 Poster: A snowHead
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I've just booked a trip to Niseko in the last week of Jan next year! Well the flights, not got accommodation sorted yet.
Any tips welcome!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Try to see when and where Scott n Rob are going then avoid that place.
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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 can see I'm going to have start ignoring threads on Niseko already...
As far as tips go, I can recommend the cheapest Ume-shou (plum wine) the Lawson in Niseko Hirafu sells...fantastic way to keep going on any long treks out you have to do 
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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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rob@rar, ah that's the day i leave - rubbish!
Long flight for you - are you stopping over in HK?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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beanie1, that's a shame  We're avoiding Chinese New Year to keep our price down. I was hoping to fly via HK, but at the moment it looks like flight via Tokyo are a much cheaper option for us.
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rob@rar, ah, we're going in CNY as we only need to use 2 days holiday 
If you do come via HK let me know!
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beanie1, I thought that's why you were there for CNY. That week seemed to push prices up a fair bit (flights and accommodation), much like February Half-term in Europe. If I can manage to fly via HK will definitely let you know.
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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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Go night skiing in the trees.
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Have you looked at London (LHR) - Sapporo (CTS) routing via Seoul (ICN) with Korean?
Consistently seems to be the cheapest routing. Plus you avoid Honshu.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mike Pow, thanks, I'll have a look.
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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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I hope you have better snow than I did in March a few years back.
It is a long way for a resort which I estimate to have about 100km piste. Many visitors do only 4 to 5 days. Food is nice. Transfer is good and easy. I like one of the single seater chairlifts, no foot rest, no cross bar the security is by grabbing hold of the vertical bar.
It is like Knonplatz of Dolomites or Ski Welt in Austria with one common summit peak accessed in many directions but a lot less in size. In Niseko there are 3 routes meeting at the peak, next to each other, from Hirafu, Higashiyama/Aninupuri and Hanazoro.
Once you leave the Alps you will miss its mega size resorts.
Mike Pow has a lot of local info. We stayed in Niseko Alpen hotel which is very good for ski in and out for Hirafu as it is the middle of the three access areas. Stay in the town involves a bit of walking. The Higashiyama area has a large modern Hotel call Prince. It is a bit out of the place but the gondola is right next to it. For night life Hirafu is the place go for.
Many mountain restaurants display the food with plasticised models so very easy to order. Just go to a vending machine, feed the money, type a number, get the ticket and hand over to the counter. It is pretty fool proof!
Lastly the Japanese do only 3 colour for the runs. They miss out the blue runs.
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| saikee wrote: |
It is a long way for a resort which I estimate to have about 100km piste.
Once you leave the Alps you will miss its mega size resorts. |
I think you might be rather missing the point.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm curious how busy/pricy it will be around Christmas & New Years time?
Like the rest of the western world (and unlike beanie1), my biggest chunk of holiday time comes around Christmas/western New Year.
I don't think Japanese celebrate Christmas much. So New Year should not be that big of a holiday for the locals either. But I do wonder how many from Hong Kond and Australia goes over at New Years time, and how much they push up the prices?
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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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Busiest time of the year. And most expensive.
Avoid if at all possible. If not, know that your pow to $ ratio will be massive
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Poster: A snowHead
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I was surprised actually that Chinese New Year is not more expensive - flights were reasonable (compared to most other Asian destinations which are already sky high), and lots of accommodation available. But then I don't think the Chinese ski much, and there are no Japanese holidays at that time.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Normally, during Chinese New Year period, flights out from Hong Kong are very expensive and booked up months ahead. However, most people in Hong Kong are still worried about the radiation problem in Japan, so a lot of people are planning to go skiing in Whistler instead of Japan. Also the rising value of the Japanese Yen is a factor to consider.
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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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Crusader, ah of course, that explains it. HKers are quite irrational about the risk. Suits me!
Flights currently cost me about 350 quid
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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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beanie1, Yeah, I was in Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago, and people seemed quite shocked when I told them I live in Japan and didn't get on the first plane out in March!
Even during busy times in Niseko (New Year, and CNY) I wouldn't say it compares with New Year or Half Term in major European resorts. And I imagine this winter will be quieter than usual.
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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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Got my trip booked for this January 8th for 2 weeks. Bring it on 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Got my trip booked for this January 8th for 2 weeks. Bring it on
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I can confirm that I love Niseko! And although it is CNY it is not busy here. The flights from HK were full, but you just don't notice Chinese people on the slopes (nor many Japanese either for that matter!) so I don't think it's made much difference. Looking at the demographic here, I'd say the times to avoid would be Australian school holidays.
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