viv&kev 0 Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 We're thinking of going up to Niseko this time to see what the fuss is all about but we want to avoid crowds as much as possible - but have decent snow conditions. Any tips on when might be a good time to go? Maybe just after New Year? Luckily we are quite flexible with our main holidays this comingwinter. thanks Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 weekdays Link to post Share on other sites
sava 0 Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 In addition to weekdays, either early (pre new year) or from late feb onwards Link to post Share on other sites
woywoy 0 Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 Even weekdays will be packed with Aussie powder hogs all January and February. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I was there 2 or 3 winters ago now, so I’m not sure how much busier the place has gotten. During December and March all the guests at the pension were Japanese. During Jan and Feb all the guests were Aussie. Early December was relatively empty, but its quite early on in the season. I know some years things are in full swing by then, so if you can leave your plans until the last minute, check the conditions and do a hit-and-run mission then. End of February was getting emptier, and by march all the other aussies had gone. Of course its was warm and slushier by then. But again, conditions could change - we had some great late season snow, and it was totally empty. Avoid weekends. Very crowded. Avoid new years/xmas. Very crowded. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Sounds like good sound advice for any resort all that lot (not a critisism!) Link to post Share on other sites
fb_steve 0 Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 There would be less people in Feb i'd think cause school holidays finish at the end of Jan in Aus - lots of families go to niseko cause of this, was the deal for us both times our family went. Maybe late feb to keep it safe Link to post Share on other sites
fb_steve 0 Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 mind due, it never gets that crowed at all from my experience, the slopes do when there are schools at the resort but they just stick to the bottom of the mountain, head up to the top and its not crowded at all! Link to post Share on other sites
merryJim 1 Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 Theres a Japanese long weekend holiday in Feb that is best avoiding, not sure when that is next year. Around the 2nd week I think. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted August 13, 2005 Share Posted August 13, 2005 I think the Feb.11th is Saturday in 2006, so it won't make a 3 consecutive off. Link to post Share on other sites
stranger 0 Posted August 14, 2005 Share Posted August 14, 2005 Niseko last season when I went was a shadow of it's former self. Thats what we thought anyway - may have been bad look or timing. Time to find a new heaven. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 The popular out-of-date image is of crowded slopes in Honshu and empty slopes in Hokkaido. That no longer seems to be the case. If you go on a weekday anywhere round here, you sometimes have the mountain almost to yourself! Link to post Share on other sites
sava 0 Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 I think some of the mountains that are away from niseko might be less crowded, especially up near the north? Link to post Share on other sites
veronica 2 Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 I'm sure they are, just Niseko seems to be the busy busy place in recent years (and increasingly so). I love those weekdays when you go and never have to wait for a lift or for a course to clear. Great! Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Waiting for lifts is a pain. I read on here some people talking about waiting over 30 minutes for a lift. Thats just not funny. Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 They had the new Niseko Harmony owner/manager on a local TV show here recently. He was discussing plans for the resort etc. He had some valid points, one was talking about injecting new life into the snow industry which has been in a steady decline over the last 15 years here in Japan. He also discussed the aging industry and unchanged resorts (circa 1970s) that exist and how people want more from their snow experiance than curry rice and an aging lift system. Everyone might complain about Niseko/Aussies and overcrowding but this may lead to an improvement in what is now available plus it is a great boost to the Hokkaido economy! Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by viv&kev: We're thinking of going up to Niseko this time to see what the fuss is all about but we want to avoid crowds as much as possible - but have decent snow conditions. Any tips on when might be a good time to go? Maybe just after New Year? I always have it uncrowded. But if I tell you I'll have to kill yas Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 > snow experiance than curry rice and an aging lift system. Yes, like meat sauce spaghetti and an ageing lift system. Not really on topic, but I'd rather have decrepit and cheap than spanking new and expensive. Link to post Share on other sites
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