Japan 2011 Advice

Hey Guys!
I’m considering a trip to japan during january-february next year for about a month and I was just looking for some advice.
I’ve only done a week of boarding before so i’m a bit of a noob i guess.
-Any recomendations for which mountain to go to? (i might be able to get free accomodation in tokyo)
-Should I buy gear here and take it with me? (maybe during end of season sales)
-should I hire hardgoods like a board and bindings and buy the rest of the gear there or at home?
-Anyone have any tips on scoring cheap flights? (i was thinking about going jetstar)
-Any must sees while i’m over there? (Gotta see the snow monkeys )

And any general tips would be truly appreciated
Thanks in advance

Hey Emma,

Here’s a couple of threads to get you started. I’ll get back to you in more detail soon.

https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/495/

and

https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/42/

Emma - 28 June 2010 01:40 AM

Hey Guys!
I’m considering a trip to japan during january-february next year for about a month and I was just looking for some advice.
I’ve only done a week of boarding before so i’m a bit of a noob i guess.
-Any recomendations for which mountain to go to? (i might be able to get free accomodation in tokyo)
-Should I buy gear here and take it with me? (maybe during end of season sales)
-should I hire hardgoods like a board and bindings and buy the rest of the gear there or at home?
-Anyone have any tips on scoring cheap flights? (i was thinking about going jetstar)
-Any must sees while i’m over there? (Gotta see the snow monkeys )

And any general tips would be truly appreciated
Thanks in advance

I am going to let the Japan-experts take this one, however I can say that if you want to see the snow monkeys, they are closer to the main Honshu island resorts such as Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba, etc. Of course you could go up to Hokkaido island (Niseko, Rusutsu) as part of your trip either before or after the snow monkeys

BTW the snow monkeys are VERY cool.

Mizu Kuma - 29 June 2010 05:18 AM

*get some cleats/spikes for ya shoes for walkin the icy paths at night

LOL
this is not necessary

also, Hokkaido is just as good for beginners as Hakuba. It’s not like she can commute from Tokyo to Hakuba and save money on accomodation while riding (unless she does day trips to Gunma, Tochigi, etc).
The snow monkeys are closest to Shiga Kogen

rider26 - 28 June 2010 01:16 PM

Hey Emma,

Here’s a couple of threads to get you started. I’ll get back to you in more detail soon.

https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/495/

and

https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/42/

Thanks rider, they were really helpful

kort - 29 June 2010 01:33 AM

I am going to let the Japan-experts take this one, however I can say that if you want to see the snow monkeys, they are closer to the main Honshu island resorts such as Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba, etc. Of course you could go up to Hokkaido island (Niseko, Rusutsu) as part of your trip either before or after the snow monkeys

BTW the snow monkeys are VERY cool.

thank you, I think i’m leaning towards going to hakuba now and if it has snow monkeys I guess that’s decision made

Mizu Kuma - 29 June 2010 05:18 AM

Go Hakuba Emma,

This would suit you, not only because of the snow monkeys, but also the fact that you say your a bit of a ‘noob’. Like kort said, you can go to the nth island but this is mainly frequented by the tree boardin powder hounds.
If ya stayin for nixs in Tokyo, ya can ride the bullet train through to the Nagano prefecture (home to the Hakuba snow fields).

*learn some Japanese
*try all the foods you can while ya there
*take ya thermals and a face mask
*get some cleats/spikes for ya shoes for walkin the icy paths at night
*be polite, friendly and respect the culture
*go to the nth island (Hokkaido), next time and get some sweet sweet pow…..
*but most of all, have the best time of your life

Thanks for the advice mizu kuma, i’m thinking Hakuba is the way to go.

Does anyone know how long it takes to ride the train to the snow fields? and also whether it’s difficult to bring a board with you on the train?

Thanks Gamblor

Sorry for all the questions but can anyone recommend some accommodation in hakuba?

It’s super easy to get to Hakuba from Tokyo, which is where you will probably fly into (and an awesome city too might I add). You get the bullet train (which is unreal, but more on the bullet train later), only takes about two hours if I remember correctly. You get off at Nagano, the 1998 Olympic city. Then you just hop on a shuttle bus straight from the station and you will be in Hakuba one hour later. No issue whatsoever bringing your snowboard and gear on the train. You will have a great time in Hakuba! I’ll post some photos and more info tomorrow.

Cool thanks rider26, I look forward to it :D

Hey Emma,

I went to Japan in 2008 and spent three weeks in Hakuba. I can’t tell you about Hokkaido but I will tell you about my experience in Hakuba. I chose Hakuba over the Hokkaido resorts for a few reasons.

Firstly the mountains in Hakuba are large in comparison to other mountains in Japan. Hakuba is in the Japanese Alps, so the runs are steeper and longer, which is probably why Nagano was chosen as a host city for the Olympics. The Olympic downhill ski race was held on Happo One (one of the Hakuba mountains), and they still have the starting area in the orginal spot. The runs are long and the terrain is really good.

Hakuba is a town surrounded by seven or eight mountain resorts, so there is a lot of variety. Every mountain is within close distance to the town and they run quick shuttle buses to practically all of the mountains. Your lift passes work on any of the mountains (but you have to stay on the chosen mountain for the day).

Hakuba is less ‘touristy’ then somewhere like Niseko. A lot of Australians go to the popular resorts in Hokkaido, so if that’s something you want to avoid, then Hakuba could be a really good option. There were days when we only saw a few people on the moutains. We had wide open runs to ourselves during the week. We would ride the trees all day, in waist deep powder, and the only tracks in there all day were ours. If you want more of a party scene, then Niseko is the place for that.

While Hokkaido (north island of Japan) gets more snow and better quality snow than Honshu (main island of Japan), the snow I experienced in Hakuba was still some of the deepest and driest powder I have experienced anywhere in the world. I was literally up to my chest in the lightest snow you could imagine. That said, I do believe Hakkaido is more consistent for super light powder.

All I can say is I had an amazing time in Hakuba and I would definitely return. The town is awesome, the terrain and snow is excellent, the people are lovely, and you will definitely have a great time. I didn’t visit the snow monkeys because I didn’t want to lose a day on the mountain, but my cousin went and he said it was incredible.

Don’t forget to spend some time in Tokyo; it is a city that must be experienced.

Here are some photos of my time in Hakuba. If you have any questions just let me know.

Empty slopes

Hakuba Valley

Untouched

Fresh lines

Trees

Storm after storm…

No roads

My happy shadow

The valley and avalanche barriers

My cousin, waist deep…

Onsen

Wow! It looks absolutely amazing! Thanks for the pics

Can’t wait, now better get going and book it!

Wow that pow looks awsome ill have to take a trip there one day

I’m Canadian so the thought of those makes me laugh. Just keep your weight on the balls of your feet if you’re walking on ice.

hey guys
Just booked my flights.
For anyone interested jetstar have some flights to Japan for half price for the next 48 hours - pretty sweet deal. Check em out!

Nice emma!
looks like we might be booking ours tonight as well. just waiting on the Ok from work to take time off