Hakuba 2017 Tips and Stuff....?

[oftpiste]

Quite a few Hakuba threads but most are pretty old. I'm heading there in January and would love to hear any advice from the experienced. Will be attending FWT event which appears to be at Happo-one. I'd like to stay somewhere cool, cheap if possible (but cool could prevail if it's not ridiculously expensive), and convenient (easily walkable?) to Happo. En suite bathroom preferred.

Best Tokyo airport to fly into? Best transport from Tokyo to Hakuba? Lodging? Food? Other stuff to be aware of or watch for? All recommendations appreciated.

[Dromond]

The mere thought of you trying to fit inside a Japanese bathroom is hilarious!

[Dhelihiker]

Fly into Tokyo and either shuttle from there or bullet train to Nagano and shuttle from there. Hoppo One is dope, the side country is redonc. Hakuba has a good shuttle sytem and wouldn't make staying near the resort a goal. Hakuba Powder Lodge is a cheap fun place.

There is a service to mail your skis from the airport to your hotel and back, I would jump on that shit. I think the name is black cat in Japanese.

[moose pit]

The Black cat is awesome. +1 for them getting a redonkulous over stuffed ski bag to the air port and holding it for a week for something like $20.

[oftpiste]

The mere thought of you trying to fit inside a Japanese bathroom is hilarious!

That's because of my really big hands.

[Dromond]

The Black cat is awesome. +1 for them getting a redonkulous over stuffed ski bag to the air port and holding it for a week for something like $20.

I'll third that one, you can also use it to send your bags from your ski hotel back to the airport. I think it takes max 48 hours to get your bags anywhere in Japan. It's a great way to tour Tokyo or something at the beginning/end of your ski trip without having to haul your ski gear around the city.

[dFiddler]

Anyone know of a reliable website that has up to date snowfalls and weather for the popular ski resorts in Japan, much like onthesnow.com. Thanks


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[BFD]

http://www.snowjapan.com/

[oftpiste]

Anyone have any Happo lodging beta?

[BFD]

Anyone have any Happo lodging beta?

i figured someone would give you a recommendation, I always stay at a Ryokan so I get my meals. I would recommend doing a search and booking one that has availability. I have stayed in over 20 different ones at all different prices. I would return to all of them. In Hakuba I stayed with a friend and then at a Ryokan. I would recommend that one but cannot remember the name. It was run by a ski instructor and his wife somewhat of a legend in Hakuba. It is primarily used by a ski club from some town. All their gear was in the basement. Language was definitely an issue but would probably meet the criteria of cool

[dFiddler]

Hakuba 2017 Tips and Stuff....?

Any recommendations on guide services? Figure it might be worth it for a day to get some local insight.


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[oftpiste]

Not sure if I'm old or just a moran, but I'm having a helluva time figuring out where to stay. Japanese language websites, wildly varying prices and reviews. Sheesh. Anyone have specific places? I'd like to stay a short walk to Happo-one, onsen, around $100 a night or less of course. Seems like breakfast is typical.

Booking aggregate sites offer limited details etc., blah blah blah. Maybe I should engage a travel agent.

[BFD]

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ure_Chubu.html
this place comes up when I do a search. I do not know your dates. I have always had good experiences at ryokan especially the smaller ones. Your dinner is included so big savings. If you need a travel agent name PM me.

[oftpiste]

Thank you. Shared bath the way to go? Would be nice to have my own but maybe not so important.

[nortonwhis]

Any recommendations on guide services? Figure it might be worth it for a day to get some local insight.


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Neckbeard from here is a local guide. His shit books out almost instantly.
https://www.facebook.com/mountainlifejp/ is his facebook account. He used to post in here very frequently, but from following him on FB he is just back from NZ heli guiding and firing right into Hakuba. Never met the guy/been on a group but seems very very legit and is constantly updating snowpack info for us Jongs to use. If he has space i wouldn't hesitate