Here :( {IMG41135_8271_right}

Why I joined? Kind people provide information about skiing. Never made it to a Bash - though. Quite happy to paid the dime. :sH:

@LiveLife Chalets, Should you not be Super/Mega? :?

If you come that south - and to give a treat in the future - https://www.shirakaba.co.jp/ (I hope they can survive - the situation) But try to avoid the big dinning-room - the other dinning-rooms have much better acoustic. Shiga is a nice place when getting older together. There is family bath - but not warm enough. And this one the way home - great food - and nice bath. https://www.amagawaso.jp/ , but they are getting old - old style Japanese and a bit used - but great onsen together. Looking forward to the reporting from Wales - skiing. ;-)

My gut feeling is I'll be enjoying a Welsh winter this coming season :( :) :shock:

Better follow the official sites: https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html (normal tourists) http://www.moj.go.jp/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/nyuukokukanri01_00155.html (Foreign nationals who already have a certificate of eligibility or re-entry permission to Japan) https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001074.html (Re-entry of foreign nationals who already possess status of residence) Status of today - may change at anytime.

Iwappara :~/ (outdated) :oops:

Ok if you can fly GB to Chitose for 350 pound that must be a good deal.

What is you destination? If Hokkaido, there are direct flights to New Chitose by Finnair (from Helsinki) saves one leg.

Time to move on! :sH:

My daughter, 6 years at that time and tiny, had problems with that connecting drag. In the end solution was I took the initial impact and leveled it out with my pole behind where daughter was hanging on - worked out quite good after some attempts.

If you do not go to Niseko cost are cheaper than in the Alps but have to add flight. But you can find cheap accommodation in the Niseko area as well, just have to look.

Straps are handy to have around. :-D And- don't drive that fast, can't enjoy the landscapes. ;-) {IMG41135_5357_right}

Narita airport is probably the most scrutinised I've been on baggage. One bag overweight, one under but I still got a warning. Then she got the tape measure out to check Dave's length. I also had to follow the bag to oversized baggage as was asked if I had ABS, then had to open it for the fella to say ok. And then going through security I had the letter opener of my swiss army card taken away. It has maybe a 30mm long blade and has probably done 30+ flights with me, including the 3 over the last few weeks. I'm fairly sure it's acceptable by IATA, and you can get far more dangerous stuff from duty free, by I couldn't be bothered to argue. You do not argue in Japan! ;-) If in Japan follow Japanese way - not your own. 8-) Was very nice to follow you two. :sH:

@BobinCH, I've flown halfway round the world, thought I'd do more with the trip than just skiing. Also thought I'd share ideas with other people who don't just want to ski but to experience a bit if the country as well...or those who end up here when there isn't powder. There are plenty of threads that tell people where is good to ski, very few seem to talk about the nuts and bolts of a trip, which is what I've tried to cover a bit more Right! https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/shiga-kogen-2019-2020.86082/

I would look at super ski card in Austria or go to Japan.

First place we took our daughter skiing - great place for that purpose.

BigWaveDave on the AU forum made this Video about their stay in Shiga Kogen, while the snow situation was bad acording to many forum posts: https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/shiga-kogen-2019-2020.86082/page-13#post-4171670

Gave up - to much my one is bigger than you one on here, and promotion of none Japanese accommodation. :(

@Mac46, Are you based in Sendai? :sH:

Skiing in Japan is horrible hard, don't! 8-) {IMG41135_5219_right}. Only 5 more day here now. :( https://www.shirakaba.co.jp https://youtu.be/cVwMdglLBLI

Another tip for anyone dirtbagging overnight at Chitose: the onsen is (was in 2014 anyway) open overnight and has a large sleeping/relaxation room. I remember the entrance fee being very cheap, and worked well for me with an early morning flight. Great tip, but be aware that they will ask if you have tattoos, and if you do, don't say yes. They had a wee laminated card that basically told you to wee wee off, and we were daft enough to be honest when they asked. Cue awkward moment. That very much depends on WHERE in Japan.

If you are pist-skier one tip: https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=3526130#3526130 However I did try power here. :sH:

A group of 6 of us have just returned from Leogang after a couple of brilliant weeks skiing... And even though it's still early we want to start thinking about next year. So where? We've done Saalbach/Hinterglemm 3 times in the last 4 years so probably not there. (But we'll definitely go back some time!!) We've done Samoens twice - loved the town and skiing but in common with many French resorts we don't really like the extremely hit and miss nature of the mountain restaurants (I know there's some great ones, but we had the misfortune to suffer the worst mountain food I've ever had in Flaine). So Priorities are: - at least 150km of varied skiing, from cruisy blues/reds to step blacks. We don't really do off-piste. - shortish transfers, max. 2 hours - good food that isn't extortionate - a variety of bars/restaurants but not necessarily bangin' apres ski (unless it's Rock!!!) - lovely chair lifts that heat my bottom :D (this isn't essential, but it's always a nice surprise! And as we feel bad enough flying to Europe being Lipstick Environmentalists, US/Canada/Japan/Antartica are out. To bad, I sit in my tatami room in Shiga Kogen now. Nice Ryokan style hotel in Japans largest connected skiarea. Very suitable area for piste skiers, who like the cultural experience. https://www.shirakaba.co.jp/ Not the cheapest solution but definitely one of the best I have had. :D https://youtu.be/cVwMdglLBLI

Flying out now

:sH:

Makkari- onsen will be packed in the late afternoon. :?

Stay in Kitz if poss. The satellite villages are distant and dull. :shock: They may come for the skiing! 8-)

Its all about making people buy what you sell. (even if they do not need it) :shock:

Just have som fun: https://www.yr.no/place/Japan/Hokkaido/Hirafu/long.html https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/14-days/hirafu_japan_2130073 https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Niseko/6day/bot https://www.accuweather.com/en/jp/niseko-cho/217815/december-weather/217815 or insert your skiresort. :-D But it looks better up north - my place not that good yet. https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/14-days/shiga-k%c5%8dgen_japan_1852552 https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather-maps/shiga-k%c5%8dgen_japan_1852552?variable=precipitation3h_cloudcover_pressure&level=surface&lines=none&mapcenter=36.7000N138.5000&zoom=6 :(

Myself I go to Shiga Kogen this year. I think it would be a good place for you - it is not nessesary to go to Hokkaido - if you are not there for the very fine powder. But you are a bit late for booking places to stay - google maps can easy show places. https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/shiga-kogen-2019-2020.86082/ You could also choose Nozawa Onsen for the culture. http://www.nozawaski.com/en/ https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/nozawa-onsen https://nozawakanko.jp/en/ Both easy to go to. Narita or Haneda would be good to fly in, and Shinkansen to Nagano (for Shiga Kogen) og Iiyama (for Nozawa), with both direct bus up to the two resorts.

Yuzawa in week-ends can be very packed - maybe spend money for a taxi to Kagura/Naeba. And taking boots along - might be a good idea! Lots of info on the Austrialian web-site.

The gates are closed I can see! :-D

Maybe I should rather go to Wales this winter! 8-) Looking forward to the reporting from all of you.

Pär is running a interesting possibility for those going north and looking for the powder. https://parpowparadise.com/ http://www.niseko.com/people-opinion/paradise/ https://www.powderlife.com/files/Powderlife-Magazine-Issue-no-07.pdf (the coolest guy on the Shiribetsu) https://www.instagram.com/p/BiymGvDBWTc/?utm_source=ig_embed

Hestra leather gloves keep for many years goretex/other membran do not keep that long, when bending all the time. I would go for the non goretex and keep them waterproof by treating them with the smelly stuff. https://hestragloves.com/sport/da-dk/gloves/alpine-pro/30572-army-leather-heli-ski/880/ :D

Haj, so desu!

@Whitegold a bit fare away from Hokkaido. 8-)

Is it easy enough to pick up a PAYG Sim card? Like in a machine at the airport or something? Vodafone charge £6/day for roaming and I'd prefer not to spend that money unless I have to. Have seen somewhere online that I can purchase a card that provides unlimited data for 16 days, but it's unclear when that 16 days starts. Yep a machine at the airport. Easy peasy One of the options: http://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/en/service/internet_fax_copy/sim_card/ It depends when you fight is arriving - if very late it can be sold out - and 2 years ago cash was king - and should be the right size cash. I now have it send to me.

@Hyst, I don't believe the motivation is super hard core skiing, more a "Let's have a look at Italian skiing"... Thanks folks. Why Arabba? In that case Arabba or Corvara. Arabba for the hardet skiing, Corvara for the more South Tirolian/Italian atmosphere. And Corvara open up for many long trips on ski. https://www.altabadia.org/en/winter-holidays/italian-alps/first-world-war-ski-tour.html Sella Ronda, Ortisei, Cortina, Kronplatz and everything on the way. https://www.altabadia.org/en/winter-holidays/italian-alps/ski-tours-dolomites.html