Help/advice/recommendations on Japan
Hey! Heading to Japan for 2 weeks in February 2014 and need info from people who have been before rather then tourism/resort rep hype.
Dates: 8-22 feb
People: 6 guys
Resort: niseko or possibly other
Airline, accomodation and resort feedback/suggestions appreciated.
Looking at staying somewhere hotel/apartment orientated with our own amenities. Something like eg. The station in jindy class or a bit higher but still relatively affordable.
Resort we have picked is niseko. I know it’s Japanese whistler but we want good snow and it ticks other boxes.
Riding levels are intermediate and don’t mind venturing into the path less traveled.
Looking at doing backcountry guided tour also for few days.
Any suggestions in items to take or riding/casual clothing welcome too.
Thanks in advance 
Can i suggest reading this thread in the first instance.
Re airline.
As i mention in every Japan thread if you are heading to Sapporo that you can get royallay screwed on the domestic flights if you fly Jetstar and or book online.
JAL have a special tourist fare which is 10,000 yen per sector (so each way) but it must be booked through a travel agent at the time of booking your international fare.
You should not pay more than $1200 (give or take cause obviously the exchange rate affects the yen price i quoted above), you just missed a Qantas sale fare but there shoudl be another one.
Have you considered the FYFE camp? http://www.deeppowdertours.com/snowboard-camp.html
As for accom I highly rate HT Holidays
I haven’t been to yet, but sounds like ill be there the same time as you, flying out of aus on the 8th feb, 9-13th in tokyo, fly to sapporo and get transferred to niseko on the 13th, then fly back to aus on 6th or 7th of march, im doing the fyve camp, just but my deposit down the other day. still gotta sort flights out for myself tho because i missed out on their special and was not paying 1658 return
That’s awesome Dylan!
Hi cabletieperformance!
You’ll love Japan. It really is amazing, even though it is becoming more popular with Aussies etc - there is a reason why we all pilgrimage there, some every year!
My suggestion is to make sure you stay in Hirafu, that’s where all the action is. Best to stay in upper hirafu, that way it’s a really short walk to lifts etc. Middle hirafu is OK too.
I usually stay in Koropokkuru in the upper village. It’s dodgy looking but super close and the family who run it are lovely. Breakfast is included but sometimes I have no idea what it is I’m eating. Tastes good though. :p
I get a bit lazy when it comes to booking. Others on here hunt for best prices, where I just go through skijapan.com - mainly because it’s extremely easy, they are there if you have probs, pick you up from airport and drop off at accom - and probably most because our good friend is the GM of skijapan there in Niseko!
I am flying jal again. They are a but squishy and recently became more tight with luggage limits but they’re ok and I’ve never had any probs. From Melb I think I’m paying 1500 or something. As I said, I’m too lazy to find cheaper if there was!
If you have any q’s about anything, lemme know!
Japan rocks! Yew!!
Clothing? Don’t ask a girl that question, I take the kitchen sink!! 
Make sure you have a super dooper warm jacket (i have separate then my snow jacket) for walking around town at night, and non slip walking shoes with lots of grip. I wear my sorels around town. The roads are so icy and so many people go arse over in the village!
If you’re wanting to do backcountry you’ll need all the right equipment. Beacon, backpack, shovel, probe, rope etc. You might be able to hire? But I’m not sure. Make sure your snow jacket has a powder skirt. You need face masks and lots of layers too. It gets coooold!
Thanks for replys guys. Most likely will fly with JAL or quantas. Looking at accommodation Kisetsukan in Kutchan-cho. Anybody stayed here? Is it too far?
I would say its too far!
its a good 20min by bus. and they aren’t that frequent.
There wont be much night life in Kutchan either.
actually I think the copy paste I did was worded wrong its this place https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=kisetsukan+niseko+map&ie=UTF-8&ei=EKAAUuHSCcvKkwXZk4HwDQ&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg
It’s up to you… There is a free shuttle bus to get you up to the lifts… It used to get you up there for 8:30am lifts but I think the bus runs earlier now so you can get up there at 8am for first tracks. You might have to check that… It’s not too bad, I just wouldn’t walk it with my board. Then again, I don’t like walking and get dinks everywhere by skier friends. 
Oh that’s not in Kutchan at all! Ignore me 
It technically is, cause Hirafu is in Kutchan-Cho!!!!!
The resort is on Mt Annupuri, and the town of Niseko is no where near the base of the resort!!!!!
Hahahaaa, gotta love Japan!!!!!