First things first, can ya even get into Japan as a tourist at the moment?
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First things first, can ya even get into Japan as a tourist at the moment?
Straight poop from the horses mouth….
https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/
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The exchange rate is at a great spot. Most USD buying power in a long time.
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I just got back in.
Arrived 02 May on a Skilled Labour Visa (valid for 1-year, so it covers me for next Winter).
Japanese Government have announced that they will be letting tourists in from 01 June on organised package tours with recognised / approved companies.
Locals here in Niseko Resort Area are confident that if that first wave goes well, then independent tourists should be allowed in sometime in August.
From plane seat to clearing all immigation, customs and saliva Covid testing took me 90 minutes at Haneda, Tokyo.
Smooth sailing.
So if you're contemplating a 22/23 Japan trip lock in your wheels, bed, and money.
It's going to be a shit show.
If you can, avoid 20 December to 01 February if you're intending to spend time in places like Hakuba, Niseko, Asahidake.
Outside of these dates and/or areas it'll be normal.
We got shut out for ‘22… just re-upped for ‘23. Exchange is favorable.
thanks for the advice!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
My pleasureQuote:
Originally Posted by trueevan
Any specifics on Hokkaido, fire away
Got three weeks planned, peak season unfortunately but hey, someone else is footing the bill.
Thoughts on Rusutsu vs Furano vs Niseko vs somewhere else for 4 days in early February (wish I had more time).Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
Renting a car and moving around or chasing storms is an option, but I don't want to waste too much of the limited time driving all over the place. I'm also skiing solo so I'll be stuck in bounds unless I grab a guide (which I could probably swing for 1 day).
I was leaning Rusutsu because it seemed like the best mix of interesting (for Japan) terrain and trees, hopefully smaller crowds/lines than Niseko, and better odds of fresh snow than Furano. Plus I'll have Epic, but with Japanese lift ticket costs I'm fine buying tickets somewhere else.
There is a daily bus from Niseko to Rusutsu for day trips if you are without car.
Overall in terms of cost, availability, terrain, lift lines, snow then Rusutsu is your best bet.Quote:
Originally Posted by FamousPotatoes
Do a day trip to Niseko United or Niseko Moiwa if needs be.
I've stayed here a couple of times when I've been solo.
Great place, great location, lovely people.
https://stayrusutsu.com/accommodation/hotel-romulus
Agree w/Mike Pow on Romulus; stayed there many times, excellent choice for Rusutsu.
Don’t sleep on Hokkoda, outside of Aomori killer tram with great guides to show you around. There is a road that you encircles there park for shuttling you back to the tram base.
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Lived in Nagano for a year in the mid 90s and I’ve been back several times since.
Skied Hakuba, Nozawa, Shiga Kogen, Togakushi, Iizuna, Kijimidaira to name a few. When I lived there it snowed so much that winter they had to plow the snow underneath the ski lifts otherwise your skis would have been on top of the snow while riding the lift!
I can’t compare to Hokkaido as I have not been there. I will be going back to Hakuba this year as well. I think if you want a really authentic Japanese experience, I would do Nozawa. The have several public onsens that are free, plus that onsen water is piped into the small hotels (ryokans). Glorious.
Good info on this site: https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts
Any idea if restrictions will be lifted come winter?
Nothing concrete yet but the mood is positiveQuote:
Originally Posted by beer30
For what that’s worth 😉…..Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
I've been waiting to go but obviously the C19 response killed everything off. I'm planning on seven weeks next season. Bearing in mind your advice about Niseko on this thread and that I don't want to spend huge amounts of time driving where do you think I should base myself?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
Would Rusutsu for five weeks then rent a car and go east towards Furano be sensible?
Does the Rusutsu season pass offer discounts at Niseko/Moiwa in the same fashion as the Niseko All Mountain pass?
Mike, why do you think Niseko etc will be a nightmare? Because there'll be a stampeded from the Ozzies etc who haven't been allowed in for two seasons?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
I've got seven weeks planned for next year, late Dec to mid Feb. I'd prefer not to stay in a city as I'll be travelling alone and am more likely to meet people staying in a resort hostel/hotel I feel. I'm not too bothered about the size of the place I'm just keen on powder of any type that's not trashed within thirty seconds of the lifts opening.
Would five weeks in Rusutsu then two weeks travelling around in a car (Furano area?) be a good idea?
Any advice is much appreciated.
I've only been to Hokkaido twice for a total of about 9 weeks, but IME you get maybe an hour before the main stuff is tracked out at the popular places. Even the backcountry was pretty crowded within an hour hike from any known spots. Japan isn't a secret anymore folks.Quote:
Originally Posted by seemay
That said it's pretty amazing and with some creativity you can have a great experience. Onsens every day might even be the best part.
This, we spent a week in niseko area and 3 days Furano / asahidake. In niseko we went to onsen every day after coming off the mountain, trying out different ones. That more than made up for the lack of fresh snow we had.Quote:
Originally Posted by climberevan
I went for the second time in Jan 2020 and would second this. It’s still a super fun ski experience but the known spots are much, much, more crowded than in years prior. I saw a pair of Aussie dickbags cut a long gondi line at Rusutsu on a crowded pow day. Go for the Onsen, food, natural beauty, amazing hospitality and likelihood of good snow, but be prepared to share it with others. For the record I still love traveling and skiing in Japan - just have realistic expectations, especially if you are going to the hotspots.Quote:
Originally Posted by climberevan
Objection! Asked & answered
Quote:
Originally Posted by seemay
For hotspots I have: Niseko (obvs); Asahidake; Furano?; Rusutsu? Any other suggestions? I'm keen on staying in one place for a while then going about in a car but the way it's looking from my reading online/posts on forums doing half in a resort then half driving might be a better idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dromond
We've got a deposit down on guides in late january, but haven't booked anything else pending entry being allowed. Any more word on the ground that isn't in the news? look like ba.5 is crushing right now which doesn't give me any sort of hope the government will want to open soon.
I don't have $ reservations.. Wishing for an open door policy later this year.... Fingers crossed for some more vaccinations that control the latest variants..that might be our only hope��Quote:
Originally Posted by jtran10
So, I went to Tohoku December 2019 for a 90-day vacay and ended up staying 16 months. During that run I was hired so the working visa allowed me to slip away and return during summer 2021 for an additional 10 months. I just got back stateside last week.
As the guy said above, there is some optimism that borders will be wide open to tourists before first chairs in December, but people not involved in tourism remain pessimistic. The federal government has several priorities above inbound tourist promotion, and they have been generously subsidizing prefectural governments, so there is no public pressure to open the borders.
Most domestic skiers & riders have greatly enjoyed you all not being there and they are not agitating for your return. Public opinion on the matter of open borders is split, but opinions about public safety are decidedly cautious, so one more season of closed borders is not going to upset anyone tremendously. Even the guides I spoke to were indifferent.
Seemed to me those most interested in opening borders were Johnny-come-lately bogans who had paid too much for their coffee shops and hostels and were now sucking wind while paying mortgages. My two yen.
While in Tohoku I visited Geto Kogen, Appi Kogen, Hyakuzawa, Owani, Hachimantai, Hakkoda, and my favorite: (______). For all the noise about Hakkoda I must say the terrain is pretty tame, and the crowd (in an off year) can still be thick. A lot of Tokyo folks mob up there.
I spent 90 days from end of February driving a kei truck around Hokkaido and visited (in order): Rusutsu, Niseko, Iwanai, Otaru, Kiroro, Onze, Kokusai, Fu's, Teine, Asahidake, Pippu, Kamui, Furano, and Kurodake. Unless you have time and fortitude I would not go to Asahidake in January or February because the weather is weathery. But that's me, Mr Softie🍦, you guys are wayyy more core.
If the borders are open this year I agree with dude above: It's gonna be turdshows at the big shows, so plan accordingly.
FYI: Check Indy Pass
Meanwhile in Japan....
The snowcats have morphed into laser shooting robots guarding the slopes until winter returns
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FIFYQuote:
Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw
Seriously though, it's interesting to read your report! That must have been a real trip traveling around Japan during covid. Did you work as a guide? If so, was the clientele more Japanese than the average year these days?
I've been forwarded an e-mail by someone called Tom Bricker who works for a company called 'Travel Caffeine'. He is optimistic certainly and seems to be well-informed as to Japanese culture and news. Might be worth a look.
In general he feels that the government there is having to do what our governments did: having overdone the corona regulations the public are now keener on restrictions than the authorities. The government has realised that the country simply cannot afford the cost of further lockdowns etc and needs a way out, pronto.
I don’t believe anything until it happens these days…
Yeah - not a bad view to take. I'm wondering how much of a risk to take: I think I'll book accomm as Rusutsu doesn't have much at a reasonable price and a lift pass as well. Flights etc can wait as I imagine prices will drop when they re-open and start laying on plenty of planes again.
There is no word on the ground in Japan. There is nothing until there is something. First the news will announce that the government is considering doing something. If several weeks pass and there is no public backlash then it will be adopted. If there is pushback then it will be blamed on an inaccurate report and such a plan will be shelved indefinitely. If you follow any major news outlet you'll get plenty of advance notice about Japan reopening to tourists.Quote:
Originally Posted by jtran10
I also think that if one is hoping for Japan to open to tourists for this season then you should be hoping for this latest variant to spread like crazy. Japan would still most likely be using lengthy quarantines to keep covid out of the country if it wasn't for Omicron getting a foothold last December. The larger the difference in infection rates between Japan and the world the longer and more difficult it will be to reopen the country. Japan was averaging less than 100 cases/day until Omicron. Everyone freaked out in January until 100,000/day became normal. Until this month nobody was batting an eye at 50,000/day. This week it's skyrocketing but once that becomes normal it will help ease the transition to allowing the foreigners to return.
My 2 yen anyway. I was certain Japan would be fully reopened by now but still we wait. Perhaps we'll get one more empty ski season after all...
Thanks for the FIFY; almost spit my bean water :biggrin:
When everyone bailed for the exits I stayed put sensing a OIAL opportunity. Did not imagine it would go three seasons.
I was not a guide but did see many guided groups, particularly at Hakkoda, Asahidake, and Kurodake, and met some of those guides. Did join one trip at Hakkoda and was the only round-eye in that crew. That was typical. Most groups were entirely domestic.
I did not ride much backcountry until March and April each season since my local hill was deserted week days and I was lapping chairs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dromond
I think we can all appreciate someone with such a devotion to their craft. You said you were able to leave and return once, right? Did you stay and work during summers?Quote:
Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw
With that time-frame I would be looking at a 3-centre holidayQuote:
Originally Posted by seemay
1. Either Niseko Resort Area or Rusutsu
Ski Niseko United, Niseko Moiwa, Rusutsu
Plenty of ski touring options
If your budget allows, cat skiing and heli skiing
2. Otaru or Sapporo
Ski by day, enjoy city life by night
Otaru Tenguyama, Asari, Kiroro, Sapporo Kokusai, Sapporo Teine
A number of even smaller hills for shits and giggles
3. Asahikawa (for city holiday) or Furano (for resort holiday)
Kamui, Pippu, Furano, Tomamu, Sahoro, Yubari, Asahidake
Loads of touring in Tokachidake National Park
Need a car to get the best out of all of these areas
Rusutsu is on the K-Pass (Kamori Winter Pass)
(Rusutsu, Sapporo Teine, Sahoro, Nakayama Toge)
Also on Epic Pass
Couldn't find out any info on Rusutsu Pass offering discount in Niseko Area, but I seem to recall it's a NO
Thanks Mike!. Please give me your Instagram again.. I stopped following you somehow and can't remember your Insta IDQuote:
Originally Posted by Mike Pow
Mike, do you or anyone else have a pass from Rusutsu last year? I ask as there's a 5% discount available if you mention their name/pass number when buying for 22/23.
My pleasureQuote:
Originally Posted by up an down
https://www.instagram.com/mikethesnow/