merryJim 1 Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 End of Feb. A while away yet but looking forward to it. A few places surely visited before then./ Link to post Share on other sites
arthurwalmsley@gmail.com 0 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 i'm arriving 21st feb for 2 weeks. this will be my first time in japan, im getting very excited!!!! im going on my own so its quite nerve wracking as well, first time in a country, don't know a single word of japanese (ok thats a lie, i know how to say "thanks" hahaha!) anyway, i'm very excited! in the meantime to try and get my hand back in to riding i'm going to go and drive 14 hours up to the other end of my country (ie. sunny devon, england up to minging northern scotland) for a few days practice on my rock board... anyway i'm going to stay at the annupuri YHA (bargain!) anyone got any advice, tips or reccomendations for a complete j-n00b? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Yep! Tomorrow is the day! Really looking forward to it. I'm sure there are plenty of people heading up for first lifts tomorrow. I know where I'll be... how about the rest of you? Rusutsu will be fun. Haven't been there this year but was thinking about going when things get a little tracked out over here. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Weather is CLEARING people! Conditions were much more friendly out there this afternoon. Am I being a little TOO positive?! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Originally Posted By: countrybumpkin anyway i'm going to stay at the annupuri YHA (bargain!) anyone got any advice, tips or reccomendations for a complete j-n00b? Don't know anything about the YHA at Annupuri...but I went over to Annupuri for the first time a few days ago and LOVED it! You will have a blast. I put some Japanese Phrases on my iPod - was a learn Japanese the easy way CD - totally left it to the last minute and my Japanese is nothing short of horrendous....but if you are traveling alone I recommend doing it now and listening to it REGULARLY. Simple stuff - ordering food and beer, asking where the toilet is, apologizing and saying thank you. Hope you love Japan as much as we all do! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Originally Posted By: countrybumpkin i'm arriving 21st feb for 2 weeks. this will be my first time in japan, im getting very excited!!!! im going on my own so its quite nerve wracking as well, first time in a country, don't know a single word of japanese (ok thats a lie, i know how to say "thanks" hahaha!) anyway, i'm very excited! in the meantime to try and get my hand back in to riding i'm going to go and drive 14 hours up to the other end of my country (ie. sunny devon, england up to minging northern scotland) for a few days practice on my rock board... anyway i'm going to stay at the annupuri YHA (bargain!) anyone got any advice, tips or reccomendations for a complete j-n00b? where did you go and ride....Glenshee? Cairngorms? Mate thats a LONG way to ride "snow" in Scotland, although I've heard that they've had a decent ampount the past few weeks. I'm up in Shiga Kogen just now (go home tomorow ) and the snow here has been mental. I took some pics for the Snow Porn thread, I'll upload when I get back home Link to post Share on other sites
meat 0 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Plan: 23rd Feb for 5 days. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Youth Hostel at Anna is clean and very inexpensive. Good for you young ones. Link to post Share on other sites
SantaCruz 0 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 3 weeks til I leave for Japan! Link to post Share on other sites
roo 0 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 First Japan trip. Myself and my partner Feb 20 to March 6th. Can't wait! Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 GN ~ After seeing those extremely scary queue lines can you tell me is Chinese New Year Busier than Christmas/New Year break?? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Snowhuntress - I wouldn't be too concerned - just head up and over to Hanazono, Annupuri or Higashiyama if the queues are horrendous in Hirafu. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 snowhuntress, the longest lines at Niseko are nothing to the wait you'd have had at Tredbo or BlueCow or Falls Crik, surely! I haven't forgotten a 10 minute wait to get on a T-bar at Perisher front valley (before the quad and eight seaters were built)! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hey I win....I waited at the Kosi Express at Thredbo for 2.5 HOURS!! [Admittedly we were queued for First Tracks when they decided it was too dangerous to open - it was such solid sheet ice that the skidoo's couldn't get up - they had to re groom the entire thing. And we still went up. Actually it was a really fun morning. I know those queue's were horrendous, but a family we have been here with was in Hirafu that day (I was in Rusutsu) - and thier eyes popped at those pic's. They said they didn't come across the queue's like that at all. In fact where they were (didnt ask where) was eerily quiet... everyone must have been queueing at the ACE! So if it is busy - just be adventurous...go find somewhere that is quieter. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Phheewwww !!! thanks for the replies. I was getting a little stressed, I have been pretty spoilt the few years with no queues anywhere. MB will definately be heading over to Annapuri I love it over there thought I was the most clever snow plougher in the world to make it over there by myself last year only to find on coming back that hideous chairlift with the magic carpet. Was totally green with envy today of you all with such a beautiful day in Niseko. Hope you all had a great day. HEY MB did you know that J Sekka is having a totally chocolate extravaganza for all of January !!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Snowhuntress, No...I did not know about j-Sekka's choco overload - but my tummy is still a bit sensitive after my big drunken night out!!! We were at Annupuri today - lots of lifts shut down so we drove around and the boys discovered Ee No Sawa (gate 7). Was a lovely day. But I hear you about the nasty lift with the travelator - although it wasn't as bad as I imagined (the kiwi on ski's stacked it though - normally those things are boarder traps). Personally I hate the single lift more. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Niseko Annupuri turned it on today. When we arrived there was just the quad lift in operation, but slowly the mountain opened up, and the bears had a lovely day out. Top lifts were closed so you had to go by vehicle - but it meant there were only a few people out and about. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 How much longer do you have there Mamabear, seems like you have been there for ages! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 One more week iiyamadude. Hoping for another big dump before I go It has been awesome! We have plans to go to the USA next January - just coz we want to see the world - but I tell ya it is going to be awfully hard not coming back here in January 2011. Awfully hard. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I hear ya! That's how I feel having missed this season! Mind you, I had been there twice in 2009! This time last year, we were at Nozawa Onsen. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Next time next season JA? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I've only got 2 more days on the hills before I head home. Have had to work hard at finding freshies in the last few days (including a trip to Rusutsu) but have found them none the less. Fingers crossed that the light snow we are getting now picks up a bit. Need some more face shots before heading back to Shizuoka. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Its pelting down rain down this way BM Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Sorry to hear that! Swell is kicking up a bit though isn't it? Time for a little surf? I'm looking forward to heading out for a little surf after getting home...! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 dunno mate, I'm can't surf. Actually haven't been down to the beach in ages. Link to post Share on other sites
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