torihada

this is what I thought. that'll stop the temptation to take a 'short cut' when I'm crawling round Tokyo. Thanks

Planning my route to NE Gunma from Narita later this week. Last time I let the sat nav take me via Funabashi, ring road round Tokyo and up the Tohoku Expressway to Tatebayshi. It was a very slow journy around Tokyo (I think it was a Sat in the rain). So to my question: does anyone ever make similar journey from Narita and does it make any sense to take a more direct route on local roads avoiding the Tokyo ring road. Any quicker or best to take chances on the Expressway? Thanks

I bought a new snow jacket on sale last summer. It was a bargain; a Burton gortex shell. So now same set up as my hiking gear; Layer 1: Helly Hansen Lifa base layer. Layer 2: thin fleece layer with full length zip. Layer 3: Gortex shell. If very cold I'll add a fleece gilet and a thermal skull cap that'll fit under my helmet. Also a fleece neck warmer is a must for keeping face and neck warm. I also wear a set of helly hansen lifa leggings under my snow trousers. Helly Hansen thermals are worth the investment, mine are still going strong 4 years later (I also use them for mount

Is this for car nav or outdoors? I've got a Garmin Legend HCX which I use for navigating on my MTB and hiking. I've got UK topgraphical maps (Garmin) with it. I can get Europe (patchy)and USA (all at a cost) but Asia gets tricky and if I wanted to bring it to Japan I'd either have the very basic mapping (motorways, major roads and cities only) or could buy some 3rd party software such as this which is in Romaji. I assume handheld GPS devices sold in Japan would have good mapping/software but is only good if you can read/write Kanji. Just as important as the maps on the device is t

Very nice photos...but what on earth is Ben Gillespie wearing. I'm no ski wear fashionista but it looks likes he's mugged a harlequin on acid for his gear

I'm interested in anyone else using a headcam (snowboarders only as this problem doesn't apply to skiers); My headcam video suffers from 'tilt' due to the nature of boarding. My MTB video is fine (unless I'm crashing) as I'm always pointing fwd. At present my bullet cam is attached to the right side of my helmet at eye level. If you use a headcam do you take into account the tilt by overcompensating when you position the cam? Do you have it on the side of the helmet/head or on top? Or is my riding the problem? Any tips appreciated, cheers.

What's impressive is the guy in the blue jacket; he appears to be walking on water.

As far as I am aware (from when I've bought em in the past) you have to buy them when abroad as they're only available to people resident in another country (Japanese can buy them if they're resident in another country). Also they're priced in Yen (and fixed) and they are not for sale any where cheaper. Some further research: "A JAPAN RAIL PASS cannot be purchased inside Japan." From JR website. Useful link: JR Rail Pass

I use Narita Airport Rest House. Its at the airport & its cheap. Google it for their website

Originally Posted By: MikePow In Niseko the Guides all realized this untenable situation and started the Niseko Winter Guide Mafia--er, Association last year. They represent an effort by the employed locals to manage themselves as an economic group stuck between the mountain owners & operators, the lodging units, and the tourists. I can see where they're coming from. A close Japanese friend works as a guide in another industry and works only for Japanese companies in the UK. The Japanese guides get treated pretty poorly and their pay (among other things)is way below the comparative

Originally Posted By: Zaoman There are a few "connecting runs" that connect different areas of the mountain (which by the way is owned by 9 different lift companies! I assume your lift ticket is for the whole mountain? (trying to imagine carrying books of lift tickets for 9 different companies, not even in Japan....... )

After showing Mrs T your photos, she's up for a day and a half diversion to Zao

Q to Zaoman: I've read some complaints in review section, that Zao's not that challenging, with alot of flat areas and slow lifts. As you appear to be a local, are these complaints justified. Is Zao worth a diversion while travelling north? Cheers, glad to hear you got out so early in the season.

I hire a phone in the UK for Japan, works out at £1 per day plus call charges. Do a google search for Adam phones.They charge £7 to send you the phone and same for return. Incoming calls are free. To UK 85p in country 40p per min.

That could've been bad; imagine doing that if alone and in the furo. Not happened to me, but I tend to get out cool down, back in for the hear etc etc. I am amazed at the heat that ogisan can withstand; my father in law could take a bath hot enough to boil eggs.

Originally Posted By: Mamabear I reckon let them do whichever they want. Boy wants to board? - would YOU be happy on ski's? Girl wants to ski? - she would be mad at you if you forced her to board, and a petulant 10 yr old is not fun! Just out of interest, what does thier Mother do? Ski or Board? We have stuck our kids in snowboard school everywhere we have been. Niseko, Thredbo, Falls Creek and they are booked into Zermatt Snowboard school. If they are doing different things then they wont be together obviously, but they will meet other kids in the group. Often the meeting plac

Originally Posted By: Mamabear Our entire family began in 2007. Child #1 and #2 both experienced ski's on the school Year 7 Ski Trip (Snowboarding is not allowed on that trip) - the eldest was 11, and the 2nd was 11.5yrs old. They both snowboarded for the first time in Niseko in January 2007, when they were almost 15 and 13.5 yrs old, they were on a 'mens trip' with Papabear. After that experience they returned home pumped to take the small boys and me. We went March/April 07 when child #3 was 10, and #4 was 7 years old. The 7 yr old's board is so little, and there was some concern ov

A bit off topic; q for Mamabear. When did your kids start snowboarding? I started mine skiing and wondered when would be a good time to eject them from the darkside. Just a consideration as I'm about to buy new boots and skis for my nine - nearly ten yr old daughter. The main reason for getting them off two planks is I can't give them any guidance as I've never skied. Cheers

I bought some Yen today. I wish I'd bought 10 days ago/4 weeks etc etc. I couldn't face watching it slide further (there was a small rebound this week). I'll buy more this & next week. I'm assuming the pound will not recover anytime soon and some think it could go lower, I don't know what the general feeling is about the AUS dollar, but I think being pessimistic is the best option. When I first visited Japan in 95 I got 130Y to the pound, and the UK was just post recession, so I'm assuming the pound could drop lower this time. So buying Yen in Japan? Its a risk, just depends if you can swa

Some more headcam footage cruising the ultra wide pistes, this time from from Appi Kogen. Appi Kogen The crowds, the crowds.

I'm sure they sell these at Sydney airport

Originally Posted By: SJForums torihada, your lame headcam would also be welcome on our video site http://www.snowjapan.tv You asked for it: Sedate Tazawako headcam

I'm a scrooge - Kurisumasu? Bah humbug. I hate seeing all the decorations going up in early Nov. Mrs T admited that there was no point in putting up Christmas decorations this year as we're off to Japan on the 19th. Yessss! Result.My favourite Christmas experience? Sitting in Japanese ski-jo restaurant with family on 25th dec eating 600 yen ramen, looking to the top of mountain,with blue skies and less than a dozen skiers out on the piste. Bliss.

I book through ToCoo. Through them you can book a Toyota, Nissan, Mazda etc as long as the company has an office at your location. I've got a Mazda with snow tyres, snowboard/ski rack booked through ToCoo, collect from Mazda desk at Narita. I've done this before and its quite simple. Last time I got upgraded for free from a small car to a 4WD MPV.

Mi itinnary this Dec/Jan: Narita - Gunma (may sneak up to Minakami/Kagura) - then Akita for 11 days at local ski slopes and Tazawako, then 4 nights at Appi. Hopefully there'll be some snow. Last time conditions though generally crap in Akita were pretty good in Appi - stay to the left of the mountain for quiet & untracked powder. If you go to Tazawako make sure you visit the Nyuto Onsen: Ganiba They're very close to Tazawako. My favourites are: Ganiba & Taenoyu. When I get organised I'll post some photos from Appi, Tazawako and may have some