Japan 23/24 Season

[beer30]

I’ll be there, mid January til mid February in Niseko

[CaliKid]

We might cross in the airport. Wife and I are arriving 2/1 and leaving 2/12.

Question for the experts. With only 12 days and the wife’s strong desire to do site seeing and my strong desire to ski and our mutual desire to eat great food, we have loosely arrived at a plan of flying into Tokyo, spend a few days, go to Kyoto, then fly to Sapporo and ski the last 4-5 days, flying out of Sapporo back to the states. Is this a good plan? We originally planned on flying in and out of Tokyo but I feel like that’s too much travel in 12 days. If we are going to do that I think we need to ski Hakuba instead of Hokkaido.

We did a very similar trip 7-8 years ago.

2 full days in Tokyo (arrived at 5am)
Bullet train to Kyoto
2 full days in Kyoto
1 travel day from Kyoto > Sapporo via Osaka
6 days of skiing (4 different resorts)
1 travel day return from Sapporo via Osaka

My son and I can sleep on flights so jet lag wasn't an issue. My wife really struggled the first day.

2 days in Kyoto was plenty
I wish we had more time in Tokyo but we prioritized skiing another day or two
We split our time in Hokkaido with 2 nights in Sapporo and 5 nights in Niseko
We rented a car in Sapporo

Next time we go I think I'd do the inverse and ski first and spend the last 2-4 days in Tokyo and split time in Hokkaido between two locations again.



Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[SUPERIOR]

Just a friendly PSA for any prospective Japan skiers in Hokkaido.

It’s filling up!

Get on your hotel and restaurant and car reservations now, or risk being a bit late.

I have had a few folks reach out about guiding this week, and it is shocking for me to say we’re almost fully booked out for the winter at Hokkaido Backcountry Club in Niseko.

It’s OCTOBER.

[Mike Pow]

Great news

[bobinch]

Just a friendly PSA for any prospective Japan skiers in Hokkaido.

It’s filling up!

Get on your hotel and restaurant and car reservations now, or risk being a bit late.

I have had a few folks reach out about guiding this week, and it is shocking for me to say we’re almost fully booked out for the winter at Hokkaido Backcountry Club in Niseko.

It’s OCTOBER.

Nice stoke!

[LeeLau]

I searched but couldn't find it. Is there a 24/25 Japan thread. I put together a Hokkaido Google map shareable that might be useful for general purpose use

[XXX-er]

yeah ^^ this is a thing in japan, people ship their skis and its dead reliable

[m2711c]

I think we're just rolling over this thread to 2025, Lee. post up the map, i'd love to see it.

[bamboocoreONLY]

So me n this misses are going to try a bit different Japan trip when we (hopefully, we're buying a house in december) come in late january. Honestly, I always try to think a little outside the box and I think I've decided against Hokkaido all together. I'm sure there's ways to avoid how busy it's becoming up there (and it seems there are from research), but I really like the idea of just renting a car in Tokyo and driving north up Honshu. Just seems like there's a lot of almost forgotten ski areas that still get plenty of snow and the towns are much more gaijin-free.

I think the plan is to drive the E4 highway and detour off of there, going through cities like Fukushima and Sendai but staying closer to ski areas around those areas, then ultimately ending up in Aomori. We may also just head up through the Niigata area as well. So does anyone have any experience in these areas and have any suggestions on ski areas/places to stay in particular? I have my own list but am open to whatever. I'm guessing this will be 8-10 days of the trip. Yes, we'll have touring gear and all that as well.

I have been in Japan before, but that was in the Myoko area, which was an awesome trip. I'm also planning for us to spend more time around Tokyo this time as I only got 1 day on my last trip, maybe for about a week.

edit: I've been looking into car rental and it's not as cut n dry as I'd like, anyone have suggestions for finding a 4WD car that can fit skis in it that doesn't break the bank? Open to taking trains to most places but would like to have the freedom of a car for the places further off the beaten path.

[BFD]

I think I posted on this before. I planned a trip off Google earth. I looked for the most vertical than for the closest bed symbol. I than booked at the ryokan. We could tour out the door everywhere we stayed. The ryokan ranged from a mom and mop operation where we were the only guests to a place where we were entertained by women playing clay flutes. Every place was memorable. In 3 weeks we only met one other group touring. They were Japanese. Fortunately we had good snow. Get tire chains with your rental.

[m2711c]

Good plan. Hakkoda, Ani, Tazawako and Geto Kogen are all worth hitting. Great skiing and good ryokans and onsens in the area. All except Hakkoda are on the indy pass, if you have that already.

https://hakkoda-ski.com/
https://www-aniski-jp.translate.goog..._x_tr_hl=en-US
https://www.tazawako-ski.com/
https://www.getokogen.com/winter/index.html

If you go to Hakkoda you should consider staying at Sukayu Onsen. It’s a 300 year old place inside the park that is definitely worth staying at. A short tour from the top of the gondola Then you can ski all the way back the onsen. There’s also lodging right at the base of the lift making it easy to catch first box.

https://sukayu.jp/

Geto Kogen has an onsen in the base lodge and cheap lodging and food as well.

Remember, you don’t have to stay at the onsen to use the onsen.

all of these places allowed overnight RV parking. The RV worked out great for me, I would highly recommend it. You don’t have to drive it all the way up from Tokyo, they have multiple locations in Tohoku you can pick up from.

https://japan-crc.com/en/?page_id

you might consider taking a train from Tokyo up to the northern region and renting a car or an RV there. That should save you a bunch of time, Gas and money for tolls.

when you rent around Tokyo, snow tires are not common and will cost you extra. When renting in the mountain regions, snow tires will be on the car already.

[LeeLau]

I searched but couldn't find it. Is there a 24/25 Japan thread. I put together a Hokkaido Google map shareable that might be useful for general purpose use

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XngXUCfkJAVhD9mr7?g_st=ac

Hokkaido Google Maps shareable album. May be useful for same as a starting point for your own itinerary but recommend customizing for your own needs.

- specific to Otaru and Furano / Asahidake
- not much on Niseko which we are avoiding
- I'll be adding details personal to specific interest (powderhounds snippets, my own interpretation etc in the info fields of these locations

[weibo]

Thanks Lee, that may get help a bit although we will have some "local" knowledge. Planning a Jan 25thish to mid Feb trip staying with a friend in Furano. Tickets should be happening this week.

Does anyone have reviews on Zipair Tokyo as an airline?

[Mike Pow]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XngXUCfkJAVhD9mr7?g_st=ac

Hokkaido Google Maps shareable album. May be useful for same as a starting point for your own itinerary but recommend customizing for your own needs.

- specific to Otaru and Furano / Asahidake
- not much on Niseko which we are avoiding
- I'll be adding details personal to specific interest (powderhounds snippets, my own interpretation etc in the info fields of these locations

That's some solid work

Are you planning on hitting all those on your trip?

[LeeLau]

That's some solid work

Are you planning on hitting all those on your trip?

My lord No! Did a bunch of reading. Got recommendations from friends, these forums etc and distilled places of interest. Lots of good information from people like you Mike. Thanks for that.

Over the next month or so I'll take the notes I have in a word doc and drop them into the Notes part of this map

This is just 13 days. Figured we would use this as a taster of two areas of a big country and stay focused. A pure backcountry trip may have quite different spots.

Would be good to ski with you if you're around Otaru and Furano Asahi-dake area Jan 16- 29. At least a bowl of Ramen and whiskey on me

[tintin5]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XngXUCfkJAVhD9mr7?g_st=ac

Hokkaido Google Maps shareable album. May be useful for same as a starting point for your own itinerary but recommend customizing for your own needs.

- specific to Otaru and Furano / Asahidake
- not much on Niseko which we are avoiding
- I'll be adding details personal to specific interest (powderhounds snippets, my own interpretation etc in the info fields of these locations

Wow. Thanks Lee. That’s a lot of research.

[McDee]

We really enjoyed Otaru, both the little
resort above and the town in the evening. Kind of cool to ski while looking out onto the ocean. The top pizza box came in a ankle hight and the landing was just as low though, which made for an interesting experience: D.
Wife's a bit of a DIY freak so we also spent hours in a mall in Otaru in a superstore. She came home with a bunch of handsaws etc. of a designs we don't get over here. Made for interesting packing on the return flight.

[BFD]

I do not know anything about E4. here is some 405 stoke.






there was skiing

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QmgL8kiiBcWu3aEy/

[Mike Pow]

My lord No! Did a bunch of reading. Got recommendations from friends, these forums etc and distilled places of interest. Lots of good information from people like you Mike. Thanks for that.

Over the next month or so I'll take the notes I have in a word doc and drop them into the Notes part of this map

This is just 13 days. Figured we would use this as a taster of two areas of a big country and stay focused. A pure backcountry trip may have quite different spots.

Would be good to ski with you if you're around Otaru and Furano Asahi-dake area Jan 16- 29. At least a bowl of Ramen and whiskey on me

Phew

Was wondering when you were going to sleep

See what I can do. Thanks

[LeeLau]

I've got a word doc with info culled from Hokkaidowilds, Reddit, this forum, powderhounds. Stuff like Tourist information check-in beforehand, ski transport, Japan hotel sites peculiarities. All culled for what our group wanted to do and meant to coordinate our group ie for Hokkaido focus but also with general NorAm visitors to Japan. So it may not be useful for everyone

Am a little reluctant to post here as I've seen others express reservations about over tourism. You can PM if you want it but please respect it's for private use

[muted reborn]

Wow. Thanks Lee. That’s a lot of research.

It's incomplete without the best ramen shops close to the ski areas and even some far away from them. And no Tomamu?? Kidding, I'm no Japan expert.

I do not know anything about E4. here is some 405 stoke.

there was skiing

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QmgL8kiiBcWu3aEy/

Awesome!

Anyone have northern Honshu food recs? I'm worried I won't find the quality of food I found in Hokkaido/Sapporo.

Looking for recs in the northern yellow prefectures here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefectures_of_Japan

[gaijin]

I know some rad eats in Yamagata. Heading there?

[muted reborn]

I know some rad eats in Yamagata. Heading there?

Nothing is locked in yet besides plane tix and I'm not the only decision maker, but sell me on the location/food! Zao Ropeway looks worthy.

[SUPERIOR]

ANA is doing a sale on RTs to/from Hokkaido.

I am traveling through Honolulu this year. Makes a good stopping off point.

[muted reborn]

What rental vans fit 4 people and 7 skis? The skis are the tricky part. We need a middle channel in the back between seats or it seems impossible to pull off.

Toyota Sienta looks no good, Honda Stepwagon looks good....anyone get screwed with a rental in japan being too small? Because I can't reserve an exact model AFAIK.

A ski rack would solve this but that doesn't look possible to find either.