Japan 23/24 Season

[SUPERIOR]

Nooo.. most vehicles should have racks. Get a Delica, Hiace, Alphard, etc and you should be in business. Most good companies should have racks. I drive a hiace usually, and you should get [emoji640] in there without racks


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[muted reborn]

Nooo.. most vehicles should have racks. Get a Delica, Hiace, Alphard, etc and you should be in business. Most good companies should have racks. I drive a hiace usually, and you should get [emoji640] in there without racks


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Great! Thank you.

[gramboh]

Anyone have thoughts on flying from Tokyo to Sapporo between ANA out of HND or discount Jetstar out of NRT?

We are flying into NRT Friday afternoon spending the night out in Tokyo and then leaving for Sapporo Saturday morning and then skiing Sunday morning. Jetstar the flights are cheaper but it looks like first checked bag is +$43CAD and there's a weight limit of 40kg total per passenger for luggage then it's about $20CAD per KG of additional luggage weight, with no single bag exceeding 32kg. Due to timing we are flying with our skis as we don't have enough time before we ski to ship them from the airport, so a ski bag + backpack and probably a carry-on roller bag. It seems like Jetstar is going to end up close to the same price and result in baggage fuckery at the airport, would rather just go with ANA and avoid the headache.

[m2711c]

Seems like black cat should be able to help you with this?

[gramboh]

Seems like black cat should be able to help you with this?

When I checked, our timeline was too short, i.e. skis would arrive afternoon of our first ski day.

[NBABUCKS1]

stupid good deals on zipair basically $425 r/t LAX <> NRT right now

[east or bust]

stupid good deals on zipair basically $425 r/t LAX <> NRT right now

damn, thanks for the heads up

[spanky]

Japan is on my list. I’m debating if it is worth it to do the trip (from NYC) if we only have a week.

The 12-14 hr flight time and 14 hr time difference are pretty rough.

[Dromond]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]][emoji639][emoji640]]Japan is on my list. I’m debating if it is worth it to do the trip (from NYC) if we only have a week.

The [emoji637][emoji638]-[emoji637][emoji640] hr flight time and [emoji637][emoji640] hr time difference are pretty rough.

It’s not. You need two weeks.

[AmmergauerTele]

That 180 out on the time difference is brutal. Will take a week just to feel somewhat normal.

[m2711c]

It’s nowhere near as bad as it seems. Couple of meals a couple of movies and you’ll be there in no time. More time for vacation is always more better, but I wouldn’t let that keep me from a trip i really wanted to go on.

[muted reborn]

I've adjusted to Japan time in a few days and I think other people are the same. I barely sleep on planes so when I get to Japan around 7pm their time and check in to a hotel by 8-9pm - I sleep for 12 hours and feel OK the next day. Going back home tho - takes me a week to adjust.

10 days is minimum IMO

[BiggC]

Anyone have thoughts on flying from Tokyo to Sapporo between ANA out of HND or discount Jetstar out of NRT?

We are flying into NRT Friday afternoon spending the night out in Tokyo and then leaving for Sapporo Saturday morning and then skiing Sunday morning. Jetstar the flights are cheaper but it looks like first checked bag is +$43CAD and there's a weight limit of 40kg total per passenger for luggage then it's about $20CAD per KG of additional luggage weight, with no single bag exceeding 32kg. Due to timing we are flying with our skis as we don't have enough time before we ski to ship them from the airport, so a ski bag + backpack and probably a carry-on roller bag. It seems like Jetstar is going to end up close to the same price and result in baggage fuckery at the airport, would rather just go with ANA and avoid the headache.

Seems like it would be easiest for you to check into an NRT airport hotel and keep your ski bags there before going into Tokyo.

Also, as far as airport fuckery goes, look into how the fare system works for the NRT express trains if you're not already familiar with it. I got thoroughly confused by the double-ticketing system and missed the train while trying to buy a seat reservation. I had a SUICA card in my phone wallet, but the express train seat reservation kiosk didn't have a reader for it, and didn't take american credit cards.

Japan is on my list. I’m debating if it is worth it to do the trip (from NYC) if we only have a week.

The 12-14 hr flight time and 14 hr time difference are pretty rough.

If you skip Tokyo and do a 10ish-day Friday to following Sunday trip I wouldn't hesitate. You'll wish you could have gone for longer, but you'll have a great time.

[CascadeCrudSkier]

Anyone have thoughts on flying from Tokyo to Sapporo between ANA out of HND or discount Jetstar out of NRT?

We are flying into NRT Friday afternoon spending the night out in Tokyo and then leaving for Sapporo Saturday morning and then skiing Sunday morning. Jetstar the flights are cheaper but it looks like first checked bag is +$43CAD and there's a weight limit of 40kg total per passenger for luggage then it's about $20CAD per KG of additional luggage weight, with no single bag exceeding 32kg. Due to timing we are flying with our skis as we don't have enough time before we ski to ship them from the airport, so a ski bag + backpack and probably a carry-on roller bag. It seems like Jetstar is going to end up close to the same price and result in baggage fuckery at the airport, would rather just go with ANA and avoid the headache.

If you're venturing into Tokyo then just stay in Tokyo and fly ANA out of HND. Jetstar is fine if you're not traveling w/ any luggage but you'll quickly lose any cost savings when you pay for your skis and spend more time/money getting back out to Narita.

One thing to consider is not selecting an early morning flight to Chitose. If it's dumping they sometimes struggle to get the runway cleared in the morning and delay/cancel the first flight or 2. Take a late morning or early afternoon flight and you'll still have plenty of time to get to your destination.

[CascadeCrudSkier]

Japan is on my list. I’m debating if it is worth it to do the trip (from NYC) if we only have a week.

The 12-14 hr flight time and 14 hr time difference are pretty rough.

Only you can answer that question. The time delta, which is what matters, is "only" 10 hours but it effects everyone differently. I would recommend staying on Honshu so you're not losing even more time trying to get north to Hokkaido. You could still get a solid 4-5 days in Nagano or Niigata plus score at least one evening in Tokyo on your way back to the airport.

I frequently traveled to Washington DC from Tokyo, sometimes for as little as 4 day trips. Going west isn't as big of a deal so I would typically acclimate in 1-2 days but traveling east required about 3-4 in order to fully adjust. I'd still rather be completely jetlagged skiing pow in Japan as opposed to traveling anywhere else in N. America...no guarantee that you'll feel the same though.

[RudyGarmisch]

If you're venturing into Tokyo then just stay in Tokyo and fly ANA out of HND. Jetstar is fine if you're not traveling w/ any luggage but you'll quickly lose any cost savings when you pay for your skis and spend more time/money getting back out to Narita.

One thing to consider is not selecting an early morning flight to Chitose. If it's dumping they sometimes struggle to get the runway cleared in the morning and delay/cancel the first flight or 2. Take a late morning or early afternoon flight and you'll still have plenty of time to get to your destination.

Any reason Ta-Q-BIN/Kuroneko wouldn’t work for the ski bags and overhead carry ons once you land in Tokyo? Have to think most people could live out of a small personal bag for a day in Tokyo that wouldn’t be an extra charge for Jetstar luggage. And black cat up to Hokkaido should be kinda cheap, like $35?

[LeeLau]

https://www.freshsnow.jp/

Found this. Looks useful.. handy map box 3d visualization of terrain. Looks good for finding easy slackcountry

[LeeLau]

And a screenshot of Kiroro. The forecasts aggregate mainly via snow forecasts

[m2711c]

https://www.freshsnow.jp/

Found this. Looks useful.. handy map box 3d visualization of terrain. Looks good for finding easy slackcountry

nice! thank you.

[CascadeCrudSkier]

Any reason Ta-Q-BIN/Kuroneko wouldn’t work for the ski bags and overhead carry ons once you land in Tokyo? Have to think most people could live out of a small personal bag for a day in Tokyo that wouldn’t be an extra charge for Jetstar luggage. And black cat up to Hokkaido should be kinda cheap, like $35?

If they're landing on a Friday and want to ski on Sunday in Hokkaido then Black Cat won't work. The gear may make it by Saturday evening but they won't guarantee it or even say that it is scheduled to arrive then. It's a fast service but it isn't an overnight deal.

I used it last winter to ship my daughter's ski gear to and from Yuzawa for her school's ski trip, which is only a couple hours outside Tokyo. They told me it would take 3 days; she skied until lunch on the final day and then turned in the gear to be shipped and it was on our front porch by the next morning. While this sort of speed is often the norm you can't count on it if you're relying on sticking to a tight schedule.

[LeeLau]

Real time kiroro snow stake for Otaru area, Hokkaido
https://www.instagram.com/margosgard...12ZDdobW42aw==

[SUPERIOR]

Been running snowfall numbers on Northern Hokkaido for a project … and man does it get me thinking.

Last year was the second lowest snow year in the city of Kutchan (closest to Niseko) since nineteen-fifty-nine.

However, in the sixties, seventies, and eighties, this town regularly registered the kinda snow seen in Utah, and edged on the records for Mount Baker. And it’s barely above sea level!

That’s taking measurements well below the summit of Mt. Annupuri, which is three thousand feet higher. You do the guess work…

Wonder if the resort ever bothered to total its snowfall back in the day?

I’m betting Niseko stands as the all-time record holder for snowfall when the nearby town of Kutchan logged over two-thousand centimeters in the winter of sixty nine.

That’s almost eight hundred inches at nearly sea level.

[Dhelihiker]

We have a sizable group going to Hakuba in early Feb. Were trying to rent a van to drive from Haneda.

I know there's a train, its a PIA to carry everything with the wife factor. been there done that.

Does anyone have any experience;
a) Driving from Tokyo to Hakuba, if so how is the road? Any crazy steep passes?
b) If you rented, who did you rent from?
c) What are the odds the van will have all weather tires? chains? Alamo and Avis both rent vans but no specific info.

as always thanks for any info~~

[gaijin]

No help regarding rentals, but the drive is easy, nothing crazy— more of a small town, narrow and windy than big/steep/exposed. Definitely need studdless snow tires and AWD. Just request it, I guess? Probably easy.

Google maps has come so far that I highly prefer driving around Tokyo (and everywhere)

Never would have enjoyed driving Tokyo 15 years ago. But now it’s fun as fuck.

On a train your view is the smartphone in your hand. In a car your view is everything around you. So much more enjoyable.

Last week I was required to take a 3 hr train for work. I would have rather taken the 5hr drive.

That said— black cat delivery service is legit if you want to embrace the Tokyo train world for a day or two.


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[m2711c]

Getting snow tires on a rental car from Tokyo is usually an add-on. if you rent your car on the other end of the train, snow tires are usually included because they’re already on the car.