TJ OZ

Originally Posted By: brit-gob Originally Posted By: TJ OZ Not sure what the debate here is all about. Nothing has changed at the majority of ski resorts in Japan other than there are not many people around. A few have closed early due to that reason along with some seasonal businesses. Majority of the popular resorts still have a lot of snow. The overseas media are without a doubt sensationalising the radiation situation that is in a specific area but the majority of Japan is safe to travel to. Hopefully for the sake of the millions of people employed through the tourism industry that the t

Not sure what the debate here is all about. Nothing has changed at the majority of ski resorts in Japan other than there are not many people around. A few have closed early due to that reason along with some seasonal businesses. Majority of the popular resorts still have a lot of snow. The overseas media are without a doubt sensationalising the radiation situation that is in a specific area but the majority of Japan is safe to travel to. Hopefully for the sake of the millions of people employed through the tourism industry that the tourists do not stay away for too long. Don't forget the main

Originally Posted By: iiyamadude Oh give over with the talk of 'negative' you big blouses. Just because you don't want something talked about doesn't meant that it is 'negative'. I can understand the stresses right now what with some of your business or your friends businesses possibly going into freefall, I really can. But quit all the bullshit, please. Definition of "positive" = marketing bullshit and the message as you want it to be Definition of "negative" = off message, something I don't want to have being discusssed. I am happy to discuss what's going on especially

Originally Posted By: snowboard Originally Posted By: TJ OZ I gotta say snowboard that you are the type of person who I actually do not want to have stay. Please let all your friends know to not stay with me also Will do. Our 12 nights / 6 people will go somewhere else. [it's more a buildup of things than just that one comment btw, you don't do yourself any favors] Oh c'mon. Don't be like that. I was only joking. Really. Please. What can I do to make it up to you. How about a discount. A free lift pass. C'mon, give me one more chance. I beg you. Please.

Originally Posted By: snowboard Originally Posted By: TJ OZ Originally Posted By: Go Native Who really cares what's being reported in the UK? I know I don't. And I know the UK skiing market to Japan is so damed small that it won't matter one little bit if every pom stayed on their little island next winter. I was considering staying at your place. I won't now... will inform friends too. Bad move that smiley just cost you a chunk of change. = Joking, stirring the pot, taking the piss, mucking about. = Laughing at joke I gotta say snowboard that you are the

Originally Posted By: Go Native Originally Posted By: BagOfCrisps UK, main media news. We just get short blasts now but it just seems to get worse and worse unfortunately. On about plutonium today and things getting 'more difficult' rather than easier and raditation from Fukushima spotted in Europe. Just saying what's on the news just now that UK people are listening to, so don't jump down my throat. Who really cares what's being reported in the UK? I know I don't. And I know the UK skiing market to Japan is so damed small that it won't matter one little bit if every pom stayed on

I am interested in peoples thoughts for next season. Please only vote if you do not live in Japan. If you are coming to Japan on a holiday then just a post would be good. Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted By: Go Native Originally Posted By: TJ OZ Originally Posted By: oblivion Are you just naive, stupid or simply incredibly blinkered? Or a combination of them all? I am interested to hear what people who are not living in Japan are thinking in regards to holidaying here especially for the ski season 10 months away. Currently most people are sitting on the fence and waiting to see what happens with the nuclear situation. I know of a number of people who are still moving ahead with their plans to ski in Japan next season. I also know quite a few people who a

Originally Posted By: KRUSTY I spoke to a few business owners in Hakuba(both Japanese and foreign) during the weekend and everyone is of course concerned about next season but they are all trying to be positive and hope that once/if the power station situation is resolved that bookings for next season will start coming in. The Japanese I spoke to are currently concerned about the summer season and getting the Japanese visitor numbers up. Even though it was quiet in Hakuba I had a great day boarding with a bit of fresh snow and it is like what Go Native is reporting about Hokkaido and that t

Originally Posted By: Captain Stag I guess it's time to face up to the blatantly obvious and undeniable truth that your caustic sounding friends are trying to impart to you TJ OZ. No one will ever want to go near Japan ever again, especially not to ski. The risk of an earthquake occurring is just too great and humans just have such long memories for disasters like these. It happens all the time, no one will go near Moscow or northern Europe on account of Chernobyl, no one will ever go to Thailand or indeed anywhere near the Indian ocean because of the tsunami, may as well forget about Austr

Originally Posted By: oblivion Originally Posted By: TJ OZ just trying to get a grasp of peoples feelings. Are you just naive, stupid or simply incredibly blinkered? Or a combination of them all? I am interested to hear what people who are not living in Japan are thinking in regards to holidaying here especially for the ski season 10 months away. Currently most people are sitting on the fence and waiting to see what happens with the nuclear situation. I know of a number of people who are still moving ahead with their plans to ski in Japan next season.

Originally Posted By: pie-eater You crack me up, you really do. The closest reactor is Kashiwazaki, biggest in Japan. The one that leaked a bit after the earthquake in Niigata. Just to the north east of you, not too far from Itoigawa. Don't worry, they fixed it with some sticky back plastic and duct tape. Sorry it is very low on my care factor. I am more likely to die from an electric shock from a faulty appliance than from anything from the source.

Just checked and the closest is Niigata and Toyama. It seems they are pretty much evenly spaced throughout Japan which make sense.

Originally Posted By: RobBright Originally Posted By: PWL Earthquakes. Earthquakes. Nuclear situation. Earthquakes. Other stuff like transportation, power cuts, supplies. Earthquakes. Holiday destination?! Er, no. I would think it would be blazingly obvious. But don't forget, Niseko and Hakuba don't have earthquakes or nuclear reactors near them either. The Japan Alps were not made from erosion. Not sure where the closest reactor is.

Originally Posted By: PWL Earthquakes. Earthquakes. Nuclear situation. Earthquakes. Other stuff like transportation, power cuts, supplies. Earthquakes. Holiday destination?! Er, no. I would think it would be blazingly obvious. So as the threat of earthquake is ever present in Japan would it be fair to say that you would never return and is this a reason you would not visit for example New Zealand. Not having a go PWL, just trying to get a grasp of peoples feelings.

Originally Posted By: PWL As much as I loved my trip to Japan, I've got to admit that I would be very wary now. I certainly wouldn't be going ahead and planning a trip for next season now, not yet. When so much is going on, there are just so many other places where 'things aren't going on' that I want to go to. Maybe in a few months things will calm down, but I think this is a real hard hitting event for Japan in terms of it's image overseas. Which is sad. Hi PWL. Are you able to tell us what you are wary of. As I live here I have a different attachment to the place but I am tryin

Good to see BS in Hakuba's contributions.

Originally Posted By: big-will Originally Posted By: TJ OZ Originally Posted By: IIIII IT is understandable why you want it to 'bounce back' but to compare this to Bali is frankly laughable. I compare it as an event that affected the tourism industry to such a major extent. I am not comparing the catalyst. But, 'the catalyst' is an important point. Fancy going to a place that has been ripped apart by 1000+ earthquakes that are still happening, one of them being one of the biggest ever recorded, followed by a massive tsunami, followed by a serious nuclear disaster, followed by t

Originally Posted By: best skier in hakuba Originally Posted By: TJ OZ Originally Posted By: TJ OZ Otherwise there will be lots of powder around and only a few people to ski it. Pretty much how it was in Hakuba 8 years ago although the Japanese are into it a lot more now. Sometimes a quote needs to have the subject attached to make it clearer. The Japanese are going off piste a lot more than when I first started coming here. This is fact. Care to explain the 8 years ago thing? What's that about then? Another more important 'fact' is the one that shows that total numbers of Japan

Originally Posted By: IIIII IT is understandable why you want it to 'bounce back' but to compare this to Bali is frankly laughable. I compare it as an event that affected the tourism industry to such a major extent. I am not comparing the catalyst.

Originally Posted By: TJ OZ Otherwise there will be lots of powder around and only a few people to ski it. Pretty much how it was in Hakuba 8 years ago although the Japanese are into it a lot more now. Sometimes a quote needs to have the subject attached to make it clearer. The Japanese are going off piste a lot more than when I first started coming here. This is fact.

I think once they get the reactor under control and there is no longer a story in it for the media then things will settle quickly. Being in the winter business we are all thankful here that it did not happen at the end of December. I think that there will be a few months of it being very quiet and then the ball will start rolling again hopefully. Otherwise there will be lots of powder around and only a few people to ski it. Pretty much how it was in Hakuba 8 years ago although the Japanese are into it a lot more now. Bali is a good indication of how things can bounce back.

Originally Posted By: muikabochi I have some friends back home who were showing an interest in coming next season. They seem rather put off right now to say the least! I can certainly understand those responses you got Bag. People who haven't got any Japan in them will I imagine have a different outlook to those who have. We were getting a lot of inquiries for accommodation for next season which has stopped and the people who were booking are holding off for the moment.

Lots of cancellations here. No one on the mountains. Tokyo clients are being evacuated. I have arranged to escort a guest back to Narita as she is so scared to travel by herself. The news reports from other countries are scaring the wits out of people. I think we can pretty much call an end to the season. This storm over the next few days is the only time I have prayed that it doesn't hit Japan although it is looking like there is a lot of snow coming. It is only going to make relief efforts more difficult.

It should still be top to bottom at most of the resort areas of Hakuba. No one can say if you will get pow or not but all of us here do pray nightly for the stuff.