Fattwins 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 the only lines I wait in are the ones in Gifu. Niseko gets crowds visits up to 600000 thats still alot compared to some resorts even in the US Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Gifu has hell lines on weekends, not to mention traffic. niseko you are pretty sweet if you avoid the New years rush. Link to post Share on other sites
danz 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 I have been to Aspen and niseko...frankly, I can not see any resort in Japan becoming anything remotley close to Aspen. Aspen's image comes from its ritzy clientele, fancy art galleries, exquisite cuisine, and not to mention, a great mountain resort. Can you imagine any resort town in Japan having an art gallery without "OMIYAGE!" written in green letters?? I didn't think so. I don't think Japan has really grasped the concept of a "Destination Resort"... my .02 Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 The traffic in Gifu is worse than the anything Ive ever seen. avoid the place on long holidays unless you travel late at night. When they finally finish that highway it will be good. If they ever put Takasu and dynaland together it will make a very good little resort near a huge population. Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 You are just going to the wrong places. I have never waited in lift lines in Gifu Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Does Aspen have yummy "kare-raisu"? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Yeah but its pretty far to get up there toque. PS Im not afraid to get up there its the getting back that scares me. The Tokai hokkuriku jidousha is still a mess if you dont get on it by 3pm at the latest. and that is from takasu I figure I could only do a half day with you at your place there toque before I would have to head home. I dont wait in lines except for the main chair at dynaland. It accesses not even close to the best stuff but you need it to get to the park features the fastest. Link to post Share on other sites
veronica 2 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 I truly believe kare-raisu is the secret to the Japanese snow sports industrys big success!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Yah up my way it would take you an extra 2 or 3 hours. I do want to explore the Takasu hills though. See what all the hype is about. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 the hype is more park than big mountain toque ill admit that. It does have spots where you can find good stashes and the touring off the back of dainichi dake looks pretty good but shortish. only a short hike to get in too. Link to post Share on other sites
pon farr 0 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 It might be hyped, but I'll find out for myself in a couple of months. A question - will I meet any Japanese people up there or will it just be full of non-Japanese? Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Sorry there PonFarr. We are talking about a different set of hills. But up at Niseko you can meet loads of Japanese people. All depends on you. You can go to the gaijin hang outs and only talk english or you can blaze a new trail and go to some of the Japanese hangouts and try your hand speaking Engrish Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 (But you do have to drive 30 minutes out to enter a nihonjin zone). Only kidding. But the % of foreigners in Niseko is way higher (in my experience) than in any other ski town in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 I had a great time at Niseko when I went. The hype I'm concerned about is magazines reprinting this Aussie firm's PR material as fact and getting people's hopes up about them doing wonderful things. They're not even going to operate the resort. Aspen is a playground for the super-rich, isn't it? Well, the super-rich are doing very well under Dubya, so I suppose Aspen will be okay. However, the US Economy as a whole is in a pretty bad way. Oil prices are high, house prices, which have supported consumer spending, are starting to fall, and the government itself is heavily in debt. This does not bode well for leisure industries like skiing. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 wiggles did you buy a pass. PS when does the US have to pay their debt back? Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Still undecided about the pass Fatty, but I've been hiking almost every day, so I'm ready to earn my turns. Today I went to a place called Maki, an abandoned village in Otari that's not accessible by car. Some folk now use it as an educational farm. They said they've lost 20 chickens to bears this year. A movie called Narayama Bushiko, The Ballad of Narayama (Ocean referred to in the thread about Slow's mother's birthday) was filmed there, though the main house in the film has since burned down. As for other things going "up in smoke", the main actress in the film, Sumiko Sakamoto, has since been busted for dope possession. If you get the chance to see it, it's a pretty grim flick. That's what it must look like in late summer. Link to post Share on other sites
Trying to look busy 0 Posted November 20, 2004 Share Posted November 20, 2004 Whats going on with the bears this year hey? Link to post Share on other sites
nori-chan 0 Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 There are many bear attack this year! My friend lives near a place where recently bear come out children are scared. Link to post Share on other sites
BigSausage 0 Posted November 22, 2004 Share Posted November 22, 2004 That pic reminds me of the place in The Last Samurai..where did they actually film that? Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted November 23, 2004 Share Posted November 23, 2004 Mostly in New Zealand I think but there was a few scenes in Kyoto Bears might be coming out for any number of reasons. -lack of natural food in wilderness -food is easier to get in urban areas -last years mild winter may have been more favorable for bear reproduction so there might be more of them out there -last years mild winter may not have killed off as many as in more average winters. Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted November 23, 2004 Share Posted November 23, 2004 The outside scenes I think were all done in NZ, they made a little Japanese mountain village up in the hills. I heard they kept it there as some sort of tourist attraction. Link to post Share on other sites
merryJim 1 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 Well with all the snow Hokkaido seems to be getting today, them there bears will be getting in their beds and the new Aspen should be opening up properly soon. Link to post Share on other sites
powwwers 0 Posted December 9, 2004 Share Posted December 9, 2004 this article might give some indication as to what to expect in the not too distant future. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/12/03/1101923324640.html no matter how simple ya make tha lesson, some people just neva learn Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by slow: Quote: Originally posted by Mr Wiggles: Has that company actually spent "mega bucks" so far? Is anything being built at this moment? What does "building a new resort" mean? A hotel? Lifts? Seibu and Tokyu are always rival companies in resort industry. Tokyu("Tokyu Fudosan") sold Hanazono area to Australian company this summer. But this Australian company do not operate, they just invest money in resort. "Tokyu resort" operates whole Hirafu area now and they named grand-hirafu there. They are not going to build something new this year, just launch new hourly lift system and more attract powder lover. They have new project "South Village" in Hanazono area. They will build lot for sale, condominiums, hotels for foreigners in a few years. This is Tokyu's plan, they have to make money for the investor and I'm not sure what Seibu's plan is. Now, Seibu decided to withdraw from the resort business in Hokkaido and Tohoku. It's probably they are going to sell Niseko Higashiyama to Aussie company... Link to post Share on other sites
proudtobegay 0 Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 What else do they own in Hokkaido and Tohoku? Link to post Share on other sites
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