seemore 66 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Help Please I am a Japanese Snow Virgin Iam after info in regards to a snow trip from the 23rd Dec to Jan 1st Accom in Family adjoining rooms, Food, Drink, Ski costs, Hire, Snow conditions, Etc. Nagano seems easier to get to but Club Med Saporo seems all inclusive. My wife and kids have never seen snow but I would like some decent runs. Just really need help Sean Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Virgins are fun as long as they don't expect someone else to tell them everything. You are comparing "Nagano" (a prefecture) with "Club Med Sahoro" (with a p) which is a resort. You really need to sit down and have a read to get some basics down I would say. As well as these here forums, there's some places on here to start: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/start-here.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/general/winter-sports-in-japan-introduction.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/index.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/index.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/voice/review.php Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Welcome Seemore - I agree with Ski - get yourself a drink or few and sit down and just surf the snowjapan site. Check Places to Stay - Daily Reports Archives - Surf the Forums. Nearly everything you will need to now is on this web site. We all have our favourite places in Japan but one thing is for sure once you have been once you will be addicted. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 Cheers Ski Didn't understand the "prefecture" and "p" but will check out the links. The question really is do you need to go up North or is the Nagano region OK at that time of year? Yoghurt! Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 Cheers snowhuntress Thanks for the tips It just looks overwhelming I will just have to sift through it all Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 seemore ski was pointing out that Nagano is not a resort but a prefecture which is like a state in Aus. Within Nagano there are a lot of ski resorts. And it is Sahoro not Saporo. For first timers to Japan I would suggest Niseko. Great resort with awesome snow and pretty much everything can be organised in english. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 of course if you just want to have everything organized for you with meals and drinks all included, kid's club so you guys can have a break, Club Med Sahoro would do. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 Thanks Go Native Maybe I got confused with the beer Do you have any recommendations of places to stay in Niseko. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 Hi Thursday It seems that Sahoro is significantly further away in regards to time and money. Or do you think it is worth it? Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Ha ha Thursday's response will either be 1) Not worth it. Go to Niseko. Niseko is the ONLY place worth going to OR 2) Go there. I want to keep the stashes at Niseko to myself. Hardly impartial. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Friends of mine booked for Club Med Sahoro this Feb. He is a long time and experienced boarder, and she has never seen snow. So he has plans to take his lady friend and teach her in a low stress uncrowded environment. He is not fussed if he doesnt get to make some hard core turns himself - this is a trip about teaching her and spending couple time (mind you he just got back from a boys trip where he ripped it up). Concerns I have had about Club Med - kids under 12 traditionally have not been allowed to snowboard (not sure if this has changed or not) - this would be an issue for my sideways sliders. Also another friends raise questions about the variety of terrain available - I dont know about this never having been there or really checked it out - for me the big red STOP appeared at kids under 12 having to ski not board. Niseko - I love it. This will be my 3rd trip. It has been excellent and loved by friends we have travelled with ranging from Newbies (me!) to advanced skiers and boarders. Kids from 7 - 18. Everyone loved it. As far as terrain - a choice of whatever you wanna ride across Higashiama, Hanazono AND Hirafu all on the one lift pass and interconnected. There are lots of special places on Honshu (Honshu is the island that Tokyo/Nagano/Hakuba are on, as opposed to Hokkaido which is where you find Sapporo, Club Med Sahoro and Niseko) - but I have no experience there so others will have to give you the heads up there. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Yes I know I have embedded this video before - a couple of times - but for our Virgin friend from Ocean Reef...I think it is worth doing again. seemore, are you booked on the 22nd Dec Qantas flight Perth to Tokyo, arriving 23rd? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Originally Posted By: seemore Thanks Go Native Maybe I got confused with the beer Do you have any recommendations of places to stay in Niseko. Seemore A great place to start looking at property options is here on the SJ site. Places to Stay - Niseko The main village where most of the restaurants and good accomm are found is Hirafu. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 7, 2009 Author Share Posted August 7, 2009 Hi Mamabear Thanks for the Vid and great photos from previous trip on different forum. I haven't booked yet but was looking at the 23rd although if flights are available with Singapore don't have a problem going on 22nd as if we go North we may need another day. Where do you stay as I am having no luck with the Clubmed website and both girls want to board 9 & 12 wife is unsure she has never even seen snow. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 happy to help where I can. Off to PINK tonight - leaving soon - so will get more info up for you tomorrow after the kids play rugby. In my expereince you will need to contact the accomodation suppliers to find out if there is a vacancy on your dates, as there are no a lot of websites that can tell you there is a vacancy and how much instantly (althought there is one...will try and find it) Why I ask about the QF flight is THAT is the one we are booked on. 22nd ex Perth Arrive Tokyo 23rd depart Tokyo for Sapporo 26th Arrive Niseko afternoon of 26th Dec. Will be a blast/. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 First time I had seen snow was Niseko too, your wife will love it. OK both times I stayed previously we stayed in the Gondola Chalets - they are right up the top of the village, last accomodation before the lift/gondola. Suited us at the time. Can be pricey, and often book out FAST. We are staying somewhere new this time around - one of the nice Hokkaido Tracks Apartments - but my menfolk have stayed at a Lodge that was further out (Snowgums) and my adult son is booked into a further out lodge (North Field) for Feb. So we dont have one place specifically to recommend to you. The service you will get in Niseko is brilliant - so work out your budget and start contacting the places on the list (see the link above "Places to Stay - Niseko"). A W style is western style - probably more like what you are after. J-style is Japanese Style and could entail your ladywife sleeping on tatami and futons. Maybe not the best choice for a firsttimer. Get something booked, because they are booking out fast - believe me!! You will need flights to Japan (Tokyo/Osaka or direct to Sapporo if you are lucky) and a flight up to Sapporo (most likely from Haneda Airport (Tokyo) at this stage). Then a booking on bus to Niseko - your accomodation provider can give you more info on this - but there are a few companies and regular buses. Accomodation The rest you can take care of when you get there - lift passes, lessons, ski or board hire. Good LUCK! Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Originally Posted By: seemore Hi Thursday It seems that Sahoro is significantly further away in regards to time and money. Or do you think it is worth it? Seemore Most resorts up north are a mecca for people chasing that unique deep Hokkaido powder. This might not be rellevent to you as it's your first snow trip, so you may want to weigh up if the extra cost of getting there is worth it. It's generally colder up there too. There are some great resorts up there with plenty of tame groomed runs, but the question is do you really NEED to be going up there. Whatever your choice. You will have a ball. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Seemore, check out this weekends Saturday paper - page 13 of the West travel section. There are all inclusive packages to Niseko on offer, everything is done for you, and quite frankly the prices are very reasonable. Inclusions: return airfare on Qantas/JAL to Chitose (Sapporo) Shuttle from airport to Niseko and back choice of 7 or 10 nights accomodation and 6 or 9 day lift pass They are Jan 23 - March 31st, not sure why they start then....but might be worth giving them a call. For a firsttimer it is an easy introduction - then you can tailor make your return trips. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 Cheers Mantas Powder would be good though I will have to weigh it up Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 8, 2009 Author Share Posted August 8, 2009 Hi Mamabear Hey thanks for all the info that is excellent Yeah I saw the ad for Harvey World Travel I am going to theire film night to check it out. I will let you know if helpful or ask your advice again Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Hi Seemore I am an ex Sandgropper myself, moved to NSW ten years ago for work and to be close to the snow of course. I am making my fourth trip to Japan next year and while I am kinda over Niseko as I am heading out to other areas, it is an excellent introduction to Japan, niseko is easy to get around from, there is great bus services to the town of Kutchan from the welcom centre each evening andthere are taxi's and free shuttle bus between the various resort towns. Most people stay in Hirafu but you may want to stay close to the lifts because what the maps don't show is its built on a hill and walking with ski gear is not to easy, there is a free shuttle but at peak times this can be crowded. We stayed in an aapartment half way between Hirafu and Higashiyama in a very quiet area and had a hire vehicle so getting to the lifts was easy as well as driving over to Moiawa and Rusutsu. Mind you were were there for three weeks each trip. Eating out is easy at Niseko, if you can get to Annupuri there is a great Bar-B-Que place where you cook your meal from a huge range available on a plate set into your table, its much better than the one in Hirafu. There is also a brilliant Chinese in Kutchan and of course Japanese food to die for all over. I have been there in late December and conditions are pretty good, Hokkaido is a bit more reliable for early season skiing. Have a great holiday. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 Hi Ski Bum Yes I have always said we need mountain range 3 hours norteast and Perth would be alltime. Thanks for the advice mate. Hope you enjoy wherever you go this season. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Im pissed that the GFC meant that the Perth Snow Park didnt get off the ground!! Hey I KNow it is fake stuff, but heck...I look at it as a treadmill at the gym vs running through the park .... or as the rowing machine vs going for a paddle on the river. Excellent exercise and skill development to keep the fitness up for the annual (or multiple annual) ski trip(s). I would have bought an annual pass the day it opened! Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 you can pick up a longboard (skateboard ) Ma'bear it's pretty good ! course it's not the same as snow but I like the carve feeling ... Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 The Perth Snow Park was a great concept, some years back a friend of mine and I did a feasability study into converting an 11 storey car park in the midle of Perth into a ski slope, unfortunatly every model we used came to the same conclusion, we would make more money leaving it as a car park. Link to post Share on other sites
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