Motoflyboy 0 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Hi all, First post - looking for some last minute advice! Have a chance to spend a couple of days boarding while in Japan early Feb. Figured there's plenty of choice in the "reasonably close to Tokyo" Nagano area? Looking for somewhere with a traditional Japanese feel. I am an intermediate boarder looking to try some of Japan's famous powder. Any advice / opinions welcomed. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Try Nozawa if you want the ol' traditional feel. Fingers crossed for pow. Link to post Share on other sites
NECK 14 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Nozawa would be a safe bet. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Of course Noz will be cool for you, but if time is tight then best area that's close to Tokyo is Yuzawa area in Niigata. Great snow, around 10 resorts within a 30 minute shuttle bus ride from the centre of town and a year round onsen town only 70 minutes from Tokyo station by Shinkansen Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Well, 77 mins is the fastest. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 It was, anyway Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Actually the first one is 76 mins Link to post Share on other sites
Gunma Boarder 14 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Yuzawa vs Nozawa. Yuzawa definitely wins for convenience and price (look into the Kanto + Yuzawa 9,000 yen three day pass you can buy at the airport). Both have good powder (if you hit it right). Nozawa might win for "Traditional Japanese" It is a really interesting village with a nice temple and nice hot spring baths. Yuzawa is also a hot spring but has more of a ski resort feel. There probably are temples and shrines because they really are everywhere in Japan, but I've never been to one in Yuzawa. Nozawa would be a more expensive and long trip from Tokyo. I hope that is helpful. Link to post Share on other sites
Gunma Boarder 14 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I should have said Kanto + Yuzawa JR train pass instead of just pass. Lift tickets sold separately. Though there might be a deal including lift tickets. If so, probably for Gala Yuzawa. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 No, you can get Shinkansen + lift ticket deals for all the Yuzawa resorts. You can also get a hotel added on to that deal Link to post Share on other sites
Gunma Boarder 14 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 No, you can get Shinkansen + lift ticket deals for all the Yuzawa resorts. You can also get a hotel added on to that deal Good to know. I should say I've never stayed in Yuzawa due to the proximity to my house. I mostly meant that 9000 yen does not get you all of those things. Though that would be one hell of a deal Yuzawa is definitely cheaper than Nozawa from Tokyo. Link to post Share on other sites
Motoflyboy 0 Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thanks guys, Yuzawa didn't show up on my original search so I hadn't heard of it. Definitely closer.. And I found plenty of info about the Yuzawa package deals. Will be a last minute booking, just waiting for work to approve my travel, looks like I need to cross my fingers for some snow too. Might still go Nozawa if I can find accomodation for a night and the train timetables line up. Any thing else I should know for first time quick blast in Japan, please let me know. Will be spending a couple of days in Kyoto, then heading back to Cerulean tower in Shibuya and will head to the snow from there either daily or to somewhere for a night or 2. Great forum! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 10-12,000 yen gets you a return shink ticket to Tokyo and a lift ticket to one of the Yuzawa resorts Link to post Share on other sites
Gunma Boarder 14 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Not about snow, but I really like Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Also Kiyomizudera is a really nice temple to be at for the sunset. Sounds like you have a nice trip planned Link to post Share on other sites
onehunga 26 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Don't forget that you can also get to some pretty good snow from Kyoto. Link to post Share on other sites
Gunma Boarder 14 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Don't forget that you can also get to some pretty good snow from Kyoto. Gifu? Link to post Share on other sites
onehunga 26 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Gifu and Shiga. Oku Ibuki is not too bad, went here 30/12, will post a review soon. A bit about it on my blog Kansai part 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Motoflyboy 0 Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Ok rough plan falling together... Arrive Tokyo Sunday AM, look around TOK Sun - Mon, spend Tuesday travelling up to Nozawa - few stops on the way maybe. Tuesday night check in and get ready for..... Wednesday - Thursday hit the snow. Thursday afternoon back to TOK. Friday AM check out and train to Kyoto. Fri, Sat look around, head home Sunday night. Just adding up some ticket prices and comparing to a 5 day JR Pass, Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Have fun Link to post Share on other sites
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