TJ OZ
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Posts posted by TJ OZ
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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 point at this stage is that there are a lot of people in need in the directly affected areas.
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Originally Posted By: iiyamadudeOh 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 in the world media. It's not like we have a say in it anyway. I stopped looking at most of it after a few days when I saw the headline of "meltdown" one morning which clearly was not happening at the time. When I talked about the negative it was more towards some people's general attitudes to pretty much anything and not adding to the thread.
For a lot of the foreign owned places we were coming to the end of the season anyway. This just brought it on a little quicker. Most of us will just wait and see what happens with the power plant before making any decisions on how to move forward for next season (or the season after if they don't contain it sooner than later). -
Originally Posted By: snowboardOriginally Posted By: TJ OZI 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: snowboardOriginally Posted By: TJ OZOriginally Posted By: Go NativeUK, 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 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 type of person who I actually do not want to have stay. Please let all your friends know to not stay with me also because if they are your friends then they are probably not too much fun either. Our guests like to have a good time in a positive environment and maybe share a joke at the bar. Thats the type of people I like to mix with and who I like staying with us. Anyone too sensitive should look at other hotel options. Maybe self contained so they don't have to mix at all.
That's the second quote in this thread about me and money. I chose this life because I love the snow. If money was my priority then I would have stayed back in Oz in my old business, made lots of dollars and had ski holidays each year.
I chose to live life a little and the experience has been fantastic. I think there are a few people around here that need to reassess where they are at.
Bring on the negativity. I am sure I have fueled up the fire there. -
Originally Posted By: Go NativeOriginally Posted By: BagOfCrispsUK, 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 their little island next winter.
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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.
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Originally Posted By: Go NativeOriginally Posted By: TJ OZOriginally Posted By: oblivionjust 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.
I also know quite a few people who are already planning on next season. What's happened down south isn't factoring into their plans at all. From the looks of it on the Aussie ski site we contribute to TJ plenty of Aussies already moving ahead with their plans to come here next season. I think the impact will be far greater on the SE Asian market than the Aussie/NZ one. Overall I think there will be a big impact on early bookings but if they get all the reactors under control soon then bookings will flood back in later. For those that don't much care one way or the other about what's happening at the reactors there's bound to be some excellent early bird deals out there.
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Originally Posted By: KRUSTYI 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 the resorts and facilities are unaffected by the recent events and the people that are there are carrying on with life as normal.
On Sunday the skier numbers seemed to be up and a number of out of town number plates on cars so hopefully thats an indication that people are getting out more which is needed for the economy to improve.
Hopefully if I have time I`ll still get quite a few more days riding this spring.
The sad part up here is the affect on the other businesses around town. Our places were winding down anyway but the resorts must be feeling the crunch along with all of the other smaller businesses that rely on mostly the domestic tourism that continues throughout the year. Good to see it picked up a little last weekend. Thanks Krusty for your contribution to the town and I would encourage everyone to get out there no matter which resort to enjoy the great spring conditions. -
Originally Posted By: Captain StagI 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 Australia, it got burned then washed away. You may as well just get used to the idea that Japan is going to be a ghost town from now on. Tourists never forget!
Thanks Stag. Finally something legible.
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Originally Posted By: oblivionOriginally Posted By: TJ OZjust 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-eaterYou 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.
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Originally Posted By: RobBrightOriginally Posted By: PWLEarthquakes.
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: PWLEarthquakes.
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: PWLAs 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 trying to understand the emotion from an outsiders perspective. -
Good to see BS in Hakuba's contributions.
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Originally Posted By: big-willOriginally Posted By: TJ OZOriginally Posted By: IIIIIIT 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 the hype of talk of new quakes on their way (silly as they are).
I'm afraid the scale of the two are totally different.
I wish it weren't so.
It remains to be seen how long term this will affect things, but I can't imagine it not having a really huge impact.
How do you compare the psychological affect on foreign tourists in regards to a natural disaster and being targeted by a terrorist group?
Ripped apart by 1000+ earthquakes. Very emotive. Not really the case though is it. Do you work for the foreign media. -
Originally Posted By: best skier in hakubaOriginally Posted By: TJ OZOriginally Posted By: TJ OZOtherwise 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 Japanese visitors down, not some increase in a small subset increasing. What has has got to do with the big picture, I'm sure you'll explain.
I can understand how you must be bricking it that your business is going to be taking a massive hit, but I see that post-disaster you still seem incapable of posting anything that isn't bullshit/hyperbole free.
Personally I could take a couple of years off which is what I would do if they don't contain the radiation. Ride everyday on empty mountains would do me fine. I am in a good position of no bricks at all and in need of a break. That is not good for the rest of the community and Japan tourism in general though. -
Originally Posted By: IIIIIIT 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 OZOtherwise 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.
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Originally Posted By: muikabochiI 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.
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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.
Cancellations + the season from now
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
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Must admit I find it really bizarre how some people seem totally unable to comprehend why people might not want to go to Japan now.
"Everythings ok here" etc line of thinking aside, can you not see that?
A ton of people back home for the most part wouldn't dream of visiting Japan right now - people I know with no reason to deceive have told me as much.
To be honest, if I were them, I would probably be thinking the same right at this moment.
That point has got nothing to do with being positive or negative, you seem to just be choosing to totally ignore that reality just because it isn't very palatable.
It's obviously a very unfortunate situation and one which I hope will clean up quickly.
And I agree with your sentiments about all those people directly affected now in those regions and from now indirectly because of what has happened.
I must be dyslexic. Have I said something that is not factual. I think you are reading something else into what I have actually typed. You are answering something that I didn't question. But anyway enjoy your Saturday.