BagOfCrisps 24 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I was wondering, what's the really northern parts of Hokkaido like? Does it get less snow there I presume as there are less mountains? Very desolate and mighty cold in winter? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 thats where you can see the sea ice......so its probably a tad cold Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I have this perhaps incorrect image of it being fairly flat (no jokes), very very cold and not many people at all. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Along the big peninsula in the NW you have the Teshio Mountains decreasing in altitude as you go North into what's known as the Soya Hills. From Cape Soya as you head east it's initially a little hilly and then fairly mountainous. From a little ways before Lake Poro you come out onto a fairly big flat area until a little ways past Lake Kutcharo. Then it's fairly mountainous again until you get to near Esashi. Then there's a reasonably flat coastal plain with mountains rising up not far inland most of the way to Abashiri. Around Abashiri it's pretty flat stretching back quite a ways inland until you hit the Akan Lakes and volcanic region. From just past Abashiri you hit the mountains stretching up into the Shiretoko peninsula. It's not that much colder up along the northern coast in winter than most other parts of Hokkaido. The sea ice that reaches the northern coast is actually drift ice from further north pushed down by the predominant northerlies in winter. Because of the cold sea though it can take a long while for it to heat up in Spring. Sometimes they don't have temperatures above 20 until July. Quite a lot of people live up there though. Some areas in the Teshio Mountains I believe get more snow than in the Niseko area but the northern coast doesn't get that much snow averaging around 2-5m generally getting less as you go east. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Thanks for that fab answer, Go Native. Here's another one... how long wold it take you to drive from Niseko to the top tip of Hokkaido? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 wakannai Link to post Share on other sites
Karnidge 2 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 It looks a fair distance on the maps. I can imagine a fair while on local roads. Do not get stuck behind a truck or oyaji doing 20kmh! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I did in Autumn a few years ago and it took most of the day. Can't remember the exact amount of time but with a couple of stops along the way it was around 7-8 hours from memory. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I'd say the best part of a day. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Beat me to it Go Native! Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Thats a bit of a trek. Wouldn't mind checking out Hokkaido. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: RobBright wakannai Once met a girl from there. She had most beautiful skin I have ever seen. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Wakkanai itself isn't much of a town but it does allow access to Rishiri and Rebun Islands. Rishiri is really quite spectacular. Thinking of doing a March trip up there to climb and ski the peak in the middle of the island. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Go Native Wakkanai itself isn't much of a town but it does allow access to Rishiri and Rebun Islands. Rishiri is really quite spectacular. Thinking of doing a March trip up there to climb and ski the peak in the middle of the island. A buddy and I planned to do that but we never got around to it. I was just down the coast a ways in Rumoi for three years. The winters are seriously nasty there. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Originally Posted By: Go Native Wakkanai itself isn't much of a town but it does allow access to Rishiri and Rebun Islands. Rishiri is really quite spectacular. Thinking of doing a March trip up there to climb and ski the peak in the middle of the island. Let's talk Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Chriselle Originally Posted By: Go Native Wakkanai itself isn't much of a town but it does allow access to Rishiri and Rebun Islands. Rishiri is really quite spectacular. Thinking of doing a March trip up there to climb and ski the peak in the middle of the island. A buddy and I planned to do that but we never got around to it. I was just down the coast a ways in Rumoi for three years. The winters are seriously nasty there. In what way? mega cold, mega snowy, man-hunting bears eating everyone in sight?? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Think seriously windy, cold and snowy. Not overly pleasant. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Originally Posted By: Go Native Think seriously windy, cold and snowy. Not overly pleasant. YES....in that exact order....especially the seriously windy part. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Hmmm I might give that a miss in winter then. Here's plenty cold. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 But there is this beautiful peak to climb and ski Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 That can't be on Hokkaido. It looks too spiky Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Looks too hilly. Where are the flat parts? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Lovely mountain! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 Must have made a mistake. Looks much more like Hakuba doesn't it? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 31, 2010 Share Posted October 31, 2010 nah the snow isn't bottomless Link to post Share on other sites
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