mockkie 0 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 A group of us (8 in total) are spending a week in Niseko in mid-feb. Not all of us are die-hard skiers and will prob take a day or 2 off the slopes. What is there to do in and around Niseko? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Drink beer in a pub. The next morning take a bus to Saporro for the snow fest. Drink some more beer there and have a fantastic crab buffet. Link to post Share on other sites
blu 3 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 don't slip on the ice. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 seriously. don't slip on the ice. bring good shoes! Know a lady who slipped within the first half hour of her trip, broke her coccyx and spent the entire holiday in the room on her tummy in bed. Sucks huh? Wear good shoes! Link to post Share on other sites
mockkie 0 Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 thanks for the tip mamabear! we'll be there after the Sapporo snow fest unfortunately so we'll miss the ice festival. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Heed everyones warnings about slipping on the ice. Most injuries in Niseko are from Slipping on the ice and being hit by snow falling off the roof's. You may see more people slipping over on the ice than crashing on the ski runs!!! Best thing I ever bought was the spiked slip on cleats. LOVE THEM. If you don't get them you will definately be doing the Niseko Ice Walk shuffle. Mockkie we will also be there in Mid Feb if your interested we will be doing a day trip to Otaru and around the 20th there may be the Yukitopia Ice Festival in Kutchan. You'll find plenty to do if your not skiing. Link to post Share on other sites
John_Janelle 0 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Snowhuntress, Where did you get the cleats? Did you get them over there? Do other people recommend them also? John. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 You can get them when you get to Niseko or at your local Snow Shop. Snowbiz in Queensland stock them I think they around $14-95. Best purchase I made. Mr Snowhunter is way to cool to wear them but I certainly love them and have a giant smile on my face everytime Mr Snowhunter goes sliding past me, falls over, does a pirouette followed by a double axle and then the spilts whilst looking like he didn't slip. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 you can pick them up in the Alpen shop or Kogen shop. 1000Y as I remember. Though I don't use them as I walk around in either trainers or columbia boots. Link to post Share on other sites
mockkie 0 Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 i found this DryGuy GripOn Traction is this the kind of thing you're talking about? Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Yep that is them. Mine aren't that flash but they certainly do the job Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Yeah, but PLEASE remember to take them off before you walk onto someone's polished timber floor! Saw an iggerant kiwi woman klomping into a rather wonderful cafe in Kutchan, trampling over the wooden floor in her spikes! She should have been shot! Instead, the (ex-buddist monk) owner just served her and smiled. Says more about his equanimity than about her common sense! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 you don't really need them. Link to post Share on other sites
blu 3 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I use a waterproof hiking boot to get around the village when it's snowing. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 you know those converse canvas sneakers? They're good on snow and ice and iced tarmac. Flexible so you can shape your feet to the contours. Link to post Share on other sites
gareth_oau 2 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 a snow or apres boot is a great thing. I wear these, Sorel Conquest Boot big advantage in these apart from their waterproofness, they are rated down to around -35 degC and the sole is designed so that the cold wont sink through them when you are standing or walking around. i remember watching an event in thredbo in august and all the youth in their skate shoes seemed to spend a very large amount of time stomping their feet and wingeing Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I have something similar gareth - rated to -30, and they make all the difference. Dry, warm feet are heavenly Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Yep had an awesome pair of Sorel Snow Boots LOVED THEM Until someone borrowed them from the Fuji Niseko while we had dinner and I had to walk home in my socks!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Those of us who live here would never have boots like above as we have to take them on and off so much that big lace up ones are impractical. We also want something that goes a little higher up the leg as the snow here is deep! I would suggest something more like the one below. Easy to slip on and off and should keep your pants mostly dry. The biggest mistake many people make is thinking hiking boots will be good for the snow. They are not. Hiking boots have very hard soles to reduce wear and tear which does not make them good for gripping ice. Specialised boots for snow like above have a much softer rubber which grips much better. Bit like the difference between summer and winter tyres on cars. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Originally Posted By: snowhuntress Yep had an awesome pair of Sorel Snow Boots LOVED THEM Until someone borrowed them from the Fuji Niseko while we had dinner and I had to walk home in my socks!!!!! That sux! I have 2 pairs of boots - so maybe I will bring BOTH! Just in case Did your tootsies not get frostbite? When baby bear lost his shoe down a sink hole (and it was retrieved WET) I piggy backed him about a km over soft, then slippery snow, and up a hill/rapid incline, and up a stair case until I got him inside. I pity the poor soul that would have to piggy back ME! (Mind you Papa was not volunteering to help with the gargantuan effort of lugging the ten year old thru the snow - his response was..."you kidding...I am not stupid!". Link to post Share on other sites
mockkie 0 Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 wow... lots of things to consider here. my wife and I are planning on bringing our hiking boots. i guess we'll see how the conditions are on the ground in Niseko and decide then whether we need to buy cleats or hire apres boots for the week. thanks all for the helpful info Link to post Share on other sites
deanrobi 2 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 A set of cleats are only $10 from the local supermarket and have done the job on my last few visits. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Yep if you are going to bring hiking boots then you'll definitely require cleats. Hiking boots are near useless on ice otherwise. Link to post Share on other sites
SantaCruz 0 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 D'oh. I was totally planing on bringing my hiking boots. Still probably my best option since they're the tallest shoes that I have. Guess I'll be picking up some rubber cleat as well. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Plenty of people have used hiking boots and survived. I did the same myself when I first came here but after getting some speacialised snow boots the difference in grip is incredible and makes life a lot easier and safer. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts