Slippery Jim 65 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 For those of us that rent: It's important to learn what you've got. Check out the braking performance on snow or ice on a level stretch with no oncoming traffic. slowly increase the braking power until you feel the grip start to weaken. Do this at a couple of speed levels, say 15/30/50kph. You don't want a surprises on icy mountain roads. Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 The thing I need to clear up is the ABS. I seen on TV that ABS does not work on snow. Police driver on a documentary program. Now, if my hire car comes with ABS, then this would be useless. I'd be more worried about whether it has 4 wheel drive or not. 1) snow tires 2) 4wd Maybe they just mean ABS won't let you do an emergency stop on ice - nothing will. But even in Hokkaido I don't think you'll be driving on snow all the time. It wouldn't hurt to have good brakes. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Basically if you just follow the advice on here you shouldn't have any problems. Most hire cars in Hokkaido are AWD and all will have snow tyres in winter. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I would imagine cars rented here would also. Then again for people coming up here, no doubt they do their rental thing in Tokyo. I'm sure the subject would be brought up though! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Depends on the car about ABS maybe, but the car I have now Mistubishi Delica will stop very quickly in snow, even if I hit the breaks hard, the ABS does work and will stop the car without sliding on a flat surface. As well as 4WD it also traction control and anti slide so this helps too. The car I had before would stop in snow, but would slide a bit as well before stopping. Having said that if I hit the breaks hard going down hill and/ or a corner then it would probably slide out of control! Despite all this I keep my distance, and allow plenty of breaking time in snow. ABS doesn't work on black ice though. Basically like everyone else have said, drive slowly, keep a large distance in front of you, and don't hit the breaks hard! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 usually when I've rented a car, we mention its to go to the snow and they put snow tires on......if its extra its not that much (I can't remember). Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 thanks all. so 4wd would mean toyota prius would not be suitable. so maybe a RAV4 or something. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 A little snow any 4WD would be ok, deep snow then no a normal road car would be useless, it would bottom out. SUV is best, but even they will get stuck if you go beyond there limit. My Delica will go through 50cm deep snow with no problem, I tried it last winter, but I wouldn't go beyond that! My wifes 4WD I wouldn't go beyond about 10-15cm of snow! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 thanks all. so 4wd would mean toyota prius would not be suitable. so maybe a RAV4 or something. You just need AWD and just about every car I saw in Hokkaido was AWD, even little K-cars. I would think they would have the AWD Prius models which would be fine for you. All cars in Hokkaido will have snow tyres as standard in winter. If you stick to main roads you'll be fine in a Prius. Even if there is a fair amount of snow on the road in Hokkaido it's generally so light and dry that it will present few problems to drive through (the guys from Honshu don't understand that ) . Be aware that in Hokkaido generally you are not driving up big mountains to get to ski resorts. Niseko base elevation is only 250m asl. If going to Niseko from Chitose you go over Bifue toge which is up around 560m, around the same height asThe Peak in HK but nowhere near as steep. That's as high as you get on the drive. There's not too many steep sections and the drive around the shore of Shikotsuko is awesome. Which resort would you be driving to? Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Be aware that in Hokkaido ...... There's not too many steep sections Good info that. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 I don't know about Hokkaido but in these parts the days when you need to drive on ice/snow are limited really. The roads - or should I say the main roads - quickly clear up. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Main roads in Hokkaido can be covered with a thin layer of snow for extended periods throughout the winter. Side streets and back roads can be entirely covered for much of the entire winter from late Nov through to early April..This is why pretty much every car is AWD and and has snow tyres in winter. Snow covering the roads is not an infrequent or fleeting thing, it's near constant. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Be aware that in Hokkaido ...... There's not too many steep sections Good info that. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Yes round these parts on all but back roads the snow and ice quite quickly gets cleared up. Link to post Share on other sites
Sciclone 2 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Sorry if I'm getting off topic, but has anyone driven/riden Hakone and Izu Skyline in winter? Is there much in the way of black ice or other hazards? We'll be on motorbikes, so any info would be great. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 It pretty much never snows there... maybe once or twice a year and there is never any accumulation. There is nothing to worry about. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Hakone I'd say you're pretty safe until late December, after that... Can't say anything about Izu Skyline, but I think it gets to higher altitudes so be careful. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 thanks all for the advice. I'll be driving from Shin Chitose to Furano and then all around Furano up to Asahidake and Sahoro. Link to post Share on other sites
Sciclone 2 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Cool, from what I can see the conditions (in pics and peoples reports) Izu and Hakone can be variable, so dependent on temps (we'll be riding during the middle of the day), it's possible to have no snow etc, but we will have to use good judgement and watch out for shadow patches. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Have you watched Initial D? Those Hakone roads sure look like the Initla D roads. Good fun. Link to post Share on other sites
Sciclone 2 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 They only just reached Hakone in the manga (Vol 39-41), but yes, the roads look awesome and have been used for touge racing longer than ID has been around... We are planning to ride them during the day though, and nothing too fast as we'll be on motorbikes, and I don't want to have to get pulled out of a ditch... That's why I asked about the conditions in winter, as black ice is blinkin scary in a car, let alone on a bike. Link to post Share on other sites
xxx 2 Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 Manga?! Cartoons, right? Link to post Share on other sites
Sciclone 2 Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 I'm taking that as a joke, seeing as how you have over 1000 posts, have been part of the forum for a long time and actually are living in Japan...... Link to post Share on other sites
Weegeoff 0 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 If you have never driven on snow don,t Just enjoy your holiday and use the shuttle bus Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 hmm, technics for driving on snow? First thing id probably do is take off my slipmats. Then id likely ramp up the anti-skate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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