vertuls 0 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Hello, I am planning my snowboarding trip to Japan and during the inevitable googling sessions found this forum which is quite interesting and informative. So I would appreciate if I could get more opinions on my dilemma - where yo go to basically I am arriving on third week of march, which as I understand is already lil bit too late for nagano area, so I am currently thinking of niseko as the popular option versus furano, not so popular, but I understand that comparable place. I am thinking of spending one week snowboarding and one more week traveling around. I am interested in moderate hiking, would not mind to hike for da fresher turns. somewhere I read that in that sense furano is not very nice, as from what I have heard, they do not like ppl going offpiste, dunno if it is really so. so can anyone please share their opinions on which place to go to in mid march? maybe it is something else, neither niseko or furano? cheers, Ivars Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Furano will most likely still be a bit colder than Niseko at that time with maybe a better possibility of powder. From what I understand currently Furano has taken a similar attitude to off-piste skiing as does Rusutsu. That being it's still not really allowed but they mostly turn a blind eye to those doing it. It is also reasonably close to Asahidake where you can really enjoy some great off-piste just under the peak of Hokkaido's highest mountain. Spectacular place. Niseko can still be great as well and will be very quiet compared to peak season. Of course no problems with plenty of off-piste skiing available here and lots of nearby peaks that have great backcountry Spring skiing. Kind of hard really to recommend one over the other to be honest. Link to post Share on other sites
jsalbaugh 0 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 So what is considered peak season for Niseko? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Christmas through to CNY. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 From Mid December through to end of Feb in terms of visitor numbers. In terms of snow I'd say from mid Dec to about mid March. By the last couple of weeks of March snowfalls are less frequent and it is starting to regularly get above freezing at the base. The snow is definitely starting to turn more Springlike by then. Up in the centre of Hokkaido it stays a bit cooler for longer and especially a place like Asahidake that has a bse altitude of nearly 1000m the snow can still be excellent without the bone chilling cold of mid winter. Link to post Share on other sites
jsalbaugh 0 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Good info. Thanks. I'm no closer to making a decision today then I was two weeks ago though. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 You are... time wise Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I like both places. This thread should be called Niseko and Furano Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Niseko is easy especially if it's your first ski trip to Japan. Everything can be organised in english. No real cultural or language problems coming here. When you're thinking of coming Niseko is starting to wind down for the season. Some of the restaurants and bars may have already closed although this year due to the timing of Easter they may stay open a little longer than usual. There'll not be huge crowds of foreigners so you'll defenitely feel like you're still in Japan. Furano is also reasonably easy to organise things in english and the town there is not a little seasonal village like here. It's actually much busier in summer in Furano than in winter. I'd check their website though to see when lifts are scheduled to close. Will all lifts still be running at that time. It won't be lack of snow to reduce the number of lifts but lack of people to afford to keep them running. I'm sure you'd have a great time at either place. Skiing off the peak at Niseko on a fine March day with views to the ocean and Mt Youtei is pretty spectacular. The peaks up around Furano are also pretty awesome. As I said it's hard to recommend one over the other. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 I see you chose Furano, ivars, from your other thread you just posted: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/356056/anyone_in_Furano_from_13th_Mar.html So, did this post help? Say thanks to the ones who responded hey? Link to post Share on other sites
vertuls 0 Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 yes, thanks a lot, the answers here were very useful, was afraid to post just a thanks here, would look like just thread bashing or how it was called when you post something like thanks and that's it, just so that my thread would appear on top of the forum. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 This is very interesting reading. Tell me WHY is Furano not as busy as Niseko???? We were told that off piste skiing is an absolute no no and your pass will be immediately confiscated and that Furano has very little infrastructure and because it is so quiet there alot of the places a closing down. Is this true?? With another year of Japanese lessons I should be able to say more than thank you, hello, how are you So I am now feeling a little braver about travelling to different resorts. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 haha....you fell for the "tell the Ozzie's a horror story" to keep em away!!! Never been to Furano, REALLY wanna though, but isn't Furano an acual town/city? so the Infrastructure will be there....or as much there as any other city...no? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Furano is a great little town with plenty of infrastructure. From what I understand the patrol have now started a bit more of a policy like they have in Rusutsu, off-piste skiing is still officially not allowed but they mostly just turn a blind eye to it. Anyone confirm this? Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 2 years ago when I was there the policy was quitre strictly enforced. As for infrastructure, there is plenty, two linked fields to ski and some quite interesting routes to ski. The town is a couple of minutes walk away across the river, with any number of nice little restaurants. Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 This season we spent the afternoon skiing and boarding off piste under one of the lifts at the top of the resort. No one said anything. Cant remember the lifts name Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 under that pair lift Quattro that splits off to the left? Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Guess thats it. At the top to the far left as you look up. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Sounds like Furano is finally waking up to being part of the two centre holiday that a lot of people are looking for. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 If Furano chills out a bit and it seems like they are, then that resort would go off. The village has loads of nice restaurants, the atmosphere is nice, prices are moderately cheap, and crowds are small. I liked it. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Okay SSShhhhh let everyone keep thinking it is a dying ski resort and they don't allow off piste skiing otherwise it will end up like Niseko. I want to see it before it booms!! Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 We decided to be in Japan for the next New Years. Missus haven't met my folks yet either. Hokkaido is part of the plan for sure ! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Yes, I agree, Furano is rubbish. Really crap. Stay away from there. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 (He likes it really). Link to post Share on other sites
freshpow 0 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 Well one thing about Furano is it puts you within striking distance of the highest mountain on the island (Asahi-dake, 2209 m.) Guides are highly recommended but if there is any powder to be had late march, you will probably have a better chance of hitting it. Being further from the ocean too, the storms tend to get rid of the rain and cool down before they arrive. Not as much precip but more tends to be snow than rain. The big storm has just blown through Niseko and it sounds like Furano is getting it at the moment. Errrr wait, I mean yeah Furano's rubbish. Best stay away Link to post Share on other sites
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