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Ok, I’m going to take a leaf out of Ippy’s book and ask for your thoughts and suggestions on my trip back down to Kanto at the beginning of March. My criteria is as follows:-

1. I’ve got about 3 weeks to kill;

2. I’m on budget, as this will all be courtesy of my good friend, VISA;

3. I’m using public transport (mainly trains, as I’ll be armed with a trusty seishun 18 kippu) so will be carrying my snowboard bag;

4. I’d like powder and trees (wouldn’t we all) but to be honest, I’m just interested to try out some new resorts.

 

So with all that in mind, here’s my preliminary plan:-

a) Niseko for 4/5 days including some side trips to Rusutsu and Chisenupuri and/or Iwaonupuri;

B) Possibly Hakkoda for a day or 2 depending on snow conditions and accommodation cost (but see below);

c) Myoko – Suginohara and/or Seki Onsen – for a 2/3 days;

d) Ryuoo Ski Park for a day;

e) Hakuba for 3 days;

f) Marunuma Kogen for a day (to use my SJ competition-winning free ticket)

 

Although I really want to go to Hakkoda I’m prepared to drop this and do it properly next year! I also want to meet up with the Kanagawa crew on their day trip to Niigata but don’t think I can fit this in unless I drop something else, ie. Hakuba!! Decisions, decisions!!

 

I haven't done much research on the travelling front so know I might have to shuffle things around a bit but what do people think so far - thumbsup or thumbsdown ??

 

Cheers! wave

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Funny you should say that because in the event that I only have 2 weeks to play with (which may happen), that's my Plan B!! Should that come to pass, any Hokkaido recommendations apart from the normal suspects?

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Mick since you are making your way over to Marunuma, why not try a few other places round there. Cut a day from the well-worn Myoko and Hakuba, or cut one of them completely, and try some of these places:

 

Kawaba

White World Oze Iwakura

Tenjin

 

They're all in that neck of the woods.

 

You know it makes sense. wink

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Cheers Muikabochi, that's just the sort of info I'm looking for! clap I'll read up on those now. Are they all do-able using public transport?

 

Sorry but I'm a bit of snow virgin when it comes to Honshu resorts - my Halloween trip to Yeti Snow Town doesn't really count! lol

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Public transport? I'm not sure but I do know that it isn't as easy as places like Hakuba and Yuzawa. You will be getting buses though after Minakami as there's no train up through Katashina. I'm sure if you stay places they will try to help you.

 

Here's my recent visits to those 3 places, I think they are all worth a look in and it's always fun to try new places. I know I'm more scenery photos than words but you might get an idea.

 

http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/347967/White_World_Oze_Iwakura_Gunma_.html

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=47

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resort_map.php?resortNo=47

 

http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/343599/Kawaba_Gunma_23rd_December_200.html

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=46

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resort_map.php?resortNo=46

 

http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/401307/Tanigawa_Tenjindaira_Gunma_16t.html

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=14

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resort_map.php?resortNo=14

 

(Don't forget the cheese!)

friend

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Public transport to the Gunma resorts is a bit of a pain in the ass, unless you are going by bus tour from Tokyo....even then though most of them are only the day trips that leave at 7-7.30 and get you there mid-morning.....waste of time and money IMO. If you were staying in Pensions etc along the way then you'd prob be able to get then to ferry you back n forth or at least tell you the best way to get to each resort, but even although Gunma is closer than Niigata to Tokyo/Yokohama its much more difficult to access if you don't have a car

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Something like this.

 

If you are doing more than one of them you will be staying somewhere right? I'm sure it is doable.

 

To Tenjin:

Bus from Minakami St. 25 mins

Taxi from Doai St. <5 mins

Bus from Jomo Kogen St (Shin) 50 mins

 

To Kawaba:

Bus from Jomo Kogen St, 50 mins

Bus from Numata St, 30 mins

 

To White World:

Bus from Jomo Kogen, 80 mins

 

To Marunuma - well, you're going there anyway smile

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Guys, that's brilliant! You're starting to persuade me that I should forego Hakuba and bum around Gunma instead! smile

 

& that'll mean 2 separate trips to Hakuba and Hakkoda next season! biggrin

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dude EVERYONE and their dogs been to hakuba. We have a solemn duty to hype all the other resorts out there. I say gunma and come get me hyped about it smile

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Originally Posted By: ippy
dude EVERYONE and their dogs been to hakuba.


Except me and my dog! sadface

A question for the Gunma experts:- would it be a better idea to base myself in Minakami (where I'm guessing there'll be more/cheaper accommodation options) and then take buses out to the various resorts from there?? It looks as though I'd be taking the train across from Myoko Kogen, and Minakami is on the way to Numata (for Marunuma). Thanks!
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Without putting too much thought into my answer, no....

 

It's a bit much going to and from Minakami I would say. Tenjin is the only place on the list near Minakami really. The others are really in a different and accessed from Numata.

 

If you are doing for example Tenjin / Kawaba / White World / Marunuma over 3 or 4 days, I'd probably look to stay in different places if that doesn't sound like a fuss. Maybe in Minakami + Numata + somewhere in Katashina/near Marunuma

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Sorry don't know. But there isn't much up there, there is no town at all just that little tiny pension area.

 

I bet there's lots of business hotels or whatever in Numata. They even have a McDonalds, Mister Donuts and Kentucky! wink

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Originally Posted By: muikabochi
They even have a McDonalds, Mister Donuts and Kentucky! wink


A healthy diet of cheap coffee, donuts and fried chicken for me then yummy

As for my faithful camembert, he's currently salivating (or should that be lactating) with excitement at the thought of a) a possible trip to Asahidake this weekend and B) adventuring into the virgin pastures of Honshu! smile
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Originally Posted By: Metabo Oyaji
Pension Currants is nice. Stayed there last year.


Thanks Metabo! Did you have your own transport or did they shuttle you about a bit?
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