 Poster: A snowHead
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Next year will be a big birthday for kolkie, and I'm thinking of organising a Japan ski trip in early / mid-Feb.
We've been once last year (9-day trip to Myoko Kogen, Hakuba and Tenjindaira) and loved it. If we were to return, I think we'd love to go again to Myoko Kogen, but would also want to visit Hokkaido.
The question is...should we take our son (who'll be 6 years old by then) with us? He's a competent skier already (can power-snowplow a red run and mostly ski parallel on blues if he wants to) and will have another 1-2 weeks of skiing under his belt by then...but realistically we'd go to Japan to ski powder, will we find a ski school that keeps him for long enough and interested enough while we're off exploring?
I'll also ask my existing contacts there, but wondering if any snowheads have any experience of skiing with kids in Japan.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Is he OK with 10 hours on a plane and awful jet lag, wanting to sleep all their day?
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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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@Orange200, do kids suffer from jet lag the same as adults?
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Mine certainly did
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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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is that 6 nearly 7, or just turned 6. 10-11 months can be a big difference in a child development.
If it was me & you didnt take me, I'd hate you for doing it.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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You may need a custom snorkel!
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There is family on Instagram called Adventures with the Wests - they’ve just done a 10day trip in Japan with their kids and they had great reviews and suggestions for ski schools, activities, resorts and transfers etc. if you have time it is well worth looking at their posts- it inspired me to look at taking our 6&9yr old next winter.
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| abc wrote: |
| @Orange200, do kids suffer from jet lag the same as adults? |
I didn't even really suffer, just felt a bit vague...although the flights were well timed.
I suppose the thing is, if the lad has a meltdown (which I guess not all children are prone too) and the sky has just dropped 40cm of Japan's driest best, how easily could you sack it off to spend time with the child?
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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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@SnoodyMcFlude, meltdowns don’t tend to me all day events
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@Nadenoodlee, tell that to my wife… I get the silent treatment for 48h minimum…
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Orange200, your wife is 6 year old? 
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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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| abc wrote: |
| @Orange200, do kids suffer from jet lag the same as adults? |
Worse, in our experience. Its why we don't go skiing with the in-laws in the US these days, and they come to Europe instead. Ruins a week's trip, having tired children. Ours are 5 and 7. We still go to USA in the summer to see the family - it's how I know that monster jetlag is a thing for the girls.
That said, ours are different. Recently, one now adapts in days, the other doesn't for a week...
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@Harry Flashman, I think it depends on the kid and the trip. My nephew used to deal with it pretty well coming over from Canada, far better than his dad did 
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You know it makes sense.
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Fair!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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On a serious note, I would not take a 6 or 7 year old on such a trip. Long trip and possibly cold and winds would not make it easy.
When skiing in Japan I see big school groups of similar aged children. In the resorts/places I have been to I did not see (possibly was not attentive enough) day care in the smallish resorts.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| There is family on Instagram called Adventures with the Wests - they’ve just done a 10day trip in Japan with their kids and they had great reviews and suggestions for ski schools, activities, resorts and transfers etc. if you have time it is well worth looking at their posts- it inspired me to look at taking our 6&9yr old next winter. |
+1
Loads of great info from great people
https://www.instagram.com/adventuresofthewests/
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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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| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| There is family on Instagram called Adventures with the Wests - they’ve just done a 10day trip in Japan with their kids and they had great reviews and suggestions for ski schools, activities, resorts and transfers etc. if you have time it is well worth looking at their posts- it inspired me to look at taking our 6&9yr old next winter. |
I was literally just about to suggest exactly the same!!
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Wait until they are 10+.
Taller and stronger for the pow.
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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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Mightn't the Japanese child care be a bit too alien for a 6 year old? And the food could be an issue.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'd guess it's another of those things where it depends on the child
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Won't the childcare in Hokkaido be full of Aussie kids anyway?
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Australians in Japan? I wouldn't have thought you'd find many
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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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@SnoodyMcFlude,
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In many Japanese reports there is an English speaking ski school. My son worked at one as an Instructor and often had either classes of kids or private lessons for one or two children or adults. He worked at Shiga Kogen. However I would think seriously whether your child will get much out of such a trip at his age and given the flight and the time change. We fly UK to Japan twice a year to see son and family and it really is a killer, the 9 hr jet lag - and he will need to get back to school..... He might well have a lot more fun in Europe. And a happy kid makes happy parents.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just spent the day in Kiroro. The ski area is relatively big and it has a 'western' feel to it - probably due to the large Club Med on site. Lot's of kids around today, Antipodean and US. There is also plenty of inbounds terrain plus touring and options outside the boundaries. Could be a good option for you, if you decide to visit Hokkaido.
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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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@Owlette, I really love their posts on skiing, their Japan trip looked totally ‘doable’
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Just back from Hakuba and there were loads of Aussie/Kiwi families out and about skiing with children the same age as yours, @horizon.
And to counter jet lag/make everyone's life easier just plan things with 3 days added on at each end of the ski trip. That way you can ship all your ski related bags direct between airport and destination and only have to carry what you need for those 3 days around with you (and then only as far as your hotel or a luggage locker if too early to check in).
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You know it makes sense.
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@Klamm Franzer, the inbounds areas are great, if a little tree heavy in places. Also they officially close at 3, which is easy to overlook when you're getting carried away in waist deep powder
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Jet lag is not a thing between Japan and Australasia, minimal time difference.
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FAQ
Everyone wins, you will have pow time, my wife gets a relief from babysitting me, I get to Asahidake 
Deal?