Japan 23/24 Season

[m2711c]

Tohoku…

Public transit aomori Shinkansen station to hakkoda ropeway



Bus from Morioka station to geto kogen

https://www.getokogen.com/winter_en/...x.html#shuttle

[Pinned]

Tohoku…

Public transit aomori Shinkansen station to hakkoda ropeway

Bus from Morioka station to geto kogen

https://www.getokogen.com/winter_en/...x.html#shuttle

Was checking out this area including Aomori Spring...looks like we could even take the train from Sapporo. Thanks for the rec!

[muted reborn]

Tohoku…

Public transit aomori Shinkansen station to hakkoda ropeway

Any advice for first timers at Hakkoda ropeway looking for sidecountry or backcountry?

[SkiLyft]

^^ we got a guide, the van shuttle on the circumferential road is clutch


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[gaijin]

Pray for visibility. If you have blue skies you can probably just eye-ball it and kind of follow those who look like they know where they're going. Wouldn't hurt to say something like-- "You mind if we follow you from a safe distance? We won't drop in above you or put you at risk." Sometimes it's hard to get strangers to trust you right away, though. Definitely worth a guide your first day for touring to learn the basic routes if you don't have good light.

Hakkoda is rad right off the top, though, too, if you get new snow.

Moya Hills just down the road is a fun way to spend an hour or two after dinner under the floodlights lapping intermediate pow if it's storming. I grew up skiing nights in MN so I kind of have an affinity for skiing under the lights. I might be a bit biased about how entertaining mellow terrain can be.

[muted reborn]

^^ we got a guide, the van shuttle on the circumferential road is clutch

I'm not a big fan of guides but someone waiting to pick us up sounds nice and a good way to maximize our time.

Pray for visibility. If you have blue skies you can probably just eye-ball it and kind of follow those who look like they know where they're going. Wouldn't hurt to say something like-- "You mind if we follow you from a safe distance? We won't drop in above you or put you at risk." Sometimes it's hard to get strangers to trust you right away, though. Definitely worth a guide your first day for touring to learn the basic routes if you don't have good light.

Hakkoda is rad right off the top, though, too, if you get new snow.

Moya Hills just down the road is a fun way to spend an hour or two after dinner under the floodlights lapping intermediate pow if it's storming. I grew up skiing nights in MN so I kind of have an affinity for skiing under the lights. I might be a bit biased about how entertaining mellow terrain can be.

Good info, thanks! Moya sounds fun as a fellow midwesterner. We are staying in Hirosaki, any recs there? Any Aomori Spring Resort sidecountry recs?

[SpeLunker]

2 days away from embarking on a poorly planned trip to Hokkaido. Have 5 nights of lodging in Niseko then will stay in Sapporo for a week or so hanging out and doing day trips to nearby resorts. Rusutsu has a free bus from there so I will use that for a day or two. Didnt get an int drivers license so wont be renting a car.

Any recommendations on resorts/towns that are accesible by public transport that I should check out?

for luggage forwarding - am I ok just showing up at the desk in the terminal and just giving them my skis to send? I already asked my accommodation if they will accept them and will have 4 nights in Tokyo before traveling to Niseko to pick them up. I couldn't figure out a way of making a reservation with the black cat logo company.

[bennymac]

Others with more experience can chime in - but yeah there was zero issue with us just showing up at the desk.

We found it helpful to have a printed out piece of paper with easily readable English and Japanese versions of the destination address with phone number and any other contact details for who is receiving the ski gear. We just showed that to Black cat and they used it to fill out the required forms for us.

[McDee]

Any recommendations on resorts/towns that are accesible by public transport that I should check out?

Maybe not for the skiing, but Otaru is easily reachable by train from Sapporo. Nice town to wonder around in the evening and go for dinner, especially if they have their small version of the snow festival on.

[NBABUCKS1]

also for Black Cat (Yamato) I'm going to be in Morioka and I want to ship my skis to the airport. I can't seem to find a desk there - how does one find a place that will ship the skis back to airport? Is it like UPS and you find a 'shipping' store?

Also Spelunker - It's $20 and 20 seconds to get an international drivers license from AAA. I'd get one to have in your pocket in the event you need one.

Also it's $650 to get from SLC to Tokyo roundtrip right now. I booked at $820 two weeks ago thinking I was getting a deal.

[montanaskier]

37 days from our trip! So stoked!


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[Brian in SLC]

Any recommendations on resorts/towns that are accesible by public transport that I should check out?

Ditto for Otaru. Easy to visit on the train. Also, the Nikka Whisky Distillery in Yoichi is kinda fun and really close to the train stop.

[SpeLunker]

also for Black Cat (Yamato) I'm going to be in Morioka and I want to ship my skis to the airport. I can't seem to find a desk there - how does one find a place that will ship the skis back to airport? Is it like UPS and you find a 'shipping' store?

Also Spelunker - It's $20 and 20 seconds to get an international drivers license from AAA. I'd get one to have in your pocket in the event you need one.

Also it's $650 to get from SLC to Tokyo roundtrip right now. I booked at $820 two weeks ago thinking I was getting a deal.

Thanks!

Are you able to get the IDP online? It didnt seem like AAA had this service. Only at a location in person and I read it takes 10-15 days.

[m2711c]

It does not take 10 to 15 days. You literally handed them a $20 and they hand you the international drivers license. It takes as long as it takes to put the stamps in the book.

you should be able to do it at any AAA branch office.

By the way. Make sure the stamps are in the proper location for your license type on the Japanese page. The Japanese are very particular about making sure the paperwork is correct.

It’s definitely worth picking it up. You never know if you’re gonna want to rent a car.

[m2711c]

also for Black Cat (Yamato) I'm going to be in Morioka and I want to ship my skis to the airport. I can't seem to find a desk there - how does one find a place that will ship the skis back to airport? Is it like UPS and you find a 'shipping' store?

Also Spelunker - It's $20 and 20 seconds to get an international drivers license from AAA. I'd get one to have in your pocket in the event you need one.

Also it's $650 to get from SLC to Tokyo roundtrip right now. I booked at $820 two weeks ago thinking I was getting a deal.

Black cat goes to most hotels. You can try just asking at any of the hotels in Morioka.

Are you going to be skiing at geto kogen while you’re at Morioka? if so, they have a counter at the ski area.



https://www.getokogen.com/winter/03f...x.html#Baggage

[NBABUCKS1]

Black cat goes to most hotels. You can try just asking at any of the hotels in Morioka.

Are you going to be skiing at geto kogen while you’re at Morioka? if so, they have a counter at the ski area.



https://www.getokogen.com/winter/03f...x.html#Baggage

Thanks!

I'll be at geto kogen earlier in trip when i'm staying kitakami but not at this portion of the trip. I need to hand carry my skis to kitakami because I'm immediately going to kitakami and skiing next day at geto kogen earlier in trip (not enough time to ship). I arrive at 3 pm and I doubt they can get the skis directly to geto kogen/kitakami that quick.

I'll have to ask at hotel what they can do. I'll also ask at yamato desk in airport when I show up on arrival.

[CascadeCrudSkier]

also for Black Cat (Yamato) I'm going to be in Morioka and I want to ship my skis to the airport. I can't seem to find a desk there - how does one find a place that will ship the skis back to airport? Is it like UPS and you find a 'shipping' store?

Also Spelunker - It's $20 and 20 seconds to get an international drivers license from AAA. I'd get one to have in your pocket in the event you need one.

Also it's $650 to get from SLC to Tokyo roundtrip right now. I booked at $820 two weeks ago thinking I was getting a deal.

The hotel is the preferred option but if that falls through then there are several Yamato offices in Morioka, use Google Maps to identify the one that's closest to you.

[NBABUCKS1]

The hotel is the preferred option but if that falls through then there are several Yamato offices in Morioka, use Google Maps to identify the one that's closest to you.

Thanks I google map'd it (or so I thought) and didn't see any but see them now.

Thanks!

[gaijin]

Your hotel should have a daily pick up service as well as shipping labels and scales.


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[gaijin]

Yamagata of Tohoku just had a week of snow. A meter or so of dense filler. The forest is a go. It’s still rolly-polly but it’s a solid base in early January. Less than 40% typical, I’d say. A solid start. It feels early. I was in there today— Huh, this is deeper than I’m used to for 1/11.

That said— I wonder if this means an “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” I hope it’s still snowing in March.

Get it while you can. You Jan/Feb trippers are stoked.

Anyone in Hakuba the last week of January, I’ll be down there tronning the forests. May also hit some stuff a bit north as I go home the last few days of January. Shiga Kogen, Myoko, Madarao, Nozawa are all on the list and en route to home.

Will be following the wind patterns. If there is any wind. My van is my bed if need be.


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[Mr. Toad]

I’m in Furano rn and heading to Niseko and having boot issues. Anybody know who sells Scarpa boots around here?

[bobinch]

Tenjin was on today

[conkyyy]

anyone in Myoko or Hakuba? Im heading there next week- looking for some bc and side country partners

[conkyyy]

.

[conkyyy]

Yamagata of Tohoku just had a week of snow. A meter or so of dense filler. The forest is a go. It’s still rolly-polly but it’s a solid base in early January. Less than 40% typical, I’d say. A solid start. It feels early. I was in there today— Huh, this is deeper than I’m used to for 1/11.

That said— I wonder if this means an “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” I hope it’s still snowing in March.

Get it while you can. You Jan/Feb trippers are stoked.

Anyone in Hakuba the last week of January, I’ll be down there tronning the forests. May also hit some stuff a bit north as I go home the last few days of January. Shiga Kogen, Myoko, Madarao, Nozawa are all on the list and en route to home.

Will be following the wind patterns. If there is any wind. My van is my bed if need be.


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yes! chasing storms as well