Japan 23/24 Season

Just sending this out to see who else might be interested in coordination for exploring. This will be my 8th trip, and I spend 3+ weeks.

Met up with a Maggot last year and was great to have a partner for exploring out the gates and BC. Will be meeting up with Bobinch, but lets see who is also out there. And anyone with wheels makes it possible for Yotei, Rusutsu, etc exploring.

My schedule:
Jan 17-25 Niseko - OAC lodge
Jan 26-30 Tomamu - Petit Hotel Gracey
Jan 31-Feb 2 Kamifurano - Frontier Furanui - take local bus up/down for skiing Tokachi Range
Feb 3-6 Ryounkaku ! Tokachi BC right out the door...

62CM today at Niseko and more on the way - some of the best base in the world right now as well.... Yah, JaPow !

Tried searching the other threads but have struck out. What is the etiquette on tipping ski guides in Japan? Normal North American procedure or is it considered offensive? Seeing conflicting reports elsewhere.


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Please tip the ski guides. Most are international guides who make money on tips, and the young Japanese guides are very happy to take tips as well.


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Originally Posted by North

Black Cat (Takkyubin, Ta-Q-Bin) will get them wherever you need them to be reliably and fast.

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Thanks, will be going that route.



One more question. Deciding on which skis to bring, in Habuka valley, is terrain more wide open or in the trees?

Is it worth bringing a low tide pair of skis?

Trip is early next week


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I'm landing in Hokkaido on Monday! These latest photos have me stoked! Going to spend a couple days based out of Otaru, then following the snow forecast.

2 weeks from today! Hope the pattern holds [emoji1696]

On tipping... How much would you tip guides in Japan, for a week-long guided trip?

Headed to Hokkaido 18-24.

Niseko 18-20
Furano 21-23

Extremely stoked.

One question on the transfer of the bag, I have a 205cm long bag. I read back in the thread that it may be too big. Anybody confirm that?

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Originally Posted by Brian in SLC

Super helpful...thanks! Any idea where to get the map stateside (amazon has it sold out)?

Lift served backcountry with a side trip to an onsen? Sign me up! Two weeks out...

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Oh dang, they were in stock a few days ago. Lemme ask Chris/Rob.

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Originally Posted by Jtlange

Headed to Hokkaido 18-24.

Niseko 18-20
Furano 21-23

Extremely stoked.

One question on the transfer of the bag, I have a 205cm long bag. I read back in the thread that it may be too big. Anybody confirm that?

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They took my 200cm bag no issue

Is "winging it" even feasible at all this season? Sounds like everyone is over there.

I couldn't get any of my dork friends to book a couple months ago. My 40th b-day is in 10 days and the lady friend was like, "Fuck it. I'll buy your airfare if you want to just try to go for it."

Rent a mini-van RV and bring my sleeping bag and just go for it? Is this insane?

WRG, if you can secure a van or any car you can sleep in you'll be fine. I did 5 weeks in a wagon there a few years back. It's cold at night, but you'll have onsens every day. If you get a little stove and pot you can cook and save yourself the cost of that gear in 2 meals.

Lodging is the crux, so be sure you can sleep in whatever car you end up with. Ski area lots or roadside rest stops area fair game for sleeping, and some of them even have 24h bathrooms.

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Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

Rent a mini-van RV and bring my sleeping bag and just go for it? Is this insane?

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No. It isn’t. Go for it. RV around Tohoku and you won’t even see crowds. Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hachinohe. JapanCRC will meet you at the station with your RV. Hit Hakkōda Ropeway, Ani, Tazawako and Geto Kogen. It’s your birthday, treat yo self!

If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be at least one year older when you do…




fact.

^ if you take this good advice also head over to Sukayu onsen nearby

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Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

Is "winging it" even feasible at all this season? Sounds like everyone is over there.

I couldn't get any of my dork friends to book a couple months ago. My 40th b-day is in 10 days and the lady friend was like, "Fuck it. I'll buy your airfare if you want to just try to go for it."

Rent a mini-van RV and bring my sleeping bag and just go for it? Is this insane?

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I had to look pretty hard to find a 4WD car rental a few weeks ago, but it looks like there's still a lot of hotel availability.

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Originally Posted by climberevan

WRG, if you can secure a van or any car you can sleep in you'll be fine. I did 5 weeks in a wagon there a few years back. It's cold at night, but you'll have onsens every day. If you get a little stove and pot you can cook and save yourself the cost of that gear in 2 meals.

Lodging is the crux, so be sure you can sleep in whatever car you end up with. Ski area lots or roadside rest stops area fair game for sleeping, and some of them even have 24h bathrooms.

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While the cooking might save you a bit of money, I would say not to do that. There is awesome food everywhere in Japan, even at the 7-11, and a lot of it is fairly inexpensive at great

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Originally Posted by Ignatius

On tipping... How much would you tip guides in Japan, for a week-long guided trip?

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10-20% of the value of your guided trip is standard, depending on level of service and number of people in your group.

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Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian

Is "winging it" even feasible at all this season? Sounds like everyone is over there.

I couldn't get any of my dork friends to book a couple months ago. My 40th b-day is in 10 days and the lady friend was like, "Fuck it. I'll buy your airfare if you want to just try to go for it."

Rent a mini-van RV and bring my sleeping bag and just go for it? Is this insane?

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Winging is feasible in Sapporo, Central Hokkaido, and Tohoku as stated above. Finding the smaller pensions accommodation and local B and Bs is what you want.

Rental cars and accommodation are in short supply in the Niseko area!

In a normal year I'd recommend WRG to van it around tohoku, but this winter is super mild so far here. Snow up high, but the base isn't in yet down low, which means the forest is not yet doable via chairlifts. But that does mean that some bigger lines are doable if you're willing to walk for it. Asahi Range, HaYama.

No snow in the valley at all.

Catch a second flight to Hokkaido, van it up there.

Or, keep it simple and grab a quick shinkansen over to Hakuba and ride steeper chairs and hire a guide for the side-country.

I'll let this thread know when the Tohoku basin actually gets snow and all those little mini-golf lines by the side of the road are skinnable. There was a snowboard series Vanlife a few years back that documented just that.

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Originally Posted by gaijin

Or, keep it simple and grab a quick shinkansen over to Hakuba and ride steeper chairs and hire a guide for the side-country.

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Any recs on those steeper chairs and/or guide? How far out do we need to reserve a guide for the weekday?


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Originally Posted by PeachesNCream

Any recs on those steeper chairs and/or guide? How far out do we need to reserve a guide for the weekday?
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No real reason to start listing chairs... the JP Alps in general are the steepest mountains in Japan. Hokkaido is famous for snowfall, quantity and quality. Hakuba is famous for big lines and steeper resorts.

As for guides, I'd start with Evergreen-- https://www.evergreen-backcountry.com I have no idea about availability. If they can't help you, they know who to recommend next and then next and so forth.

Personally I'm considering a flight up to Hokkaido pow now or saving my money for a trip to Hakuba for Spring touring. It's hard to tell if this winter will flip or not.

Also— everyone please keep in mind that we just had a tsunami catastrophe on the west coast.


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Originally Posted by gaijin

In a normal year I'd recommend WRG to van it around tohoku, but this winter is super mild so far here. Snow up high, but the base isn't in yet down low, which means the forest is not yet doable via chairlifts. But that does mean that some bigger lines are doable if you're willing to walk for it. Asahi Range, HaYama.

No snow in the valley at all.

Catch a second flight to Hokkaido, van it up there.

Or, keep it simple and grab a quick shinkansen over to Hakuba and ride steeper chairs and hire a guide for the side-country.

I'll let this thread know when the Tohoku basin actually gets snow and all those little mini-golf lines by the side of the road are skinnable. There was a snowboard series Vanlife a few years back that documented just that.

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Headed to hachimantai this weekend, are they getting skunked while Hokkaido is getting dumped on? [emoji3064]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gaijin

In a normal year I'd recommend WRG to van it around tohoku, but this winter is super mild so far here. Snow up high, but the base isn't in yet down low, which means the forest is not yet doable via chairlifts. But that does mean that some bigger lines are doable if you're willing to walk for it. Asahi Range, HaYama.

No snow in the valley at all.

Catch a second flight to Hokkaido, van it up there.

Or, keep it simple and grab a quick shinkansen over to Hakuba and ride steeper chairs and hire a guide for the side-country.

I'll let this thread know when the Tohoku basin actually gets snow and all those little mini-golf lines by the side of the road are skinnable. There was a snowboard series Vanlife a few years back that documented just that.

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This is very helpful thanks. I'm going to hopefully ski some actual god damn powder this weekend and maybe my old fervor will be renewed, and I will be more stoked on going for it solo. I kinda forget what pow is like at the moment. Dry dry dry over here in the northern rockies so far.

Edit to add: if anyone has a link for the video mentioned above please share! I haven't found it so far.

Thanks for the update, gaijin. As someone who has been to Hokkaido 2x solo dirtbag style and once in a not-so-great year, I'd say don't do it unless it's a pretty sure thing. It's pretty lonely when it's raining in Furano and you just want to ski! Also, prepare to spend a lot of money--worrying about the cost will make it stressful and un-fun. Rental vans, in particular are very expensive. You probably don't want to spend $4000 on a short trip and only get a few days of good skiing in. But in a good year, and with the right attitude and some luck, Japow is the best thing in the world.

re: Niseko Backcountry Map

Now for sale at Beacon Guidebooks in the US: https://beaconguidebooks.com/product...untry-ski-map/

Also looks like Rhythm Japan (shop in Niseko) might stock them: https://online.rhythmjapan.com/produ...43022360182953

I’ll have to start reading up on this thread. Planning on going there next year with my family. Last time I was solo so I will need a completely different plan this time around.


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Originally Posted by Recreationpro

Met up with a Maggot last year and was great to have a partner for exploring out the gates and BC. Will be meeting up with Bobinch, but lets see who is also out there. And anyone with wheels makes it possible for Yotei, Rusutsu, etc exploring.

My schedule:
Jan 17-25 Niseko - OAC lodge
Jan 26-30 Tomamu - Petit Hotel Gracey
Jan 31-Feb 2 Kamifurano - Frontier Furanui - take local bus up/down for skiing Tokachi Range
Feb 3-6 Ryounkaku ! Tokachi BC right out the door...

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No wheels, but...

Jan 19 - 26: Hirafu at Grandpapa
Jan 27 - 31: Furano at Edel Warme
Feb 01 - 06: Otaru at Unwind

Hopefully get together for some apres and lift served (ha ha) slack country...(slow on the up!).

Be a fair number of folks from Utar around. Let it snow!

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Originally Posted by Brian in SLC

No wheels, but...

Jan 19 - 26: Hirafa at Grandpapa
Jan 27 - 31: Furano at Edel Warme
Feb 01 - 06: Otaru at Unwind

Hopefully get together for some apres and lift served (ha ha) slack country...(slow on the up!).

Be a fair number of folks from Utar around. Let it snow!

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I'll be at Niseko from the 18th to the 22nd. Looking for slackcountry/backcountry partner on the 21st. Staying at Ki Niseko, no wheels. Maybe the 3 of us can meet up.

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Originally Posted by SUPERIOR

10-20% of the value of your guided trip is standard, depending on level of service and number of people in your group.

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Thanks, Superior!

Recs on last second places to stay in hakuba valley? Thinking of extending our trip this week and wondering if it’s even a possibility. Unfortunately it falls on a weekend night. Any chance of snagging a place for this Saturday night that’s not extremely expensive?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Recreationpro

Just sending this out to see who else might be interested in coordination for exploring. This will be my 8th trip, and I spend 3+ weeks.

Met up with a Maggot last year and was great to have a partner for exploring out the gates and BC. Will be meeting up with Bobinch, but lets see who is also out there. And anyone with wheels makes it possible for Yotei, Rusutsu, etc exploring.

My schedule:
Jan 17-25 Niseko - OAC lodge
Jan 26-30 Tomamu - Petit Hotel Gracey
Jan 31-Feb 2 Kamifurano - Frontier Furanui - take local bus up/down for skiing Tokachi Range
Feb 3-6 Ryounkaku ! Tokachi BC right out the door...

62CM today at Niseko and more on the way - some of the best base in the world right now as well.... Yah, JaPow !

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It was a pleasure to venture out with you! Caught the japow bug, bringing 5 suckers with me after they heard me rave about it since I arrived back. I imagine it will be far busier than last year, so we are with vehicle and probably catch more backcountry days this time and be flexible with where we ski. We arrive Jan 25 and will be there until the 4th this time.

Cheers

Fun mission on the Tanigawadake South face. Still a bit low tide on the exit but made for some good river crossing antics

Attachment 482934

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Originally Posted by Stewy30

It was a pleasure to venture out with you! Caught the japow bug, bringing 5 suckers with me after they heard me rave about it since I arrived back. I imagine it will be far busier than last year, so we are with vehicle and probably catch more backcountry days this time and be flexible with where we ski. We arrive Jan 25 and will be there until the 4th this time.

Cheers

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Good to hear from Stewy 30 ( I still may have your email somewhere). Looks like a whole Maggot herd in Niseko while we are there: Stewy30, Zdubs, Brian in SLC, Bobinch , Recreationpro ( International Ski Bum....), and ???

Looks like Jan 17, 18 and maybe start of 19th could be tour/BC days...Lets see what really happens....And plan accordingly.

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Originally Posted by Recreationpro

Good to hear from Stewy 30 ( I still may have your email somewhere). Looks like a whole Maggot herd in Niseko while we are there: Stewy30, Zdubs, Brian in SLC, Bobinch , Recreationpro ( International Ski Bum....), and ???

Looks like Jan 17, 18 and maybe start of 19th could be tour/BC days...Lets see what really happens....And plan accordingly.

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I have rented an eye-wateringly expensive SUV next week for maximum flexibility, and will offer up the free spots to any of you hoodlums with beta on deep, fluffy pow spots.

ps make sure to read the T&C. I get to go first 🥳

Very cool!

Nice!

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Originally Posted by Recreationpro

Good to hear from Stewy 30 ( I still may have your email somewhere). Looks like a whole Maggot herd in Niseko while we are there: Stewy30, Zdubs, Brian in SLC, Bobinch , Recreationpro ( International Ski Bum....), and ???

Looks like Jan 17, 18 and maybe start of 19th could be tour/BC days...Lets see what really happens....And plan accordingly.

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I will be there as well. Unfortunately not any time to get out and ski with you all. Looking forward to getting deep!

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Originally Posted by bobinch

Fun mission on the Tanigawadake South face. Still a bit low tide on the exit but made for some good river crossing antics

Attachment 482934

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Nice, we're heading up there on Wednesday through Saturday. Looks like a blast!

Iwate region was unreal today. Glad the forecasted winds didn't mess things up and we got an amazing day lapping super deep, soft snow. So stoked. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5ccc2ad8cb.jpg