nippontiger

Well, I wouldnt call myself the model citizen by any means! I didnt say that you would get jail time - most people convicted of small quantities of drugs in Japan for the first time are not given custodial sentences, however if you are arrested in Japan for a crime, the police can hold you for 72 hours which can be extended by a judge (and usually will be if the police request it) to 20 days (ok, 4 weeks was a litte inaccurate). During this time, you have pretty much no access to legal representation. I remember a few years ago, a Nova teacher was arrested for a very small amount of cannab

Well, to answer your question sunsetcoast, basically if you get caught with any quantity of marijuana in Japan, even 0.1 grams, you could probably expect to be arrested, spend 2-4 weeks locked up in a police cell with no access to legal help, and then be kicked out of the country and never be allowed to return. If you have a job here, I imagine you will likely be sacked the second your employer learns of your arrest. You will most likely also have to stump up a load of cash to help "negotiate" and hasten your release (you will want it to be as fast as possible as you can expect to be interro

Its true, it is only a forecast and it is very difficult to predict the exact amounts that a particular resort will receive, however, usually when there is a large amount of snow predicted over a wide area, they usually get it right, if not the exact depths. If it was a week and a half away, I'd have my doubts, but as the predicted dump is now only two or three days away, Im pretty optimistic!

Worried about lack of snow?! Have you seen the weather forecast for Hakuba? Well over a metre of snow predicted to fall before the end of the weekend! I dont think Ive seen such a forecast in the last two or three years!

Speaking from my experience last year - I don't think any parts of Happo are skiers only. Looking at the forecast, I think everything will be fully open on new year - unless it pours with rain after Christmas - not looking likely. New year will be busy - expect BIG queues for the Gondola in the morning, and also on the quad(?) lifts to take you up the mountain on the side nearest Goryu/47 - you could easily be waiting an hour at these places at the peak time in the morning. However, once you are up the mountain there are plenty of lifts and you shouldn't be waiting too long in most places -

We might not have to wait much longer - most of the forecasts are suggesting some big snowfalls starting next week! As for global warming, I wonder how much electricity Japan could save simply by moving the clocks forward an hour, and possibly two in the summer - it gets light ridiculously early in the morning here - when most people are still in bed - especially in the summer, yet it gets dark very early. Dark at 7pm in the middle of the summer - one of the worst things about living in Japan!

The accuweather forecasts are not very accurate - it seems that for the last month, they've been predicting low temperatures and snowfall for days 13-15, only for them to change to mild weather a few days later. However, a few days ago, weathernews.com were saying it should turn a lot colder, with snow from the middle of December. Ive got a trip booked just after Christmas, and Im not too worried by the lack of snow right now.

I think the last two seasons there was hardly any snow in Honshu until just a few days before new year - I remember worrying about the lack of snow for the holidays, so its good to see the Japanese forecast actually predicting snow and cold weather...let hope they've got it right!

So when's it gonna start snowing in Honshu?? Well, weathernews is now saying 12月中旬ã‹ã‚‰å†¬ã‚‰ã—ã„天気ã«ï¼Žã€€Which I think means its gonna turn cold from the middle of December! Bring it on!

You can get the shinkansen deal at weekends, although its a little cheaper (500-1000 yen) on weekdays. You can get the tickets from View (ã³ã‚…ã†) which is a travel agents which you can find in main JR railway stations - I think there might be one in Kumagaya or Takasaki which I think are near you, although Im not 100% sure. Theres definately one in Omiya. You need to get the ticket the day before at the latest - you can't get them on the day. Sometimes if you book last minute, there are no seats left on certain trains, but you can just ask for a non-reserved seat (Jiyuu seki - 自由席).

Failing getting a lift, I would recommend the shinkansen day trip deals from View. You can go from Kumagaya which I think is near you or maybe honjo waseda? I think its only about 8 or 9000 yen from there including lift pass, train takes about 45 minutes to Yuzawa. Ive gone on day trips from Gyoda in car - usually end up setting off earlier, getting there later and spending almost as much in petrol and tolls as it costs to go by train.

I think its a bit early yet - I expect it will snow on Monday-Tuesday, but will get milder again before the real winter sets in - hopefully in a few weeks time!

Id like to get 15 days this season - really hoping for more snow this year - or at least for the snow to fall at weekends!

Hmm, snow forecast just changed their minds and have now halved the amount of snow they expect in both Kagura and Hakuba. Bah!

Well, just checking Snow Forecast for the next week, its looking very good for the top of Kagura - almost a metre of snow predicted - thats probably the best forecast Ive seen this entire season! Lets hope it materialises - Im hoping to hit Hakuba this weekend!!

I was just looking in Ochanomizu for cheap stuff for next year - I saw a pair of Salomon 1080 foils for 19000 yen - comes to about 25000 with a cheap binding. I was wondering if anybody had any opinions about this ski...?

To-ra-ba-ra-zu Che-ku-zu??

Drinking in bars in Japan was pretty expensive BEFORE the exchange rate went crazy! Your best bet is to drink a fair bit at home and take it easy in the bars. Of course, a government isnt going to devalue the currency for the benefit of a few tourists - especially when its such an insignificant part of the country's economy. It something they might consider to help Japanese exporters though.

Im pretty sure you will be able to ski somewhere in april - higher will be better - somewhere like shiga kogen or kagura. However, its unlikely you'll be getting fresh powder snow. That said, a beginner doesnt want to be skiing powder.

Im hoping that because the 1st half of the season has been so poor, the second half will come up with the goods. It is often said in Japan that if the season starts good it ends bad and vice-versa. Having said that, doesnt look like theres much snow forecast for the coming week either...

By all means, make as much noise and get as drunk as you like - there are many Japanese that do just that. But they do tend to keep it in the places intended for it. If you are just going to touristy places, then there will be places that accept credit cards ( - even foreign ones!) or tattoos in the onsen, but anywhere even slightly of the tourist trail, you'd be likely to run into problems. If you are just going to Tokyo and Hakuba, you might just get away with it, but I wouldnt count on it....

Yeah, many Japanese people would love to get drunk, loud and party all night with you in a bar/izakaya/club/karaoke, but on the trains, its a definite no-no.

You can use your phone on a train if you dont mind EVERYBODY on the train around you glaring at you, shaking their heads and most likely, some very angry old guy saying "URUSAI" to you. Talking on the phone on the train here is very rude, as is talking loudly, crossing your legs, eating and slouching on your seat. Me and a few friends were talking and laughing on a train once - not particularly loudly, and some old guy came over saying "URUSAI" and "BE SILENT", he then went and pushed one of the girls in our party - an australian-chinese - presumably because he thought she was Japanese (he mu

In most onsen, you are not supposed/allowed to wear any clothes, so you'll probably be relieved to be separated from the blokes! There are one or two where men and women bathe together - they give you something to wear in the onsen - only ever been to one like that though. Many onsen in Japan are particular about tatoos and may ask for them to be covered, or may not let you in at all. My friend was refused entry to the local sento (public bath) because of a 2 by 3 inch tattoo on his leg. Some sports clubs and gyms wont allow people with tattoos. Plenty other places dont mind though.

I saw some people in a ski school skiing while holding there poles straight across the knees. I tried it, but not sure I could do it properly. I dont know what skill this technique practices... Maybe I should take a lesson some time!