 Poster: A snowHead
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If anyone is interested in information about skiing in Japan then let me know.
I lived there for 26 years and that is where I learned to ski.
Also, if anyone has experience themselves skiing in Japan then please feel free to contribute.
Cheers / Bill
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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billsensei, I am booked up for this coming season, but would like to go the following year to Japan with 5 friends to experience Japanese powder.
Our group normally ski off-piste so we are interested in Niseko, where you can ski out of bounds legally. However we like steeper skiing which they don't have there, so we were considering a few days also in Kurodake, hiring a guide. However, I gather that the ropeway is closed most of January and the chairlift above most of February as well. Even with the chairlift it sounds quite a big climb to reach the big descents. Do you know how long it takes to skin up where the chairlift is? And then above that, how far to climb for the descents a guide would take us to. (I gather there is also steep tree skiing below the ropeway).
And can you advise about hiring a guide who speaks English?
Thank you very much.
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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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Nice one on the choice of location. Niseko is an awesome place. A couple of years ago we were getting 20 to 30cm of fresh powder every single night for a week.
As for off piste, not my thing really. However, if you go to the top of the mountain at Niseko there is one hell of a run that only the very skilled, brave or foolhardy attempt. It is about 30 mins steep walk from the top of the last single chair lift. You can see towards Russia over the sea on a clear day. The run below it where the chair lift stops is a 37 ~ 43 degree slope and quite narrow and you can go right to the bottom non-stop from it. The off-piste run at the very top has some pretty sheer drops on some of the sides with the main run being a vast open expanse of snow making it looking like the side of Mt. Fuji (which you can also ski down...).
Over the other side you can see a volcano - Mt. Yotei - that actually is called the Fuji of Hokkaido. You can climb and ski down that is you really like extreme skiing. Some people in the village do it.
There is one guy who is quite well known at the resorts there and after a heavy powder fall, you can see him on two modified snowboards that he wears like giant skis surfing over all the powder. It is quite spectacular to see.
If you like vastness and a hug variety then Shiga Kogen in the Japanese alps is the place to go. Basically, you can ski on a new run each time you descend and it will take you about 3 to 5 days to do all of them. Oku-shiga area is no snowboarding and has some pretty steep runs, so a great place for skiers only.
As for guides, there are lots if you need them. The pass system in Japan is very easy and works on clearly labelled buses too, if you are too late to ski back.
Hope this helps, and let me know if you want more info.
Cheers / Bill
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Thanks, Bill. That is all very interesting.
However I still want to find out more about Kurodake which I read is the only resort in Hokkaido which has steep skiing from lifts - or partly from lifts (other places, like Mt Yotei, is touring only, I think).
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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.
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You have good eyes or a good imagination if you can see Russia from the top of Niseko!
Snowball, at Kurodake, you can skin from the top of the ropeway to the top of the chairlift in less than 30 minutes, it's quite mellow. From the chairlift to the summit is 90-120 minutes depending on conditions, maybe slightly more. You can access the steep tree runs straight from the ropeway. BD Tours run trips up there, and also Hokkaido Powder Guides.
Sapporo Teine actually has some really steep terrain too. Not huge vertical, but challenging and lots of fun. There are a number of steep bowls and chutes, accessed by traversing from a high speed quad so you can get alot of laps in. Definitely worth a day there if you can fit it in.
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You can see towards Russia over the sea on a clear day
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Defining word being 'towards'.
Other than that, interesting info - thanks.
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MagSeven, thank you, very useful. I was imagining spending a week at Niseko and 2 or 3 days skiing Kurodake. I could consider adding a day at Sapporo Teine, though i gather one is not allowed to ski out of bounds there. So is this steeper inbound terrain lift accessed or does one need to skin up? I don;t need big vertical all the time (after all, I can enjoy Nevis in Scotland).
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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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You can ride out of bounds at Teine, the patrollers are very reasonable. No skinning needed. Bit of a pole (or a couple of minute boot pack) then traverse out as far as you like along a ridge and pick a line.
You have to duck a rope with the stern warnings (below) right next to the ski patrol hut. They'll generally give you a cheery wave or thumbs up when you go past! It's where I ski most, I'd happily show you a few good spots.
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Thank you, MagSeven, I may well come back to you in a year.
Perhaps the end of January or early February might be the best time?
I don't know, at Kurodake, how many times we would want to hike up for about 2 1/2 hours. Do you know if all the routes down require hiking to the top? Also if we wanted to spend an extra day to sample some traditional Japanese culture - where would you recommend we go?
By the way, I may end up going to Japan sometime anyway with my (non-skiing) wife, and a Japanese art curator is seeing if she can get me an exhibition there.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Yeah, Jan/Feb you're definitely looking at the best time for snow. You can still have a decent day at Kurodake without going to the top every time. There are some incredibly gnarly looking lines around that'd drop you down to the road into the gorge, but I don't know if they're realistically skiable. A guiding company could advise you best. I'll try and confirm exactly when the ropeway shutdown is too.
Sapporo has a bit of culture but on the whole it's a very new city. I'd recommend flying through Kansai and catching a short train up to Kyoto, Nara or both. Maybe on your way home when you won't be slammed with jetlag.
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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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| billsensei wrote: |
However, if you go to the top of the mountain at Niseko there is one hell of a run that only the very skilled, brave or foolhardy attempt. It is about 30 mins steep walk from the top of the last single chair lift. You can see towards Russia over the sea on a clear day. The run below it where the chair lift stops is a 37 ~ 43 degree slope and quite narrow and you can go right to the bottom non-stop from it. The off-piste run at the very top has some pretty sheer drops on some of the sides with the main run being a vast open expanse of snow making it looking like the side of Mt. Fuji (which you can also ski down...).
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hi Bill,
Are you referring to the walk thru Peak Gate (G3) to the top from King Lift #4? I did this a few times last Jan/Feb and found it very enjoyable and not at all narrow??
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| billsensei wrote: |
... Oku-shiga area is no snowboarding and has some pretty steep runs, so a great place for skiers only.
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Didn't know there was anywhere in JP that was no-snowboarding...
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You know it makes sense.
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| MagSeven wrote: |
You can still have a decent day at Kurodake without going to the top every time. There are some incredibly gnarly looking lines around that'd drop you down to the road into the gorge, but I don't know if they're realistically skiable. A guiding company could advise you best. I'll try and confirm exactly when the ropeway shutdown is too.
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From the top of the ropeway you exit left and walk around the building to the start of the 'trail' heading down.
First section you follow the pylon line until you get to a plateau, then it's skier's left through steep trees until you hit the river.
There's a flattish section beside the river where there's normally a traverse line back to the ropeway base.
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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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| Quote: |
Are you referring to the walk thru Peak Gate (G3) to the top from King Lift #4? I did this a few times last Jan/Feb and found it very enjoyable and not at all narrow??
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I think that is is but you guys are a lot better than I am based on this thread. My 11yr old daughter came down it easily. My friend on his butt about half-way and me OK-ish, but the snow was churned-up quite a lot and I could not step or push through it that easily. Lovely run though when freshly groomed from top all the way to Grand Hirafu Hotel where I usually stay.
I would usually drive up from Tokyo and stop at different places on the way. Iwate was really windy and the lifts kept stopping. Zao was deep and a bit heavy then it rained from nowhere for two days solid. Did the two resorts just around Sapporo then one in Otaru.
Best is without doubt for me personally, Niseko for skiing and night-life. Love the fact I could even get tins of beans at the convenience store...
However, for just vastness I prefer Shiga Kogen. Right from Sun Valley across to Giants then Ichinose Family across to those long leg burning runs before heading further over to Oku-Shiga. Since extreme or off-piste (only do a bit) are not really my things, and since at 49yrs old I am finding snowboarding really hard work, I am enjoying family type resorts and runs.
Now I am back in the UK, I am looking at joining a bigger ski club and maybe get some snowboarding instruction. Next will be venturing over to Europe as I have no idea where to go since more than half my life has been spent in Japan.
Great to meet people on this BBS who have so much knowledge.
Cheers / Bill
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Didn't know there was anywhere in JP that was no-snowboarding...
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Yep! And it makes a change really since the number of times I have come across half a dozen Japanese snowboarders just sitting halfway down the middle of a run is beyond a joke. Not having to dodge or jump over them makes the day just a bit more enjoyable. Not sure if the same occurs in other places but to see a row of them lined up like skittles creates quite a mixed set of emotions 
Cheers / Bill
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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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billsensei, c'mon you'll have to do better than that old chestnut - Skiers are just as bad as boarders at stopping in the middle of runs.
Is Oku the same as Okuibuki? If it is then they've seen 'the light' and are advertising themselves openly to boarders... Even their little mascot has taken to the plank...
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
Skiers are just as bad as boarders at stopping in the middle of runs
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Not in Japan to my experience. Only the young college age snowboarders line up across the piste.
Will be interesting to see if this is a global phenomenon. I even had to do it myself as I was learning. Part of the lesson  )
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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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| Quote: |
@ Richard_Sideways...
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No, Oku-shiga is still only skiers.
Here is a blurb in English about the place.
"Okushiga Kougen is located in the north part of Shiga Kougen, the largest snow resort in Japan.
The history of Shiga Kougen goes back to 1946, when the first chair lift in the region was constructed. Since then, the ski slopes have been developed and now, you can enjoy 21slopes with 66 lifts, including quads and gondolas, in more than 80 unique courses.
Most of the ski slopes in Shiga Kougen allow skiers and snowboarders on the same courses. But not in Okushiga Kougen. That’s why Okushiga Kougen is called “Skiers’ Paradise”.
Located right in front of the Okushiga Kougen Ski Slopes, our Hotel is ideal lodging for anyone looking for an exciting skiing experience on the powder snow, an relaxation surrounded by the beauty of nature and delightful cuisines.
We have 3 restaurants where well prepared chefs and staff are happy to serve you breakfast, lunch or dinner."
Great place
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ Snowball. This is a typical holiday for me and my friends...
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Wow, that is way off the charts for family holiday me. Love the photos and not quite at the level of 'Art of Flight' but still impressive and very realistic.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers / Bill
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Great TR snowball.
From the top of the double chair you can either:
1. hike / skin straight up to the summit of Kurodake
A number of lines down from the summit, but you've got to keep zigging skier's left otherwise you'll get cliffed out.
or
2. you can take a right turn from the chair to the edge and drop in one of the chutes that will take you down into the gorge.
Tight entrances with a few cliffs
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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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Had a look but not dropped them.
Been very reliably informed that they go. BUt they're tight.
The touring towards Asahidake from the the top of Kurodake looks amazing (pic above).
The lines funnel down into the gorge and spit you out on the road.
Serious terrain and serious avalanche risk.
Be prepared.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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