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Hi There,

 

I'm heading to Niseko in March and I'd like to buy my own gear (Jacket, pants, gloves, goggles etc - will be hiring the ski's).

 

I haven't found much of a selection here in oz, and I'm wondering if it's worth buying when I get there???

 

Does anyone know if there is a good range available in Niseko and if it's likely to be a lot more expensive than oz??? (I've been quoted about AU$400 - $500 for a good quality jacket here @ home).

 

Thanks!

 

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yes you can.

 

coming from Perth, you'll need to get acclimatized:

 

1) Being at high altitude, Niseko air will make you feel dizzy. When you arrive, sit yourself down and take lots of deep breaths.

 

2) Being in a thin atmosphere, the beer tastes funny too and it will cost you more to get drunk.

 

3) There are lots of local food you will not like, but don't worry, the chips are fantastic as the potatoes are grown locally.

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I would try and but your gear in Australia. There are some stores in Niseko but there isn't a great deal of choice and you'll be paying at least the same as Australia. Size may also be a problem ,North Face for example make gear particular to the Japanese market however the large sizes are smaller for obvious reasons

 

It's always worth spending the extra money on good quality gear.

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 Quote:
Originally posted by Bushpig:
yeah and you could quite possibly get dizzy from the steepness of the slopes.
yeah, but we weren't crying over Christmas and New Year's over the lack of the white stuff.
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Snobunny

I found prices all relative in Niseko, there are also a few shops in Kutchan. You should find some gear but you wont get anything super cheap. The benefits of buying in OZ is you can claim the GST off your gear at the airport (that's what i did last year)...

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 Quote:
Originally posted by one8s:
Snobunny
I found prices all relative in Niseko, there are also a few shops in Kutchan. You should find some gear but you wont get anything super cheap. The benefits of buying in OZ is you can claim the GST off your gear at the airport (that's what i did last year)...
great call there SB, getting duty free is a nice way to save dosh, also, because you're buying ski gear out of season, you might be able to save again. I also agree with the sizing issue, you mighten find the right sizes in a foreign market. so I'd buy before you go, and hire the rest (board/skis) over there.

Also when it comes to snow gear, you get what you pay for, so spend accordingly. nothing worse than crappy gear making you cold and wet and hating the experience.
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You can find some Mountain Hardware at NAC which is on rt343 and Patagonia at Toyru on the way up to the Hirafu gondola. Both Mountain Hardware and Pataguchi use western sizes.

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Your best bet is to go to Main Peak and try gear for sizing then order it from an east coast store like Balmoral Boards or First Tracks or whoever.

 

Main Peak are ok price for goggles and gloves so you could buy them from there.

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There's a well known ski shop in Kutchan - town closest to Niseko (short bus trip away).

 

The shop (Sports Takiguchi) http://www.spotaki.co.jp/topenglish.html#takiguti

 

is frequented by Aussies for relatively inexpensive and 'disposable' pow ski's and gear.

 

It seems the prices have hiked-up in the last few years - probably due to the increased OS trade.

 

Check their website prices and use an online currency converter to give ya the $AUD. You'll note they vary little to prices in Oz, most of the time it's cheaper to buy in Oz because claiming on warranties, etc is a lot less hassle.

 

Some specialised items are cheaper however. Horses for courses really.

 

From previous discussions on other threads, it seems the only way to get major deals is in the major cities wakaranai.gif

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Perth doesn't have much choice. Once you've done Murray St, that's it. $400-500 sounds way too expensive for a jacket. I paid half that for mine, here in Japan.

 

Can't speak for Niseko specifically, but you'll do much better here for choice. By March there will be plenty of discounts.

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If you're heading to Niseko in March, it would be worth your while to visit Sapporo as there'd be sales on. You could save a ton on your full ski gear, jacket, pants, goggles, helmet, gloves,.... it all adds up.

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I have heard that it can be difficult to get larger sizes on hire gear in Japan.

 

We are going to be skiing Rusutsu in late Jan/early Feb and planning to hire boots, skis and poles (we have our own jackets, helmets etc).

 

I wear size 11 shoes (43 European size). Does anyone know if I will have problems hiring the boots?

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