Skiing, DH Mtb if you live in Tokyo

An opportunity has just come my way to relocate to Tokyo for a year. Although not a primary factor in the decision making process, there's the skiing/riding issue.

Realistically, how close is all the chest-deep sacred tree skiing to downtown Tokyo--do any folks working in tokyo get 3 days a week skiing that stuff?

And the harder question--is there any lift served mt. biking near tokyo, or failing that, shuttle riding?

or should i just get a job working with topher at the gmd and liv teh dram baconlol?

bump for the early morning far east crowd.

Tokyo is within a couple hours bullet train ride to the alps. If you have 3 days a week off, you're stoked.

I don't know of any mtb lifts, but I'm out of that loop.

I love lamp.

Yep, take the shinkansen and 2 hrs later you're in the big Nag's, within eye sight of Shiga Kogen and a host of others. Shiga's gotta be one of the biggest resorts outside of Yurp, and there's a host of smaller spots too.

so a car isn't totally necessary?

i was going to ensure that getting set up with a car was part of the relocation package as i couldn't imagine not becoming homicidal trying to drag ski gear or a dh bike on the train every weekend...do most people use the train to ski?

A train pulls right into the lodge at Gala.

Tolls are outrageous to get to the mountains by driving. I'm guessing trains go to Nagano.

Trains go to Nagano, it is about 4.5hrs to Hakuba from central Tokyo (IIRC). If you can car-pool though, that is the way to go. Much more flexible and I believe no more expensive. A car also gives you access to the resorts a little off the train routes. There are a few I can think of at the minute that are worth the drive. I know a lot of weekend warriors who are regulars at some places leave a lot of gear there during the week so they don't have to lug so much around.
I know SFA about the mountain-biking part of it though.
PM fattwins, he has a lodge in Hakuba.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Incompetent Boob

Much more flexible and I believe no more expensive.

---

jesus, i think i ate a chocolate squirrel. the train fares i found from tokyo to nagano were like $65US each way, the tolls + gas would add up that much?

is the usual program shinkansen then slogging on local rail/busses then taking a taxi to the skiing?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brick Tamland

jesus, i think i ate a chocolate squirrel. the train fares i found from tokyo to nagano were like $65US each way, the tolls + gas would add up that much?

---

Well, I think the tolls & gas might even be more than that... So you'd need to car-pool in order to cut the costs down.

the US is the only place in the world that you can get a gallon of gas for under $4 USD

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jepilot

the US is the only place in the world that you can get a gallon of gas for under $4 USD

---

and we'll bitch about that....

take the super azusa from tokyo direct to hakuba it is cheaper than the shink. The azusa is also more relaxed and about the same time give or take 30 mins.

from tokyo the quickest skiing is in nigata about 70 mins out.

Lodges like mine keep their return customers equipment so that you dont have to lug it back and forth.

figure that the cost of a lift ticket is 40 bucks or less. lodging about 30 to 40 bucks then the transportation costs arent that bad. Also Japan only taxes your pay 5%. This is why we have to pay more for services. you only have to pay for what you use.

who cares about the money the pow is so sicter you wont be thinking about money when your chokin on pow.

and 2 thumbs up for FT's lodge

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fattwins

Lodges like mine keep their return customers equipment so that you dont have to lug it back and forth.

figure that the cost of a lift ticket is 40 bucks or less. lodging about 30 to 40 bucks

---

thanks...i'm already feeling claustrophobic about the no-car thing though...

so any info on mountain biking, dh or otherwise? All i've got so far is that you have to put them in a bike box for train transport...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jepilot

the US is the only place in the world that you can get a gallon of gas for under $4 USD

---

Caracas bitches

I stabbed a man in the heart with a trident.

Karl, would you like to go to the pants party?

Bump in hopes of finding more info on mt. biking.

fattwins, your lodge got a linky? when is the best time to ski out there?

Loud noises!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gonzo

fattwins, your lodge got a linky? when is the best time to ski out there?

Loud noises!

---

Link to he lodge is on his profile...
hakubapowderlodging.com

As for the timeframe... Well, I'll let him answer that.

This is my dang alias. i forgot i made it.
i wonder, can aliai lost in the ether be apropriated by higher level board members? did Pinner swoop down and steal my brick?

man, i wish i was still brick. i wish i was going to japan.


i found this. it looks like DHing is available.

What’s most popular in Japan?

Down-hilling seems to be the ticket in Japan at the moment. Many prospective racers are now packing up with friends, family and gear and heading out to the downhill slopes on the weekends. Down-hilling usually takes place at a ski slope in summer and fall. It involves riding up the gondola, getting as many runs in as you can in a day, then relaxing in an onsen (hot spring) with your buds discussing the day’s good and bad ones (the latter being the most entertaining).

Another reason for downhill’s popularity is that almost anyone can ride a bike down a hill with little or no physical fitness training, whereas with cross-country, a basic level of fitness is necessary for climbing up those hills.

http://www.outdoorjapan.com/features...hilling-1.html

FT, is the skiing going to be good early season? ill be in Osaka until christmas and really want to see some skiing in Japan. Ill be bringing some Bros and Praxis if you want to try them out!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by basom

This is my dang alias. i forgot i made it.
i wonder, can aliai lost in the ether be apropriated by higher level board members? did Pinner swoop down and steal my brick?

---

Are you sure you aren't being relocated to Japan? Look out for the men in the black pajamas.

how early is early?

FT you are stoked! and you have a beautiful family!

TGR never ceases to surprise me!

i willl be leaving japan to come back to the states around the new year. so any early season before that.

Thats a hard call. usally around mid december the base starts to pick-up. Some years we can hit the big shit some years we are just hitting the small stuff in bounds. for example; 2 years ago my place was buried under the snow and I had to pay money to save the house. This season we had to hike for the goods early no snow.

Id say come check it out if your into biglines. See what we have and plan for later.

thanks macdaddy were you here this year?

There is lift accessed mountain biking in a few of the resorts in Hakuba at least (I never go but I see them going up the gondala when I am there for the water ramps). Curiously more popular is paragliding, if you want to get into that. Also, I think Naeba in Niiigata runs lift accessed MTB and that is an hour and a half from central Tokyo. There are no more MTB terrain parks (as of last year), however, within easy access to tokyo but that may change as I know the owner of one resort in Niigata who is thinking about it.

Oh yah, there is lots of traffic going up on the weekends from Tokyo so it is possible to car pool and cut costs. I often have room but I am told I drive like a maniac so you may want to reconsider.

Stunts I stillneed help with bike info cause Im a noob. The DH course near the water ramp is coming along well. it is open now

What was the problem again? I am not much of a bike tech but I think Ian knows a bit... You know, thinking about it, you should get on the MTB forums in Japan (if there are any) and drum up some summer traffic for your lodge...

Dude i know jack about biking really.
I want a good XC bike but not grand. full sus would be great but I dont really care. I then have to refit my DH bike with new forks and rear shocks and they aint cheap (again I cant find a deal cause im a kayaker not a biker). this season we are gardening and enjoying the crisp clean air.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fattwins

Dude i know jack about biking really.
I want a good XC bike but not grand. full sus would be great but I dont really care. I then have to refit my DH bike with new forks and rear shocks and they aint cheap (again I cant find a deal cause im a kayaker not a biker). this season we are gardening and enjoying the crisp clean air. want to sell the place next season.

---

Want to sell the place?! Dude, that is the centre of international ski-bummery in Japan. The most core place in the most core part of Japan. That is big news...

ps miss typed i aint going no where for life

I remember many a Saturday morning, around 5:45 on the Ginza subway link Shinbuya to Tokyo Central, transfer to the Shinkansen where suddenly the dead early morning is transformed into a chaotic mess of 80's 1 pieces, super carvers, and steaming breakfast cakes...

Catch the sunrise on distant Mount Fuji out of the corner of my sleeping eye whizzing through flat lands at warp speed. Vague remeberance of air pressure rising and falling through tunnels, awake to the sound of a phone alarm, stirring passengers, "Mamonaku, Nagano ni teisha itashimasu. Shuten desu." Snow falling on ceramic tile roofs, suddenly out into the samurai ink block painting.

Onto a bus (not the highlight), arrive at Happo One around 10:30 after a quick check into the hotel. Riding powder turns until the wheels fall off.

Mate you're in for a fun year.

As for the car, I always took the trains but towards the end of my stay was considering buying one. Tokyo weekend traffic is a bitch but it may be worth it. You could drive there Friday night for example, or as others have said, get to some great resorts that aren't easily accessible by train.

There is also the overnight Chuo line to Hakuba via Matsumoto, but I never took that because I suck at sleeping on trains and figured the delayed start was worth the extra hours in a real bed.

the super azusa is the way now. leave tokyo and be in haks in 4 hours

a customer made this little vid to show off happo