tm12881 0 Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 I'm going to Japan for a few days to a week, at the end of Jan or beginning of Feb of 2009 for a family function, and I thought I could hit up some of the resorts in Japan. I will be in Gumma, but as I don't have a driver's license there, so taking train/bullet train/taxi will be my main method of transportation. After doing some research on here, Gala Yuzawa seems like the easiest location for me to get to. (By taking Jouetsu Bullet Train from Takasaki station.) Then, maybe stay at Yuzawa Grand Hotel, as it seems to be the closest hotel. I have some questions: 1. Is there any other option of ski resort and hotel to stay? I'm not picky about the slope too much for this trip, as I will only be there for a day or two, so as long as it has good snow, I'm stocked. The only concern is the transportation, as I won't be driving in Japan. 2. If I go to Gala Yuzawa or any other ski resort by myself on a weekday, will I feel intimidated of any sort? The last time I've gone to a ski resort in Japan was over 15 yrs ago! So, I don't know how things are these days and want to be prepared for it if necessary. Thanks in advance! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Hi there No need to limit yourself to Gala and that hotel. You can easily get to any of the resorts in Yuzawa from the station. Check this map to see 'em: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/japan-ski-town-maps/yuzawa/yuzawa.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/japan-ski-town-maps/naeba/naeba.html Any of the resorts on those are within 30 minutes (most under 15) and have shuttle buses from the station. Same with the hotels, you can stay pretty much anywhere in the town area and easy get around. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Agree with that - look around a bit more at other places. Gala might be THE quickest, but other places are just 15 minutes or so away - and bigger/less busy/different. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 If you will be staying in Gunma you don't need to go to Yuzawa. There are some pretty good places around there too. Check the minakami now reports for more details. Link to post Share on other sites
Roger's head 0 Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Yuzawa might be even quicker though even though it is further - shink and then free bus to nearby resort. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Y not get yourself an International Driver's license? Link to post Share on other sites
tm12881 0 Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 Thanks for all the replies! Since I've narrowed the resorts I wanna visit to Kagura/Naeba and/or Hakuba, I've been doing more researches reading about all the different hotels/ryokan and what they offer, such as pick up/drop off from train station/ski resorts, etc. I'll update with what I come up with later. Link to post Share on other sites
tm12881 0 Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 Because getting international driving permit for 2-3 days of snowboarding isn't worth the money and time/trouble for taking driving test. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Do you already have a driving licence? If you do, at least from the UK, all it takes is a few coins and *poof* you get the international one without any kind of test. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 yeah, I just filled out a form handed over the lolly and boom! Licensed for a year for a lot of countries. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Is Japan different to US, Indo etc as the interntaional licence I have from here in Aus automatically works in those countries? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 There were 2 conventions, 26 and 49. The 68 convention was not ratified by a number of countries. This from the Automobile Associate of Great Britain. (he's a very nice man, yes a very nice man) -------------------------------------- List of countries for which a permit is required An IDP is required for the following countries. Special conditions or requirements apply for those countries in the list below with one or more capital letters alongside. It is important that you refer to the corresponding note(s) at the foot of this page. IDP 1926 Brazil (E, P) Burundi (E) Iraq Nigeria Somalia IDP 1949 Afghanistan Albania (P) Algeria (L) Angola (L) Argentina Armenia Australia (E) Bahrain (A, C) Bangladesh (E) Belarus (L) Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia (E) Botswana (A, E) Brunei (A, E) Bulgaria (D) Burkina Faso (E) Back to the top of the page Cambodia (Kampuchea) (K) Cameroon (E) Canada (E) Cape Verde (E) Cayman Islands © Central African Republic Chad Chile (L) Colombia Comoros Congo (Democratic Republic of) Congo (Republic of) (E) Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) (L) Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles) Czech Republic (D) Back to the top of the page Djibouti (G) Dominica © Ecuador (E) Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea (E) French Guiana (E) Gabon (E) Georgia (E) Ghana (A, E) Grenada © Guadeloupe (E) Guam Guinea Bissau © Guinea Republic (E) Haiti Hong Kong (E) Hungary (F) Iceland (F) India Indonesia (M) Iran Israel (A, E) Italy (F) Japan Jordan Back to the top of the page Kazakhstan (E) Kenya (E) Korea (South) Kuwait (A, C) Kyrgyzstan (E) Laos (E) Latvia (F) Lebanon (A, M) Lesotho (E) Liberia © Macao (Macau) Malaysia (A, E) Mali (E) Mauritania (E) Mexico (E) Montenegro (E) Morocco (E) Mozambique (E) Myanmar (Burma) (G) Namibia (A, L) Nepal (H) Niger (E) Oman (G) Back to the top of the page Pakistan Peru (L, Q) Philippines Portugal (F) Qatar (A, C) Reunion (E) Romania (F) Russian Federation Rwanda (L) Sabah (Malaysia) San Marino (F) Sao Tome and Principe (E) Saudi Arabia (A, B, E) Senegal (L) Serbia (E) Seychelles (A) Sierra Leone Singapore (A, Q) Slovakia (A) Slovenia (L) South Africa (A, J) Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles) (F) Sri Lanka (N) Sudan (E) Surinam Swaziland (L) Syria Back to the top of the page Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) Tanzania (A, C) Thailand Togo Tunisia (L) Turkey (I) Ukraine United Arab Emirates USA (J) Vietnam (G) Yemen © Zambia (E) Zimbabwe (L) Back to the top of the page Important Notes A – Required for car hire. B – Women not permitted to drive. C – IDP recommended. Temporary local licence may be obtained on production of UK licence, but this may be time consuming and more expensive. D – UK driving licences that do not incorporate a photograph must be accompanied by an IDP. E – IDP recommended. F – All valid UK driving licences should be accepted. Acceptance of driving licences that are not of the European Communities model cannot be guaranteed therefore drivers may wish to voluntarily update them before travelling abroad, if time permits. Application for D1 (in Northern Ireland DL1) is available from most Post Offices. Alternatively, older licences may be accompanied by an IDP. G – National licence or IDP should be presented to the police who will issue a visitors licence. H – IDP valid for 15 days – local licence must then be obtained. I – UK driving licences valid for 90 days. J – IDP recommended as, in the event of an accident, some insurance companies will insist on seeing one. Additionally those licences which do not incorporate a photograph need to be accompanied by photographic proof of identity. K – IDP must be exchanged for a local driving licence. A small charge will be made. L – An IDP is compulsory for holders of driving licenses not incorporating a photograph and also recommended for photocard licence holders. M – IDP compulsory and must be certified by the local authorities on arrival. N – IDP must be accompanied by a recognition permit available for a small fee from the AA of Ceylon in Colombo. P – Officially a certified translation is required from the Consulate. Q – For stays longer than 30 days. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Thurs, that was a tad confusing. Might be better to put up the link, so anyone who wants to can get there. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 due to requests from those easily confused, here's the link for your international driving pleasure: The AA Link to post Share on other sites
tm12881 0 Posted June 19, 2008 Author Share Posted June 19, 2008 Ok, I guess I don't need to take a driving test, but I still need $15-20 and 2 passport pics. But the question is: Is it really worth renting a car in Japan for a solo 2 day trip? Or I can use the cars my parents own (and they live in Gumma) but I don't wanna get in an accident or be liable if anything happens. btw, I got my info from http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-drive.html Link to post Share on other sites
I'm Sexy 0 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 But the question is: Is it really worth renting a car in Japan for a solo 2 day trip? > I would say no! public transport is so good Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 2 days prob not. 2 week, prob yes. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Originally Posted By: thursday. due to requests from those easily confused, here's the link for your international driving pleasure: The AA Thanks, thurs. Age DOES weary them! (or at least me) Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Originally Posted By: t177 Since I've narrowed the resorts I wanna visit to Kagura/Naeba and/or Hakuba, I wouldnt bother with Naeba, if you are going to be in Yazawa area stick to Kagura. One thing is for sure, you cant do both Yuzawa and Hakuba in a 2-3 days trip. So better pick one of these two. If you are not planing to do some BC touring also, I would say wait till you are here and go to the one that has the most recent snowfall. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 For lots of people Naeba is a better place than Kagura. I would classify Kagura as being 'over-rated' myself. It depends on what you want. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 "Kagura" as kagura area from the Tashiro/mitsumata/Kagura resort is overrated. I am actually glad some times that people have tunel vision for Kagura area because not many hit some of my stashes in Tashiro. I would say that Naeba is better for beginners because its has much easier runs and really wide gelende, but some more experienced rider might find it a bit boring. On the other hand, I also remember myself when still a beginner in Kagura area getting my arse kicked... Although the lower parts of Tashiro are excellent for beginners. Thats where I taught tsondagirl snowboarding. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Quote: "Kagura" as kagura area from the Tashiro/mitsumata/Kagura resort is overrated What does that mean then?! Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Whats not clear in my previous post? Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 If Kagura does not equal Tashiro/Mitsumata/Kagura, then what is it? Is there a part I am missing? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 A sorry, yes now I got your question. Most of the people thinking kagura actually mean only the part of the resort up to the #1 kagura high speed lift. The resort is not only the kagura area but also Tashiro and Mitsumata areas, but is usually referred as kagura resort. I ve met many people that have been going to kagura for more than a season and never actually explored tashiro. There is more to the resort than the Kagura main gelende or the 2 runs under the #1 kagura high speed lift and the lift next to it. I hope that makes sense. Link to post Share on other sites
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