Skiing to Japan, where should we go?

**Juha_74** · 01-13-2007, 06:23 AM

Hi there,

We are travelling from Finland to Japan for two weeks in the middle of February. We would love to go skiing at least for one week to Japan alps or farthest north island Hokkaido. However me haven't been before in Japan so I'm little confused where should we go skiing. I founded from www.snowjapan.com hundreds of centers but I have no idea what place we should select.

Do you wan't to help and throw me some tips where shoud we go skiing :-)

We would like to do offpiste as well and I have understood that it's not permitted in all places. Is that true?

All information of Japan destinations are appreciatet. Thanks in advance :-)

**hemas** · 01-13-2007, 06:58 AM

Etsi hyvä mies... etsi... Nimittäin täällä on noin parikytä TR (Trip Report) ja miltei saman verran vanhoja threatejä...

Oh, and SEARCH JONG

.

**samuelf** · 01-13-2007, 09:07 AM

search for my Japan pow tr. We went to some pretty sick places.

**Tippster** · 01-13-2007, 09:35 AM

Niseko...?

**Juha_74** · 01-14-2007, 08:35 AM

Yepyep, I found many topics about skiing in Japan. I think that Hakuba, Niseko or Hakkoda are best choices for backcountry skiing.
We ski with telemark skis so lifts are not necessary. Of course lifts saves time for essential but we manage without them with skins.

**StuntCok** · 01-14-2007, 08:44 AM

The Japan alps around Hakuba is the best all around skiing in Japan and a Fattwins runs a lodge there. More and more resorts are allowing backcountry skiing and the ones that do not allow it have a hard time enforcing it. There are even some resorts, most noteably Asahidake, that run a tram to the top of the mountain with no runs, ropes boundries or ski patrol and there is at least one english speaking guide there. Niseko is pretty flat but has nice snow and reasonable apres. So far, this year has not been so good for snow, however, so you may just want to go to Whistler...

**Incompetent Boob** · 01-14-2007, 12:52 PM

Hakuba excellent backcountry and trees, and averages 10+m of snow. Search on here for Hakuba should bring up some pics and other details. In Hakuba there is a lot of terrain you can skin/hike to from the top lift. The only problem is it is best to ride with someone who knows the area well, and a lot of the time it really helps to have a car dropped at your exit point.

I've also heard though, that this year isn't great snow-wise. They have forums on snowjapan, so perhaps you could ask there about the conditions.

**Rontele** · 01-14-2007, 12:53 PM

You are going to ski to Japan?

That is core.

**addict** · 01-14-2007, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by StuntCok

The Japan alps around Hakuba is the best all around skiing in Japan and a Fattwins runs a lodge there. More and more resorts are allowing backcountry skiing and the ones that do not allow it have a hard time enforcing it. There are even some resorts, most noteably Asahidake, that run a tram to the top of the mountain with no runs, ropes boundries or ski patrol and there is at least one english speaking guide there. Niseko is pretty flat but has nice snow and reasonable apres. So far, this year has not been so good for snow, however, so you may just want to go to Whistler...

Just skiied some fricken sweet big lines yesterday with Fattwins. Fresh tracks and 40kt winds on the ridge! Wait for a video TR when I finally get around to editting in about april

The snow has not been as good as last year, but I've had knee to waist deep untracked for the last week so it's not all bad. I'm actually looking out the window now at sunrise on the Japanese alps and if you saw what I'm seeing you'd wanna be here now.

**Juha_74** · 01-15-2007, 09:47 AM

I have read dozens of good topics about Japan

.
Hakuba sounds so good that we gonna go there. Niseko, Hakkoda and other resorts sounds good too but we'll see those places next time. That's good pretence to come back to Japan, right

We need some advantageous accomodation for three dudes. Do you wan't to recommend some place at Hakuba?

Fattwins, do you wan't be our guide for couple of days starting at 17th of February?

Thanks guys for your guidance

**Incompetent Boob** · 01-15-2007, 10:00 AM

There are a few hostels in Hakuba, google:

Hakuba Powder Lodging (fattwins place)
Hakuba Alps Backpackers
Snowbeds
Traveller's Nest

I can't remember, but there may be one or two more.
Also you can check www.hakubapow.com for some info on the area.
Fattwins might be charging for his guiding services these days, I'm not sure. Best PM him about it. You can also google Evergreen Outdoor Center who offer guiding around the Hakuba valley.

DZ · 01-23-2007, 04:08 AM

yes, there are plenty of places to stay at in hakuba, the HPL is one of the newest.

Juha, yes you should forget about niseko if you want good terrain. hakuba is where it's at.

hi addict. sucks the phones weren't working while you were in t-town; if you come back, let's ride/ski again. that was a sick day in the trees we had when you were here :thumbsup:

**Juha_74** · 01-25-2007, 07:10 AM

Yep, Fattwins had free room for us so we're going to Hakuba Powder Lodging.

By the way, has someone skied down from Fuji? I did search here previous topics but it's surprisingly quiet about Fuji. SJ has some topics about http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/...ding-fuji.html it.

We would like to ski at Fuji for one day when we're coming back from Hakuba to Tokyo. Any information where skiing is allowed and what's best wall to drop?

Thanks again

**Juha_74** · 02-23-2007, 08:04 PM

Hi guys,

We found some nice north face slopes at Hakuba. There's lots of dry snow out here.
By the way, we can highly recommend Nick and Hiro's lodge. Our hosts are nice and there's lot's of nice skiiers from all over the world.

P.s. Here's couple of more pics from Hakuba area.

Now we have to go skiing, C U :-)

**Jrayne** · 02-23-2007, 10:34 PM

Niseko. I have been there the past 2 years and it is epic. Even in a season like 2006/07 where Japan has been getting boned -- like most of the rest of the wintersports world for snow -- the conditions were DEEP from 12-14 February. Niseko isn't the steepest place I've ever skied, but the quality and depth of the snow is really ridiculous...

Check out their website: http://www.skihanazono.com/ptv_snowreports.html

Amazing skiing and they actually let you ski out of bounds at this resort through gates like Jackson, Snowbird, etc.

The Australian owners of the Hanazono resort have done a great job of pioneering controlled access to the backcountry in this country.

TP

**StuntCok** · 02-24-2007, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by timpetrick

Niseko. I have been there the past 2 years and it is epic. Even in a season like 2006/07 where Japan has been getting boned -- like most of the rest of the wintersports world for snow -- the conditions were DEEP from 12-14 February. Niseko isn't the steepest place I've ever skied, but the quality and depth of the snow is really ridiculous...

Check out their website: http://www.skihanazono.com/ptv_snowreports.html

Amazing skiing and they actually let you ski out of bounds at this resort through gates like Jackson, Snowbird, etc.

The Australian owners of the Hanazono resort have done a great job of pioneering controlled access to the backcountry in this country.

TP

Actually, I have been to niseko a number of times before and after the Aussie purchase. There has been contolled access to the BC well before the Australian takeover and actually, many Hokkaido resorts (Teine, close to Sapporo being one of the steeper ones) have had it for as long as I remember. It is the honshu resorts that have been stricter but even here places like Kagura, Hakkoda and Tenjindaira have allowed BC access for as long as I have been here. It is like Japanese speeding laws. The posted signs sound strictg but enforcement is much more lax. You just have to know where they enforce the rules and where they don't.

**kush1** · 02-24-2007, 01:16 AM

Sick, nice photos I leave for Hakuba on tuesday for 2 weeks! First time heading to that side of the world....

**StuntCok** · 02-24-2007, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by kush1

Sick, nice photos I leave for Hakuba on tuesday for 2 weeks! First time heading to that side of the world....

Are you coming with Billy Poole and the Wink inc people?

**kush1** · 02-24-2007, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by StuntCok

Are you coming with Billy Poole and the Wink inc people?

small world, see you in a few days.....

**satori** · 02-24-2007, 08:34 PM

gawd damn some sweet photos. Wish I was in Hakuba rather than sitting in my apartment

Looking at the end of March for some touring before work starts back up.

Stuntcok how long you out for mate? If you need those meds lemme know.

**brice618** · 02-24-2007, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Rontele

You are going to ski to Japan?

That is core.

This made me laugh outloud.

**StuntCok** · 02-24-2007, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by satori

gawd damn some sweet photos. Wish I was in Hakuba rather than sitting in my apartment

Looking at the end of March for some touring before work starts back up.

Stuntcok how long you out for mate? If you need those meds lemme know.

Don'r know how long I am out for but I plan to be skiing a bit in March, even if it is just taking it easy on groomers. I have to get back in shape for my big heli trip to Greenland in golden week. I just put a bid on a house in Hakuba, though and I should know this week...

Anyway, thanks for the med offer. I toughed it through and now am fine, pain wise. I get the staples out of my shoulder tomorrow, so I guess that is progress...

**BigKuba** · 02-25-2007, 12:02 AM

Originally Posted by Juha_74

I have read dozens of good topics about Japan

.

...words...

Thanks guys for your guidance

You sir deserve a plaque for your use of obscure smiley-icons.

I have no real information to add...

**carl jay** · 02-25-2007, 03:47 AM

dont go to niseko unles you want mega tracked snow and thousands of aussie bogans wrecking the place

**satori** · 02-26-2007, 05:57 AM

stuntcok, hoping to be up in Hakuba the 3rd week of March for some touring. Maybe see you up there. Need to have some beers this time, especially after that last facking fiasco we had to deal with

Nice work on the house - best place to have a house IMHO. Glad yer gettin better too.

Carl J, as much as I slag niseko it still has some of the best pow in Japan. Terrain sucks though its good enough for your average wanker. Shiga Kogen is prolly #1 though cuz of its altitude. Last winter was getting 40+ cm dumps and was ballz deep in it. So light and dry there