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I agree but ABS is an option on many models - not standard equipment - especially if they are older. Learning to take advantage of any of these options so you know what they do (and can't do) is important. Traction control is also not the same in all cars as it has developed over time and will not save you from driving to fast or over confidence in dangerous conditions.

If you do get a 4WD, remember that all cars are equal if the brakes slammed and the wheels are locked. 4WD adds traction - but there are many accidents by over confident 4WD drivers who go to fast and then wonder why they are in the ditch (or worse) as soon as they hit the brakes... I would see if skid/traction control is available on any of those cars and go with that. And make sure you have studdless tires.

The Chuo Taxi service is probably your best bet if you are arriving on a late flight. It's 11,500 yen from Narita to Hakuba - you'll get right to your hotel. More info here: Chuo Taxi info

I just managed to get this shot of Fattwin's place before it got dark...

The much maligned uke can sound awesome in the right hands...

Reminds me of a story I heard when I first went to China in 1986. An American woman arrived in her Beijing hotel - a large central hotel catering to tourists and business people - and was tired and jet-lagged after a long flight. She showered and lay on the bed naked and fell asleep. She awoke to find a horrified male hotel employee running out of her room. She was upset, dressed and went to the front desk to complain. The manager was called and he told her that if she promised not to behave like this again, she would not be turned over to the police and charged. She was also asked to ap

According to this FAQ all Priests must be fake!

I think as a courtesy they should tell you but as far as I know in Japan, a landlord has the right to enter a place that he/she rents out. I had the same experience a few years ago and I did not get very far with my complaint.

Delica's are great in winter conditions but I feel guilty driving it to Hakuba and back with just my son and I in it. Will be looking for riders to fill it up this winter as I mentioned earlier. If I must confess, my regular ride is a Pruis hybrid and it is perfect for commuting between Tokyo and home - amazing gas mileage and very low emissions. I will never buy a 'normal' car again. For a nice day, I have a little Honda CB400 for cruising the beach here in Chiba...

I didn't mean to suggest that all of the rest stops were bad - just the ones in the immediate Tokyo area - once you are past Shinjuku and on the Chuo Expressway, they are fine and much larger so there is no problem getting in and out of them.

Navigating through Tokyo is easy - from Narita, follow Tokyo signs - after the first 15 kms, there are 2 routes - the highway splits so you can go south along Tokyo Bay (Bayshore route) following the 'B' or you can stay on the main highway and follow '7'. Once you are on the Tokyo Shuto expressway (coming in from either route), follow the signs for '4' Shinjuku and keep going West. Easy. There are a couple of traffic maps posted that will show you which route has more traffic and a time estimate - follow the route that has less red... Once you are on the highway, its not a good id

I just found the Hakuba Powder video from 2002 - its 70 mins long but worth a look... http://hakubapow.com/page5/page37/page37.html

Recognizing road signs will not be a problem - but dealing with your GPS and computer sounds like a nightmare while driving. Rental cars can be booked with English GPS navi systems - I'd do that and feel safer!

Guam is top of our list for places we never want to visit again ...and it was my wife who wanted to go in the first place...

Renting a van is the best way for you to solve your problems - traveling with kids and luggage will be much easier with your own van and you'll appreciate it even more once you get to Hakuba - Hakuba is a big, spread out place.

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I have a 7 seater Delica 4X4 van with studless tires - no need for chains... I plan to head to Hakuba as much as possible this winter - if Chiba/Tokyo people need rides (leave Friday early evening, back Monday morning is the plan), I have lots of room - its usually just Kaz (he's 9) and I in the van...

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Here is an older one when he was Gov of Texas Drunk Bush

To download video from Youtube, you need this Firefox plug-in. https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/2390/

Japan has an equivalent of Family Services?

Finally! Full exposure on EBC's wicked, evil looking, knarly injury. As she stretched to show us exactly where the cliff was where she fell in NZ, her pants ripped and the gore exposed itself - no wonder she didn't want anyone to see it!

As I recall 47 is Hakubanese for 4 seasons, 7 days a week...but it could be stranger than that...

Monday was a great day to be in Hakuba - here are 10 pics taken during the day. There were jumpers training on both ski jumps - about 100 hand gliders and para whatevers in the air and fesh snow on top. The little guy is Kaz... Hakuba pics

Today Hakuba was awesome: