First trip to Japan for myself, wife and two sons (9 & 7). On the snow at Nozawa for 7 days from the 9th January. It'll be the first time to the snow for them and first trip OS for the boys. They're super pumped already. Really looking forward to the experience. Flights booked Accomodation at Nozawa booked Just the side trip in Tokyo to organise now.
We're booked end of Jan. Not sure where yet likely Naeba for ease with two kids - one skiing one in childcare.
Me... nuffin booked yet... once I do, I will be taking my now 2 year old (next year she'll be 3) & introducing her to the wonders of snow sports... She already experienced '' yuki' for the first time this year at her grandparents place
Booked 12th Jan - 26th Jan. Fukuoka -> Beppu -> Hiroshima/Miyajima -> Himeji -> Kyoto -> Kanazawa -> Hakuba -> Tokyo. Bring it!
It's April. Seems like this thread starts earlier every year. I'll probably be heading over that way again next year but haven't had the slightest thought of booking anything at this stage.
Same, my brother will have been back for a year, so he'll be itching to get back over for a trip at least. I think a lot of people booked and went earlier this year, so they're already hanging for another dose.
Our flights are booked into Sapporo. 25th November. Still working on the rest. We will be leaving from Tokyo in the first few days of April after taking our parents to enjoy the Sakura. Looking at a Visa Hop to Seoul in Feb if our Julie would stop whacking the hornets nest! We are juggling friends and family coming and going over the 4 months so we needed to start locking things in so they could start getting flights on points, organising annual leave etc. I'm just a little bit excited. It's been a dream of ours to 'do a season' and it's finally being booked We had planned to stay until lifts closed, but we would miss 3rd sons 21st, so we are calling it a month earlier, which is when more than half of the staff are leaving anyway, so I'm happy with the timing.
Joisus. Commiserations. Ever thought of switching codes? And try not to take "go hard or go home" so literally.
Yes indeed. We are just about full already for mid-Jan. Ankle? Arm? Maybe we should run a book? But seriously, take care out there! It's even more dangerous out of the onsen.
Tanaka-san to take care of excess bookings again next year? And leave car windows open during a heavy snow event?
Booked my flights two months ago. Jan 3 to Jan 20, will book accommodation later in the year. Fifth ski trip to Japan but first time to Hokkaido.
No accommodation booked yet but the plan is a week in Otaru skiing a number of nearby resorts, then a week at Tomamu.
Add in Asahikawa maybe, but pity you won't be there when the snow festival is on - the kids would've loved it! The zoo there is worth a visit on a day off + the ramen village. Yes, and hopefully not! Surely he's not THAT organised!
Still a couple more weeks of this season People are definitely booking early for next winter. I'm already looking forward to it.
Who is everyone flying to Japan with, and what made you choose them? For us, despite a not so great experience last time we've gone with Cathay again. Mid-range on available prices for those dates, but best/quickest/most direct route AND is 'one world' so we cop a break on luggage allowance which we will need. Edit: Sorry should've said: Perth-HK-Sapporo (13hrs55m)
Malaysian, this time will be a bit shorter than the usual 30 hours of travel time, Darwin KL Tokyo. and cheep as chups.
I noticed yesterday that Jetstar are now adding a fee for oversize luggage on all flights (ie skis bags, snowboard bags, surfboards etc). $25 dollars per oversized item per flight on domestic and international flights. Jetstar Japan are also adding a fee of 2,000 Yen per oversized item. More reason not to fly with Jetstar.
Nothing booked but I will be going with Singapore Airlines again.. Streets ahead of Cathay.. Same travel time for me.
I'm interested. In what way streets ahead? PB flew part journey on Thai last month, and a friend regularly flys Thai - journey comparable to Cathay from Perth, way cheaper, friend reckons thier economy is far superior (space and service).
Singapore here too. Amazing service, hard to fault. 30kg luggage and no issues with oversized snowboard bags. 1k return for a full service airline is all ticks for me.
The meals were really good. Spacious seating.. Very pleasant crew. Modern planes.. Some of the Cathay aircraft have been shockers.. I felt like I was sitting on a milk crate on one leg last year on the way home.. They weighed and counted hand luggage and made people repack if they had too many or were too heavy. So there was still room to put your bag above where you sat.. One of the annoying things on Cathay...
Probably Singapore for me too after our Junkstar debacle this year..Superb service plus although expensive Changi airport pretty cool.
In the last 14 months I have flown 2 x Thai, 1 x Singapore, 3 x Qantas, to various SE Asian destinations. If the stopover suits your schedule etc, they are all about equal. IMO Singapore Pros. Large Entertainment selection, Regular Hot towels Singapore Cons. All flights must go via Singapore. Changi Airport- don't like their anal Security Thai Pros. Good food Thai Cons. All flights must go via Bangkok Qantas Pros. Safety record, Better drinks selection. Direct flights to many final destinations and therefore reduced no. of transfers Qantas Cons. Generally more expensive than others In the last two years i have also flown Emirates, Etihad, Air Astana, Air Lao, LAN, Air Canada, as well as the previous mentioned, all ok none outstanding. It think your choice really comes down to what suits your schedule or places you prefer to visit.
We are flying with Singapore; Brisbane - Singapore - Haneda, all 4 of us for just under 1k each. I really wanted to go QF or ANA into Haneda however the tickets were on average 600 bucks more expensive per ticket. I couldn't justify the extra expense. I almost booked with Thai Airways, they went on sale the day after I booked. I think it added about 2hrs journey time each direction from memory. I think they were cheaper
For me it comes down to a combination of cost, schedule and luggage allowances (weight & inclusion of skis). Stuff like quality of entertainment, meals, drinks etc are mostly incidentals. To Japan in the past have flown JAL, ANA, Malaysian & Qantas.
Did that with my crew earlier this year. Late night transfer in Changi is not conducive for young kids and sleep. BNE-HND or NRT about 10Hr. BNE-SIN-HND = 18-20hrs and feels much longer. Hope it goes well.
I've done JAL/Qantas and Malaysia to Japan before (from Melb). Was also going to go Garuda one trip but we cancelled due to illness. I liked the direct flight with JAL (well via Syd) and the excuse to have a four-day stopover in KL was good too. I don't think I'd do a long layover elsewhere in Asia to get to Japan if I could avoid it. I would, however, happily add a three or four day stopover again - it was like two holidays for the price of one! As much as we were hoping to, +1 and I won't make it to Japan next season. I am having hip surgery in November to be followed by four weeks on crutches. I'll still try and ski a few days this Aussie winter, to hell with hip pain. I thought I was but no. I'm 33.
Also more reason to use Takkyubin if you can, for domestic Japanese travel. Best flights for me to Japan have been : Singapore, and China Airlines (I know, I was surprised too) Worst flights to Japan - Jetstar GC-Narita (direct) Even worse, would never ever do again - Jetstar : Tokyo - Cairns - GC. Yuck. Thinking of trying EVA next year!
From BNE...Qantas direct flight was probably my best experience...close second EVA air via Taipei. Then Qantas via Sydney was the pits.
Yeup, expecting a long grind. I just couldn't afford the shorter flights. We have 8 in our travelling group, 4 of which will below the age of 10, I apologise now to anyone that meets on the Shink to Iiyama that morning. @Beerman how'd you find getting through Haneda Customs at 630 in the morning?
My recent experience has Cathay fairly level with Singapore. The only thing I didn't like about Cathay was the fixed shell seats they still use on some of their shorter flights. Luckily the flights were half empty which helped make up for the lass than comfy seats. I have't booked anything for 2018 but I'm keeping an eye out for specials.
Eva Air. Full service airline, good reviews, top safety record and only cost us $759 Brisbane to Sapporo return during January school holidays.
