Ski Club 2.0 Home
Snow Reports
FAQFAQ

Mail for help.Help!!

Log in to snowHeads to make it MUCH better! Registration's totally free, of course, and makes snowHeads easier to use and to understand, gives better searching, filtering etc. as well as access to 'members only' forums, discounts and deals that U don't even know exist as a 'guest' user. (btw. 50,000+ snowHeads already know all this, making snowHeads the biggest, most active community of snow-heads in the UK, so you'll be in good company)..... When you register, you get our free weekly(-ish) snow report by email. It's rather good and not made up by tourist offices (or people that love the tourist office and want to marry it either)... We don't share your email address with anyone and we never send out any of those cheesy 'message from our partners' emails either. Anyway, snowHeads really is MUCH better when you're logged in - not least because you get to post your own messages complaining about things that annoy you like perhaps this banner which, incidentally, disappears when you log in :-)
Username:-
 Password:
Remember me:
👁 durr, I forgot...
Or: Register
(to be a proper snow-head, all official-like!)

Japan 2021

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
This is very much a "how long is a piece of string" question but does anyone here have any special insight into the chances of me skiing in Japan next year? I've booked flights as I really wanted something to look forward to. I anticipated the economic catastrophe opening everything up again pronto but it's the end of July and the Japanese don't seem to be shifting...
ski holidays
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I get the sense the Japanese can be pretty stoical so when it comes to short term sacrifice of tourist income versus longer term survival of their nation I'd bet toward the latter. Now whether that stoicism extends as far as next winter - who knows?
ski holidays
 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?
boobleblooble wrote:
I've booked flights as I really wanted something to look forward to.

"wanted something to look forward to" is quite a strange justification for committing to the significant cost of a long haul flight! Unless you've seized some substantial discount with that booking.
snow report
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
It's more a case of Flights and evn more so how UK (just guessing you are UK based) is doing than Japan. Skiing in Japan will be open for business
snow report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Idris wrote:
It's more a case of Flights and evn more so how UK (just guessing you are UK based) is doing than Japan. Skiing in Japan will be open for business


Agreed.

Life continues as normal on Hokkaido.

Golf season in full swing.
latest report
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Yes, life continues as normal for those in the country. And indeed, tourism going ahead as normal. But whether foreigners will be allowed in is the problem. Currently, they’re not.

So much of Japan’s tourism has traditionally been aimed at the domestic market (until recent years).

Even foreign nationals who are resident in Japan were not allowed back in to the country until a week or two ago.

Hopefully the restriction on foreign visitors be lifted by winter. If the Aussies are still forbidden from leaving their island, it could be a very good year to ski in Japan.

Fingers crossed....
snow report
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@MagSeven, I didn't realize the Japanese had closed their borders.

Precisely because Hokkaido appeared to be 'business as usual', I've been considering skiing Japan in the coming winter, in case skiing in Europe and north America are being curtailed.

Granted, I wasn't going to book anything this far in advance. Just weighing all the options.

p.s.
Now I vaguely recall the border closing, and even some talk about re-opening with selected country forming a "travel bubble".
ski holidays
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Sorry, not so much closed their borders to all foreigners, that could’ve been misleading, sorry. There is a list of countries from which arrivals aren’t permitted. The U.K. is on the list, among many others.


Last edited by After all it is free Go on u know u want to! on Thu 30-07-20 22:10; edited 2 times in total
latest report
 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.
Quote:

If the Aussies are still forbidden from leaving their island, it could be a very good year to ski in Japan.

Except Australia has very low infection rate. And it's an island, easy to stay isolated and stay that way. So if Aussies wouldn't be allowed to visit Japan, I doubt any other country would be allowed.
snow report
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I didn’t mean if Aussies were allowed into Japan. I meant if the Aussie government allowed international travel for their citizens. (Easy to isolate etc etc!)
latest report
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
MagSeven wrote:
I didn’t mean if Aussies were allowed into Japan. I meant if the Aussie government allowed international travel for their citizens. (Easy to isolate etc etc!)

Good point!

But that would also means not many English speaking workers in Japanese resorts... a little harder for those of us who doesn't understand Japanese to get oriented. Minor problem, I know.
latest report
 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.
Well the infection rate in Australia is going through the roof. State of Victoria had over 700 new cases yesterday, 627 reported today and increasing deaths and lower numbers but still on the increase in the neighboring state of New South Wales. I can't see many Aussies going any where fro a while.
snow report
 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
@abc, yes it does appear odd. The price was good (£540 all in) and I thought that the world would re-open pretty quickly. My bet was on the borders opening pronto for tourism and trade when the colossal recession bearing down on us finally hits. Most sensible countries would want all the income they can get, especially when the impact from the virus itself is so minor: it's the response to it that has been a disaster.

Now the people previously smugly patting themselves on the back (esp that awful Ardern woman) are throttling their citizen's and economies' freedoms in response to a 'second wave' (actually the first one moving through as it has everywhere else) it seems it's on hold.

OK, looks like it'll be France instead!

@MagSeven, it's essentially all foreigners. Even those who have long-term residence permits were barred until very recently as you've said. I'm still hoping against hope anyway!
snow report
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@boobleblooble, Dont give up, things could change a lot between now and your flight dates. I hope you do go as we were in Japan last winter for nearly three weeks and had a great time, ours was a family trip which included sight seeing with 10 days skiing, 5 days in Shiga Kogen then 5 in Niseko.
latest report
 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@larry1950, thanks I'd still love to go. Booking a few weeks with the hostels in France (UCPA) is a tricky bet as there's 5% off if you booke early. I'll have to gamble towards the end of the discount period and see what happens.
snow report
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
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.
snow report
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Initially the guidance linked by @Hyst stated "until the last day of August" (subject to possible extension) but they have been updated recently to state "The measures will be in place for the time being", so it seems they are no longer willing to define a possible end date.

I'm considering booking flights for my usual 4 weeks trip around January - February. The current BA sale fares are pretty good, and they can be converted into a voucher if I cannot (or don't want to) fly - so i'm not taking much risk. I won't book anything else until much later in the year, assuming it looks like the trip can go ahead.

The current BA Premium Economy fares are particularly good, around £740 return from London to Sapporo, connecting to JAL for the Tokyo to Sapporo sector. You can fly either BA or JAL on the long haul legs. If you're able or willing to start the trip at Inverness (you don't need to end the trip there), it's only £589 return.

I like to book premium economy and upgrade the overnight direction to business using Avios - 30k or 36k points depending on date!
snow report
 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?
My gut feeling is I'll be enjoying a Welsh winter this coming season Sad Smile
ski holidays
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Yeah I've already cancelled my flights. Might get a refund. Oh well! I'll save it for next year. When I've completed my BASI 2 I'll be a fantastic skiier so will really be able to get the best from the Japanese pow.
ski holidays
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Mike Pow wrote:
My gut feeling is I'll be enjoying a Welsh winter this coming season Sad Smile


Shocked
ski holidays
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Hyst wrote:
Mike Pow wrote:
My gut feeling is I'll be enjoying a Welsh winter this coming season Sad Smile


Shocked


Was in Wales for the 2010/2011 season and got around 20 days of skiing.

Fingers crossed for the 10 year reunion Smile
ski holidays
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
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. wink
ski holidays
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Anybody for Japan 21/22?

We hope to go to Nagano and travel inside Japan.


Europe and may be Japan should have finished vaccination by that time.


Last edited by After all it is free Go on u know u want to! on Sat 22-05-21 18:33; edited 1 time in total
ski holidays
 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.
Hoping to get back some time in December 2021

But who knows at this stage
snow report
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Hyst, yeah definitely me if it's open. Not sure how to play the game with flights etc either. Last time I got return to Sapporo including kit for £550. If I go it'll be for at least a month, certainly.
ski holidays
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Hyst wrote:
Anybody for Japan 21/22?

We hope to go to Nagano and travel inside Japan.


Europe and may be Japan should have finished vaccination by that time.


Was contemplating Northern Honshiu, driving around, staying some traditional inns and basic accommodation
snow report
 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.
Is there a thread Japan 21/22?
snow conditions



Terms and conditions  Privacy Policy