DunadainRanger 0 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Whats up everyone? I'm in the Navy and I'm getting stationed in Yokosuka, Japan in January. I definitely wanna shred when I get there.. what is the closest mountain to Yokosuka and does it have a decent terrain park? I love snowboarding and park is all I ride, just wanna find out the best places to ride, how to get there, whether to bring my snowboard gear from back home, and possibly find some other military members on here that would want to tag along! Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Yokosuka isn't anywhere near to the mountains. Its next to Yokohama (which is my neck of the woods), so to get to a decent mountain you'll have to either take a train from Tokyo station, the Shinkansen runs directly into Yuzawa, where there are quite a lot of resorts near to the station, but the biggest one is kagura/Mitsumata. It joins up with Naeba as well so the amount of terrain available is huge. The Shinkansen also goes to Nagano station where you can take a shuttle bus to the hakuba resorts, Shiga Kogen and a multitude of others. Access from Kanagawa/Tokyo area is pretty easy. If trains aren't your thing then there are plenty buses that leave for resorts all over Honshu from Yokohama and Ikebukero in Tokyo. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Well said Tubby. Make sure you come back and say ta, DunadainRanger. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 probably out looking for insurgents Link to post Share on other sites
DunadainRanger 0 Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 ta. another thing.. I've heard in order to ride the trains in Japan you need a "JR Pass", which you cannot acquire while in the country. Is this true? Is it possible to make a day trip to Kagura or is it too far? Can you take a snowboard on the trains? What am I looking at as far as money for a lift ticket/train rides for a day? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Don't need a JR pass at all. You need to buy a train ticket. And yes, Kagura is easily done within one day. For you, take the keikyu line to Shinagawa, change to the Yamanote line to Tokyo, change at Tokyo to the Joestu Shinkansesn (preferably the MAX Tanigawa - god love that train!) and get off at Echigo Yuzawa. In terms of cost, try looking at the JR homepage for the pamphlets, as the cost depends on when you go, ie weekday/weekend/holiday, morning/afternoon/evening but on average from 9k up to 11k for train and lift pass. Link to post Share on other sites
rider69 18 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 If you want park I would not go to Kagura. I would go to naeba or okutadami when its open. Also joestu kokusai isnt half bad. Also consider a long trip to Gifu ken and hit Takasu snow park for a good J park Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Originally Posted By: rider69 Also joestu kokusai isnt half bad. Isn't particularly good either. Kandatsu is the place you want in Yuzawa for park - if they get it going this season. Link to post Share on other sites
skidaisuki 0 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 The JR Rail Pass is for visitors to Japan - if you are resident (they check your passport) you can't buy or use one. Tubby's advice is accurate. For weekend trips from the Tokyo / Yokohama area, the shinkansen from Tokyo station to Echigo-Yuzawa (about 90 minutes) is the quickest way to get to the slopes. JR do special one-day and weekend deals which cover a return rail ticket, lift pass for a resort and a discount ticket for equipment hire (if you need it). These are really good value and very convenient. SdS Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 up until the 14th Dec its about 8000 yen for a JR Ski deal to Kagura, this includes shink ticket and lift ticket. From Dec 14th - 25th (i think) it goes up to 9k. Kagura is very doable for a day trip, I often do this throughout the season. as is the rest of Yuzawa Link to post Share on other sites
Mogul1 0 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 If you're desparate and don't have all day, you could go to Snova: http://www.snova246.com/ Link to post Share on other sites
HeatherLocklearRocks 1 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Not anywhere near that desperate. Link to post Share on other sites
DunadainRanger 0 Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 thanks everyone for the responses and here I am almost a year later to follow up on them lol.. last season I didn't get to go snowboarding at all but I'll be damned if I don't this season.. Few questions.. skidaisuki - you said JR does special deals for a train ticket + lift ticket.. where can I find these offers? Joumba - where is that place? is it just a small indoor hill or what? I went to the website but unfortunately I can't read Japanese. also.. should I bring my snowboard gear to Japan? I'm going back to the States for Xmas and the return trip would be a perfect time for me to come back with all my snowboard gear. Again - do they allow you to bring a snowboard on the train? Thanks yall.. -Ranger Link to post Share on other sites
DunadainRanger 0 Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Tubbs, OK, the Shinkansen costs a buttload of money, correct? That's out of the question for me.. the buses sound more realistic. Where can I find info on these bus schedules? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 they aren't out yet, wat until the end of November and then the brochures are all out in the travel agents in the JR stations don't think the Shinkansen is expensve, JR does lft ticket and shink ticket deals. For Kagura it'll start being around 8 or 9k for the early season, then will jump up to 11 or 12k for peak season. This is still pretty cheap considering its a return shnk ticket and lift ticket price. the buses are much cheaper though Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Do the Navy have ski clubs that organise trips to the mountains? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Shinkansen is cheap if you can organise a ticket - plus sometimes if you pay a little extra, it will include the cost to and from TOkyo from your home station. Link to post Share on other sites
DunadainRanger 0 Posted October 28, 2010 Author Share Posted October 28, 2010 sweet. thanks for the info. guys. stemik- Yes, the navy has a tours and tickets branch that organizes trips to the mountains. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 noticed that the JR Brochures are out so I grabbed a few today and had a flick through. These include a return shinkansen ticket to Tokyo and the resort lift ticket At a glance prices: KAGURA- Nov 20th to Dec 10th 8500ï¿¥ Dec 11th to Dec 22nd 9100ï¿¥ GALA- Dec 10th to Dec 22nd 8300ï¿¥ NAEBA- Dec 4th to Dec 22nd 8300ï¿¥ HAKUBA 47 & GORYU- Dec 1st to Dec 17th 11,000ï¿¥ Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I forgot to say! Brochures are out! Link to post Share on other sites
DunadainRanger 0 Posted October 31, 2010 Author Share Posted October 31, 2010 thanks. so they do not include a shinkansen ticket to the resort? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 yes, they include a shinkansen return (i.e from and to ) Tokyo station. e.g. Tokyo -> Echigo Yuzawa then Echigo-yuzawa -> Tokyo Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 As Rob has said its a return shink from Tokyo to Echigo Yuzawa, then its a 20 minute bus ride from right outside the station to Kagura or 25-30 mins to Naeba. Usually the ticket will also include the local train from Yokohama to Tokyo Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 That bit from yokohama to tokyo costs extra though TB don't forget - not much, about 800yen I think. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 really? whats the point in that then? Its only about 500 yen from Yok to Tokyo regular...no? Link to post Share on other sites
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