 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all.
We're a family of riders and skiers. All high level and pow lovers.
We're considering a season in Japan and would love some suggestions on accommodation, best choices for location, gera and how to get about.
We've looked at shiga kogen/ Otaru / Sapporo / Asahikawa in Hokkaido and we're looking for the most cost effective way to do it.
We have kids ages 7, 9 and 13 . We've done 6 years of seasons in Austria and a season in France with kids, and previously lived in chamonix.
Obviously not looking for a golden solution but certainly hope there is a way to make this amazing opportunity less of a money pit.
Would love advice, suggestions, thoughts, experienced opinions 
Biggest questions, buy gear in Japan? Or bring 5 boards, boots, skis for the tall other half (2m10)?
Find a long term accommodation and rent a car and drive about? Or get places in various areas?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Outside the obvious areas the accommodation and food is really cheap. I think your Asshikawa / Otaru plan is a good one. You’d definitely want a car so perhaps buy a 2nd hand car and sell it when you leave? Maybe you can split the accom in 2 to make it easier to try out the resorts on both sides of the island. Snowboarding is massive in JP so you should be able to get good kit there
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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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Thanks BobinCH - I hadn't thought about buying a car - it might work out cheaper overall - but a lot more hassle.
I noticed you've been a number of times yourself in the older threads - Would you suggest the extra expense of trying to hit Honshu would be worth it or just stick to Hokkaido.
When adding up accommodation, car, and day passes it looks to be about 4 times more expensive than a season in Europe for us. It's definitely hard to know if it would be worth it with kids of this age - and the relative less extreme skiing we'll end up doing and hassles involved with carting them about...........
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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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@Powderpete, Hokkaido could be cold and windy, plan accordingly
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
| We have kids ages 7, 9 and 13 . We've done 6 years of seasons in Austria and a season in France with kids, and previously lived in chamonix. |
Education implications for children doing a season in Japan?
Can't comment on the rest - but it looks great fun. Good luck.
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@Powderpete,
Try asking on ski.com.au - plenty on there ski Japan regularly.
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We managed to do the Europe seasons in a motorhome and self catering - hence the reasons the prices were kept down.
The Kids are being home schooled at the moment - with online lessons to allow for a family gap year and travel experiences.
Thanks for the replies - and have asked on ski.com.au also - thanks.
The reason for the day passes is to have the variety of different resorts with them being a relatively small size and would love to do the touring - but with a lack of equipment and experience I would have to save it for another time - and the husbands tall size and clown feet renting equipment would probably be a nightmare.
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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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| AnnaGasser wrote: |
| would love to do the touring - but with a lack of equipment and experience I would have to save it for another time - and the husbands tall size and clown feet renting equipment would probably be a nightmare. |
It’s worth the investment I can assure you. This was a touring day from Furano
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2pS2kPShc-/?igsh=MWsybjB1czQ3Ynh1Zg==
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| AnnaGasser wrote: |
Thanks BobinCH - I hadn't thought about buying a car - it might work out cheaper overall - but a lot more hassle.
I noticed you've been a number of times yourself in the older threads -
| Quote: |
| Would you suggest the extra expense of trying to hit Honshu would be worth it or just stick to Hokkaido. |
When adding up accommodation, car, and day passes it looks to be about 4 times more expensive than a season in Europe for us. It's definitely hard to know if it would be worth it with kids of this age - and the relative less extreme skiing we'll end up doing and hassles involved with carting them about........... |
My two cents (been three times, but just a new member here): one island per visit unless you have a couple of months! Otherwise just too much time spent travelling and not enough skiing/boarding. Hokkaido is wonderful skiing and usually better snow than Honshu but often colder/stormier. The only true downsides to Hokkaido are that a) it usually takes an extra flight and b) it was only developed about 150 years ago, with a lot of investment by the Russians, and so the infrastructure looks ... Russian. Big surprise on our second trip! The towns are very "utilitarian", almost ugly, and not the beautiful, wooden traditional buildings, houses, shrines etc. you imagine when you think of Japan. If the authentic aesthetic is an important part of your trip, then go to Honshu instead. The Hakuba area is most expensive/busy but just a bit further north in the Japanese Alps there are much more affordable areas: Myoko, Minakami, and even further north (not the Alps, a different range) are Geto and Appi Kogen.
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Joint01
Joint01
Guest
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I've never been to Japan to ski, but after reading the comments here, I might give it a try—if I can get in, of course. But if I ever go, what is the best place to start for a ride?
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