Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Super! Amazing! I want to be there so bad.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Incredible - having a major life rethink after working my way through this thread!
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Looks awesome Mike. Planning trip for next season I hope. Was thinking of a couple if weeks based at niseko, with the odd day trip away. Is there that much difference between the different bases in niseko in terms of snowfall on a day to day basis?
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 19-01-16 23:09; edited 1 time in total
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
And why does it look so quiet - I understood Niseko was the busiest of the resorts?
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Minion1980, Hanazono friday is my second guess
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 19-01-16 22:37; edited 1 time in total
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Isn't Hanazono linked to Hirafu from the top? If so why does it remain quiet? Just trying to understand is all as I am planning on visiting next year and the downside I've heard about Niseko is it gets busy - yet Mike's lovely pictures tell a different story? Compared to a European resort that looks empty.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
rogg wrote:
Looks awesome Mike. Planning trip for next season I hope. Was thinking of a couple if weeks based at niseko, with the odd day trip away. Is there that much difference between the different bases in niseko in terms of snowfall on a day to day basis?
Thanks all. Great conditions recently.
Base yourself at Niseko Hirafu for greatest choice of accommodation, food & retail.
If you don't rent a car then make the most of:
Free bus to other Niseko United base areas - Annupuri, Niseko Village, Hanazono
Free bus to Niseko Moiwa
Paid bus to Rusutsu
Paid bus to Kiroro
This winter the wind has been blowing lookers left to right at Niseko United, so more snow in Hanazono (far right) than Annupuri (far left).
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Minion1980 wrote:
And why does it look so quiet - I understood Niseko was the busiest of the resorts?
It is, Grand Hirafu especially.
But when all the lifts are running and the backcountry gates are open then the mountain disperses people very quickly.
Plus a lot of returning visitors are getting in vans and exploring the nearby resorts.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Minion1980 wrote:
Isn't Hanazono linked to Hirafu from the top? If so why does it remain quiet? Just trying to understand is all as I am planning on visiting next year and the downside I've heard about Niseko is it gets busy - yet Mike's lovely pictures tell a different story? Compared to a European resort that looks empty.
See above.
Grand Hirafu linked to Hanazono by:
Taking King Hooded Triple to practically the top of Hirafu and then skiing over to Hanazono.
Taking the Swinging Monkey chair 2/3 of the way up Hirafu and skiing across to Hanazono.
Taking the free bus from Hirafu and starting your day at Hanazono.
If you choose the third option then you'll have from 8.30 to 10.30 practically on our own before the crowd from Hirafu makes its way over. But to be fair Hanazono has been quiet all day the days I've been there. The restaurant is busier than the slopes.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
element wrote:
Incredible - having a major life rethink after working my way through this thread!
Thanks.
I'm back home in Wales now. Short season. If you'd like to see what conditions are like season wide then have a look at these threads from previous winters.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Thanks for the answers guys and thanks again Mike for posting your pictures and videos, a shame you had to come home but it looks like you had a magnificent time.
Can I ask where do you stay in Kiroro when you are there? Are you renting a flat?
Mike, a few daft questions ( about to embark next week on a 9 day Niseko Grand Hirafu trip):
Uk Mobile coverage/compatibility - I was last in Japan in 2002 and it was a nightmare then, I m guessing it is mainly sorted ...but?
Chairs & rucksacks: I have a choice between a low profile EVOC ba and thicker Ortovox bag - will the lifties make me take my bag off on chairs as they do in some resorts in France in which case the thinner one night be better to avoid faff?
Layers : I usually get away with base, mid and shell with a primaloft 60 gram waistcoat or hoody in my bag which in dec/jan usually get deployed post lunch in c - 2 to -5. I'm assuming I ll start the day wearing one or other with a down (uniqlo) hoody as back up. I always ski with a bag which counts as a layer in itself. Does that sound about right?
Are you back for the Brecon season??
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
mishmash wrote:
Mike, a few daft questions ( about to embark next week on a 9 day Niseko Grand Hirafu trip):
Uk Mobile coverage/compatibility - I was last in Japan in 2002 and it was a nightmare then, I m guessing it is mainly sorted ...but?
I'm on the O2 network with Giff Gaff and my UK phone works fine.
Quote:
Chairs & rucksacks: I have a choice between a low profile EVOC ba and thicker Ortovox bag - will the lifties make me take my bag off on chairs as they do in some resorts in France in which case the thinner one night be better to avoid faff?
Some may ask you to remove the larger pack.
Quote:
Layers : I usually get away with base, mid and shell with a primaloft 60 gram waistcoat or hoody in my bag which in dec/jan usually get deployed post lunch in c - 2 to -5. I'm assuming I ll start the day wearing one or other with a down (uniqlo) hoody as back up. I always ski with a bag which counts as a layer in itself. Does that sound about right?
I normally ski with base t-shirt, base long sleeve shirt, primaloft vest, shell.
This season I had to swap the vest for a down jacket. It's been between -15 and -20 C most days.
Quote:
Are you back for the Brecon season??
Yes. Was hoping to make turns yesterday, but the rain and mist had got at it
Will be checking daily and hitting it any chance I can.
But not until February.
Just booked 9-day trip to Gudauri, Georgia with Nerys.
thank you for the excellent reply and best wishes for a top trip! Stay safe and I look forward to a mouth watering trip report - I suspected Sennybridge could not contain you...
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
@Mike Pow, I might get the bus on my own to Kiroro on Saturday (my last day, friends will have left). Is there any easy to access / relatively safe unpisted skiing along the lines of Niseko strawberry fields or mizuno no sawa there? Not looking to go too far from pistes as I'll be alone, but if there's no real potential for fresh tracks I'll probably not bother.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
One large area off the Nagamine 2 lift.
Two runs off Center lift.
PowderZone accessed from the Gondola.
Asari runs from the top of the Gondola.
Plenty
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 2016
0 cm in the past 24hrs at Kiroro Resort
Another fantastic day with Ian.
My last day skiing on Fantasy Island for this winter and Kiroro delivered again.
Hope everyone who's on Fantasy Island / is visiting Fantasy Island this winter is as lucky as I've been.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Looks like a snorkel would have come in handy in that last vid!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Minion1980 wrote:
Looks like a snorkel would have come in handy in that last vid!
More out of breath from holding my breath than skiing
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Extraordinary!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Fantastic stuff. Must be a pretty good season, none of those bamboo like plants showing.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@Mike Pow, Thanks, had a great time lapping the area in between the gondola and Asari runs (could be accessed without ducking any ropes). Surprisingly little competition too considering how busy the resort was that day.
@Mike Pow, Thanks, had a great time lapping the area in between the gondola and Asari runs (could be accessed without ducking any ropes). Surprisingly little competition too considering how busy the resort was that day.
Excellent. My pleasure
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thanks for the reports Mike.
I'll be in Japan in a bit over 3 weeks. Myoko first then Niseko. I've been wanting to ski in Hokkaido for ages so I'm pretty excited
I'll be in Japan in a bit over 3 weeks. Myoko first then Niseko. I've been wanting to ski in Hokkaido for ages so I'm pretty excited
Glad you liked them.
Have a great trip.
To those on or heading to Japan please add to this thread and keep the good times rolling
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Quote:
And I got to ski the deepest snow of my life last weekend. Here's a taste of the day
WOW!
I'm out in T minus 2 weeks. Can. Not. Wait.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Here's a bit of a different (still ultra positive) take on Japan.
Guides I know have been going there for a good ten plus years hooking up with one of the few Japanese mountain guides, Hiro, who I've only ever met in the Arctic!
This article was written by the wife of a Swedish La Grave guide we know well who has lived in LG for over 15 years and this was her first trip to JapPow.
And this was the feedback from a mate who's been going ever further away from the resorts in Northern Japan.
JoJo's article was exactly what I’d expect a seasoned traveler/experienced skier to say. Several places really gone Western: Aussie, Yank, Brit esp Niseko, Hakuba but remember on my trip:
“By Day 7 of a ski tour in N Honshu - no resorts or operational lifts- and seen only 18 other skiers/ climbers.... and 14 of those were in one day. Spent 2 nights in ryokan where they'd never had any Western guests until 3 Swedes, 1 Finn , 1 Chilean and Jamie and I turned up!!”
Hiro and Stefan are constantly looking for unexplored areas of which there are many.
Also over 600 resorts (50% more than France) but with an ageing population many not sustainable so have closed and hills returned to nature ! How v un-Alp like
What Jojo didn’t mention, may be because in their own group, but the people, despite vast language and cultural differences are some of the most pleasant (and fun) you’ll ever encounter…..
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Well in 3 days time I'll be able to give this thread my own take on it
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
