Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by grungy-gonads: So other opinions not valid then? Nope, didnt you get the memo? I always have last word Link to post Share on other sites
quattro 1 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 oh really Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 really Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Really? Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 yup. Now F'off beanie Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Alright I'm ****ing off Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Reading cb's post about Hakuba, I guess I have to give Nagano another try. I've been skiing Niseko at Christmas time for the last three seasons and was thoroughly impressed with the snow and the increasing number of Aussies hasn't affected my vacation yet... But the lack of steeps is clear. Went to Happo years ago at New Years.--bad year, crappy crusty snow with minimal coverage. I had heard that Happo had the steepest run in Japan but I've found more interesting stuff at Hachikita in Hyogo. I think it was just a bad year though. I guess I have to go in late Jan or Feb and spend more time seekeing out the good stuff. Is Hakuba better (steeper) than Shiga, or the Arai area? Is it easy to access bc and off-piste? I recall a some really big fences. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 If you are a skier, you really want to give Shiga Kogen a go. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Ger, as far as Shiga goes Ive only been on the Yokoteyama side so thats the only area I know. Its got a few decent runs but its primarily a beginner-intermediate run area IMO. Sure SKI has been to Yakebitai which is suppose to have some really nice BC but he will have to answer that. Hakuba is sick. Awesome runs with some really sick terrain. Id suggest going back as the off-piste is right off the lifts and BC, well, if you know the runs and traverse out its great but a lot of it is quite dangerous and avie prone so please know what youre doing. Link to post Share on other sites
uggggllllyyyy 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Ger, This does seem to be going round and round and round. So here is my two cents worth. From my personal experience (only) Niseko has best and most reliable snow, Hakuba has great terrain and easy access to offpiste stuff but the snow can get very heavy at times throughout the season and is packed on the w.e. Been to Iwate (only once tho') and that was pretty cool with some terrain and great snow and very empty. Niigata has great mix of terrain/snow quality but can also get busy. However, resorts being busy here is nothing compared with european resorts apart from maybe GALA. To be honest its all good and you would be pretty unlucky to get a bad trip (not that kind). As my mate says, "a bad day on the slopes still beats a good day in the office" Ganbare Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Okushiga / Yakebitaiyama is definitely better than Yokoteyama in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by SKI: Okushiga / Yakebitaiyama is definitely better than Yokoteyama in my opinion. have you been off-piste there SKI? Link to post Share on other sites
number9 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Quote: However, resorts being busy here is nothing compared with european resorts apart from maybe GALA. Now way! I've always had this impression that Japanese resorts were impossibly busy and crowded when compared to the rest of the world, from what others have written. (Though the only time I experienced somewhat crowded resorts this season was at Gala and Ishiuchi last weekend.) Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Japan still needs to shed the old image Link to post Share on other sites
uggggllllyyyy 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Number9, again its only my humble opinion but I have found J-resorts to be pretty quiet on the whole with only a short wait for lifts/gondolas etc. HOwever, GALA/Ishiuchi, Naeba and Happo-one are exceptions becos they are the "famous" ones where all the cool kids from tokyo/Osaka areas like to hang out. SO if possible, I would avoid these three places like the plague on the w.e Then again opinions are like a&&holes, everyone has one. babab-boom! Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew_D 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Just got back from Niseko. Yep, six years changes a lot. Not that it's a bad thing, but there was about 1000 time as many Australlians there this time compared to last. Still had a good time though. Met lets of cool people and saw lots of uncool people. It was a lot warmer that I wanted it to be. Wasn't counting on the rain, the near zero visibility condition or a stomach virus either. The last day up (yesterday) was clear and way to warm. I was just happy that the toilet was across the hall. Link to post Share on other sites
TJ OZ 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Boarded most days on Happo on my two weeks in Hakuba this year. Most lift rides there was no one in front of me and no one behind me. One time I got down to the lift line the same time as a bus load of people were getting on. Grabbed myself a can of coffee and strolled up to the lift. I seriosly have never been in a lift line of more than twenty people in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by DrewInJapan: Wasn't counting on the rain, the near zero visibility condition or a stomach virus either. That's too bad DIJ Sucks when the conditions don't work out Mother Nature can be a real bitch sometimes Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 This season is a freaking coin toss. Happo lines arent that bad just learn how not to take the gondola, even on a bad day its a 5 minute line and thats nothing. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted February 17, 2006 Share Posted February 17, 2006 Quote: have you been off-piste there SKI? Once, with the ski patrol. I was invited by a friend of a friend they were doing some work out there. It was very interesting. There's actually a lot of great runs on the actual resort at Okushiga/Yakebitai and not that many ropes around actually. Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 This was an interesting read from the Age. Precisely the reason I ended up in Nagano last year and then again this year instead of going back up to Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 18, 2006 Author Share Posted February 18, 2006 hmm?? Isn't that the opening post on this thread sakebomb?? Anything to add? Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 Maybe the second post from the start of the forum Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 18, 2006 Author Share Posted February 18, 2006 hm?? You agree with it, or just trying to get the thread back on track? Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted February 18, 2006 Share Posted February 18, 2006 I agree with the second post....getting this thread back on track would be near impossible!!! Hahaha!! Link to post Share on other sites
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