22/23 Japan scene?

[climberevan]

I would take 100-105mm skis to Hokkaido instead of wider ones, but 1) I'm 140#, and 2) I earn 100% of my turns. YMMV.

The snow is light and it's not steep by and large, so you don't need massive skis.

[thefortrees]

First trip to Japan in mid-January after having to cancel last winter. Gear question: is 106mm underfoot too small? I'm trying not to bring every pair of skis I own, but the only thing I've got that's wider is a 112mm touring ski (Pagodas). I'm willing to get a bigger alpine setup, but if I don't have to spend add'l $$$ an already expensive I'd prefer not to. Plus, my understanding is that the terrain in Hokkaido is more deep than steep, so maybe pagodas+hojis is sufficient?

Pagodas + hojis will be fine

[grbchv]

Excellent, I figured as much. Thanks yall!

[boltonoutlaw]

Central Hokkaido - Anyone here going to get up to Kamui, Pippu, Asahidake or Kurodake?
I will be based in Kamikawa for 90 days and a passholder at Pippu but will be traveling to the aforementioned, as well as Furano. Looking to make new friends. Have room in my truck for one. Backcountry ready; I ride a snowboard/splitboard. EDIT: Tried several times to realign this photo but I concede

[Mike Pow]

Loved Pippu and all the others you mentioned

There are some others in the area which are worth a look

Kamoidake
Katsurazawa Kokusetsu
Nayoro Piyashiri
Nukabira

Not big, but zero competition for powder

[boltonoutlaw]

Loved Pippu and all the others you mentioned

There are some others in the area which are worth a look

Kamoidake
Katsurazawa Kokusetsu
Nayoro Piyashiri
Nukabira

Not big, but zero competition for powder

Thanks for the feedback, and those other spots I was not familiar with. My crib is walking distance to a small, one lift municipal hill called Kamikawa Choei Nakayama.

I like Asahikawa as a city. Not thrilling but has everything one needs and is fully relaxed. Higashikawa is one of the fastest growing towns in Hokkaido, and all my upscale friends in Furano agree that is the next place to be.

[atree]

I’m going to have a day to burn in Sapporo. Any recommendations for things to do and see this time of year?


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[atree]

I’m going to have a day to burn in Sapporo. Any recommendations for things to do and see this time of year?


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Btw, this thread has been a great resource. Thanks for all of the info.


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[boltonoutlaw]

Japan has a new paperless entry system which is strongly recommended that you follow to save time and avoid complications and/or missing transfers. I wrote a lengthy post about it in post #3 at TR: Japan W23 - Hokkaido

You might have been informed by your airline or tour group leader but independent travelers flying on non-Japanese carriers will have easily missed these new procedures.

[altasnob]

I’m going to have a day to burn in Sapporo. Any recommendations for things to do and see this time of year?

Ski Sapporo Teine?

[BFD]

I’m going to have a day to burn in Sapporo. Any recommendations for things to do and see this time of year?


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tourist shit

[SUPERIOR]

Ski Teine. It’s a great area with some steeps (for Hokkaido) and the best ski resort lunch I’ve ever had.

Visit the Yodobashi camera store.

Check out the underground Mall from the Train Station.

Visit the Red Light district and find a Nomi Hodai all you can drink bar.

Check out the adult batting cages with bar service. Fastballs up to 90 mph!




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[SUPERIOR]

If you’re there in early Feb, the best attraction is the snow sculpture festival. It’s unbelievable.

https://www.snowfes.com/english/


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[altasnob]

If you’re there in early Feb, the best attraction is the snow sculpture festival. It’s unbelievable.

https://www.snowfes.com/english/

One of the highlights of my Japan trip.

[NWFlow]

tourist shit

Haha i had a great time (from what i remember) at the beer garden as well.

We only had an evening before flying out, but when i go back I'd like to spend a couple days skiing out of Sapporo and evenings in the city

[boltonoutlaw]

I don't know about you guys but Sapporo/Otaru gets my vote as best ski city on the planet

[alev]

I don't know about you guys but Sapporo/Otaru gets my vote as best ski city on the planet

I stumbled into otaru in 2015 after a botched attempt at Japan by van (travel buddy forgot to book the van…) and loved it there


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[Dromond]

I stumbled into otaru in 2015 after a botched attempt at Japan by van (travel buddy forgot to book the van…) and loved it there


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I really wanted to check out the ski areas around there in 2020 but with the low snowpack that year it was going to be a bamboo bushwhack. That’s an excuse to return again sometime I guess.

[beer30]

I realize it’s the season isn’t really in full swing yet but how have the crowds been?

[boltonoutlaw]

Super convenient and inexpensive luggage courier services are ubiquitous in Japan and will save you time, money, hassles. I wrote about it in post #8 at TR: Japan W23 - Hokkaido

[boltonoutlaw]

I realize it’s the season isn’t really in full swing yet but how have the crowds been?

Do you really want to know? Read this salient article at NYT: Free Lift Passes, Anyone? Japan’s Ski Mecca Is Desperate for Workers.

From the article:

While the area’s year-round local population is only about 25,000 residents, more than 1.3 million tourists could descend on the area between November and March, according to the Kutchan Tourism Association. With the borders only recently reopening, employers who typically hire seasonal workers from abroad have struggled to obtain work visas. The weak yen has also deterred some workers who don’t want to take what amounts to a pay cut.

This reader comment from 29 December says it all:

We are skiing in Niseko this week. The mountain management is incredibly disorganized, with or without labor shortages. A lot of things just don’t make sense, like closing the only lift adjacent to the ski school at the exact same time the ski school lets out at 3:30pm (so you can’t ski after your lesson, and must wait for a crowded shuttle bus to get to the other side of the hill), or running the shuttles on one static schedule with no thought to the busier times of day. They don’t plow most of the roads. Two of our shuttle busses have gotten stuck so far. There are no cabs, and the busses are nothing short of Lord of the Flies when it comes to getting on and getting a seat. Every restaurant has been booked solid. The ski runs are packed. The tourists are downright aggressive—the opposite of the gentle and humble Japanese culture that is sadly nonexistent here. Not a luxury experience…

I've been a dedicated B-List guy my entire winter season life. A-List = lines, and lines are for kooks. More than 500 ski areas in Japan but everyone goes to Niseko.

[Lee Murian]

We just spent NYE day skiing Mt Yotei, the last bluebird day before a big storm rolls in.

We’re strictly touring so can’t speak to the resorts but the bc crowds were mellow.

The skin tracks here are a shitshow however. We broke our own all day to avoid the steep, snow shoed existing tracks.


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[beer30]

Gotcha,
Enjoy the quieter places.
I enjoy the free trip so I kinda go wherever that maybe.

[boltonoutlaw]

This all below looks great:

We just spent NYE day skiing Mt Yotei, the last bluebird day before a big storm rolls in.

We’re strictly touring so can’t speak to the resorts but the bc crowds were mellow.

The skin tracks here are a shitshow however. We broke our own all day to avoid the steep, snow shoed existing tracks.

[Mike Pow]

Just arrived in Hirafu Village

Dumping

Rusutsu tomorrow