Poster: A snowHead
|
It didn't load on my phone form the rome2rio link in the app (Thanks @PaulC1984 for the heads up) but I should have been clear. I am back in Glasgow "from" tokyo.
The meeting I had in Osaka Uni was with a Prof that comes from Niseko. He said it is great.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
ADESki wrote: |
Mike Pow wrote: |
ADESki wrote: |
Going to Niseko for Christmas, booked into Kanronomori which is a little wayfrom the lift but...
Fingers crossed that the snow will be good but not expecting "epic" conditions as a little early. That said nothing will be as bad as xmas 15 in France for lack of white stuff! |
Kanronomori is great. Not too far from Niseko Moiwa and Niseko Annupuri.
I think they have a shutle van.
If you have your own wheels, then 10 minutes closer to Rusutsu than being in Niseko Hirafu.
Niseko town is nearby and has a couple of great restaurants.
The snow should be pumping by Christmas
This was mid-December a couple of seasons back
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLp5QmpgTlJ/?taken-by=mikethesnow |
Thanks Mike, have stayed at the Hilton a few years back which, whislt great location, was on the pricey side this time round.
We are banking on the shuttle bus to take us to An'nuppuri and, as you know, the mountain isn't that large. From memory the better side is the Hirafu part as is sheltered more from the NW wind. But hey, we'll take whatever we get!
Nice picture BTW! |
With even more development in Hirafu and no new lifts from the village, the smart money is to start your day at either Annupuri or Hanazono and go against the traffic.
So you're well placed at Kanronomori.
And try Moiwa if you haven't already. Small but perfectly formed.
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Bloody hell, so many Brits (and at least one Welsh) - almost like going to France, if it wasn't for all the Bogans.
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@musehead, @Hyst, few new bookmarks for me there, thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Mike Pow, Quick ? about Moiwa, can you ski across to An'nupurri or must you go by road? Maps are basic online so not sure if there is a route. Otherwise will save Moiwa till our last day as it'll only be a half ski day (weather dictating).
Cheers, A.
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADESki wrote: |
Quick ? about Moiwa, can you ski across to An'nupurri |
Yes, but they don't share a pass so if you intend to ski An'nupurri for the day it's cheaper and quicker to take the shuttle.
ADESki wrote: |
Otherwise will save Moiwa till our last day as it'll only be a half ski day |
It's well worth allocating 2 or 3 days to Moiwa. Much quieter than Niseko and some fantastic terrain, more than you would expect from looking at the map.
Pic below is at Moiwa traversing as far as possible from skier's left of the chair:
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Oh hell yeah! Looks fabulous.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I think I recognize those trees
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@hd,I like the look of that ! -I've a couple of nights in the moiwa capsule hotel, so should be interesting all round !!
|
|
|
|
|
|
@hd, that's sick dude. What time of year was that? Is it quick and easy to get to and from Moiwa from Hirafu? Also hi fellow Brightonian!
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
There is a free shuttle from Hirafu and back and from memory it runs two or three times a day each way.
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Minion1980 wrote: |
What time of year was that? |
Early Feb 2015
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@hd, man that looks amazing, I'm there early Feb too, can't wait.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Going chest deep at Asahidake in March 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm in Hirafu 19 - 28 December, the snow never seems to disappoint even early in the season. Only problem I have ever had is one late easter skiing.
Normally (even in December but definitely in Jan/Feb) freezing my back bottom off on a chairlift, wondering whether a) it ever stops snowing b) the top (single) lifts will bloody open.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Hyst wrote: |
What, no heating in the chairlifts in feb.! |
Er...no. Imagine this in a -20°C blizzard.
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Ups
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Wed 2-11-16 18:08; edited 2 times 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.
|
|
|
|
@hd, Ah, the Pizza Box, or more aptly nicknamed Meathook lift
|
|
|
|
|
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:
|
@Hyst, Shinkansen looks like a good option for an interesting trip and useful if you want to stop off at other places on the way.
For the cheapest way to get from Tokyo to Sapporo (or other long distance hops around Japan) I would strong recommend using Avios. You can obtain Avios in the UK very cheaply, eg 1875 Tesco Clubcard points = 4500 avios, through credit card spend, topcashback etc.
Tokyo to Sapporo is 4500 avios + about £1 tax on JAL, includes 20kg of luggage, and is refundable (minus the £1 tax) up until 24 hours before.
Unlike booking avios flights in Europe and elsewhere, almost every JAL flight seems to have 4+ seats available for redemption.
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@musehead,
Just wanted to conway the information - look at my location - not that easy to collect "avios?" points.
Money is not the only Factor - comfort and experience count as well, even if one does not make a pitstop at Tohoku.
@Anythings did a great job.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@Hyst, Probably not too easy for you to use avios. I'd definitely recommend the train as an option, thanks for the link to the trip report. I made the trip from Tokyo to Hokkaido on it in July myself and it worked out very well. I'd look into using the ta-q-bin postage service for sending the ski bags ahead though as @Anythings suggested due to lack of luggage space.
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Quick Japanese related question. I'm thinking I should sort out my yen soon -does anyone know if the ATM's out there impose local charges for withdrawals from currency cards ?
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Some impressive snowfall totals this morning in Sapporo city.
4am - 9am: 23cm accumulated
The Koganeyu site in the hills south of Sapporo is reporting nearly 40cm accumulated overnight.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMcokXiAejS/
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@musehead, wow, dumping already. Nice.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
Awesome! 3 months to go can't wait!
|
|
|
|
|
|
nickH wrote: |
Quick Japanese related question. I'm thinking I should sort out my yen soon -does anyone know if the ATM's out there impose local charges for withdrawals from currency cards ? |
The 7-11 ATM's don't appear to impose any local charge. I just follow the www.moneysavingexpert.com advice and use a Halifax Clarity card for both lifting cash and spending. I've not bothered taking any currency from the UK other than what I've got left over from previous (in my case non-skiing) trips.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Great, thanks for that @sugarmoma666, I've a clarity card so will stick to that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A colleague told me about that card and it is indeed great, just be sure to pay it off before the interest starts being charged!
|
|
|
|
|
|