robbied 0 Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 Hi guys, You may remember my thread earlier this year about driving all around Japan in 3 weeks. We have thought about it more and changed it slightly, let me know what you experienced folks think and if you have any recommendations 3 weeks total. 1- Arrive Tokyo in evening. Stay overnight near Haneda. 2- Fly early for Chitose. Hire 4WD. Drive to NISEKO. 3-NISEKO/RUSUTSU 4-NISEKO/RUSUTSU 5-NISEKO/RUSUTSU 6-NISEKO/RUSUTSU 7-NISEKO/RUSUTSU 8-FURANO/TOMAMU 9-FURANO/TOMAMU 10-FURANO/TOMAMU 11-FURANO/TOMAMU 12-Fly back to Tokyo. Travel to Hakuba 13-HAKUBA 14-HAKUBA 15-HAKUBA 16-HAKUBA 17-TOKYO 18-TOKYO 19-TOKYO 20-TOKYO 21-TOKYO - Fly home in evening. There are obviously more details regarding transfers, this is just an overview. Let me know if you think we're spending too much time in one place and not enough in another. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 Looks good. If you enjoy ducking ropes you might want to avoid Furano, or just have a heads up theyre pretty damn anal up there. I assume you have your own reasons for spending that much time in Tokyo than skiing in Hakuba, but Id add on another day in Hakuba if possible: tried attaching the pic from my sj member page but it doesnt show up... Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 All hire cars in Hokkaido will be AWD. You don't really need some big 4WD. All cars will be fitted with snow tyres. From Niseko it's a good 4hour+ drive to Furano and you can head back through to Tomamu and then onto Chitose for your flight. You'd probably only get 1 full day at Tomamu. Personally for only 3 weeks I'd be inclined to either choose Hokkaido or Honshu, not both. Link to post Share on other sites
robbied 0 Posted August 1, 2009 Author Share Posted August 1, 2009 Thanks for the feedback guys. Originally Posted By: Creek Boy Looks good. If you enjoy ducking ropes you might want to avoid Furano, or just have a heads up theyre pretty damn anal up there. I assume you have your own reasons for spending that much time in Tokyo than skiing in Hakuba, but Id add on another day in Hakuba if possible: I find groomers boring so we might give Furano a miss then. I hear Tomamu is great though so we'll still go there. Any other mountains you guys could recommend in Hokkaido that have lift accessed tree's and off-piste? Originally Posted By: Go Native All hire cars in Hokkaido will be AWD. You don't really need some big 4WD. All cars will be fitted with snow tyres. From Niseko it's a good 4hour+ drive to Furano and you can head back through to Tomamu and then onto Chitose for your flight. You'd probably only get 1 full day at Tomamu. Personally for only 3 weeks I'd be inclined to either choose Hokkaido or Honshu, not both. Thanks for the info regarding the cars. We only wanted a Van because theres 5 of us with suitcases and snowboard bags. If we did just do Hokkaido, what are the best area's to ride in 2 weeks? We mostly ride off-piste but aren't really into the whole 'hiking for hours in the BC' thing. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 From what my mates say, Tomamu is only worth a day or two. So, you might wanna add on a day or two to Niseko/Rusutsu then. You can hit up Moiwa, Sahoro, and Teine, too. Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I'd replace the Hakuba with Shiga Kogen + Nozawa Onsen. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Sounds good though a little too balanced in Hokkaidos favor. Link to post Share on other sites
robbied 0 Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 Originally Posted By: 7-11 I'd replace the Hakuba with Shiga Kogen + Nozawa Onsen. Shiga and Nozawa look very tempting, I think only 4 days there will make me depressed though with all that terrain... Do you think it will workout better than 4 days in Hakuba? Originally Posted By: joshnii Sounds good though a little too balanced in Hokkaidos favor. It's our first trip and we want some guaranteed deep powder to blow our minds, Hokkaido seems like the most likely place for those conditions. Is there any other great resorts near Furano other than Tomamu? Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Originally Posted By: robbied Originally Posted By: 7-11 I'd replace the Hakuba with Shiga Kogen + Nozawa Onsen. Shiga and Nozawa look very tempting, I think only 4 days there will make me depressed though with all that terrain... Do you think it will workout better than 4 days in Hakuba? I think two days at Shiga and Noz will be great fun... But, how much traveling do you want to do? Remember, the more you travel, the less you have to ride, and since you dont have that much time on Honshu, Id pick one myself. Travel between Shiga and Noz isnt the smoothest either. Unless you rent a car on Honshu as well. Link to post Share on other sites
Crunky 0 Posted August 24, 2009 Share Posted August 24, 2009 If your near Furano do a day or two out a Kamui. Link to post Share on other sites
Myoko Guy 0 Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I think 4 days in Hakuba rather than a combo of Shiga/Nozawa. Get more runs in and you can do Shiga/Nozawa/Myoko next year. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Hell yeah, don't forget Myoko.... that's M Y O K O. Remember, Myoko. OK? Oops you didn't mention it. Well, think Myoko anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
Myoko Guy 0 Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Been up late celebrating the Ashes 2PM? I recommended Hakuba for 4 days as per the OP. The OP didn't mention Shiga or Nozawa either but that for some reason hasn't drawn your wrath. Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 For a three week trip, i would just do Hokkaido, leavethe mainland for another trip. Thats way to long in Tokyo, its just another city. I just posted my three week plan in another thread, we are staying in Hokkaido. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 It may be a city, but it sure is a fun one as well. Anyone can spend 3 full days in Tokyo. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 If you go up Furano way you should take at least one day at Asahidake. It's just a ropeway, 500 meters of vertical, find your own way down. Powder odds in Jan/Feb approx 100%. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Quote: Powder odds in Jan/Feb approx 100%. Only nearly? Sounds a bit of a risk that. Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Originally Posted By: 2pints,mate Hell yeah, don't forget Myoko.... that's M Y O K O. Remember, Myoko. OK? Oops you didn't mention it. Well, think Myoko anyway. SECONDED!!! I had a pass last year for 4 of the 5 (it didnt cover seki which was a shame). The fact im back in the UK whenever i think about suginohara im filled with a genuine feeling of sadness :'( Its absolutely beautiful. And also the longest ride in Japan if i remember right. Also, if you like "whatever you like" riding without red coats stealing your lift pass, youll freaking love the whole mountain. Play in the trees or under the lifts, or hike up to the top and mess around the bowl, no ones stopping you. The genuine policy is "do what you like, but if we have to rescue you, youre paying through the nose for it". Cant argue with that. Oh, and i forgot the powder. Its really all over the place. And the best thing is, its usually under a flimsy healf hearted red tape, and no one else is playing on it What about the others though: If you want a park to play on, ikenotaira is pretty decent. And though Akakan doesnt touch happo, its still a pretty decent place to whizz around on. It has a fantastic soft packed 38 degree mogul field that i freaking loved tumbling down last year. Great fun. Genuinely worth a couple of days. Oh, and youll be literally taking two lifts to get from the bottom of the mountain to the top. And whats more, aside the terrible two seater at the foot of ikenotaira, youll hardly be waiting. In hakuba it gets a bit messier. Honestly, when i retire im coming to myoko and teaching them how to bloody market the damn place! An absolute tragedy that this place isnt as popular as it should be. I have nothing but total love for it. It took one morning session on suginohara to know that i was coming here all last winter. Its a decision im still delighted with. And last season the snow was rubbish in nagano Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Perhaps a wrong end of a stick taken there, ippy.... But it is a nice place. Not top of my list though. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Myoko? is that in Korea? Link to post Share on other sites
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