Thanks sup and bb, y'all are awesome. They're ikoners, so Niseko it is. I can't imagine doing this trip without a 50/50 ski, but I'm not on the roster. Appreciate your help here!!
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Thanks sup and bb, y'all are awesome. They're ikoners, so Niseko it is. I can't imagine doing this trip without a 50/50 ski, but I'm not on the roster. Appreciate your help here!!
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North of Yotei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcST7Q7OrM4
This arrived today. Appears useful. Online links are great too. Avy reports and routes along with onsens and local info. Solid $20 spent
Niseko Backcountry (Backcountry Ski Map) https://a.co/d/0si8BTtAttachment 480955
I, as a jong, felt the turns behind Niseko and touring to an onsen were some of the highlights of our trip - so at least being aware of those options to direct one’s ski choice is advised IMHO.Quote:
Originally Posted by tgapp
A lot of the ski areas are either small and/or can get tracked fast (Niseko). If you are there when it snows every day then maybe only resorts are fine, but I would not go without touring skis.
Heading to Japan Jan 9th to 19th solo on a whim. Would like to join a group or tour, but not finding any last minute availability. Is Japan conducive to last minute lodging options?
japan ski tours has 6 openings on their 8 day tohoku tour of indypass areas that starts on january 13th, if that helps you at all.
https://www.japanskitours.com/tohoku...rip-8-day.html
https://book.peek.com/s/57dfb4a3-b1bb-4323-8db2-4859a53b6589/p_kgy5y8--2183abe5-2d5a-4ec0-9329-15a8bbcb372f?date=2024-01-13&mode=standalone&timeString=anytime
have you looked into an rv? that would be my first choice. i.e. too crowded? just go somewhere else.
https://japan-crc.com/en/?page_id=510
Thanks, That tour really sounds perfect except the dates, unfortunately I have to be back before the tour ends. The campers seem a bit expensive but love the idea of being able to be super flexible.Quote:
Originally Posted by m2711c
First ski day in Japan today, touring near the niseko resorts. Thin for Hokkaido, and a bit variable in condition, but super cool terrain, and the trailhead was about 100 yards from an awesome onsen, so Japan is still crushing it from my perspective.
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Non-mag buddy laughing it up.
I see on the news Japanese Airlines flight 516 had an accident after a flight from CTS. I'll be paying attention to my flight reservations in the coming days to see if there's any impact. Crazy everyone on the JAL A350 survived.
https://news.sky.com/story/japan-pla...unway-13040808
Bump for buying this map. Did a week with Chris out of Biei last winter and got to meet Rob (he was gonna ski with us, but some covid issues arose). Anyway, super nice, super dialed guys. Both Kiwis. Rob is fluent in Japanese. Chris is fluent in conbini breakfast and where the best onsens are.Quote:
Originally Posted by powholic
Proceeds from this map are going into building some proper singletrack around Niseko for summer MTB. Insights in this map worth way more than $20. It's a no-brainer. Support the cause.
And if you don't already know, their website has tons more trip reports and routes for backcountry ski objectives all over Hokkaido (there's as much, maybe more, opportunity over by Furano).
Not the conditions Hokkaido is known for, but got a bluebird Shiribetsu summit today.
Views of Yotei weren't bad.
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Was there today too! Haha
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Super helpful...thanks! Any idea where to get the map stateside (amazon has it sold out)?Quote:
Originally Posted by bossass
Lift served backcountry with a side trip to an onsen? Sign me up! Two weeks out...
Yum! Making me miss my trip back in '19. Similar conditions as now (bamboo still sticking up in places) but we still rode SO much pow.
I would bring touring gear. Lots of easy fun touring, fairly mellow terrain to navigate if you know how to look. Climbing and riding Yotei (on one of 2 clear days out of 2 weeks) was one of my life highlights. Above the inversion layer, first group to the summit was just beyond words. Shiribetsu was cool AF and some of the best pow I've ever ridden.
We based out of Otaru for half the trip then Furano for part of the end. Drives were easy in a mint Outback with all the self-regulating features (lane assist, slow down ahead of you etc) so I could just shoot photos out the window the whole time lol. Otaru was a cool old town, Furano felt like a Japanese Victor/Driggs kind of (farming country). Niseko itself was amok with Ozzies and we were glad we never stayed there.
Have a blast!! Such an amazing place to visit.
Nice, skinning or in the heli? Follow up with Makkari onsen?Quote:
Originally Posted by SUPERIOR
Had an amazing bluebird and fresh, DEEP POW sidecountry day out of Kokusai last winter and we hit an Onsen I think literally minutes from the ski hill which also had an Indian restaurant of all things…. Nothing beats a day of touring followed by hitting an Onsen and a few cold Asahi’sQuote:
Originally Posted by Brian in SLC
Kudos to miserywhip and SUPERIOR for getting after it. From Rusutsu saw some folks up there. Incredibly good conditions for supposed low tide. Toss in windex blue skies and zero wind it was specialQuote:
Originally Posted by SUPERIOR
Yoteizan
Attachment 481648
Out behind the Lawson
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Shiribetsudake from The Vale
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Any decent restaurant recommendations in Niseko? We’re in Niseko village but have a car. Thanks
A-BU-CHA. They don’t take reservations.
Steak Rosso Rosso believe they do take reservations
I’m not really a guy that raves about Ramen, but Afuri across from the Lawson is really good.Quote:
Originally Posted by bobinch
While we are on the subject, Furano food recs?
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Rakuichi Soba (https://www.rakuichisoba.com/)Quote:
Originally Posted by bobinch
Hard to get reservations, I think...
Not super fancy but food is good and far enough away from the main pocket of town it’s not as busy. still best to get a reservation
Niseko Yakiniku Japanese BBQ
Attachment 481834
Flanks of Yotei yesterday - quite soft, still more blue sky than preferred...
It seems the Niseko area is still low-tide (by Japanese standards), but we just picked up about 1.5 feet in the last three days, and forecast for a steady trickle of 4-6 in each day for the foreseeable forecast.
Current base is greater than 2m in Niseko area, and growing by the day.
Reports from Central Hokkaido are similar, can confirm Kiroro and Kokusai not ready for much BC access as of five days ago. Could be changing rapidly.
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Concur, Rusutsu still has a lot of head high sasa. Dumping all day today, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by SUPERIOR
Love those vector glides, been seeing a bunch of them.
Ghost trains have landed. T minus 1 week til they take to the mountains so pls le tits now
Loved that zone last year… even got some 8’s in the treesQuote:
Originally Posted by SUPERIOR
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Snow machine turned on. Rusutsu reporting 60cm, our local friend thinks more like a meter since yesterday afternoon. Delayed opening because they haven't cleared the access road or parking lot.
Had an incredible, fancy meal on a back road last night, followed by 4 hours of shoveling with my avy shovel to clear waist high drifts on the road back to the main drag. Even got a few japanese policemen to help push us in reverse up the last 50 meters of hill. Good times.
Best way to get skis from the states to hakuba valley area? Going on a 2 week trip to Japan and skiing for ~3 days. Don’t want to pack skis around but also can’t wait around for skiing with such a short ski window.
Plan right now is to fly them as normal ski baggage and then ship them from the airport. Sounds like this works pretty well
I’ve also heard of ship skis but not sure if that’s international. Other options?
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Black Cat (Takkyubin, Ta-Q-Bin) will get them wherever you need them to be reliably and fast.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeachesNCream
What are the conditions like in Hakuba this season? Have a trip in late Jan and was planning Hakuba. But, if the conditions are not looking great, I might start making some alternative plans further north.
Red indicates W24 snowfalls, Sunday to Monday is a new single-day record for recent years (other colors)
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Rusutsu? Seems accurate. Local guide friend thought it was the best day in several years...Quote:
Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw
Many face shots, sasa not so problematic when it's hero snow.Attachment 482104
Attachment 482103
https://hokkaidowilds.org/ski-tourin...iki-onsen-loop
Going to do this tour while out there. Any other onsen recommendations in the niseko area?
Hakuba is well below normal but catching up rapidly. Due to the holiday weekend I caught yesterday's storm in Myoko instead of Hakuba but the trees are finally starting to fill in well enough to ski. Still needs another meter or so to really bury everything but it's getting close. End of January should be fine, though of course some sustained rain could always show up and ruin plans.Quote:
Originally Posted by mattrwills
Goshiki has been my favorite, location is awesome. Also dug Makkari for Yotei views (if it's not socked in, which it usually is) and Kyogoku for community center vibes and onsen admission plus ramen or soba lunch for 1000 yen. Best deal ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerMonkey