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wattiewatson

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Posts posted by wattiewatson

  1. Originally Posted By: iiyamadude
    Myoko is a great place. But top 10 in the world?


    I agree. I wouldnt call it world class because:
    - Its hard to access beginners runs. Some of them you have to up the gondola then traverse/ride some steeper terrain to get to.
    - The place is in decline. Its a bit like Madarao, its heyday is in the past.
    - The Myoko resorts arn't well linked with shuttles.
    - The season is short. Lifts only go half way up the mountain.
    - Gets noticably less snow than Nozawa, Shiga, Arai. (Don't know why, i've looked at maps to try figure it out.)
    - There is really only one part of the mountain that interests me, the stuff accessable off speedlift 3. Whereas other mountains have multiple areas that are good.

    However, I rate it highly because:
    - There is some pretty good runs if you want to hike 1 hour.
    - Theres some good lift accessable out of bounds stuff.
    - Cheap lift passes. season pass was 35,000 (suginohara only) when i was there.
    - park guys do well with limited budget. The boarder cross was always fun.
    - Its easy to get to by car from Nagano, much closer than Hakuba, Nozawa.

    Myoko is worth a visit, I just wouldn't say its world class. Lake Nojiri, which is closeby is a pretty cool in summer if you like watersports or cross country MTB.
  2. yep i think your right about the size limits. Some places you specifically have to ask for the Yamano-bin service (if your using black cat / kuro neko / yamano). The yamano bin service is the oversize version of takkyubin and will take skiis, bikes etc at similar reasonable price.

     

    I think this is what people have been using when they refer to takkyubin.

    You wont have any trouble at the airport, it only comes up if you are in the back of beyond and the guy behind the counter is an idiot and you specifically ask for takkyubin. Then he'll say imposible without thinking of offering you an alternative.

     

  3. the highway busses are fine and thats how i usually got home. But if your a big unit, they arnt the most comfortable.

     

    I would take the shink (bullet train). Its fun but you might get stuck at Nagano station. there are plenty of hotels around it so it wont be a problem.

     

    Otherwise get the airport guides to ring Chuo taxi's for you. Its a door to door supershuttle deal. You usually have to book them in advance but chances are someone has already done it and you can just jump in with them.

     

    Buying boots in Japan above size 29 (UK9.5/US10) can be a bit of an issue. some shops have at least one pair of 10's lying around, any bigger and you probably will have problems. I was 9.5 and in Nagano city that was about as big as they went.

  4. Yep, i rode there for two seasons. Lived 10k's away in Iiyama. The employees there work pretty hard but i liked the area a lot. Can get a bit isolated at times, certainly not the night life of Hakuba. Its a ghost town out of season - dont know why its still got plenty to offer.

     

    If you like exploring you wont get tired of it - both on and of mtn. I found new trails at the end of year two, and cool spots in the village, and i know i missed plenty.

     

    It changed tons in the two years i was there, and apparently even more so if you look a couple year before that time. I got the impression that its one of the only resorts that is growing in the area, however i think its still running at a loss.

     

    By some accounts Iiyama is changing too, im interested to hear about the place, i hear there are a few more foreigners in town.

     

    Matt

  5. Originally Posted By: neversummer
    In all seriousness, I was being totally honest as I haven't seen a real need for them here. There is never much ice....


    When i got to japan i thought the same thing. I had come from Vermont where they had studded tyres. When i saw that the japanese version was studless, i thought it was a con.

    So i drove my first season in northern Nagano (iiyama) without snow tyres. I got around ok and the tyres i was using would never pass a MOT check (WOF or mechanical check). God bless Japan and its two yearly shakken.

    Then after winter, when i could see the steel belts in the tyres i bought some snow tyres. They make a huge difference. Its like light and day. In summer it sometimes feels like you are on a gravel road (you move around a bit under braking) but they are fine.

    My advice is buy the snow tyres and leave them on all year. For two reasons:
    - they really do make a big difference.
    - If you have an accident you are going to be in the can if you dont have them. I was once told that it was a legal requirement to have them if you lived in the snowline, never figured out if this is true but everyone has 'em.
    - The IC employees regularly check for snow tyres or chains at IC on-ramps in northern nagano / Niigata. The cops in Iiyama, (near Nozawa) sometimes do. Long story but a local resident made the cops have a go at my mate. they let him off because the tyres were 'all weather' but it took a while.

    Last thing, snow tyres dont help you with ice, dont know why the ads sometimes say they do. Thats a bunch of bollocks. You need studded tyres for that.

    I got mine at a used tyre store. Cant help you in Hokkaido but in Nagano i found one near Aki-numa traffic light on route 18. Saved me a bundle of cash.

    Matt
  6. Originally Posted By: RobBright
    ww - have to disagree with you there - think the toll roads in Japan are awesome.....Although it cost 6k one way, hearing that price has dropped on weekends to 1k, thats a bargain for those roads


    Dont disagree that they are good but but dude, 6,000 yen one way is pretty steep for a toll. Pretty sure there are some kickbacks going on in there.

    I would usually take the toll roads for a journey over 2 hours. Less than 2 hours i would go local. I went on them long distance, Nagano to Shikouku, we had 6 people in the van and still felt it in the wallet. Its not like the gas isnt being taxed.



    Matt
  7. I have never felt disadvantaged because of the weight of my boots.

     

    Mamabear, you might find that the lighter boots are actually stiffer than regular boots. Cant see them sacrificing performance on a top end product.

     

    Im happy with my regular boots. Ive got low end burtons and rosignals at the moment. both are fine, as were the salomons that i had before that.

     

    mind you, im not the best rider out there

  8. I have never felt disadvantaged because of the weight of my boots.

     

    Mamabear, you might find that the lighter boots are actually stiffer than regular boots. Cant see them sacrificing performance on a top end product.

     

    Im happy with my regular boots. Ive got low end burtons and rosignals at the moment. both are fine, as were the salomons that i had before that.

     

    mind you, im not the best rider out there

  9. Should we lug our gear or hire (we intend to tour Japan for 3 weeks afterwards)?

     

    Your an intermediate rider, going on a snowboard holiday and want to rent gear? Dont really understand that, especially for the boots.

     

    Also, I reckon you have your holiday upside down. Id ride for 3 weeks, take in a couple of resorts and have 7-10 non-snow days. You could ride Hokkaido, Nagano and see all of Honshu that you want in that time. You could even see either of Shikokou or Kyushu and not be rushed.

     

    Plenty will disagree with me but i dont think Japan justifies a 3 week non-snow holiday. The food and sights are all pretty similar and the train means travel times are super short. If your hell bent on traveling for 3 weeks try Thailand

     

    Matt

  10. I agree that on the whole burton gloves are shitty quality. Dont know why this is given that some of their other gear is nice. However i like the pair i have.

     

    I have had to do some repairs on gloves. A friend put me onto a product called shoe goo. Its a re-rubberiser. It sort of looks like tar. Doesnt look pretty but works well at repairing tears and stops all leaks. I have done all the finger tips of my gloves because i find a lot of the tears come from getting them caught in snowboard bindings. Havent had any problems since.

     

    Matt

  11. I would say that you could live for Y150,000 per month anywhere but the mega cities. Rent is cheap and will be around 60,000. Food is around 60,000 and 30,000 for travel, season passes, small purchases. Add 50,000 for gear in the first month if you dont have it.

     

    You should be able to find a cleaning job pretty easy. Also hitting up a place that doesnt offer english services might get you a cheap bed in the basement of a place. My mate did this but hes pretty hardy

  12. hey,

     

    at least he has bindings?

     

    For other readers interested in a good second hand store near some good mountains:

     

    There was a place outside of Nagano city on R18 as you head north. About 2-3km past Nagano city Higashi wada Post Office. A big black building with Nandemoii written on it. It had pachinko, porn, and a very good snow section. Super cheap second hand store. My mate got a high end 2005 Burton for 3,000.

     

    They usually had board and bindings package for around 7,000. They also have pants that go for around 3,000 and gloves and goggles for around the same. If you went low end for everything from here you may be able to get it done for around 15,000. 50,000 for good quality stuff. Boots will be by far the hardest thing to find.

     

    Good luck

  13. Originally Posted By: Indo
    Mattie,

    Sounds like you are more into younger aged binge drinking establishments!

    I really like Japanese bars. A few mates have em and they are a good place to sit down, catch up with mates and hammer through that bottle keep. I've made some life long friends from some of these places.

    Go find a good bar, frequent it and you'll get looked after.


    By 'Bottle Keep' do you mean the type of bar that you can only buy a spirits by the bottle. Then, when your finished you can keep your bottle behind the bar for the next time you come in? If so, although i dont get into this type of shenanigans, i can understand it. Sort of reminds me of the RSA's back home. I love these places. $3 a pint any day of the week. $6 for a jug. They're good stuff.

    Matt

    Matt
  14. Quote:


    What we often do round here is get convini beers and place or arses down somewhere in the sun with a nice view of sexy ladies walking past, whether thats the park, the beach, or even the train station!! thumbsup



    Yep I agree. I buy my brews from the bottle shop. The one impact i have had in my town is that the bottle shop now stocks two rows of Corona in the chiller. When i came i had to buy 5 cold ones and 7 warm ones. Now i can get the full dozen cold. Still pisses me off that my lime costs $1 a pop though.

    The last thing that i find weird about Japanese bars is the atmosphere. At a lot of places there isnt really any bar. A lot of bars are more like resturants in atmosphere. Some are even worse and really only have private rooms. Why on earth does anyone go out, only to end up squating in a room with the same rabble you came with?

    There is tons of stuff that is great about Japan. However no-one can convince me that their alcholol or bars are any good. The Japanese are only one step above mormons when it comes to beer. They have no idea.

    Oh and as some people pass through Nagano city in the winter here's another recommendation for a place to get wasted at. Its called the Washington/Smile hotel. Its near Monzen plaza (a shopping mall) about 10 minutes walk from Nagano station. It does tabehodai/nomihodai for Y3,300 (girls a little less). Its sort of not limited in time. You can start anytime after 6 or 6:30 and it goes until closing time, maybe midnight. Its a good solid 5 hours of drinking time. It has an open bar, you just serve yourself so there's no waiting on the guy to bring a beer over.

    Matt



  15. Originally Posted By: Creek Boy
    are there still places that have service charges? I havent had one of those in prolly 6,7,8 years as far as I can remember...guess that is still going on in the inaka, MM?


    By service charge i mean a charge for that stick of celery or small portion of slop they give you with your first beer. In Nagano, i haven't found one place that doesnt charge for that. None of them tell you that it costs money but the usual price is Y350. Its a rip off in my opinion.

    Matt
  16. I can't get into drinking at Beer gardens, or even drinking out in Japan. Y600 for shit beer and that shit service surcharge all adds up to big bill for just shit. In my area, i cant find any cheap nights. When i lived in America, damm hell, every bar had some special going on at least once a week.

     

    Here, i have all the time in the world to drink mid week but not the same bank roll. I drink out maybe once a month. Im just not prepared to pay Y600 a beer when i can go to thailand once a year for a month and drink great beer for $1.

     

    However I have found a nomi-houdai directly across the road from Nagano station if anyone comes up here. Its called Tengu, written in kanji. Its 1 1/2 hours drinking time for 1,500 yen. They claim its 2 hours but its 30mins less after you figure out their service rules. If you want to get wasted its the best place for it. I think its sapporo plus the usual spirits, mixed drinks, wine and sake.

     

    I think bars here are for people who get paid relively well but have no time to spend it. In other words they dont mind getting anal raped because they know they wont have anytime to spend their money anyway. Its all pretty lame in my opinion.

     

    Matt

     

     

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