torihada

I will have a car but am intending to spend about 3 days in resort; knowing my luck probably enjoying the rain & grass skiing.

I'll remember the tip about the Ropeway when I'm there in the first week of January (when it'll be just little bit busy). Good to hear about some investment (and therefore optimism). A question for ILove Zao; any other recommendations/insider tips for first time visitors? (2 rusty old boarders and two very young skiers)

I had one of my best Christmas dinners at a small ski hill in Akita; fresh snow, blue skies, with the kids, eating bowls of delicious 600yen ramen looking at the deserted slopes. Ahhhh drool.

Originally Posted By: TubbyBeaverinho Originally Posted By: torihada Originally Posted By: Gary It's basically an anti-competetive practice designed to prevent prices from being driven down and it really should be outlawed. Thankfully its been outlawed in Europe. no its not. I've looked at the BA site for the same flight and it shows the same shit.....price (-tax etc) then press a button and its more than the advertisted price Mmmm I think you're right about Europe but not the UK. I wonder if this because you're accessing the site from outside the UK and therefore its

Originally Posted By: Gary It's basically an anti-competetive practice designed to prevent prices from being driven down and it really should be outlawed. Thankfully its been outlawed in Europe. Lets not get started on debit card charges, baggage charges,booking fees,use of toilet etc from the budget airlines........

Originally Posted By: Mr Wiggles I've just got a message from BA about a flights sale. Only 50,000 yen to Europe! But you have to book within two weeks! A click to their site shows taxes and fees are 75,000 extra And that was for the bleakdom of mid November in the UK. It drives me nuts when headline ticket prices don't include taxes! Who on earth doesn't pay airport taxes? Bargain ticket for 50,000 Y and only 150% extra for taxes. But then again who can't resist lovely, dank England in November, and it will only cost you £1,000 to visit.

Originally Posted By: grungy-gonads Originally Posted By: torihada Gotta remember the real reason we're off to Jpn is to visit family. In that case, it's sorted then, no? Yes. Bought tickets last night. Thank you Airmiles (which are due to disappear in Nov). Originally Posted By: Mr Wiggles Whoops, wrong thread for that last post. But yeah, you get ripped for flights bought in Japan (580 on Virgin is but a dream) and a Fit is quite a big car. Luggage space is only 40 litres short of a Legacy estate, a car that will be a few rental ranks higher. As for the pound, it mi

Originally Posted By: SKI Originally Posted By: torihada Nope. 'Nope' what exactly? Appi isn't popular? Well, it is, and so it must have something for some people. Maybe not you. And Shizukuishi is indeed fairly nearby. I was sort of agreeing with Soub, but you're right, my answer is not clear. Reading back I appear to be overly critical of Appi. As I cram all my boarding into my Japan visit approximately every 3 years I'm a bit desperate to explore other hills. First visit to Appi with fresh powder (staying in resort for 4 days) I loved it. 3 years ago, again staying

Originally Posted By: Mr Wiggles Torihada Your flights would be I guess 110,000 each if bought at this end . 2300 quid for four is a big saving over that. Were you to fly in summer, I guess the UK cost would be the same but the cost of Japan to Europe semi-direct in July onwards is 130,000 plus. If you're using an exterior ski rack, you could size down on your car to save money. You can get a lot of gear into a Fit/Jazz, almost as much as an estate. It mightn't be so good for families, but how about Hakkoda? Can't be that far from you. Weird. I think this reply was to another t

Nope. Appi is boring, well it is after 4 days with no fresh snow. It was great when my kids were learning (and so was I) but motorway wide pistes that flatten out for the last third of the mountain soon lose your attention.

Bit of hyperbole from me there; figures are a bit skewed as I'll use airmiles. With airmiles (equates to getting one ticket free) it'll be approx GB£ 1,600. (Lufthansa would do me 4 tickets for £2300) My three week car hire with Tocoo approx Y220,000 (incl snow tyres, ski rack)= GBP £1720. 6 years ago my car hire for the same period was nearly the same price in Yen but cost me approx. GB£900. Ahhh the joys of currency fluctuation. Car hire is still the cheapest option when you're visiting Tokyo, Ota & Akita.

though after a summer days hard hiking in the mountains, soaking in a roten furo that night is very relaxing. In winter onsen also serve the purpose of reheating you, especially if you're staying in an old draughty house, where you have to scrape the ice off the inside of the windows in the morning.

Originally Posted By: Metabo Oyaji What does your wife think? I think she's be happy to go to the Alps. Actually over dinner tonight the kids decided that the onsen will more enjoyable in winter than summer. When I look at all the fringe benefits in Japan, boarding in the Alps just doesn't come close.

Originally Posted By: joshnii Xmas is never guaranteed unfortunately. Is it at your alternative? Staying at 2000 m in French Alps there's more likelihood. But as you say no guarantee. Originally Posted By: grungy-gonads Quote: Convince me to spend Xmas boarding in Japan? Japanese females. Combine boarding with grounds for divorce? Mmmmmm. Also I'm very happy with my current 'Japanese female' thank you. Originally Posted By: mina2 What was the name of your local resort torihada? I'd come. And go to Europe too. But even if you get unlucky with a la

Can you convince me to come to Japan this Dec/Jan? This rather ponderous post is because I really can't make up my mind. Nearly 3 years since my last visit (to Japan & this site) in which I combine visit to inlaws in Akita with family skiing/boarding in Akita/Iwate. On the cusp of buying airline tickets for Dec/Jan, 3 week visit but struck by alternative; Drive to French Alps (I'm in the UK) for one week of Alpine boarding & skiing this Xmas and spend next summer holiday in Japan.Mmmmmmmmmmmm Reasons against Japan snow: last 2 trips I've been caught out with very po

You don't want to wear a helmet, be it on your own head. But do not attempt any bogus arguments to back up your reason for not wearing one. There aren't any. Because of this sad & high profile story today my kids made the connection on why I make them wear a helmet when they cycle and ski. Anyone making spurious arguments against wearing a helmet are encouraging people not to wear a helmet and that is downright irresponsible. Don't wear a helmet, its your choice; but don't bragg about it.

Sony helmetcam UK£2200. Phew! I assume you're a PRO at that price. Thought it'd be around the 1.5 k mark but that's pretty impressive. My set up was around £350 and for the moment it'll do. HD prices will come down in the future and I'll consider upgrading if I can get a unit for around the 500 mark.

Originally Posted By: Mattaus Hi folks. 4 hours later we found out he had a grade 3 AC joint rupture. He now has 6 months in a sling and up to another 6 months of rehab after that. I know what your mate's going through. I had a grade III AC shoulder seperation last year. I didn't go for surgery. 12 weeks later I was back on the bike. I now have a funny lumpy shoulder. Physio said imobilise for at least 4 weeks, which I did in a sling. Re-hab? Shoulder strengthening exercises as you lose over head lifting strength. I think my shoulder was already partially re-habilitated as I think I'

Originally Posted By: gareth_oau Torihada, hehe, I mountain bike with a friend who fell off and ended up with exactly the same injury, and resulting 'tent' on his shoulder - he's also decided to live with it. He is also living with his wife, who has put her thumb down and decided he's no longer allowed to ride!! One of the guys I ride with got into trouble with his wife when she saw our headcam footage on youtube; 'oh you think you're better than the rest of them, you haven't got any knee pads, arm pads etc etc' He promptly bought said protection, left pads in car, went for ride, had

Originally Posted By: ger Originally Posted By: gareth_oau ah Thursday, I didnt say that it was permanent, but it has lost a bit of its flex and movement these days, but no biggie. I think Thursday was talking about Torihada, with his permanently seperates shoulder. That might be enough to qualify for handicapped parking. I've got a Grade III shoulder seperation (acromioclavicular separation or AC separation): this means that all the tendons joining my collarbone to my shoulder joint are snapped, so my collarbone now 'tents' the skin above my left shoulder. So I have a large rou

Was 38 when I learnt to snowboard (bypassed that skiing lark) 5 years ago. Now have seriously got into mountainbiking in the last 18 months (spent last 25yrs cycling on the road), so far smashed me knees twice and seperated my left shoulder permanently. I'm going out fighting, broken and battered with a big grin.

Originally Posted By: Mamabear I was quite shocked to hear the chat on UK TV the past couple of weeks in the lead up to Davos, talking about the potential for Britian to follow the Icelandic disaster and end up totally bankrupt as a nation! Are they talking the world into a deeper hole than need be, or is it really on that steep a slope to damnation? Population of Iceland approx 330,000, UK 60 million. The debts of its banks are around six times its annual gross domestic product of $20 billion. (UK GDP $2.7 trillion) - 2007 estimates. Interest rates are now at 18% in Iceland and curren

I have two young kids; if they have a question I try to answer it truthfully and without embarrassment, it'll save them a lot of issues later in life. The trouble is, intolerance and prejudice is learnt and passed on from generation to generation; I think more upsetting to a child is not a man in a skirt but seeing a parent upset & annoyed.

Someone told me they paid 7 euros for a hot chocolate at a mountain cafe at a French resort over the New Year. He only got 95 cents to the pound. So over £7 for a hot drink = 820 Yen at todays tourist rates. European mountain cafe prices were always ridiculous, now they're just unaffordable for Brits. At least if we'd joined the Euro we'd be able to take some comfort in taking the rest of Europe down with us I always used to think winter sports were for the rich (hence my late conversion) and I think its returning to that state of affairs. The UK will be full of homegrown holiday mak

Originally Posted By: Fang I'm tossing up between a Protec and Giro, the shop near my place doesn't have either in my size so haven't been able to try them on, have to get to Ochanomizu soon. How would you rate the Protec generally? My head is still in one piece after numerous crunches. It has adjustable vents which is good and ear pieces that are removeable.