bpobrien808 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Hello everybody, I am new to this site so this is my first post. I am an avid snowboarder from Europe (but I also like skiing). Every year I go to the Alps (Austria or France) to hit the piste. In Feb/March of 2006 I will be in Japan for three weeks touring the country. I plan on spending about 5 or 6 days snowboarding. Since I am unfamiliar with snowboarding in Japan I wonder if you can offer me some advise. I would like to snowboard in a nice (and large) mountain range where the powder is good. I don’t mind going to a remote location as long as it not too remote. I would also like a location with good onsens. I have been reading about Niseko and while it appears to match what I want, some people say that it is hard to get good powder there. Any advise for me? Regards, Brendan Link to post Share on other sites
evolution 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 The Nagano area may just have all the qualities you are looking for. Good access from Tokyo too. Link to post Share on other sites
lin 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 I think the people you say are kidding you - Niseko is known for its powder. It's also getting known as a place that is full of gaijin too - and the more people that go.... well you know that that will mean. Link to post Share on other sites
sava 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 There is nothing to say that he doesn't mean powder in terms of makeup, in which case I suggest checking a Japanese school girls' face. **boom boom** Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted July 25, 2005 Share Posted July 25, 2005 Brendan. My experience is limited to Yamagata, and it may not apply to other parts of Japan. Here, it starts snowing in December, and stops in March/April. Most days you can ski fresh snow, but I'd hesitate to call it powder because it is fairly heavy and wet. Further north is colder, and presumably drier. You won't have any problem finding fresh snow in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by bpobrien808: I don’t mind going to a remote location as long as it not too remote. Yeah, I advice you to learn some kanji for your destination just for reference Link to post Share on other sites
bpobrien808 0 Posted July 27, 2005 Author Share Posted July 27, 2005 Thanks for all your replies. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 niseko is not a range of mountains. Link to post Share on other sites
snowbender 3 Posted August 2, 2005 Share Posted August 2, 2005 Quote: but I'd hesitate to call it powder because it is fairly heavy and wet I'm not doubting you of course, but, well, there goes my image of Yamagata.... I thought it was light and dry up there. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted August 3, 2005 Share Posted August 3, 2005 Maybe I overstated. It is very subjective. Powder is what I skied in the French and Italian Alps. Knee deep fluff that felt like silk. The snow here is not like that, but there is always fresh snow, and it's not always heavy and wet. The best snow I've found was at Onikobe (Miyagi), which is north and east of me, so it's a little colder and drier. Akakura is my favourite local spot. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 Akakura in Niigata, soubriquet? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 Thats Akakura Onsen in Yamagata pref. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=224 It's less than 20km, straight up the valley, through the tunnel and I'm there. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 Ummm, SJ admin, whats up with that link soubriquet put up? seems to have a bug or sumtin... Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 If the link doesn't work then look for Yamagata Akakura in the resorts section. Link to post Share on other sites
sava 0 Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 What's wrong with the link? Link to post Share on other sites
stranger 0 Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 Link looks fine to me..... Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts