bibowj
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Posts posted by bibowj
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Hell All- Its been ages since I last posted on here, but Im certainly glad that its almost that time again.
My question is this: I currently live in the north Tohoku area (hakoda being my home mountain) with tons f other within a short drive. However, Im taking about a 12 day holiday over new years (leaving say the 30th) and trying to hit about 3-4 major resorts around Japan in that period.
I was looking for some advice on:
-where i should try to be for New years, if I have a choice
-best transportation option: shin or fly?
- Best resorts to hit overall, keeping in mind that Ill be traveling with my gear.. and which ones will have good odds of having pow during the first week of Jan... because i KNOW we will be buried in it long before then. ahhh the joys of living here..( though i assure you that heavy snow is just about the ONLY joy of the area).
I hope that my questions are not overly vague. ANy advice would be great! thanks!
James in Aomori ken
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Any of you Brits know about this site/business?
http://www.skiweekends.com/index.aspx
While back packing in Europe 3 months from now, before moving to Japan Ill have a 5 day break in London that coincides with one of these trips... Seems like a good deal, minus the long bus ride. I hear the 3 Valleys is amazing...
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$480 is quite cheap actually, considering that my home mountain (mt Baker in Washington State) is well over $700 a year ..and its not exactly HUGE ...
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Hey All- Ran into some planning issues that I need some advice on from those of you with experience over here.
I had a trip planned to Whistler from Dec 5th to the 10th, with my flying into seattle and riding up to Whistler with a local friend. However, it seems that he has backed out now.. I have the time off, and the flight to Seattle booked, I think I want to go somewhere on my own for that time.
So my question is do you have any recommendations on places that are normally pretty great in the early December season? Being from Washington State myself, I know that our resorts (and whistler as well) can be hit and miss that early. Maybe Alaska? CO? Utah?
I have to go through some serious logistics now so Id rather work something out thats great... and hopefully not TOO far from an airport...
Thanks guys..
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AS the OP, I wanted to thanks everyone for their inputs and their time.
I wanted to add a few things to explain why Im 'avoiding" going more North for my first trip..(glad to see people so interested in that, figured it would be a dead post or I would get flamed)..
First, like I’ve said I’m moving to Japan , so my mentality and the baggage Ill be carrying isn’t the same as if I was on holiday. Plus, in the 6 weeks before Ill backpacking through Europe with a week in Whistler starting off my holidays..
So saying that, I need something logistically easy.. I want to land, get on a train, take a nap ... get to my hotel and hit the powder the next day. Being that Tohoku is more the "boonies" , I imagine that there might be some more steps to take...
I'll be living in Tokoku for at least 4 years, so I'll probably have time for that..
Side question since people are reading this: I’ve gotten the feeling that Hakkoda in Aomori has some great skiing/boarding but it seems to be more BC and not so much standard trails? Is this true? I wasn’t planning on bringing my transponder or avi gear, maybe I should?
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Since I wont be in Japan till Feb, my first snow days will have me up at Whistler Blackcomb the first week of December and maybed some overnighters to West Virgina before I fly out. Ive got a month backpacking in Europe before the Japan thing...so Ill lose that time for boarding..
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Thanks for the replies guys!
Im sure that I will end up bringing my gear for the simple fact that I hate riding on rental gear and lame as it sounds , it bothers me when I know people can tell that Im rentals... ie if theres a serial # written with a sharpie on it... like I said, I know its lame...
The biggest issue I have with not renting is the fact that Im not coming to Japan for a holiday. Im actually moving there, Im just taking the first week at least to board.... so I will be packing enough of my life with me in order to last for a few weeks before my shipment from home arrives... ie my bed and stuff...
The other problem Ive had was finding a bag that fits but isnt crazy big. I have a very nice Burton bag, but its a 190 or something so its huge..I did find one last night thats a flat bag thats a 170 (im a 169) so that should work better..
Side question: For those that have flew in from the states, do you feel that Habuka is too far to work yourself there directly? Or should I plan on getting a hotel for the first night? IT seems accom is cheaper on the mountains than in the cities (Ill never be able to get used to that)
Hey Domokun- How long are you in Habuka for? We get there just about the same time, I fly in on Feb 15th.
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As Ive mentioned before, Ill be moving to Japan in the beginning of Febuary, and for my first week there Ill be headed snowboarding somewhere (Hakuba probably)... My question is about rental gear.
At the moment, I'm planning on shipping my gear so it arrives to Japan about a week after I get there but it'll be in Aomori, and I cant get to it.... so I will probably need to rent. My problem might be that I'm 6'2 190lbs with a size 11 1/2 foot and I ride a Burton Custom 169...so am I going to have problems finding rental gear that fits me? If so, has anyone had any luck with flying with your board and not having to pay the over sized baggage fee? Flying from the east coast US to Japan with board, boots and bindings AND the rest of your life could prove to be difficult..
Any advice?
I hope everyone had a great weekend!
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Oh, I was just referring to everything else current Ive read, and everyone that Ive talked to that lives there... I was just saying that even compared to US prices on resorts, its quite cheap... and I was wondering If Im missing something..
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I think a big mountain is what Im looking for. hell, 2 weeks before I get to Japan I'll be in Whistler/Blackcomb for a few weeks... not the best snow I dont think..but I love the sheer size
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Ok folks, sorry for yet another basic question but this one has been bugging me for the most of the day.
As Ive said before , im moving to Japan to live and I picked Japan mostly for the ski/snowboarding. I understand the cost of living is significantly higher and Ive seen clear proof of that. However, Im online doing research on where to go for my first week boarding in Feb, and Im seeing a ton of hotels that are nearly ski in/ out for around $50 a night...
Now Im by no means rich, but Im headed to whistler BC in Dec and the cheapest for something average is $200 a night not counting lifts. So am I missing something or is "Standard rooms from 11,000 per person, including buffet breakfast and lift ticket" not abnormal? (Thats from the Hakuba Alps Hotel listing on here)
$70 lift tickets in Colorado are not unheard of...
Please advise...
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I think there just seems to be less internet coverage up north ...when you dont actually LIVE there yet, its hard to not go where the masses go:)
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Why not Aomori? Well Ill be homeless for one.. not really, but Ill be living out of my backpack untill I get to Aomori and have my stuff delivered. Im planning on spending a few days in Tokyo being a tourist, then go somewhere for about 5 days to board. So really I just need a good resort that easy to get to, and that has hotels...
I do speak decent Japanese, but ill be culture lagged Im sure..so i was just looking for something easy...
If thats available up north, Id love to know which ones would be best.... 5 days is a long time though. I dont wanna get TOO bored:)
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My apologies, I spell checked it and it grabbed the wrong word. Didn’t realize this forum was so grammar critical. Again, my apologies.
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Hello All- I have kind of a noob question, but I cant quite fine a specific answer in the past topics..
Im moving to Japan to live on Feb 15th and I dont have to be "anywhere" until at least a week later. Being a avid boarder, Id like to hit somewhere for a few days before I make the trek up to Aomori for work...
My question is, where would you recommend I go for my first experience in Japan? Ill be alone, Im 33 and a experienced boarder. Id like to go somewhere that’s fairly excessable from Tokyo, but wont cost me a fortune to stay...yes I know that’s impossible but any input would help....
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Do you guys think I will be paying through my butt for hotels there? Just trying to plan out my funds...
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Thanks everyone for the replies and information. Question though... If Im crossing into Paris (alone midn you) with about 8 days left in my trip before having to be back in London to fly back home ( before catcing a flight to Tokyo) , is it feasable to hit a resort for a day or 2 of boarding ? Or am I pusing it?
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Hello All- Before moving to Japan in early Feb, Im planning on taking another tour through Europe to see some friends and such, since Ill probally living in Japan for the long haul. I plan on spending about 4-5 days of that snowboarding somewhere in the Alps but being from the west coast of america, Im not famliar with where would be the best, most economical choice for me. IE I wont have my own gear, and Ill be coming via train from Paris....
Does anyone have any advice on 1 or 2 resorts that are withing fair reach of a train and would be decent for someone thats going alone to go to? Of course moneys of SOME issue being that its nearly 30 days that Ill be traveling...
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My bad folks... I was just looking for some folks to chat with ..in more of a conversational sense.
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Hey! I know its off season and all for this hemisphere, so these boards wont be overly active but as I sit here in the humid heat of Virginia, USA counting the days/weeks/months until I move to Japan (in 5 months), my board is sitting no less than 4 feet from me... I mis the powder, the people and the attitude. Id love to talk to some people Snowboarding/skiing and snowsports in general and well... anything to do with Japan. Anyways...hopefully this wont irritate the mods but below is my IM address..send me a message Id love to talk!
James
AOL: bibowj
Yahoo: jamesbibow
MSN : jamesbibow@hotmail.com
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Hmm well Ive not boarded in Japan YET, Ive hit every good resort in the rockies sooo Ill say , in order:
-Overall length of the runs. I HATE a 2 min run, followed by a 25 min line up to repeat.
- Quality of the snow of course.
- and length of the season...ie. how long they stay open later in the year....
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Hello All!
Im an obsessed snowboarder (Former instructor) and Im moving to Japan this January. Ill be living in the Aomori prefecture, and I was wondering where I should look at going first there? I know not allot of people on this board live that far north, but on the off chance I wanted to ask. Ill be flying with my board so Id like to hit the slopes the first day or two after....
Thanks!
James
Tohoku, January 2009
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
hey all- I dont mean to sound lost, but whats the story with this trip? I live in the area, and all the places that you mention are a few songs on the ipod away.. (not literally but close enough)... would love to hear more..