Parksie

OK, if its one ot the other, quality please ! There must some places that can offer both ?

Rag-Doll / Mr Wiggles - the NY tour sounds good, I am sure my wife would like it, as long as it's not too touristy. Where do you find more info. I think Hakuba is looking a good choice for our trip. Any recommendations for a really good hotel / ryokan. Somewhere more Japanese than western biased would be preferred. The emphasis is on quality rather than cost. Thanks again.

Thanks for the replies so far. If we go to Hakuba do we stay in the main village or are the hotels at each resort - Happo-one, 47, etc ?

Have booked our first trip to Japan this New Year. I am looking for best resort recommendations. Here's some further info to give you an idea what we're looking for: 1. Dates 30/12 to 06/01 so needs to be a place that can handle the crowds & has a good snow early season. 2. Good boarding terrain with some backcountry (& powder please !) 3. Scenic resort with nice village (no concrete jungles) 4. Availability of good hotels / ryokans / restaurants & some night life. (please recommend any really good ones) 5. Best way to travel to resorts - train or rent a car ? 6. Ide