jjski 0 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Flying through Tokyo, January/February and want to ski for 3-5 days. Expert New England skier, lived in the Rockies for years, telemarker, 40 days so far this year. Would welcome suggestions. Just want to ski, low end accommodations preferred. First time skiing in Japan. Looking at Niseko? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 You'll lose a bunch of time getting to and from Niseko. It's also the most expensive area (on average). Niigata/Nagano are closer and cheaper. Are you looking for variety or staying in one area? Off piste, slack country, back country? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Hi jjski Interestingly, the resort that I always notice the most telemarkers is Muikamachi Hakkaisan in Niigata. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=19 Here's what it looks like http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/19851-muikamachi-hakkaisan-minamiuonuma-29th-january-2011/ http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/18115-muikamachi-hakkaisan-niigata-29th-december-2009/ Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 jjski is the reason you are looking at Niseko because it's the place you have heard about? Tell us more about the kind of thing you are looking for and I'm sure you'll get some responses. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 If it was me I'd be making rough plans but not finalising anything until the last minute. Hokkada BC looks amazing and it appears that yo can get there via Shink on a JR East Rail Pass which is available at home before you leave. Lots of resorts also in easy reach from Tokyo. Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Easy connection through Narita to Chitose. I travel to Indonesia a few times a year for work and plan on making this a regular thing during the ski seasons. So many resorts to choose from, want steeps and trees. After the winter we're having in the North East US anything with natural snow will be welcome. Hope to ski 3-5 days than back to commute to Indonesia. Niseko looked like some good terrain and some reasonable lodging. Just want to ski hard all day. Not planning on bringing avalanche gear just a pair of K2 Obsetheds and a smile. Thanks for the input, first forum I've ever joined. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 I think there is only one (two?) flights a day from Narita (international airport) to Chitose. Most people have to take the train or bus to Haneda (domestic airport and the other side of Tokyo) to get a flight through to Chitose. If you have to go that route you'll lose a whole day to get to Niseko (and a whole day to get back if you are flying out of Narita)... if you are lucky you'll get a nighta when you arrive. If time on the hill is the most important thing than you should go somewhere closer like Hakuba or Shiga Kogen. Depending on when you are coming (mid-week, weekend, national holiday, etc) you could hold off on booking the trip until the last minute and then just follow the snow. Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Thanks for all the information, greatly appreciated. Flight through Narita lines up nicely for Chitose. My schedule is changing as I type and I like having other mountains suggested, thanks. Very flexible upon where I go. Looking forward to it. Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 Looks like I'll be coming over mid/late Feb., 4-5 days. Niseko came up as #1 on overall reviews hence my attention. Been looking into Niigata/Nigano area as suggested, so much terrain. Looks easier and a bit more logical. My Norita/chitose connection hour and a half, arrive 2015. Snow will tell. Prefer to travel frugally and locally when possible. Ryokans, minshukus, lodges that a Yank who doesn't speak Japanese would enjoy, food and hopefully serious skiers. All about the skiing. I can be very entertained on one hill with lots of snow but access to other areas a plus. Powder, trees, steeps, etc...love back and slack country but lifts get me more vertical. Any and all advice appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Even if you arrived at Shin-Chitose at 815pm, you then have to either get a bus over, which I am not too sure that they are running that time, or the train to Kutchan. Both will take you 2.5hrs or so, otherwise you will have to stay in a hotel until the next day. Best bet at that time is head over to Niigata or Nagano. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Like others I would suggest Niigata or Nagano, plenty of snow and terrain, loads of big resorts, such as Myoko, Hakuba, Shiga, Madarao, all big and more than enough to keep you entertained. Yuzawa area is direct shinkansen from Tokyo station, about 2 hours or so! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 80-90 minutes even. Link to post Share on other sites
yamabushi 3 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 For slack country, Hakkoda. Grab the shinkansen, take the bus, and you'll be there. Sansou is 6,000 a night. If you make it send me a PM and I'll met you up to show you around. I'm always looking for an excuse to go Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 JR East rail pass will get you to Hokkado if I read the map properly. Plenty day trips from Tokyo too Once again that JR East pass will be a BIG help. Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thank you all. I will keep you posted with my plans. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 JR East rail pass will get you to Hokkado if I read the map properly. Plenty day trips from Tokyo too Once again that JR East pass will be a BIG help. Do you mean hakkoda or hokkaido? If the first, then it is possible, train to Tokyo then change to Tohoku shinkansen to Shin-aomori then bus over to Hakkoda. A long trip to get there, looking at about 6 hrs from Narita if lucky. If you mean Hokkaido, then it isn't possible as the JR east rail pass isn't valid in Hokkaido, only up to Shin-Aomori. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 There's a 9:30 pm bus from Shin Chitose to Rusutsu/Niseko, FWIW. Nagano/Niigata options are also good, either way you'll be skiing the next morning, not that day. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 JR East rail pass will get you to Hokkado if I read the map properly. Plenty day trips from Tokyo too Once again that JR East pass will be a BIG help. Do you mean hakkoda or hokkaido? Hakkoda. A tad tired and messed up the spelling. Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 Hakkado looks awesome. Yamabushi I will be in touch, beers on me, thank you all. Just waiting for logistics in Indonesia to fall in place before booking. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Can't beat a bit of Nozzle, I say. I'm biased because I loved it last time. Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 Pardon my ignorance but Nozzle=Nozawa Onsen? It all looks good. Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Yes, Nozzle, Noz = Nozawa Onsen in affectionate terms...........................or if you can't spell onsen Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 they just had 80cms overnight.......the news cameras were there shooting some crazy snow scenes Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 Very good! More than we've had in NE US in a month. Link to post Share on other sites
jjski 0 Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 In Indonesia now, skis in Singapore. Hope to be in Japan early next week, all subject to change. Planning to take train to Nagano or Niigita, depending on snow conditions, have 4 days to ski and hope to see monkeys before early evening flight out of Tokyo on day 5. So many places. Looking for powder/crud and vertical. Bringing skins but really would like to get 5k+ meters vertical a day. If anyone has ever skied in Alta, Utah, that's the terrain I'm looking for. Hope to ski midweek. Yamabushi, Hakkoda looks great, lots of questions for later trips. Some questions about lodging for Nagano area. Looks like, Hakuba, Happo-one, Shiga Kogen have easy access and lots of terrain and snow. Best to stay in town and commute, or on hill. Probably split time between two areas. Niigata area; Muikamachi Hakkaisan, Myoko, AKAKAN, look good. Recommendations? Best to get dinner with room, pardon my ignorance. Any problems bring skis on train or buses? Offshore soon without internet access but appreciate all the leads so far. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts