indiego 0 Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Hi all, Planning for a trip with my wife to Hokkaido hoping to take up some ski lessons. Was looking at Kiroro but unfortunately couldn't get the mountainside accommodation for the the dates. Next would be NIseko Village or Hirafu. Not sure which one will be a safer choice though in terms of resort opening and when the ski school starts for the season. Any suggestions? We're pretty open to other ski resort suggestions as well as long as there's convenient accommodation to the slopes. Thanks I'm advance. Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 early season! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 I think some of the resorts set their opening dates for around then but dunno how often they hit those days.....I know in Honshu almost no resorts have enough natural snow at that time of year....Hokkaido could be different of course Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 I think you'd find that even if there was a lot of snow on the slopes in November, the lifts won't be open 'til early to mid December in Niseko. Hirafu would be the first to open, followed by Higashiyama ("village"). Go Native and MikePow would be the experts on this. Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Check the Niseko Now reports to see when they opened in previous seasons. http://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily-snow-weather-reports/niseko-now Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Generally you'll have something available late November. Kokusai, Kiroro, Hirafu probably your best bets. Last year we had a great day at Rusutsu on Nov 23rd. Nakayama Touge is often the first to open, but it's pretty small. It's a gamble though, you'll just have to keep your fingers crossed for a good early start to the winter. Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Sorry, didn't read the full brief. If you're needing accommodation next to the ski jo, you're looking at Hirafu, or possibly Rusutsu. Don't think Village or the other areas of Niseko open that early. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 What about in Sapporo itself? Are the buses running right off the bat? Ah....you want mountainside accom....never mind Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 I think you'd find that even if there was a lot of snow on the slopes in November, the lifts won't be open 'til early to mid December in Niseko. Hirafu would be the first to open, followed by Higashiyama ("village"). Go Native and MikePow would be the experts on this. That's not true for Hirafu or Annupuri. They often open in late Nov. One year when we had big early falls the lifts opened on 19th Nov. Niseko Village on the other hand generally doesn't open till later. Same with Hanazono. Still late Nov is a bit of gamble. There's virtually no snowmaking in Niseko so if the natural falls are a bit sparse early on nothing will be open. Some years you'll be fine and some you won't. Your risk to take. Link to post Share on other sites
Powderman 0 Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 I have booked accommodation at a lodge next to the beginners slope of the Hirafu Resort in Niseko for the end of November. Although I was worried about going so early they told me that the ski lifts are scheduled to open on the 23rd. They also said there was a decent amount of powder at the same time last year when the resort opened and that there are not many people around and that everyone was having a great time. I was warned though that not all of the restaurants and shops are open that early in the season. I'm going for the snow so I am not really to concerned. Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Bear in mind, the advertised opening dates are generally best case scenario. if there's not enough natural snow, they won't open as there's no snowmaking. The past couple of years were good early seasons. The season before that was really late and very little/nothing opened till early December. I remember being at Kiroro in the rain and seeing very depressed people getting bussed in from Niseko as nothing was open there. That was around Dec 8/9th. It's really a gamble before mid December. Chances are you'll be able to ski/board, but it might not be pow, and it might not be in Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Is there some particular reason you MUST go in late November? If not, you'd be wise to wait until mid December (if already in Japan) and until second week of January (if coming from Australia). Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Wasn't able to ski on my birthday last season - too much wind closed the lifts. The skiing at Hirafu, Niseko Village and Kiroro last November and early December was excellent. Sunshine and powder and a fair bit of terrain open. It can be a late start on Hokkaido but in my experience I've been able to ski lift accessed terrain every November I've been on the island (4 times in the past 6 seasons). http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/22197-sr-shiribeshi-stories-hokkaido-201213/page__st__20 Link to post Share on other sites
indiego 0 Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Powderman, May I know which accom you're booked into?? Been trying to book some accommodation around hirafu but most open on the 1st. Will take a gamble on the dates. Just hoping that there'll ski rentals and ski school operating pre season. Thanks for the advice everyone!! Have a great season ahead.. Link to post Share on other sites
indiego 0 Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Is there some particular reason you MUST go in late November? If not, you'd be wise to wait until mid December (if already in Japan) and until second week of January (if coming from Australia). Unfortunately that'll be the only period which i could take time off. Was initially planning to just stay in Osaka. But juz kinda realized that skiing might be possible. Will be there again in March or April for the snow. I've actually just received news from the hotel that no ski schools/ski rentals will be open in november ( booked for nov 28-dec 2 instead ). Can anyone confirm this?? Or i'll still have a chance?? If not it'll actually mean that i'll need to think of some way to get those skis from sapporo. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Although the ski schools may not be fully operational you should be able to organize private lessons. Same with ski rental, you'll be able to organize something. What 'hotel' gave you that advice? Link to post Share on other sites
indiego 0 Posted September 29, 2013 Author Share Posted September 29, 2013 Thanks all for the advice. Got a reply from the resort ski school finally. They'll be open for private lessons on the 23rd onwards based on the resort estimated start date... hopefully... Booked into the Vale... Guess the guys were referring to their inhouse ski schools.... All set to go.. Have a great season ahead!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Forget about Hakuba...Nozawa...Shiga...Hakkoda.....Niseko.....Furano....!! You want the Pow Pow in November...?? Yeti...baby.......YETI !! Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 How about Mt Granview around that time? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I'm afraid Mt Granview won't be open just then. There might be some hardy sould hiking up though. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts