advantyper 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Hi Guys Was planning to visit Niseko, but after reading all the comment about it. I decided to go to Nagano instead, could you recommend the top three resort in Nagano? Also I'll be getting a 7 days unlimited tourist JR/bullet train pass. Is there any other pretty good snowboard mountains in around the Tokyo and Osaka area? I cam willing to travel up to 4 hours. Or any good decent price hotel to stay in Nagaano? or any good Hot spring place to vvisit, prefer natural outdoor hot springs and not the man made ones. My japanese is basic at most, not that good. Also will be probably traveling by myself, cause all my friends think I am out of my mind to snowboard in Japan. Oh well. Thanks in advance Pete Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 why is your base not at a resort. also look into the 4 day flexible pass for your travels. most hot springs are in man made locations if you want natural ones you will have to hike into the bush. Link to post Share on other sites
sava 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 yes 4 day flexible pass I'm getting it, so should you! Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Author Share Posted October 14, 2005 Tks for the info, after digging on the web just realize Nagano is Hakuba, so I'll look into those post bout it. Whats the difference for the 4 day flexible pass? Its it cheaper or more expensive? Tks Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 you can you that pass for any 4 days of your choice. one day anywhere you want to go on JR East. that covers you back and forth to tokyo and narita and leaves you 2 extra days of use. Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Author Share Posted October 14, 2005 Oh I see, thanks for the info. So for the 4 day pass, do I have to order it in America like the 7 days unlimited pass too? or can I buy one at the JR station in Osaka or Tokyo? Tks Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 you must pre-order it overseas its only for tourists Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Author Share Posted October 14, 2005 Noted and Thanks! Is there a 7 day flexible pass? 4 days might not be enough.. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 no such pass out there for 7 days. how much are you traveling everyday? Link to post Share on other sites
TJ OZ 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 If you are just using the train in Tokyo they don't usually stamp it so you can move around the city on the 4 day. Same I think with Hakuba to Matsomoto. All we would do is show the pass at the stalls and they would let us through. I think they only stamp a day if you use it on the longer trips ie. Narita to Tokyo, Tokyo to Nagano. Please dont take this as the rule but just our experience. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 my parents found them a bit strict this time but nice. whichever the 4 day is a great pass that you can easily save money on. heck id buy it if I could Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted October 15, 2005 Share Posted October 15, 2005 Try this out, advantyper and check each and every detail. http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/index.html Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 16, 2005 Author Share Posted October 16, 2005 Thanks for everyone's replies. The more I think about it, traveling all the way to Japan to snowboard and I shouldn't miss Niseko So going to stay in Niseko for 3-4 nights, then fly into Osaka for two days then off to Nagano. So the 4 days flexible pass should work good. Right now planning to stay in Japan for 2 weeks total. Any one have comments of mountains at Yamagata, gifu, or shiga? Are they worth a day visit there for boarding? Thanks Gamera for the link, I'll order it in November. How different are the Superior Class Green cars and Ordinary cars? Is it worth the extra money? Is Niseko the best mountain for dry powder in Hokkaido? Do other members have any other resort to recommend? Sorry for all the questions, but just want to make sure I make the right choice for a good time! Thanks again for everyone's help Link to post Share on other sites
sava 0 Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 There was a post recently that I think I agree with, for two weeks you don't want to go to two many places unless they're pretty far away from each other (so you see different cities or whatever). Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted October 16, 2005 Share Posted October 16, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by advantyper: How different are the Superior Class Green cars and Ordinary cars? Is it worth the extra money? There's some more room around your feet when you sit on a seat in a green car. It's up to you. Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 17, 2005 Author Share Posted October 17, 2005 Yea, good point, well, now planning Niseko, then Tokyo for 2 days, then off to Hakuba 47 for 3 days then maybe Yamagata, if there is some easy to find resort and hotel, then off to Osaka and HK. Think I'll go with the ordinary cars, being 5"10, I don't need that much leg room. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 wake up early for your powder in niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 17, 2005 Author Share Posted October 17, 2005 What time do resort in japan usually open? in the states and canada, its always 8am-8:30am. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted October 17, 2005 Share Posted October 17, 2005 They open around 8 a.m. in my Hakuba area. Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 18, 2005 Author Share Posted October 18, 2005 Cool, tks for the info, so looks like I don't have to catch too early of a bullet train to get there from Tokyo. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted October 18, 2005 Share Posted October 18, 2005 are you going to catch the train everyday Link to post Share on other sites
advantyper 0 Posted October 18, 2005 Author Share Posted October 18, 2005 nope, only plan to stay in Hakuba 47 like 2-3 full days of boarding, do Hakuba 47 have night boarding? If so then probably 2 nights of hotel. haven't begin looking for hotel yet, still on planning stage where to go after Niseko. Catching a train for 2-3 days in a row will kill me! That means I'll have to wake up at like 5am to catch the train, if there is one that early. Got any average price hotel to recommend for near or on Hakuba 47? Anyone? Tks Link to post Share on other sites
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