MagSeven

Sorry, sans cheese, but will add some when I get back from work today! And the crater isn't all that crater like, but we got right close up to the vents.

I've had a couple of days up at Asahidake this winter. Once in Feb, with zero visibility but chest deep snow, and another last Sunday with perfect visibility, but only ankle deep snow. Both were fun! We hiked to the top on Sunday in clear blue skies, and then skied down into the crater. I'll definitely be going a few more times before the end of the season.

I read somewhere that there was a decent 2nd hand store somewhere in Niseko. I'm thinking now is the time that seasonal workers are going to be heading off, and hopefully leaving some decent gear behind! After looking round a few ski shops last weekend, I don't think my budget is going to stretch to a whole new setup for next winter, so hopefully I can get something a little easier on the wallet! Any info on whether this 2nd hand store exists, and also where it is!? (I know there are tons of Hard Off/2nd Street type places all over Japan, but I figured in Niseko, a 2nd hand store is

Yep, Kurodake should be open, barring any strong winds, which can sometimes close things down. I went up there back in early December, so no indication on what conditions will be like now. And yeah, the 3,600 will cover the ropeway and chair. It should be good up there though. I went up to Asahidake a couple of weekends ago, and even with the warm and fairly dry weather in Hokkaido, there was a ton of snow. I'll definitely be heading up to both mountains more towards the end of March and into April.

Wow, amazing photo

Couple of shots from Kamui. This one is the day before the original poster was here And this is from Friday, when Snowhuntress was here - it wasn't all hard and crusty!

Shhh don't tell too many people about Kamui! I think I was up there the day before the OP visited, and I was up there on Friday when snowhuntress was there. It's a sweet little place and usually very quiet. There have been some amazing snow days there, and some, like Friday where a bit underwhelming. The terrain there at first looks ok ish, but once you start to scratch the surface, there is so much in the trees and over the backside. Its not the steepest of course, its Hokkaido, but lots of fun to be had! If anyone else is heading there this winter, give me a shout, its my

Originally Posted By: ippy furano MagSeven, keep me updated on kamui conditions i really wanna go, but want to make sure its worth dropping the bus cash before i sully it I went on Thurs and it was beautiful in the sunshine, and the snow wasn't too bad. Definitely needs some more though. Hopefully we'll get more overnight and through the weekend.

Kamui Ski Links

Looks like you had a sweet day yesterday Mitch! I didn't make it to Rusutsu. The wife was feeling pretty sick Sunday night and Monday, so unfortunately I had to do the decent thing and drive back home Monday morning! Thanks for showing me a few spots on Sunday though. I really enjoyed ripping the trees with you. I'll no doubt be down there again a few times. Let me know when you're planning to hit Furano, or any of the Sapporo hills (or nightclubs!)

Not that I'm a regular on this forum, but I'm gonna be in Niseko that weekend, I'll try and come along!

Andylaurel, I'm about an hour from Asahikawa (assuming the Expressway is open!) I ride at Kamui most weekends, its a great hill. Also will be hitting other spots around Asahikawa - Furano, Asahidake etc. Hopefully you'll get a good few days on the snow once you arrive.

Originally Posted By: Chriselle Originally Posted By: grungy-gonads So, not Niseko then. Tokyo and ???? for me. Probably won't get there this trip. Depends if they get any snow at Kamui or Furano. I was up at Kamui Saturday and Sunday. It was pretty good considering the slow start to the winter. Decent ish cover, and a fair amount of the hill was open. On topic- Xmas I'll be skiing somewhere close to Sapporo New Year, I'll be in Thailand.

Fail. Sorry. Hopefully this'll work. Text is above, but pics should be below!

Made it up to Kurodake for some skiing on Sunday, and it was suggested on another thread that I should post some pics - so here we go! The sun was out first thing in the morning, and there was a dusting of fresh snow ontop of a decent base. We were gonna take a few runs under the chairlift as it was our first day this winter, and then think about hiking up for an explore. The wind really started to pick up though, and clouds came in, so we ended up just jibbing around on the sides of the trails, until the chair closed early afternoon because the wind was too strong. Not the best day ever,

Sorry guys! Fairly new to the site so not quite up to scratch on posting photos - apologies! Leaving work in about 20 mins, so will try and get a couple of photos up when I get home. There's a Kurodake thread floating around somewhere, so I'll bump that to keep things on topic.

As of yesterday, I've now skied in 1 place in Japan. Kurodake. Fingers crossed we get some decent snow soon, so that number can increase!

I'm going to be riding Kamui most of the winter (got an early bird pass yesterday - Y35000). Give me a shout if you're heading over that way.

I'm still undecided as not certain it'll open. Going to head up to Asahikawa and stay with friends tonight, and make the call first thing tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

You planning to head up there over the weekend GoNative?

Originally Posted By: MitchPee Originally Posted By: MagSeven Are any of the hills in Hokkaido going to open this weekend? I'm hoping to head up to Kurodake.... Good to see you are on here man , just a month or so more, how's Sapporo? GN...looks like the BD lodge is postponing their party so I don't think it's still going on there. Hey buddy! Not too long for you now eh? All good here. Hoping to get on snow tomorrow, but not sure. I think the BD party was postponed from the 6th, which is when Kurodake was originally intending to open. I've heard from a few people that

Are any of the hills in Hokkaido going to open this weekend? I'm hoping to head up to Kurodake....

Bumping this thread, hope thats ok. Did Kurodake open this weekend? Or does anyone know when it will? Planning to head up there in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the welcome! I read the Niseko season pass thread. It's a bit of a trek from here, so it probably won't be a regular spot for me. I'm looking forward to discovering what the smaller ski areas have to offer. If there's anyone else around in the area between Sapporo and Asahikawa, please drop me a line!

Hi! First post here, but I've been lurking for a little while. I just arrived in Iwamizawa, just north of Sapporo. My skis that I sent via UPS also arrived, having survived customs and a not 100% accurate Japanese address! I'm a skier, so can't wait for the winter. I'm thinking I will probably use Kamui Ski Links as my regular haunt, as the expressway up there is free now apparently. Anyone else regularly ride there? Any other suggestions for good local hills? Also any tips on buying season passes, or the most economical way of seeing a number of different resorts over the winter?