Sorry, noQuote:
Originally Posted by seemay
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Sorry, noQuote:
Originally Posted by seemay
6 on 6 off scheduleQuote:
Originally Posted by Dromond
I just read that the 2030 Olympics is Sapporo's, if desired (The Park Record)
Good luck hosting ski racing during February when it doesn't stop snowing. The skiing events prefer places like China, where it doesn't snow.
Was not a problem in 1972
Quote:
Originally Posted by altasnob
I wonder if they will try to put the downhill and super G on Mt Eniwa again? The downhill course in 72 was built in a National Park on the condition that it be completely removed after the games (which it was at the cost of 160 million yen). Can't think of any existing already cut ski runs on Hokkaido with the requisite vert and pitch as required by the FIS.
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I've toured there and skied that areaQuote:
Originally Posted by altasnob
Back to wilderness
Amazing views
Proposed course for downhill is off 'The Peak' at Niseko United down through the closed area between Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri
Long enough and steep enough
Interesting. So cut a new run down the face below? What are the odds they will get 6+ days of good visibility in a two week window in February so they can host mens/womans DH/SG and the training runs? They didn't have the Super G event in 72.
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Slim odds. Source is snow-forecast.com
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Quote:
Originally Posted by altasnob
Gonna be pretty sweet to finally have that part of the mountain opened up to skiing!
YepQuote:
Originally Posted by altasnob
It's asking a lot but not unprecedented
Second half of February is often calm and dry
Before the snow returns in March
Not sure what the legacy will beQuote:
Originally Posted by beer30
Fingers crossed they will open it up
we have a deposit down on a week of guiding for january and have been in touch with the company recently about our options (push to 2024, money back, or go). Prior to the update yesterday/today our company was going to be an approved tour operator and we could go skiing, but we had to fly in and out on the days our tour started/ended. However, with the new update this is the latest I've received:
*tour operator* will be able to apply for an ERFS certificate for all our clients to be able to obtain a visa to enter Japan.
Organised tours, private packages and independent individual itineraries will now meet the new visa requirements as long as they are booked through a licenced Japanese travel agent like *tour operator*.
As part of every tour or package, the *tour operator* Guests Services team will need to provide on ground COVID support.
If you are fully vaccinated you will not require a PCR test to enter Japan.
We're still trying to figure out if we want to go this January or not. One of the main selling points was time alone in Japan to explore the cities, pop into random izakayas, etc. Waiting on confirmation from the operator whether that would be allowed before and/or after our tour or not..sounds like yes, as long as we have them book our hotels for us?
Folks in Japan - are indoor things where they were pre-pandemic in the cities? bars, dining in restaurants, museums, etc? Would hate to go and be excited to explore all the little alleys of restaurants only to have them all be closed.
For those of us on the inside there is very little difference between pre and post pandemic. Everything for the most part is open and people are out and about. Some businesses didn't make it and have closed but that's world wide; plenty of new restaurants and bars have recently opened. The only difference between Tokyo and N. America/Europe is that everyone wears masks indoors and most people are still wearing them outdoors as well. That won't change anytime soon.
My understanding is that the tour operators have to agree to keep tabs on you during your stay in the country. When it first went into effect this summer people were complaining they couldn't even go into a 7-11 without someone acting as a chaperone. I have no idea if this has changed but I'd be very hesitant to pay a lot of money for what you're describing and expect to be given "time alone in Japan..." Set your expectations just above ski touring in N. Korea.
Most of the tourist operators are saying that this will be short lived and tourists will be welcome back by the winter. There is nothing backing this up at this time; it could happen or it may not. There's really no way to know. If your focus is just to ski then a tour group wouldn't be a bad idea but if you want any of the culture or freedom to explore then pushing to 2024 is a much safer option.
A lot of this people did go in Jan/Feb 2020 and experienced one of the lowest snow winters Japan had seen in decades.Quote:
Originally Posted by CoorsLight99
The biggest unknown at the moment is which 'tour operators' will be sanctioned by the Japanese Government to offer holidays and organise visas for foreign tourists.
There are a number of businesses who are registered as 'tour operators' who are saying they can do everything for you without any official word or authorisation from the Government.
Caveat emptor / buyer beware
The only definite announcement is the relaxation of pre-arrival covid testing for triple vaccinated travelers from some countries from 07 September 2022
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...do-2022-08-24/
It was fucking awfulQuote:
Originally Posted by Dromond
02 January - 23 February 2022
https://www.instagram.com/p/B66dxHzFBcT/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rUquTlK5y/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7SwxfhFHsg/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B75eykSnk8r/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8FK4f_l0bn/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8SGcOhFjLH/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8a7GulF9b_/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8pGFOgl7f9/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8qW09LFEyu/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B82I0VsFzgA/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8-e-fMFtIN/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9POPm4ldjw/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Tc75jlRhf/
Any changes to the COVID stuff coming up?
19/20 sucked
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Heh, amazing trip, skiing was phenomenal, culturally an amazing place to visit!
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You’ll note that I never said it was bad - just one of the lowest [emoji6]Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
I remember that week of Jan 6th - 12th or so. We were touring up the south side of Yotei and it got super warm, with tree bombs dropping left and right. birds were chirping and it felt like April. We fled north to the interior and found curiously cold and well preserved snow. We had to hunt a bit more but still skied pow just about every day.Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ2
What I've noticed over the past 15 or so years is an increasing frequency of once-rare warm fronts coming through the Niseko/Rusutsu region in January & February. That deterioration of the snow hurts conditions more than a few hundred less cm of snowfall during those months. Still, it ain't bad.
My worst season in Japan was better than all but a few in the USA
I have never had a good season in Japan. Because I've only ever been in the Tokyo airport going somewhere else in Asia. Next time, I am going to escape that airport and go skiing...in Japan
Seconded! Went Feb 2020…Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiLyft
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Frequent super deep snowfall can definitely bury crusts quick!Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ2
That's been my experience since 06/07 seasonQuote:
Originally Posted by DJ2
But speaking with longtime Japanese locals and visitors it was always thus
We’re forging ahead for this coming January 17-28… got bumped last year understandably. Just sent additional passport information to our tour company for them to start the process on their end with the Japanese Govt for our entry. You cannot apply for a Visa until 14 weeks prior to your desired entry into the country… that puts us at Mid-October. A lot can happen by Mid-October, or Mid-January. The bummer is that if conditions are all-time, I was going to stay an extra week on my own and try to dirtbag and hook up with some Mags in country. Not sure that will be possible
I appreciate everyone being positive. But I did not see new snow in 2020. It was horrible.
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If you manage it send me a PMQuote:
Originally Posted by singlecross
Thanks! I appreciate it and surely will.Quote:
Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw
I have to agree...
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that W20 in Japan...
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was a complete...
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waste of time :D
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Thanks to Will for the photos
Fingers crossed for youQuote:
Originally Posted by singlecross
Who are you going with?
No official list of Government approved tour operators yet
Be careful with the terms & conditions
SucksQuote:
Originally Posted by gaijin
Where were you?
My buddy put the trip together for us and booked with Black Diamond Tours. We’re a group of 5 who have all grown up skiing together so we’ve got a private tour with just us and 1 guide to help things go smoothly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
We were asked to provide our passport info to Black Diamond for them to fill out this ERFS form for us.
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We will certainly be investing in comprehensive trip insurance (always a good idea in Covid/ post Covid world).
Still figuring out medical/ injury insurance for this trip in case of a mishap.
Encouraging news recently about loosened border restrictions, and now this: Japanese yen slips to 24-year low against dollar
It's a good time to make deposits on your credit card, then use ATM's at konbinis, etc., on the ground
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Feb, 2020. Low snow year. Still had fun and got a few freshies.
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More buzz about opening then I have heard in sometime. I’m actually optimistic