Go Native 70 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Interesting to see what the concept of Ski in/out is though. Something like The Vale is only metres away from the base of the Family lift and although sure there are some steps to the basement ski storage area I would have thought you'd be hard pressed to find a better position in Hirafu for ease of access to a lift. Anyway as someone who's been involved in reservations in this resort for many years the popularity of properties like Alpen Ridge and The Vale because of their position surprises even me. I hardly ever get a request for anything other than ski in/out and in terms of western-style accomm there nothing better than the 2 aforementioned properties in this village. What really amazes me is the amount people are prepared to pay for this perceived convenience! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 I quite like a little walk in the mornings. Not too long... But enough to wake you up and get the blood moving. Saves on warm on runs Kinda like Miharashi Apartments to the Gondola - that's a nice morning toddle. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 i used to always go for ski in ski out when the kids were smaller...just so much more easier. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Yes Stemik. That is very true. Not only because as Mama or Stem-Dad you are lugging their gear for them as well as your own....but also for quick warm up pit stops back inside. A quick stop for a hot choco and a toasted sandwich, and maybe even a quick pokemon DVD pitstop. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 And although I thought The Vale was expensive it's nothing compared to The Windsor at Lake Toya. A suite in The Windsor similar in size to the penthosue at The Vale is Y336,000 per night! If you really want to splurge you can get the presidential suite which is a massive 500 sq m's for only Y1,386,000 per night!! Damn you'd have to be seriously rich to stay there. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 or on a international government conference thing like they held last time? G8 or something. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Yeah would you really want to sleep in the same bed that Bush did? Link to post Share on other sites
Tex 3 Posted June 17, 2010 Author Share Posted June 17, 2010 Hm MB you obviously stayed at the Miharashi what was it like? Did you have to walk down to the main street by the phsyco mart then up or could you get through on a path by walking straight up past Wild Bills? I WAS organising our trip for our group, Looks like we will end up in Miharashi this year. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Miharashi was great. Perfect for us. Paddy's at the end of the street, and similar distance to Wild Bill's. We usually weaved our way up past Bill's, unless we went for coffee at Abucha Bakery first and then went up the main street and across up the top. Most mornings we were not going for First Tracks we just walked to the Family chair - was fascinating to see what that path down would be like each day ... sometimes it was like a ramp other times loads of small steps other times giant steps that challenged even fully grown men. Some days we drove. I know. Slack huh. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 My idea of a nice morning hike was to walk out of the old Yamada Onsen Hotel, take about 20 steps to the right, wave at the pair of foxes begging for table scraps, step into the bindings and ski down to the quad. (On a powder morning you mightn't even have to take the 20 steps; just lock in right in front of the hotel and you could go.) Man, I miss that place! Link to post Share on other sites
lin 0 Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 Is that in Niseko, or somewhere else? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 Yeah its in Hirafu Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted June 20, 2010 Share Posted June 20, 2010 Was in Hirafu, I'm afraid. It wasn't open last season, and has now been sold to some Malaysian outfit that's planning to build ``villas'' on the site. Link to post Share on other sites
Vossy 0 Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Has anyone been to or stayed at Yotei Tracks? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 I know it well. Good upper village location with nice apartments. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 Is there any word on Vale Furano - It was meant to be completed by December 2011?????? Have they even started it??? Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Didn't know there were even plans for one. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Originally Posted By: snowhuntress Is there any word on Vale Furano - It was meant to be completed by December 2011?????? Have they even started it??? Nothing on their homepage besides a completion date. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Yep site right across the road from the Kitanomine Ski Field. The sign state completion date December 2011!! Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Dec 11 is not going to happen. Link to post Share on other sites
Zer0star 0 Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 Did this not happen? Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 No it did not. And it's still a carpark. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 ^ Vale Furano Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Are they still actually planning to make it? Link to post Share on other sites
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