[when is "Fatty's" opening?]

i'm thinkin that'd be fatty at log/pension kanon in hirafu, i'm sure if you dropped them a line they'd let you know.

 

Their contact info is in the Places to Stay section if you are interested. (edited)

 

[This message has been edited by Ski Japan Guide (edited 20 March 2002).]

[anyone boarded tateyama or hakusan?]

I've heard you can hike tateyama (toyama-ken) and board down, and heli-ski hakusan (ishikawa-ken)but has anyone out there actually done either of these?

[Nothing Special at All in Japan for Advanced Skiers/Boarders]

I think the main thing in japan is that you have to search out the steeps and sometimes you have to put up with a bit of a hike or be prepared for a quick escape from the patrol.

as far as the better steep/advanced sections i've found so far, i think the run from the peak to hanazono in niseko is the best - fast, steep and with some interesting trees at the end. the only drawbacks are the hike if you take the wrong line and the volumes of people on a good day.

apart from that:

hakuba 47 has some good stuff under the quad lift,

nozawa some fun but not so steep sections around the top,

and yakebitaiyama, arai, myoko, hakusan ichirino all have some interesting stuff. While they probably aren't quite the length everyone's looking for, they're definitely heaps of fun and rarely tracked out.

On a side note, does anyone have any recommendations for good backcountry trips and good places to hire/buy gear?