TouringQuote:
Originally Posted by wakefield
https://www.nisekomtnguides.com/
Cat & Heli
https://www.hokkaidobackcountryclub..../cat-skiing-3/
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TouringQuote:
Originally Posted by wakefield
https://www.nisekomtnguides.com/
Cat & Heli
https://www.hokkaidobackcountryclub..../cat-skiing-3/
Hokkaido BC and Rising Sun are good options, as is Whiteroom Guides in Central Hokkaido.
Niseko has been growing quite touristy/busy, but it will be interesting to see what the pandemic has changed.
For folks looking to save money, the further out from Hirafu you get, the cheaper it generally is. Also, the Japanese run pensions, which are their version of hostels. A solid google search will find this type of accommodation, and they are often very unique.
I worked at the Black Diamond Lodge a couple winters, and it’s a combo of hostel / pension with a cool history. They partner with HBC.
Get a rental vehicle and intl drivers permit before you go. Don’t strand yourself relying on buses, etc
Mike Pow, are you going back?
Thanks for the recs, all! I'll check 'em out.
Thinking of going to Hakuba AND Niseko.
Is Mid Feb too late?
any suggestions on which I should do first - from a powder point of view?
Also any tips on Itinerary logistics would be welcome. Should I do - Narita- Hakuba- Haneda-Sapporo-Niseko?
TIA
Mid Feb is an interesting time to go, especially if you are into backcountry touring.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrPow
February can often bring a week or two of sunshine or even a rain event to Hokkaido. Honshu can be blessed or cursed with this note of weather all winter, which is why Niseko is so popular - it’s ultra consistent.
I have experienced excellent powder skiing in Feb and March in Hokkaido, but it’s just a little less certain.
Now, if you want to ski big volcanoes on bc gear… Feb is a good time for that.
I hit a late storm in late Feb/Early March a few years back and it was fine. The snow situation there is more like the PNW where the peaks get kissed more often and Niseko's Gran Hirafu is one of those places. The skiing is on the eastern aspect of the summit but with confidence, you might ski down the north aspect after the hike to get some newer snows if it is open. I think you will likely get something if you are there for more than a week, depending on weather.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrPow
Your timeline of Narita through Niseko is similar to my past path. If you are renting a car in Sapporo, you will want to kit up a few of the other spots in Hokkaido. Niseko is fun but there are plenty of places to ride and many of them are not expensive for a day pass. Also, this will allow you to get out to some of the onsen that are not $$$$ in Niseko (as long as you are not tattooed).
We are looking at Jan 1-9 in Hokkaido but need to sort out our details now that my wife gave us a greenlight. Just missed that big United sale on airfare last week.
Hmmmm....Niseko this year = an August weekend at Perisher
YesQuote:
Originally Posted by SUPERIOR
Some time between Christmas and New Year through to end of February
You?
Possibly for the few days around New Year and Chinese New Year.Quote:
Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw
Think it will be steady, unless the big volume players start slashing the prices.
Then it will get messy.
An unknown factor of pent-up demand + a historically weak yen + the year-on-year increase of inbound tourism prior to COVID-19 account for my boorish cynicism.
Attachment 431338
Source: https://www.macrotrends.net/countrie...ism-statistics
More on visits, not dollars: https://www.tourism.jp/en/tourism-da...stats/inbound/
This made me chuckle, insideQuote:
Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw
Booked plane tickets today. I’ll be on Hokkaido with friends on a Black Diamond Tour Jan.16-27 with the flexibility to stay a week longer Jan.27-Feb.3 if conditions are all time. Suggestions for dirtbagging that second extra week welcomed as well as possible hook-ups with any Mags in country. Yen is still LOW.
Attachment 431430
I wrote a post about SIM cards in my trip report and the link is HERE
Planning a trip for the end of Jan and early Feb. I have epic and ikon, but I'd rather avoid the shitshow so I'm not sure how much time I'll spend in Niseko. I'd like to do a week at Tenjin/Minakami area, so I was wondering if anyone here has been there and what they have to say about it. To me it looks like the real deal for big mountain skiing, but I don't know if I'd be able to get up into the alpine at all that time of year.
i guess you are asking about this
Attachment 431651
sometimes things work out
Attachment 431652
Attachment 431653
there is some of this around if the alpine is not in shape. also a long line that puts you out down below the base.
Attachment 431654
excellent choices for lodging in the area.
Attachment 431655
there is also a bunch of stuff in a 20 mile radius but it was dumping to hard to get in the alpine when we were there.
like this
Attachment 431656
OOOOOOOOOH
Nice! Did you get the direct flight Boston Tokyo?Quote:
Originally Posted by singlecross
I am still waiting on some other stuff before I commit. But I am also considering going kite surfing in Colombia. Apples and oranges and all that...
Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk
No… I booked Portland,ME -> Newark -> Haneda -> New Chitose. Same return but through Chicago vs Newark.Quote:
Originally Posted by jhyatt
I had Boston direct booked last year but c’est la vie.
So how much did that route cost?
From a powder point of view you should definitely go to Hakuba before Niseko if you're going in mid-Feb. Spring comes very early to Hakuba and the temps warm up quickly by mid Feb as the jet stream starts to weaken and head north. Last year it was good until the first weekend of March but that was an unusually good/cold winter. It's already a bit of a gamble, I wouldn't bother with going to Hakuba if you end up going at the end of the month since you're probably just leaving a good chance of scoring to go ski in the sun or the rain.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrPow
If you're also going all the way to Tokyo to travel to Hokkaido then Narita/Haneda makes almost no difference. Choose whatever airport is offering the best flights to New Chitose. Peach is offering some crazy low fares right now but I haven't checked to see if they are only available to residents. Like $7 tickets from Tokyo to Hokkaido.
Three-part series featuring Aomori City and Hakkoda: Life in the World's Snowiest City | Aomori, Japan
https://youtu.be/qqerKWp1kqs
https://youtu.be/HDNN9W_wnEk
https://youtu.be/tZvtBkKz73o
$1700Quote:
Originally Posted by m2711c
First decent fall of the winter in the Niseko Resort Area
13cm in the past 24hrs
Some resorts trying to get open for Japanese holidays next week
Bring it Ullr!!