niseko
Hakuba

 

[Go Native]

I'll be heading back for at least a few weeks. Thinking of keeping my car for now and leaving it with a friend so I'll have wheels when I return for a holiday. Road trip around Hokkaido is starting to sound good. So many places I haven't been to because I have always been too busy during the winter!

 

[seekingpow]

Put me down for Myoko & Nozawa mid Feb. Time & dates not sorted yet but thinking 4-5 days in each plus some time in Niigata & Tokyo.

 

[TJ]

Thanks Smitty for the encouragement. The tourism industry in Japan is certainly going to need a leg up this year. Hopefully lots of ski.commers will come and support the ski industry throughout Japan and get lots of great powder for their assistance.

 

[Donza]

I'm not sure if this is still current however there is a airline that flies between Sapporo and Matsumoto (close to Hakuba)
Fujidream airlines
they charge 19.800 yen for a 55 day fare..which to my way of thinking is pretty cheap deal (one way)
so in other words , you can ride in Hokkaido. Then fly down to Matsumoto and pick up a hire car-drive to hakuba (60 mins easy drive)
Without dealing with the whole Tokyo Haneda-shink etc deal.

 

[seekingpow]

Most folks I know TJ that have been loyal Japan skiers are still planning '11/12 seasons

 

[smitty484]

I'll be back, looking at 5-7 weeks on Honshu, probably mostly based in Hakuba. Still in the dreaming and planning stage though.

 

[Vermillion]

Jesus Smitt-balls that's a decent trip, for those of us who get that much time off

Im looking at 2 weeks+ kicking around Hokkaido sometime late Jan/early Feb at this stage.

 

[Donza]

I'm doing 3 months soon Verm- in hakuba...
not next year
year after..

 

[Vermillion]

My employer loves me too much to let me go for that long. At least that's what they keep telling me.

 

[Donza]

Im looking at 2 weeks+ kicking around Hokkaido sometime late Jan/early Feb at this stage.

been to main island yet Verm?
I don't think i'll go back to Hokkaido anytime soon..except maybe to goto Furano and take P-star there.

 

[Donza]

My employer loves me too much to let me go for that long. At least that's what they keep telling me.

Long service
thats what its there for

 

[Vermillion]

I havent been in the workforce long enough to get any long service, let alone at the same employer!

 

[smackies]

Never too early to start planning holidays.

I'm not sure where I'll be, but if still in Australia, hopefully a month in Jan/Feb to yet unknown destinations. Probably on Honshu but might just wing it Car Danchi-style.

 

[ratherb@thesnow]

Starting off with 5 days in Rusutsu this time and then over to Niseko for 3 days and finishing up with 2 days at Furano.

Dates are still to be confirmed as I'm not sure if I will wait for those 2 for 1 deals that Jetstar have and fly on the cheap, down side is those deals really restrict the dates that i can travel, this year the earliest was the 2nd of Feb.

I'm thinking that I would probably like to travel a bit earlier next year and maybe around the 20th of Jan also considering flying via Hong Kong and directly into Sapporo.

I originally had a group of 8 going, 4 repeat visitors & 4 newbie's but the firs timers have all bailed because of the recent events which is a little disappointing as we were looking at booking one of those nice big houses at Rusutsu which would have been awesome, but on the other hand I understand fully their concerns

 

[smitty484]

Jesus Smitt-balls that's a decent trip, for those of us who get that much time off

Im looking at 2 weeks+ kicking around Hokkaido sometime late Jan/early Feb at this stage.

Hahaha well I may be quitting my job and changing from part time uni to go back to being a full time uni bum for a year, in order to complete the last of it. If that happens then I’ll be able to go that long.

 

[ratherb@thesnow]

I also wanted to wait and see what Smitty's plan are as next trip I'm planning to be on what ever Island he isn't, that way I should get some decent snow falls. ;-)

 

[smackies]

A very good idea. Maybe just find out where to and when Sandy is going and follow him.

 

[smitty484]

I also wanted to wait and see what Smitty's plan are as next trip I'm planning to be on what ever Island he isn't, that way I should get some decent snow falls. ;-)

Well for the amount of time I am hoping to go, if I get skunked for all of that I may as well give up the sport for good. Take to something less weather dependent, like bridge or something.

 

[andrew7]

Likely to be giving Japan a wide berth next Northern winter (after back to back years in Hakuba) until the nuclear issue settles down (French Alps here I come!)

 

[ausi ski bum]

Well I am still working out the detail at the moment but it looks like a December January trip including Xmas and New Years (due to the kids military commitments and limited leave). I am pretty sure we will do about 10 - 12 days at Shiga Kogen but 4 nights up at the hotel right on top of the 2350 metre mountain first for Xmas Day then the balance the other end of the resort at Prince Hotel East.

I think I will hire a car to use in the resort this time, the bus service is OK but I want to et out more in the evening and this will also allow us to drive to other resorts and the monkeys if we want.

So trip number 6 coming up for me.

 

[parkmonkey]

I'm a maybe but i didn't book till a couple weeks before i went this year.

 

[Donza]

I'm a maybe but i didn't book till a couple weeks before i went this year.

no worries "sunshine"

 

[Sandy]

One thing to consider is your flight into Japan....

Just make sure you are aware that Haneda Airport now has a brand new international terminal. From Australia, you can get flights via hubs with Cathy Pacific, Thai, Malaysian, JAL, etc.
That means no annoying transfers from Narita -&gt; Haneda if you're heading to Sapporo, and it's a more realistic option to get into Tokyo and onto the Shinkansen (etc) if you are heading to the snow in central Japan.

The new terminal is VERY nice.

 

[Sandy]

Well I am still working out the detail at the moment but it looks like a December January trip including Xmas and New Years (due to the kids military commitments and limited leave). I am pretty sure we will do about 10 - 12 days at Shiga Kogen but 4 nights up at the hotel right on top of the 2350 metre mountain first for Xmas Day then the balance the other end of the resort at Prince Hotel East.

I think I will hire a car to use in the resort this time, the bus service is OK but I want to et out more in the evening and this will also allow us to drive to other resorts and the monkeys if we want.

So trip number 6 coming up for me.

I cannot recall ANY hotel at the top of Yokoteyama at Shiga kogen (above 2300m). You may have your wires crossed, and may be describing the small cluster of hotels "up at the Yokoteyama end of Shiga Kogen, which lifts up to 2300m".
That cluster of hotels is at around 1750m, and there is nothing much to do around there in the evenings!!!!! Compared to the other end of Shiga Kogen, the Yokoteyama/Kumanoyu end is like a tiny mountain village.

What is the name of the hotel?

 

[Ozpow]

Maybe he's doing 4 nights at Yokoteyama Sancho Hutte? Awesome bakery in there, amazing views too.

 

[Sandy]

Maybe he's doing 4 nights at Yokoteyama Sancho Hutte? Awesome bakery in there, amazing views too.

I didn't realise that was a hotel.

 

[Ozpow]

I stayed there for 2 nights a few years back, its got the traditional ryokan rooms with futons. I lucked out and got an amazing sunrise amongst the snow monster trees. I highly recommend the stay for something a little different. The food was sensational!

 

[Vermillion]

A very good idea. Maybe just find out where to and when Sandy is going and follow him.

You should follow me around instead. Smitty leaves and I get snow, you arrive as I leave and it turns into slush

 

[smitty484]

to be fair, snow this trip wasn't that bad...i'm just greedy and want epic

 

[Vermillion]

Yeah you're right smitty, I was a bit disappointed with waist deep 2 days after you left

 

[M_G]

Good to see the new thread up. I was thinking it was about time.

One very useful tip is the new Shinshu Nagano 2-day (consecutive) 'free area' pass. For 2,500 it will get you from Nagano to Yudanaka, Nozawa and Myoko as well as the bus from the station to Zenkoji Temple. You can also get to Matsudai, Obasute, Shinano, Ueda and Togura. So you can have a 'tourist break' in the middle of your trip. Unfortunately no Hakuba or Matsumoto - although you never want to catch the slow train there anyway. Link - http://www.jreast.co.jp/nagano/kairou/pdf/20100402.pdf

Another cheapie hint. There is a bus from Tokyo to Togura for 1700 yen. You can catch that up and then connect on the above pass - http://www.harvest-tour.com/onsen/t-kamiyamada.html

If flying in for a Nagano trip it's seriously worth thinking about coming into Nagoya. We used it for the first time this year and were really impressed.

 

[Donza]

Yeah you're right smitty, I was a bit disappointed with waist deep 2 days after you left

but thats in Niseko verm
and Niseko is balls
like kissing your cousin

 

[Donza]

Good to see the new thread up. I was thinking it was about time.

One very useful tip is the new Shinshu Nagano 2-day (consecutive) 'free area' pass. For 2,500 it will get you from Nagano to Yudanaka, Nozawa and Myoko as well as the bus from the station to Zenkoji Temple. You can also get to Matsudai, Obasute, Shinano, Ueda and Togura. So you can have a 'tourist break' in the middle of your trip. Unfortunately no Hakuba or Matsumoto - although you never want to catch the slow train there anyway. Link - http://www.jreast.co.jp/nagano/kairou/pdf/20100402.pdf

Another cheapie hint. There is a bus from Tokyo to Togura for 1700 yen. You can catch that up and then connect on the above pass - http://www.harvest-tour.com/onsen/t-kamiyamada.html

If flying in for a Nagano trip it's seriously worth thinking about coming into Nagoya. We used it for the first time this year and were really impressed.

Nagoya airport?
which airlines?
Jstar used to fly in there . alas no longer

 

[Vermillion]

Better than sucking your own balls on a plane back home.

 

[Donza]

Better than sucking your own balls on a plane back home.

hahahaha
alas
you'll be educated one day oh wee jedi

 

[rugbyskier]

I'm going to be a 'fly-in-jin' - I'm not put off by earthquakes, tsunamis and leaky power stations.

Early planning stages but will have at least a few days in Hakuba. Thinking about a few days at Nozawa Onsen and might include a trip to Hokkaido (Tomamu and back to Furano for a few days).

After the skiing I'll do some sightseeing in Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima before going back to Tokyo on the shinkansen and then off to Vancouver and Whistler to catch up with a Thredbo mate and play rugby with the Legends Old Boys. Back home via LA.

 

[M_G]

If flying in for a Nagano trip it's seriously worth thinking about coming into Nagoya. We used it for the first time this year and were really impressed.

Nagoya airport?
which airlines?
Jstar used to fly in there . alas no longer

Of likely interest to Aussies - Thai, Singapore, Korean, Cathay. Didn't realise J* had pulled the pin.

 

[smackies]

You should follow me around instead. Smitty leaves and I get snow, you arrive as I leave and it turns into slush

You wouldn't be able to keep up... with my sake consumption.

Snow was ace until I went to Niseko. You jinxed it (save for the first couple of days which were awesome).

 

[Go Native]

Nicely little vid of some of the nighta action up this way this season. Let's get the stoke going! Or is it a bit early?

http://vimeo.com/21292492

 

[Petesguitar1]

Stoke all year round GN! With my Chrissy bonus cut in half by tax, it means I need extra incentive to go to work and Japan is that incentive!

 

[itchy_knee]

Nice one smitty - it's never too early to start making plans. I'll be over in Hakuba as of June.. Actually I'm moving over - Can't wait...

 

[Sandy]

Nice one smitty - it's never too early to start making plans. I'll be over in Hakuba as of June.. Actually I'm moving over - Can't wait...

What will you do in Hakuba from June until Nov/Dec?? And what will you do in Hakuba long term if you're moving there?

 

[TJ]

Nice one smitty - it's never too early to start making plans. I'll be over in Hakuba as of June.. Actually I'm moving over - Can't wait...

What will you do in Hakuba from June until Nov/Dec?? And what will you do in Hakuba long term if you're moving there?

Do you play cricket?

 

[Sandy]

Nice one smitty - it's never too early to start making plans. I'll be over in Hakuba as of June.. Actually I'm moving over - Can't wait...

What will you do in Hakuba from June until Nov/Dec?? And what will you do in Hakuba long term if you're moving there?

Do you play cricket?

I'll have to come in as a guest player again at some stage!!!!

 

[smitty484]

crew list updated for the moment.

 

[M_G]

Do you play cricket?

I could possibly fill in sometime in July. Haven't finalised plans for our return yet.

 

[smitty484]

Just had another lady lecture me about my plans to return to Japan next year. She was also quite insistent that she will no longer eat seafood due to the radiation leaking into the ocean and the fact that fish and other creatures can swim, so they could technically swim to Australia. fcuk me ay.

 

[skiflat]

Just had another lady lecture me about my plans to return to Japan next year. She was also quite insistent that she will no longer eat seafood due to the radiation leaking into the ocean and the fact that fish and other creatures can swim, so they could technically swim to Australia. fcuk me ay.

She deserves a promotion!

 

[Sandy]

Just had another lady lecture me about my plans to return to Japan next year. She was also quite insistent that she will no longer eat seafood due to the radiation leaking into the ocean and the fact that fish and other creatures can swim, so they could technically swim to Australia. fcuk me ay.

But I bet she texts while driving.....