dusty23 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hi, We are in the process of planning our trip to Hokkaido and would appreciate some advice/opinions. There are 6 or more of us (25-30yr olds: couples & singles) planning a trip to hokkaido for skiing/snow boarding over a 2 week period around Dec 09 - Jan 10. we are beginner to intermediate levels of experience (at NZ slopes). None of us can speak japanese, but are certainly keen to learn some basics. Other than good slopes, I guess we are looking for an area with access to restaruants and bars to keep us entertained after hours. we were hoping to stay in appartments also. any ideas or thoughts? cheers, Dusty Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted February 2, 2009 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hi Dusty and welcome. I'm sure there will be someone giving you some thoughts and advice. If you don't already know, there is an Accommodation section on our site - and there are apartments in there so you might want to look at those. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/index.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/niseko-hokkaido-accommodation.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/furano-hokkaido-accommodation.html Best of luck with the planning. Link to post Share on other sites
dusty23 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 thanks. I had a look in the accommodation section and it will definately help out when we get to the stage of fine tuning our selections. I'm keen to get people's thoughts so i can narrow down the possibilities. Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 You're talking about Niseko. Hirafu area. It fits all your criteria. Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 But check the exchange rate before you commit to Japan. Canada might be the go for your first overseas ski trip. We're in Hokkaido now, and not for the first time, and the prices are killing us. Link to post Share on other sites
DJElo 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 yeah,really check the exchange rate..since i was in jap last summer it's way more expensive ( shoulda taken out more cash back then Link to post Share on other sites
gareth_oau 2 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 for the suggested dates of 9 Dec to 10 Jan, i suspect that Canada would be very expensive as its christmas on the snow. also, Canada is hosting 2010 winter Olypmics so again, very expensive time to travel there Link to post Share on other sites
dusty23 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 thanks guys. we are weighing up whether it's cheaper to go to canada or not. unfortunately if both japan and canada are looking too pricey, we'll have to settle for a tropical holiday rather than a snow holiday. So would Niseko be the best suited for us? Any recommendations in Niseko? Link to post Share on other sites
modern_messiah 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I think it snows in Europe round that time of year as well lol... Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Sorry to hijack this thread - Keba are you talking general living ie food drinks etc. OR are you including ski passes etc?? We are hoping to live quite cheaply by buying everything at the co op in Kutchan. Hi Dusty, I have to agree with others as much as I love Japan maybe next year Canada might be the place to try. I would give Whistler a big miss because of the Winter Olympics, try Banff which gives you access to Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Norquay. You can also take a trip up to Kicking Horse and Marmot. I think you will also find Canada will have a better exchange rate. I also think other resorts in Canada will be a little quieter, offering good deals as all the attention will be on Whistler. Link to post Share on other sites
dusty23 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 Thanks snowhuntress. I think once the 09/10 ski prices come out we'll get a quote for both Niseko and Canada and see where that leads us. would love to go to Japan to see a different culture, but as everyone has said, if the exchange rate isn't half decent we won't be able to afford it. Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Originally Posted By: snowhuntress Sorry to hijack this thread - Keba are you talking general living ie food drinks etc. OR are you including ski passes etc?? We are hoping to live quite cheaply by buying everything at the co op in Kutchan. It isn't hijacking the thread, cost is critical for some people in making a decision on travel destinations. Yes general living costs and lift passes. Camembert Cheese in Coop in Kutchan = Y600 = $10.50 Cup of flat white espresso coffee in Hirafu = Y600 (vending machine canned coffee Y120-150) Petrol @ Y100/l = $1.75/l Day lift ticket at Rusutsu = Y5100 = $90 (which I'd be happy to pay if there was plenty of fresh snow to ski in, and begrudgingly pay to ski in Australia) Sure, I'm being selective, but when you're used to the pre-October '08 exchange rate, I guess what I'm saying is that it suddenly feels very expensive here. Unless something miraculous happens to the world economy and money markets, we are more likely to be in Canada next winter. Think Fernie, Big White, Silver Star, Red Mountain - agree that staying out of Whistler would be a good idea. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Thanks for the reply Keba much appreciated. We leave this Sunday and of course have been slugged with the poor exchange rate. I knew we were going to find it way more expensive than last year but I think I had stuck my head in the sand a little bit. We will definitely have to limit ourselves this year and be more select when shopping and not eat out as much as we did last year. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 Gareth he means Dec 2009 - Jan 2010 not 9th Dec to 10th Jan <wink> If you are heading to Hokkaido I think your best bet for Apres is gonna be Niseko Hirafu, and I can highly recommend the self contained apartments there (well the ones we have been inside) - awesome! Friends of ours just got back from 3 weeks at Whistler and they said their credit card was pretty melted down from expenses. Mind you ours was positively liquified in Europe ;-) Link to post Share on other sites
gareth_oau 2 Posted February 3, 2009 Share Posted February 3, 2009 thats ok mamabear, my dates are still relevant! winter olympics are january 2010? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Originally Posted By: gareth_oau thats ok mamabear, my dates are still relevant! winter olympics are january 2010? AND how much would I love to be there to expereince that atmosphere!! Awesome. Not gonna happen, but one can dream. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Don't fear Whistler for the 2009/2010 season. There will be little impact on the mountains during the events. Only some of the runs leading toward Creekside will be used for downhill events. Nordic ski events are outside of Whistler proper (closer to Squamish), and the snowboard events will be near Vancouver. Insofar as accomodation booking, I heard that people are so freaked out about the Olympics, thinking that it will be a bad time to visit Whistler, that everything is underbooked! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts