seattle 0 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Hello I am coming to Japan the last weekend in April and would love to go skiing for a day. I have skied many times in the past but never in Asia. I was looking at possibly Hakuba or Shiga Kogen. But really I just want easy transportation for the day from Tokyo and a play day on the mountain. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. A mountain with a range of levels would be great. I do not need double black diamond:) (If they use that criteria here). It looks like some of the areas are still open. Which ones are the best ones to go to at this time of year? And easy to get to for the day from Tokyo? Thank you in advance! Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Hi there For those two places keep an eye on here: http://www.snowjapan.../hakuba-now.php hhttp://www.snowjapan...a-kogen-now.php Having said that, if it is a day from Tokyo then Kagura in Niigata is your easiest/quickest place http://www.snowjapan.../yuzawa-now.php http://www.snowjapan...y/naeba-now.php Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Hi seattle Yes get the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo or Ueno station and you are at Echigo Yuzawa station in around 80 minutes. Then a bus from the station up to Kagura which is about 15 minutes. You could even choose the Gala Yuzawa resort and get a Joetsu Shinkansen train right to the Gondola building. If it is a weekend I wouldn't choose that option though - very busy and smaller. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 day trip from Tokyo....easiest is definitely Yuzawa and Kagura is prob your best bet. GALA has closed down the south side of the resort for the season, which is the best area IMO. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 We are flying in on the 27 th. Since 28th being a Saturday and Golden week starts after , we decided it´s probably not worth going. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 day trip from Tokyo....easiest is definitely Yuzawa and Kagura is prob your best bet. GALA has closed down the south side of the resort for the season, which is the best area IMO. Gala looking super mad busy just now looking at the cam. Yes, I think Kagura is definitely the place to choose. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 +1 for Kagura! Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Last weekend of April is the start of Golden Week. I'd expect everywhere to be mad busy. Kagura would be my pick. Link to post Share on other sites
seattle 0 Posted April 24, 2012 Author Share Posted April 24, 2012 Thank you for the ideas.. I will look into Kagura. Is it worth it at least 90minutes each way for a day trip? Is the train ride nice? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Hi seattle Whether it's worth it is up to you of course, some people go to places that are double that for a day trip. I'd say it was a nice train ride. The Shinks are fast and comfortable - especially the double decker Max ones (get on the upper deck). You start off from the middle of Tokyo and gradually go from city to countryside so I'd say the scenery was pretty interesting as well, though I've done it so many times now I'm totally used to it. The last 25 minutes or so is mostly through tunnels with Echigo Yuzawa Station just on the other side of the longest tunnel (the train slows down while still in the tunnel). Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Thank you for the ideas.. I will look into Kagura. Is it worth it at least 90minutes each way for a day trip? Is the train ride nice? you're not going to get anywhere else that's as close as that as a day trip from Tokyo Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Yes as Tubby said. And you get to ride a famous "bullet train"! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Whether it's worth it is up to you of course, some people go to places that are double that for a day trip. Definitely. A nice comfy 90-minute shinkansen ride instead of a 3-hour drive each way -- sounds like a deal! Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Definitely. It's a totally stress free journey - unless you happen on a totally full train at peak times. I think you can enjoy it. Link to post Share on other sites
seattle 0 Posted April 25, 2012 Author Share Posted April 25, 2012 Thank you all for the help!!! It looks like Kagura is it! The famous bullet trains sound great!! I am looking forward to my little get away!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Have fun, hopefully winds won't close things - today everywhere is closed. This weekend looks like it should be clear though. If you take some pics, throw them up here if you can http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/gallery/ Link to post Share on other sites
GoodEgg 0 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Do it seattle! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun up there. Just remember it's late April so don't expect powder! Link to post Share on other sites
ProbablyaCrazyPerson 2 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Looks like the weather conditions for the weekend should be good in most places. Have fun out there. Link to post Share on other sites
seattle 0 Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 We did it!! It was great. The train was easy and not crowded!! Definitely not powder on the mountain!! But not crowded and now I can say I skiied in Japan I will try to post some pictures. Thank you everyone for the information!!! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Glad you enjoyed it. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Excellent!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Great! Did you have to wait for lifts at all? (I guess it was busy compared to normal, but perhaps from your perspective it didn't seem so) Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Glad to hear it. Looking forward to the pics. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Yeah, glad it worked out well seattle! & what a great advert for SJF - a newcomer asks for and gets lots of advice, follows that advice and has a great day out on the slopes! Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Hope you stick around seattle! Link to post Share on other sites
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