 Poster: A snowHead
|
Come on lads, get those borders open for us virus free Brits 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@mooney058, have done the Tohoku/Sendai tours and most of the spots you mention not that long ago (2019). If you are still looking/gathering data, I have a load of info but not the time to put it all down as in busy season for me until late Aug. Mike Pow will vouch for me being half sensible... hopefully!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@wiigman, that would be great once you have a minute. Sketched a basic plan from either Sendai or Aomori. No firms plans as traveling is uncertain at this moment. If 2023 is a bust (still hoping everything falls in order) then the following year hopefully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
More than half sensible 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Mosha Marc wrote: |
| Come on lads, get those borders open for us virus free Brits |
It seems no post-election announcement is forthcoming, probably due to the current wave of infections in Japan (similar to what almost every other country is experiencing right now, give or take a few weeks). Japan is probably one of the most, if not the most, COVID infected country in the world right now. But we are going to be seeing these waves every few months, potentially for a very long time, so I don't have much optimism if they see these waves as good reason to keep the borders 95% closed.
I've read that COVID might be reclassified to "class 5", similar to flu, from it's current super-dangerous legal status in the Autumn, and that may be a pre-requisite for any relaxation in tourism and visa rules. The parliament is in session from late September until late November so it could happen during that time.
The North Korea style monitored tours seem to be unpopular (!) with most applicants being Korean and Thai.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
It's on a knife-edge at this stage
But I've got everything crossed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I need 2023 to happen, on the edge of becoming insane. 2 weeks away from everyone/everything in a world far away is what dr prescribed. Honestly, I can get dr prescription…. pleeeeaaassse …. (not swearing in my head now).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| mooney058 wrote: |
| I need 2023 to happen, on the edge of becoming insane. 2 weeks away from everyone/everything in a world far away is what dr prescribed. Honestly, I can get dr prescription…. pleeeeaaassse …. (not swearing in my head now). |
You don't have to go that far east to get away from everyone/everything
If Japan is a no go, then Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Georgia, and Turkey will do a different but equally enjoyable job instead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
True, but I will mis onsen experience
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@mooney058, You could try skiing in South Korea if you want something a bit different? It won't be anything like Japan (they get way less snow, so I think only piste skiing really). But they do have something similar to onsens, and would be an interesting cultural experience. Plus fantastic food of course!
This looks interesting:
https://skiasia.com/features/skiing-secret-korean-island-ulleung-do/
Probably the only place on Korean territory that gets some lake effect snowfall similar to Japan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Or Canada. Just don't go to Whistler.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Found some interesting info about cat ski in N Macedonia. Will see how are the logistics, prices. Could possibly be an option
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| mooney058 wrote: |
| Found some interesting info about cat ski in N Macedonia. Will see how are the logistics, prices. Could possibly be an option |
Eskimo?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Yep, they were the first to react to my inquiry. Also dropped a message to SF Freeride that operate further south from Skopje, closer to Greek border
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| mooney058 wrote: |
| Yep, they were the first to react to my inquiry. Also dropped a message to SF Freeride that operate further south from Skopje, closer to Greek border |
Lots of good operators out there now
Georgia too
https://www.powderhounds.com/Europe/Cat-Skiing.aspx
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Still no signs of getting into the Japow in 2023.
we're going to have to look at North America I think 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Looks unlikely. Googling did not show anything positive
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Was looking at prices of flights today for end of October, still around £1000 return to Tokyo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@rjs, have a look at BA first week of September - they usually have a sale..... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Still no word on the ground and we're heading in to Japan's lucrative Autumn market.
Winter is not as important economically as the other seasons and there's a growing feeling that the Government will sit this out until next Spring.
I really, really hope I'm wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Mike Pow wrote: |
Still no word on the ground and we're heading in to Japan's lucrative Autumn market.
Winter is not as important economically as the other seasons and there's a growing feeling that the Government will sit this out until next Spring.
I really, really hope I'm wrong. |
What I heard also... madness, and maddening.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| wiigman wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
Still no word on the ground and we're heading in to Japan's lucrative Autumn market.
Winter is not as important economically as the other seasons and there's a growing feeling that the Government will sit this out until next Spring.
I really, really hope I'm wrong. |
What I heard also... madness, and maddening. |
However, this was posted this morning
https://www.instagram.com/p/ChYGk_xl-XM/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Mike Pow, what is it (not on fb or insta or twatter)?
Please help the blind relative
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| mooney058 wrote: |
@Mike Pow, what is it (not on fb or insta or twatter)?
Please help the blind relative |
Scoot Airlines announcing direct flights from Singapore to Sapporo from November
Also indirect via Taipei
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Hohoho - must check what finnair says to that thanks to both!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Interesting article from a skiing perspective (no new news though!)
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/skiers-sweat-on-japan-s-post-pandemic-reopening-20220821-p5bbj5
| Quote: |
Will Japan’s borders reopen in time for ski season?
Japan’s borders are still closed to independent tourists despite expectations restrictions would be eased by now. Australians who have booked ski trips this Christmas are nervous.
Michael Smith
Michael SmithNorth Asia correspondent
Aug 21, 2022 – 5.27pm
Tokyo | It is the million-dollar question in Japan right now. Will the country open its borders to tourists in time for the ski season?
Thousands of Australians who have booked Christmas holidays on the Japanese slopes are nervous because there is still no indication from the Kishida government when it will let independent travel into the country resume. Ski resort operators and local officials in regions which rely heavily on income from international visitors warn that if the government does not set a timetable now, travellers will start cancelling their Christmas bookings next month and make alternative plans. Colin Hackworth, an Australian overseeing the development of a new high-end ski resort at Hanazono in Hokkaido, says the silence from the Japanese government is deafening.
“If there is no announcement on the border opening soon, then Australians and New Zealanders planning ski trips will go elsewhere. Everyone needs time to book flights, accommodation and so on. We only need an opening date confirmed prior to winter, that is all,” he told The Australian Financial Review on Sunday.
“Feeling very nervous at present. There is no good reason why the border needs to remain closed to foreigners only. Japanese residents and citizens can come and go as they please. Japan needs to become part of the free and open world again – and soon.”
Local government officials in areas such as Hakuba and Niseko, which are popular with Australian skiers and snowboarders, have also expressed concern their peak winter tourism season will be decimated for the third year running if travellers do not have certainty by September. Diplomatic and government sources told the Financial Review they had no idea when the borders would reopen, despite initial hopes the government was going to make an announcement shortly after the July 10 upper house elections. COVID-19 cases have surged since then, though, making it politically unpopular among the country’s highly cautious public to fully reopen the borders. Japan recorded the highest global number of new coronavirus cases last month. A Qantas spokesman said on Sunday the airline still planned to resume flights from Sydney to Tokyo in mid-September, but that schedule could be delayed again if the border was not open by then. Jetstar Japan has already resumed some flights into the Gold Coast and Cairns to cater for Japanese tourists travelling to Australia.
Japan closed its borders in March 2020 but is now one of the last major countries, besides China, to remove the restrictions imposed at the start of the global pandemic. PCR tests are still required for anyone, including residents, entering the country. Japanese citizens and residents can come and go and restrictions on business and student visitors have been largely lifted. There has been a steady trickle of Australian students, academics and business executives into Tokyo in the past two months. In June, Japan started allowing some tourists back into the country, but only if they were part of a chaperoned package tour group. The rigid restrictions for those visitors mean few people are bothering to visit. The number of foreign arrivals in Japan was 144,500 in July. This was a 95.2 per cent plunge from the same month in 2019, the Japan National Tourism Organisation said last week. The number of foreign tourists was even lower, making up only 7903 of those arrivals. Experts said another bad sign was a delay in the rollout of a domestic tourism promotion campaign designed to get locals travelling again. The GoTo Travel campaign, which has a budget of 1 trillion yen ($10.6 billion), would have offered discounts and coupons for travellers, and was seen as the next step in reviving Japan’s tourism sector. With GoTo delayed, it was unlikely foreigners would be allowed back in if domestic tourists are not being encouraged to travel.
“We would like to move forward in the direction of easing measures to enable smooth entry into Japan, while maintaining a balance between the prevention of the spread of infection and socioeconomic activities, on par with other G7 countries,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a press conference earlier this month.
However, he said the government would make decisions which took in domestic “needs” and the level of infection in Japan and overseas. While there has been an uptick in domestic tourism, operators in Japan say they are desperate for international visitors to return soon or they will go elsewhere. A record 31.9 million people visited Japan in 2019. There was also a huge amount of investment in new facilities and hotels in the years leading up the pandemic. Economists say the influx of foreign capital would boost the economy at a time when growth is stagnant and the yen is depreciating. However, public sentiment is not on their side. Japan reported a record 255,534 COVID-19 cases and 287 deaths on Thursday last week as the surge in cases puts medical facilities under pressure, broadcaster NHK said. Hackworth argues that while some parts of Japan such as Kyoto can survive on domestic tourism alone, the northern island of Hokkaido cannot.
“Hokkaido is far less wealthy than Kyoto and other similar areas, and heavily relies on foreign tourism as an economic input. It would certainly be regarded as selfish if the border remained closed for that reason,” he says.
|
Kishida has today, again, given a non-answer to reporters regarding the border measures (almost the same as his previous quote in the article above):
| Quote: |
In response to a question from reporters online, Prime Minister Kishida said, "We will promptly indicate the direction" of the review of measures under the Infectious Diseases Act on the novel coronavirus and the relaxation of border measures, based on the opinions of experts and others.
In addition, he stated, "In light of the changing characteristics of the new coronavirus, we will accelerate our response to achieve a balance between infection prevention and socio-economic activities as much as possible."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As each day passes I'm less & less optimistic
There is no logical reasoning behind this
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Latest from Clayton
'Soon, Japan will no longer require a pre-Covid test if you are triple vaccinated. If you aren’t, you will still be required to get a Covid test within 72 hours prior to departure. Even though the numbers of new Covid cases in Japan are at a record high, they are still making positive moves like this! Prime Minister Kishida has vowed to make some drastic changes in the very near future. '
https://www.instagram.com/p/ChlmNj2rTIn/
Who knows? Anyone's guess
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Not really - group tours for tourists now possible - but no onsen or fun in town.
Seems like a number of accommodations team up with travel agencies to secure getting group tour guest.
Family visit no problem - but can one go skiing without them? Don't want them to get into trouble. Many japanese unspoken social rules!
There is a mail thread about group skitours set up on the Aussie forum.
Group tours are not for wife and me.
So far number of tourists visas this summer is very low!
Maybe foto artists/journalists have a better chance? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
There's some reports today saying that "unguided tours" will be allowed from sometime next month, announcement expected tomorrow.
Not sure how that is defined, but we should find out soon.
It sounds like they want to keep tourist entries coming in via the ERFS system and applying for a visa, which requires a Japanese travel agent to be the inviting party.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20220823/k10013784521000.html
It still says that individual travel will not be allowed, but the difference between "unguided tour" and "individual travel" doesn't seem clear to me.
Not sure why Japan can't dispense with all the unnecessary bureaucracy and just re-instate visa waivers...!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
The application for a Business Visa requires you to say what you will be doing each day of the trip.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Announcement today
Hasn't moved the dial for independent tourists entering Japan
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
| Hasn't moved the dial for independent tourists entering Japan |
It's hardly looking promising, is it? The continued silence looks ominous...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@kitenski, @mountainaddict, it seems some news sites reported the rumours about the uplift to 50k cap and "unguided tours" yesterday, but the actual announcement of these details has been postponed, Kishida didn't mentioned them today at his press conference. I wonder if it's also a case of leaking something to the press, and then potentially changing the final details depending on the reaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
the actual announcement of these details has been postponed, Kishida didn't mentioned them today at his press conference.
|
Thanks musehead. So frustrating for all... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
