Japan 2014/15
| Poll: You goin????? Total Votes: 36 |
|
|---|---|
| Count me in!!!!! | 22  |
| Nah, I’m over the place!!!!! | 1 |
| I’d love to but I’ve already sold one kidney!!!!! | 4 |
| I’m goin elsewhere!!!!! | 9 |
whatever happened to the toilet seat group buy?? My poops are getting colder and colder!!
I reckon I’ll do the fyve camp again.
I guess that says enough that you are going back for a second time but can you tell us more about the experience of the camp??
We went to Niseko - not sure where they are going this season but I can tell you about my experience.
Lodge 5m walk to lifts. Cheap but still nice enough it makes you want to take care of it. Close knit group, pretty awesome and cheapish bar downstairs that everyone hangs at.
They have a place to wax your board downstairs which was handy, and a heated room to store your wet gear.
Instructors were much better than I expected. I figured they would be good at boarding but iffy at teaching but a few of the more senior guys are pretty good for it. They split up into based on skill level and what you want to do. We did our own thing on the pow days because we wanted to find untracked pow early but went with the fyve crew a few times who seemed to favour the park.
The guys really seem to want to make it a good experience for the campers - you can tell they are passionate about what they do.
We had like 3 days where half the mountain was closed off due to weather and nobody wanted to go for a hike but they have a rail in the backyard so a bunch of people had a play out there.
If you haven’t been to Japan before the snow will blow your mind. I was a bit worried about the language barrier but the town was pretty westernized and we had no problems commuting, ordering food etc.
but the town was pretty westernized
That’s the exact reason why I steer clear of niseko when I japow, but I can understand how it’s appealing for some.
but the town was pretty westernized
That’s the exact reason why I steer clear of niseko when I japow, but I can understand how it’s appealing for some.
I would have liked some more culture too but I hear it’s the best snow in the country and that’s what I’m mostly there for.
I just don’t get this…
Its only been two years since I last went… and man all I can remember is at least half the time communicating in sign!
Yes Niseko is more developed than Hukuba BUT jeez its still Japan and another culture and a hell of a lot less sheltered than a 5* resort in Fiji. (where I used to sneak off and play with the local kids in the village next door!)
It isnt completely cultureless, and i think ive been spoilt by where i do actually go being pretty much gaijin & westernisation free. After spending 2 weeks in this bliss, then heading into niseko and the first thing hearing at the seico mart some Australian snogan (snow bogan tm) complaining that the serving girl didnt speak english, kinda put me off the place.
That being said, its still epic and boy howdy is that snow rad, but ill just stick to my little bit further north bubble.
Rarely get the time to hang out on here anymore cause of bubs and work….. but I just booked 11 days at Rusutsu Feb 6 to 17th. SO STOKED !!!!!! 
Hope I can catch up with some BW crew while I’m over there :D
Without knowing any better, a bunch of dudes and I bought tickets to Japan. We’ll be there end of Feb to early March but we dont know where to go yet.
Initially we wanted to check out Niseko but then we got sage like advice from this ski hermit on the gondola to rainbow paradise in Yongpyong that the snow in Tomamu is much better and we should head there instead. A quick survey shows that Tomamu caters towards the more affluent crowd whereas we’re just a bunch of guys living on a salary.
Could anyone here give a simple reason on why one should prefer Niseko over Tomamu. I see Niseko getting a lot of love here.
Hoping Billy goes at that time again.
I know Shane and Blizz were thinking Japan too - the kindly asked me to organise a ‘Japshred’ (anyone think of a better title? But they didn’t discuss timing. Oh well!
I’ll be there, I’m pretty sure! Most likely from NYE (hopefully boxing day) to late Jan… Will know for sure later on
Well if I go now it will be 18-28 Dec in Niseko.
NYE in Tokyo (you should do NYE with us!)
But its only if there is space in the house for me. Waiting to see if a couple pulls out then I get that room.
Yeah, looking to put something together. Planning to do couple of weeks around Feb time
What are the best times to head to japow? I am guessing Jan-Feb is best snow-wise. I’ve also heard Christmas is to be avoided (roughly what to and from dates?) and I also saw on Liquid Snow’s website to avoid Chinese New Year which is around 19th Feb in 2015 (again, what range of dates around this period)? What’s it like pre-Christmas? What about late season eg. March?
They got better snow in march this year than they did in feb
What are the best times to head to japow? I am guessing Jan-Feb is best snow-wise. I’ve also heard Christmas is to be avoided (roughly what to and from dates?) and I also saw on Liquid Snow’s website to avoid Chinese New Year which is around 19th Feb in 2015 (again, what range of dates around this period)? What’s it like pre-Christmas? What about late season eg. March?
Generally speaking yes Mid Jan - Mid Feb would probably be the safest bet for snow but also depends what island/region you’re planning on being on. Another factor to consider is price. There is a significant drop off in the cost of flights from around the 16th of Jan and it get even cheaper in February/March (if I wasn’t limited by School Holidays I’d be a early Feb Japower). Accomodation/Lift tickets are pretty much cheap all the time.
When you say best avoided are you talking about crowds? If so it’s not really a huge factor. If you avoid the obvious busy spots you’ll find something quieter than what you’re used it in oz (but obviously busier than the days where you seem to have the entire mountain to yourself which happened often in Myoko)
Despite the big population snowsports aren’t super popular with the Japanese since the downturn in the economy. The busiest day I had was a “coming of age” weekend where all the 20 year olds head off for a holiday in groups. The snowfields were busy compared to what I was used to over the previous week (I actually had to line up for a lift!) but it actually gave the sleepy Myoko strip a bit more atmosphere at night (in a respectful Japanese not schoolies way)
Yeah crowds aren’t really an issue.
But yes Chinese is always pretty busy. And I believe there is not much accom left over Christmas/NY already, in Niseko.
I have only ever been last week of Feb/1st week of March.
1st Year (2009) crap snow first week. Freshies the last week.
2nd year (2011) first week good! Second week rain :-(