grazza 2 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 As someone who's now clocked two Japan (Honshu) trips, last year and this year, I was wondering just how bad this year was in the grand scheme of things. Was it gobsmackingly awful,the sort of season no one has ever seen before, or was it just once in a decade or so crap? I should say that in spite of the general crapness, we had plenty of fun in our two weeks - it just wasn't powder day after powder day, like we had last year. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I can only speak about where I live ---- very bad! This season saw by far (by a wide margin) the least snow in this part of Niigata since I came quite a few years ago (and that is fact not a vague memory recall). I didn't have to move or shovel snow once this season. Usually it's at least once a week with consistent heavy snowfall coming through and many great days of deep snow. It was as if the season never really got going proper in this region, we skipped the "mid-winter" bit. Having said that, I am lucky and able to pick and choose, and I have had some wonderful days out. It has been very hit and miss though. This area is famous for it's consistent and huge amounts of snow (the original "Snow Country"). That was taken away from us this year, which is worrying. Here's to a bumper season next time! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I started skiing at the end of October, there's still top to bottom coverage up here, and this week is slated to be deep. Anyone that calls this season in and around the Niseko Resort Area bad just hasn't got out enough. "Not as good as....." I can understand and live with. Bad? I call bullshit on your bad and raise you a face shot Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Niseko definitely won this year without a doubt! Enjoyed all your pics Mike. If you are still taking them, please do us the honour.... Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Cheers. More from here this week hopefully and from the road next week. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Don't know cause I live on Shikoku and all but Niseko seemed to have a pretty normal year from reading Mike's reports and drooling over the pics. Generally speaking, years when it's really snowy and cold in relatively Southern areas, it often doesn't snow further North because it's TOO cold with too much high pressure. Hokkaido seemed to be right in the snow belt this winter. Places like Hakuba had enough of a base (well, up high anyway. -glide cracks were appearing down low as early as the beginning of February) but Honshu for the most part lacked the consistent fresh stuff. If you live in snowcountry you can choose your ski days but if you're a tourist (like me) then you have to get lucky (which I did) if it's powder that you want. Places further south-west like Hachikita which usually rock through until March had a couple of good weeks in January but then started to suck for the most part from around Jan. 30. Down here we had a couple of good dumps in the mountains but then the weather started coming from the south instead of the north. Not winter-like at all. It's cold now though! And windy too. Straight from the north. Not good jogging weather. Link to post Share on other sites
Myoko Guy 0 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 My father-in-law didn't have to go up on the roof once this winter to clean off snow, and that's a regular thing in this part of the world. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I'm with MP - Niseko was awesome. We arrived to a bluebird day - then it rained much to our horror THEN it snowed and snowed and snowed - I honestly did not think it was going to stop. I honestly have never seen so much snow. I truly had my powder experience on this trip. Funny cause I thought last year was great. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I wouldn't characterize this season as a "bad" one... at least up on Hokkaido anyway. It was a late winter, but not a short or light one. Heck, it's still snowing, and Sapporo Kokusai has a near record of 4M snowbase at the top! Link to post Share on other sites
employeeof 0 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 yoo well its my first post. I live in Hokkaido, dead center near Asahikawa, at the foot of Asahidake. this has been my second season. This year definitely lacked the snowfall and cold that last year had. Typically, we get a good base (ground-level) by mid december, and it snows every day until feb, then it gets reallly cold. we didnt get a good base until christmas(ish)-- and we had a few days of rain through january, and only a few good storms. honestly last year, from december till febuary I only remember seeing the sun 3-4 times. this year it was sunny quite a bit. that being said, it has been a late winter and its snowing right now, this time last year spring was in full swing. from the last week in febuary we probably doubled our snowfall (where I am) the local hill that I go to (Kamui) has closed, but Asahidake still has some awesome powder. Furano I havent been to this year, Kurodake is in the same boat as Asahidake, as is the Kita-Taisetsu area. but anyway- I am spoiled living here so i shouldnt bitch. Link to post Share on other sites
69 5 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Sounds like: Hokkaido - fairly decent. Everywhere else - shite. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 (North East Nagano, Nozawa/Madarao area) Similar thoughts to muikabochi. In the minds of visitors, it might not be as bad as some locals think - after all, they might be comparing it to Australia - but the point is that for Japan it has been pretty poor. And giving that consistent deep powder is one of the draws of Japan, it not happening is Link to post Share on other sites
employeeof 0 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 yeahh for all the average days ive had this year.. I have had a few really really awesome days. cant complain all in all. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Worst I have experienced here. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 My definition of "bad" used to be Winter 06/07, but this winter has been considerably worse again, so "very bad" I suppose. Obviously you still get good days in a bad year, but even then there won't be the same number of places to play. Good days in a good year is best! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 The snow is drying up at a really fast rate right now, can see the difference every day almost. Quote: Good days in a good year is best! Oh yes! Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Understand all the snow stuff, but in terms of funness, this was our favourite time in Japan. Our Tohoku trip beat out the Hakuba/Nagano trip easy overall. Funness itself. Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 This season? Definitely less good than some in the past, but still good. If it was bad for you, then your timing and/or destination may have been mischanced, or as MikePow says, maybe you just didn't get out enough. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 (With respect to Hakuba, don't know where you are talking about) Quote: Definitely less good than some in the past, Oh without a doubt Quote: but still good. You would be struggling to find many people not into bullshit and/or marketing who would agree with that. Unless of course you are comparing to a place that was absolutely awful. Quote: If it was bad for you, then your timing and/or destination may have been mischanced Timing? Very few awesome days, you would have to be lucky to get one of them. Destination? Definitely Quote: or as MikePow says, maybe you just didn't get out enough. But Niseko has had a decent season. Other places do not really apply. Link to post Share on other sites
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