 Poster: A snowHead
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I have 4-5 days to spend in Japan in late March. I've been to Niseko/Hirafu before and found it relatively easy to get there from Haneda with the flight and bus transfer. I also like the centralized aspect of the ski in-out hotels in Grand Hirafu to explore all four linked areas.
Is Hakuba just as easy to get to and get around or are the combinations of rail and bus transfers and inter-area shuttles more cumbersome?
Basically, wondering if I'm missing out on anything special by leaning towards Niseko.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Last time I did Hakuba I hopped on a bus from Tokyo and it took about 3 hours. Dead easy. The place we were staying provided transport to and from the resorts so not sure how accessible they are otherwise.
I’m looking at Myoko for my next trip out there. Looks like you can get the bullet straight there from Tokyo and is a bit less Aussie Snow Disneyland than Niseko by all accounts so may be worth checking out too
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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?
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@Rowan23, a trip of Akakura kanko, one of the main Myoko area resorts. Lotte Arai looks very cool in that area as well although I didn't visit, the train from Tokyo is easy
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=1631050
@66inDC, I got the impression that late March was well into spring for Japan, maybe someone could comment whether the North facing slopes and slightly higher altitude of Happo One for example is likely to give better skiing than Niseko or if Niseko's higher latitude and greater snowfall makes it the better bet
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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It's been about 8 years since I was in Hakuba, but found it VERY easy to get to (direct shuttle bus from Haneda) and to get around.
There are regular shuttle buses running to the component resorts / sections, and we took those to Happo, Goryu, 47 and Cortina with absolutely no knowledge of the Japanese language.
They get a lot of Australians visiting so are more than prepared for English-language tourists.
Staying in Hakuba within walking distance of the tourist office / bus station would be my suggestion as it worked brilliantly for us. Will see if I can find the name of the excellent family-run place we stayed in.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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More chance of getting better snow in Niseko at the end of March
It will be deserted by then
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@66inDC, when my son was at Waseda University in Tokyo I met up for a late March week in Shiga Kogen. Had a great time though it was well into spring (Sakura season in Tokyo). We were lucky as Shiga Kogen had the most snowfall in Japan that week.
Travel pretty easy with Shinkansen to Nagano and bus right outside the station. Several other destinations served by bus also but not sure about Hakuba.
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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.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
More chance of getting better snow in Niseko at the end of March
It will be deserted by then |
So I ended up doing Niseko March 19-21. While it wasn't deserted, it was definitely quieter than in February. As expected, the powder was done and it was quite warm at the base, but everything above mid-mountain was great with bluebird skies.
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| 66inDC wrote: |
| Mike Pow wrote: |
More chance of getting better snow in Niseko at the end of March
It will be deserted by then |
So I ended up doing Niseko March 19-21. While it wasn't deserted, it was definitely quieter than in February. As expected, the powder was done and it was quite warm at the base, but everything above mid-mountain was great with bluebird skies. |
Good to hear
Uncharacteristically warm & dry this March
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Can always chase the cherry blossoms
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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.
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| Gored wrote: |
| Can always chase the cherry blossoms |
Only on Honshu
Cherry Blossom Season is forecast to start in Hakodate (Southern most point of Hokkaido) at the end of April
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FAQ
) new snow. Togakushi was also fun but ski patrol were a bit hard to avoid 
