russ292 0 Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Hi Everyone, I've done a search on the forum, but have not had much success in finding what I'm looking for. I'm going to Japan on the 30th of December and would like to go to Nagano to board, but was thinking there might not be enough snow.... Would Hokkaido be a better option for that time? Really appreciate the advice. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
r45 4 Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 A great place to find info on past seasons is the archives here: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/daily/nowcalendar.php If there is no snow in the major regions at New Year, it will have been a disasterous start to the season. I think 30th Dec you are almost guaranteed. Link to post Share on other sites
TheOrange 0 Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 I sure hope it will be good everywhere then! Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 you ever do any rails on the Great Wall at Mutianyu? There was a long sick rail there which could be used Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Harbin Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 rails rails rails I love rails. Nagano should be fine ive never seen it not snow then Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Only Spud loves rails more than you FT Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 this year is gonna be a 暖冬 winter so youre all shite outta luck. No snow this year Link to post Share on other sites
russ292 0 Posted September 20, 2006 Author Share Posted September 20, 2006 Great! Thanks for the advice everyone. Although I really wanted to see Hokkaido, I think Nagano might be better as it will mean less travel time from Tokyo airport. Oh, and I really want to see the snow monkeys! I guess booking accomodation should really be done pretty soon, I've read on the forum it fills up pretty fast. Where are you all heading first this season? Link to post Share on other sites
russ292 0 Posted September 20, 2006 Author Share Posted September 20, 2006 Rails on the great wall? Not as yet, I'm still learning to not fall over on a 5 degree slope on my board at the moment! Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 >Where are you all heading first this season? Tateyama in November then Shiga Kogen in December before the holidays start Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Hey Creek boy don't say it's going to be a 暖冬 winter. I spent last year in Europe salivating over the snow in Japan (though was lucky enough to get a fair amount in Avoriaz, France). My last snow trip to Japan (Christmas 04) had me nearly die from stress; not a flake of snow when I arrived in Akita, 5 days later I was out on a mountain. relief wasn't the word. I'm off back to Akita and as the mountains aint high I am hoping for a big dump before 30th Dec.... and so the sweating starts... Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 they said that last year and the year before too Dont belive the hype. Why in Akita Torihada and where do you go? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by russ292: Great! Thanks for the advice everyone. Although I really wanted to see Hokkaido, I think Nagano might be better as it will mean less travel time from Tokyo airport. Oh, and I really want to see the snow monkeys! I guess booking accomodation should really be done pretty soon, I've read on the forum it fills up pretty fast. Where are you all heading first this season? You can fly to Sappporo from Tokyo in less time you'd take to get to Nagano from there. Last Christmas the flight we were on tried 3 times to land in Sapporo but the storm was too much. We headed to Tokyo and landed there in less than an hour. Waited two hours for the storm to clear at Sapporo and took off. It took another hour to get there, so in total we were delayed some 4 hours. Luckily the land connections, the buses and transfers waited for everybody. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 >You can fly to Sappporo from Tokyo in less time you'd take to get to Nagano from there Its also then a 3 hr bus ride to Rusutsu or Niseko from Chitose Airport as well. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 20, 2006 Share Posted September 20, 2006 yep Link to post Share on other sites
russ292 0 Posted September 21, 2006 Author Share Posted September 21, 2006 So we're talking probably 6 hours from Tokyo to Hokkaido, give or take. As much as I'd like to go up there, I think for my first snow in Japan, I'll try Nagano. Has anyone stayed at the Yuyado Sekiya? It's supposed to be a little more upmarket ryokan near the snow monkeys and about a half hour drive from Shiga Kogen. Is Shiga going to be ridiculously busy from the 2nd of January until the 8th? Man, so much to think about!!! But I can't wait to get boarding in Japan!!! Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobasecamp 0 Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 all the resorts will be busy at the beginning of january - it's the o shogatsu holidays - tho maybe not busy compared to some european resort busy levels, japan is OK the monkey are funny, and best seen in the snow do ya ride in china? Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 they are busy till about the 3rd or 4th and then it'll back off quite a bit. The official holidays are only till the 3rd, and many if not most people don't take extra time off. Link to post Share on other sites
russ292 0 Posted September 21, 2006 Author Share Posted September 21, 2006 Naa, no boarding in China, although in Harbin it's possible, but I have not heard anything amazing about it like I have about Japan. However, there are some wicked ice sculptures there through winter, they are amazing. Oh man, I'm going to be there from the 31st to the 5th. I guess I will need to be dodging up at Shiga Kogen! Hope it's not too crazy! Better book this week then... Any recommendations on places to stay near the monkeys? Not too low budget though, I've stayed in some cheap ryokans before: not fun!!!! (not that I'm a snob at all... ha ha ha!) Link to post Share on other sites
dale#1 1 Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Places in Shiga Kogen or maybe Nozawa. Haus St Anton is nice. Actually the Kiriya place on this site too is good. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Harbin is the nucleus of the Chinese ski industry. Though chaotic now, in maybe 5 years time, it could be a destination to try for skiing. Link to post Share on other sites
eskimobasecamp 0 Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 my ski team students did some training last season in china, but not sure exactly where... infact i'm not sure if they know exactly where! Link to post Share on other sites
fjef 0 Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 When I lived in Changchun, China from 1986 to '88, I missed two opportunities to visit the 'new' Chinese ski team training somewhere NE of Harbin - weather was too harsh to get to the 'resort' and at the last minute, I was suddenly told there were no accommodations for me. I gave up. I forget the name of the place but I understand they do have lifts now. Last Spring when I was back for a visit, I tried to learn more about new facilities in the Chiangbaishan range along the North Korean border - apparently there is a chair lift there with a view overlooking N.Korea - would be a pretty wild place for a B.C adventure - not. Maybe I'll try again in the Spring next year now that my local contacts in Chanchun are finally convinced that I was serious about going there some day... Link to post Share on other sites
Zaoman 0 Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Zao! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts