[Only have 2 days to ski, where would you go?]

Are Nozawa and Hakuba too far to day trip and get there before resort opens or close to first chair? Since we will be in Tokyo, I just am not sure of we want to switch hotels and stay part of the time at a resort.

 

I think ger is saying steepish tree runs in combination with powder, but I would say that Kagura has both. Nozawa and Hakuba definatley have steeper, but I would say some of the tree runs I have done at Kagura would be at least steepish even when the top lift is closed. That said I do like Nozawa a lot also and usually save Kagura for when all the lifts are running.

[Only have 2 days to ski, where would you go?]

I think ger is saying steepish tree runs in combination with powder, but I would say that Kagura has both. Nozawa and Hakuba definatley have steeper, but I would say some of the tree runs I have done at Kagura would be at least steepish even when the top lift is closed. That said I do like Nozawa a lot also and usually save Kagura for when all the lifts are running.

[Only have 2 days to ski, where would you go?]

Kagura sounds great. My main concern is that I read the upper mountain/lift doesn't open until later Feb and we are going end of January/beginning of February. Will the resort be worth while then still finding challenging parts of the resort, tree skiing, etc or are we going to be in green run haven in a bunch at that time of the year?

 

If we were to day trip it from Tokyo, could you still get there first chair or shortly after or is that too difficult with the train/bus system with the timing? I assume if you did day trips, you would want to be based around Tokyo station? Is that still a good area to be in if you want to experience Tokyo?

[Only have 2 days to ski, where would you go?]

Also, I heard Hakuba has nice back country, but nothing in bounds

 

Amazing some of the things you 'hear'!

 

For convenience, the resorts in Yuzawa (Niigata) win. The main station is just 80 minutes or so from Tokyo Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen bullet train. And you have decent places to choose from.

 

Funny dumbstick. Meant I heard there was no off piste or tree skiing allowed on the resort. Is that true at Hakuba?

[Only have 2 days to ski, where would you go?]

We will be in Tokyo on a layover arriving 1/29 at 5pm and leaving Tokyo on 2/2 at 7pm. The two of us wanted to spend a day or two in Tokyo and one or two days skiing. We would love to go to a resort or a couple resorts that have great snow, off piste or tree skiing if possible, some good groomed runs, and just a nice experience. If we stayed at the resort, we would want our own private unit. But with the amount of time we are out there for, would we be better just doing day trips from Tokyo? Also, from some of the further resorts, I believe we found flights from Tokyo to Saparro for $130, but may be cutting it close with only a day or two available to ski on this trip. Another couple things we want to take in consideration is the time of season we are going with the snow quality then, will all lifts/areas be open/how busy with the Chinese new year. We only speak English and may not feel real comfortable doing any back country with a language barrier, unfamiliar territory, etc. Also, I heard Hakuba has nice back country, but nothing in bounds. I don't know if I would participate in that since I am not bringing out my avalanche gear. I understand we won't get everything we want at one resort.

 

So with all of this info just getting off a 12 hour flight, what would you do? Which resorts would you go to and would you stay in Tokyo and do day trips or stay at the resort for a night or two?

 

Thanks for all your input.