advantyper

?? is Niseko not the best choice? I am totally open to going another resort in Hokkaido, but one that is hopefully at least a bit English speaker friendly. My japanese is pretty bad!

I think its a culture thing, in Hong Kong not much hugging too. But the younger generation is more open to hugging, I hug all my female friends when I see them, guy friends is handshake.

nope, only plan to stay in Hakuba 47 like 2-3 full days of boarding, do Hakuba 47 have night boarding? If so then probably 2 nights of hotel. haven't begin looking for hotel yet, still on planning stage where to go after Niseko. Catching a train for 2-3 days in a row will kill me! That means I'll have to wake up at like 5am to catch the train, if there is one that early. Got any average price hotel to recommend for near or on Hakuba 47? Anyone? Tks

Tks for the info, Toque. From all the reading on the web on Niseko. I was expecting Heaven like dry powder, which it probably is. But Whistler is pretty HARD to beat. From lower Vancouver, if you grew up there, you must go up to Whistler often. Living in Oregon, its only 5.5 hours drive away from Whistler... so I guess living in the Northwest have a lot of bonus!

Hey Snowbenny, Thats sounds good, I'll be in Niseko for a week first, so right now probably wouldn't be at Habuka 47 till the week of 2/20-2/23. Have u book any hotel yet for Habuka 47? Got any recommendations? haven't look into hotel yet, still planning dates at the moment. Later

Cool, tks for the info, so looks like I don't have to catch too early of a bullet train to get there from Tokyo.

Wow, I guess Japan isn't as perfect as I thought it was.. oh well, guess its just like everywhere else in the world..

Wow, surpised to hear that happen in Japan. Japanese culture and people overall are so polite. I never had any bad experience in Japan everytime I been there, well I am chinese, but I guess I do look Japanese too.

thats cool, hey Toque, sounds like you are from Canada. In your opinion, do you think Niseko is better then Whistler? I only got great things to say about Whistler, everything I read about Niseko is great things too. Just wondering what people who been to both places think.

Just upgraded all my gear this season. Burton Vapor Burton C60 Burton SL8 Burton AK 2L jacket Burton travel board bag Burton Wheelie Sub Why all Burton, my apparel company I work for, have proform with Burton this season. Got to love Proforms! Yea

What time do resort in japan usually open? in the states and canada, its always 8am-8:30am.

My friends and I going to be at Whistler BC for new years again. Just want to see if any other member will be there during that new year week!

Yea, good point, well, now planning Niseko, then Tokyo for 2 days, then off to Hakuba 47 for 3 days then maybe Yamagata, if there is some easy to find resort and hotel, then off to Osaka and HK. Think I'll go with the ordinary cars, being 5"10, I don't need that much leg room.

Hmm.. tempting... maybe I'll stop by there after Nagano. Anyone got any good ski resort or hotel to recommend? Tks

Yea, thats want I read in the magazines too. in Asia Korea supposed to be the most broadband user in the world. well but I guess since in the states is so much larger, the bandwidth got to travel and cover a lot of more distances too. But still, 44mb is insane!

Thanks for everyone's replies. The more I think about it, traveling all the way to Japan to snowboard and I shouldn't miss Niseko So going to stay in Niseko for 3-4 nights, then fly into Osaka for two days then off to Nagano. So the 4 days flexible pass should work good. Right now planning to stay in Japan for 2 weeks total. Any one have comments of mountains at Yamagata, gifu, or shiga? Are they worth a day visit there for boarding? Thanks Gamera for the link, I'll order it in November. How different are the Superior Class Green cars and Ordinary cars? Is it worth the ex

That means its going to take 6 hours from Osaka, oh well, looks like I have pass in Feb, but how long from Nagano to Yamagata? Tks

I guess I consider myself Hong Kongnese first then American, but I have American Passport

Oh man, $44 for 30MB cable internet, I am so getting rip off in the states... it seems like broadband is much cheaper in Asia then in the states, now only if they would release fiber optic internet in the next few years..

Great prize package, well, if I win, I can take another member there, since I'll be there solo in Feb.

Looks pretty nice place to try out.. how far is Yamagata from Tokyo or Osaka?

Noted and Thanks! Is there a 7 day flexible pass? 4 days might not be enough..

Boots are cool, but they aren't too comfortable!... try one of my friend's cowboot boots for a night out, man, the boot killed my feet!

Saw "Waiting" last night, one of the funniest movie I seen this year. Must see !

No, not at all, my parents don't like it, but they can't do anything bout it now..ha..ha.