 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone know of any ski holiday compaies that do Japan for an April 2008 ski?
(only one I've found so far is Crystal Ski in March)
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I think Falline give a small mention to the Japanese ski ventures in this months rag. 
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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 " FALLINE THE BEST AND ONLY SKI MAG WORTH READING" due to be issued today ... ? 
(Paraphrase credit to Boredsurfin, )
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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All those sites are very coy about prices, I wonder if DIY might be an option if we were clever with flights (might be an extended travel time).
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Unless you've got air miles, you'll be hard pressed to beat the Inghams prices from the UK
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buzz55,
Why April? My impression is that for all the very large snow falls Japan gets the skiing is not that high and it can get a bit warm in April, fine if your there but possibly not the best month to plan a long distance ski trip?
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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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December, January and February are better for cold smoke, but not many sunny days.
March gets a good mix of pow and sun.
April and May for more sun, spring conditions with the expected unexpected dump 
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April, well - some of my best skiing has been end of March / April, and from mid Jan - end March I will be skiing in Europe so looking for something different to end the season with, from what I can remember last year (2007) Japan ski resorts had big dumps end of March / April.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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buzz55,
Well Mike Pow, obviously knows the area a lot better than I do, but I visited in April and when I tried to book accommodation a lot of the locals were suprised and thought the conditions might be a bit iffy. When I arrived there was plenty of snow and I had a good time but the conditions were not as good as you usually get in the higher alpine resorts at the end of the season, it was very warm and there was not a lot of refreeze at night. Off piste was decent but the pistes softened very quickly.
If you're there and taking advantage of good late seaon falls thats one thing ,to fly that distance and not get a late fall may be a bit dissapointing.
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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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According to my better half, who is Japanese, many of their resorts close because they get too much snow at times. And apparently thr Japanese rarely ski off-piste. She has said that in April got to be Hokaido, Touhoku area (appi or zao) or Hakaisan (Niigata prefecture).
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Spot on T-Bar & 666
And I'm only talking about Niseko area of Hokkaido. Haven't skied on Honshu (the main island).
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You know it makes sense.
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Most of the resorts stay open until Golden week in early May (a public holiday) I was still skiing top to bottom at Hakuba/47 and Tsugaike has a heli lift that takes you up the back of that resort. The backcountry is epic and usually a lot safer at that time of year. Tateyama opens their backcountry in April because they have too much snow during the winter.
http://www.town.tateyama.toyama.jp/english/alpine/spring.html
Check the snow wall next to the bus
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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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Japan is easy to book by yourself and in my experience just as cheap and you get exactly what you want.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I have booked a week in Mar 2008 to Niseko when I visit HK. The Hotel is about GBP400 per head half board, same cost as flying from HK to Saporo.
What would be the advice of bringing out skis and boots from UK all the way to 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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Flight cost seem quite high.
You should be able to just check the ski in at the airport.
In HK, I vaguely recall there's a place in the city that acts as a "satalite airport check-in counter" where you can hand over (and collect?) your checked luggage to the airline.
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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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| saikee wrote: |
I have booked a week in Mar 2008 to Niseko when I visit HK. The Hotel is about GBP400 per head half board, same cost as flying from HK to Saporo.
What would be the advice of bringing out skis and boots from UK all the way to Japan? |
Boots. If they're fitted then yes.
Skis. What have you got?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Will be be in Niseko for the first two weeks of February and am really looking forward to all that powder that Niseko is famous for!! We have booked through Inghams and found there service very good. On the down side and comparitively speaking a ski trip from the UK to Japan for two weeks is quite a bit more expensive than I normally pay for in Europe. However, I believe that the excellent snow conditions and powder make the cost more than acceptable.
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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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I forgot to add that Japan Airlines, who Inghams fly with, don't charge for ski and boot carriage and are very relaxed on luggage allowances.
Mike Pow, I have a pair of K2 Apache Recons as I tend to split my skiing 50/50 on-piste and off-piste but I am looking at spending most of my time on the powder whilst in Japan; do you think that I should be ok on my Recons? (i'm not yet overly experienced in powder)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The Recons will be great.
That's a ski that we have in our fleet and guests are very happy with it 'in' and 'on' Niseko snow. 
Quick plug.
If you'd like lessons please take a look at the company I instruct for:
Niseko Base Snowsports
www.nisekobase.com
And if anyone's going to the Metro Ski Show next week I'll be there on the Kyoto Hokkaido Inbound Council stand - 110a, 110b
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Mike Pow, we are staying that the Prince hotel in Niseko Higashiyama. What ski school(s) do they use?
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Mike Pow... it is a small world... I was the instructor you were probably cursing at the beginning of last season...
I was really excited about the prospect of working for NBS..but a few weeks before departure to Japan my plans changed due to a stupid promise I had made to a friend.
To cut a long story short. Made a pact with a buddy that we would do the season together.. he advised me he also had a job with NBS.. so all sorted... few weeks before departure he advised his job/visa had fallen through so we decided to go to Silver Star in BC were we also had guaranteed jobs (LMO cert etc). Changed my flights etc.. less than a week before departure "good" buddy tells me he is not going to Canada either and is staying in Europe 
I therefore headed off to Canada alone. I had an awesome season but will always regret passing up the opportunity of working in Japan.
Moral of the story... don`t let misplaced loyalties get in the way of your dreams/plans.
I have a friend working as a snowboard instructor in Niseko this season - Mayumi Kinoshita.
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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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Hornster,
There's a Japanese ski school at Higashiyama with English speaking instructors.
Alternatively you can catch the gondola right outside the hotel which takes you to the top of Higashiyama. From there it's a short ski traverse / walk to the Grand Hirafu ski area of Niseko United (2-300m).
Play on the Ace 3 Chair area for a bit, then make your way down the mountain to the Ace Family slope.
That's where NBS meets for group lessons at 10:30am every morning.
I think powder skiing is all about subtlety and nuance. Often difficult to communicate in a second language
mrtoastie,
When you've had enough of Canada I highly recommend Niseko. Will introduce myself to your mate.
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