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Where to go skiing in Japan....

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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
I am looking for a resort in Japan that has a whole lot of powder around winter break (i.e. Christmas and New Year's). I have been looking at websites (www.snowjapan.com) and others that talk about Japanese ski resorts but they have not been that helpful. It would be a great help if someone could give me some info on a good resort to go to. Thanks in advance.
Apr 9 2008 7:42PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
hokkaido
Apr 9 2008 7:44PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Which resort? There are or whole bunch there.
Apr 9 2008 7:48PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
dunt know the name but there was a sick resort in hokkaido in realtime
Apr 9 2008 7:50PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Niseko?
Apr 9 2008 7:51PM
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Klick_2_klaim
Posts: 3396 - Karma: 25
from what I have read, andheard... no one in japan rides powder, only groomers.
So just check the annual snowfall in the north and south, then pick a place.
Get a camper and just hike the side of the road.... I saw an article this season, I think it was in future: and thats what they did. Drive, hike, slay, drive hike slay, drive, sleep, hike slay, eat, pound a hot Japanese girl, hike, slay. and if you happen to run into a resort... therell be all the powder you can eat everywhere that isnt groomed.

thats my misconception of japanese shredding.

ya?
Apr 9 2008 7:51PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
The thing is that I am having a hard time finding annual snowfall charts. Yes, I have search the internet.
Apr 9 2008 7:54PM
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snowriderdj
Posts: 344 - Karma: 11
Japan?......of all places..........
Apr 9 2008 8:12PM
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timmmy
Posts: 654 - Karma: 25
go to the north island.  specifically hakuba

these are topo pics from tgr.  left pair are zoomed out, right pair zoomed in. 

http://www.steepdeepjapan.com/images/HAKUBA_NISEKO.jpg



Apr 9 2008 8:13PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
What do you mean?
Apr 9 2008 8:14PM
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timmmy
Posts: 654 - Karma: 25
yea that is retarded advice.  hakuba is on the south, but i heard n island was the shit.
Apr 9 2008 8:18PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Yeah, I have of heard about the North Island, but which resorts?
Apr 9 2008 8:20PM
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Leo.
Posts: 508 - Karma: 17
I don't know the name but some vail instructor said that the worlds largest resort there acreage wise is there.  i would imagine that place has some kind of rep
Apr 9 2008 8:28PM
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smooticus
Posts: 1798 - Karma: 27
There was a sick scene in the new warren miller movie of some japan stuff,, it was one specific resort but t sounded really spendy..
Apr 9 2008 8:54PM
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Scott~
Posts: 2551 - Karma: 49
Ive always wanted to do this, be sure to post up what you find.
Apr 9 2008 9:04PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Sure thing.
Apr 10 2008 6:34AM
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snowingsomewhere
Posts: 41 - Karma: 37
niseko
best place ever
Apr 10 2008 7:16AM
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minga
Posts: 42 - Karma: 10
ive been to niseko in January for the last 2 years, and yeah it has amazing pow. i was there for 2 week and only saw sunlight for half a day, it just snowed the hole time. and you can ski from 8am to 9pm. and the niseko village is like 90% australian
Apr 10 2008 7:25AM
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Dirty_Ape
Posts: 101 - Karma: 11

I went for a few weeks last winter.  Hakuba was pretty sick, especially 47 and goyru, with happo close behind.  Furano on Hokkaido was pretty sweet, it was pretty quiet and we got heaps of snow, Neiseko was not bad, we didnt get fresh snow but the terrian was pretty fun, the back bowls are pretty sick and are accessed with a pretty short hike, however  i found it over rated due to there being so many australians which removes the cultural experience, it was the only place that we had lift lines, even though they werent that bad just worse than the other places we went to.  If you can checkout Rusutsu (not sure on spelling), its ment to have pretty sick terrain and be pretty quiet.  The parks at most places were pretty average, def fun to hit on a rest day, but dont expect the parks  that are in North America.  At all the resorts we went to (bar neiseko becasue we didnt get fresh) you can find plenty of powder, especially if your willing to duck ropes and go a little out of bounds and through the trees.  Keep in mind that there are alot of other people going for the same reason, so this " noone skis pow in Japan" idea isnt as true as you would hope.

Apr 10 2008 7:48AM
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pb2co
Posts: 222 - Karma: 19
north island for sure snow is alot more dependable and dryer but japan has a sick season its all good i guess, niseko and rusutsu were sick but so many aussie's and there all there for powder too if i went back i would look for smaller unknown mts, with less tourists and more of a japanese feel thats what travel is all about not hanging with all australians
Apr 10 2008 2:49PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=124
This is the Rusutsu you are talking about? When I look at the snow charts it is impressive, but lacks the "wow" factor. And how bad are the Aussies?

P.S: If anyone knows of a very "Japanese" resort with pow, please post or message me.
Apr 10 2008 3:16PM
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Benchetler
Posts: 68 - Karma: 93
Here you go... See you there.
Apr 10 2008 7:11PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
How does this compare to other resorts in the area?
Apr 10 2008 7:32PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
BUMP. Is it better to rent a car in Japan, take a train, or a shuttle?
Apr 12 2008 9:07AM
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Benchetler
Posts: 68 - Karma: 93
If you're going to stay put, take a bus.. if you want to explore at all, rent a car.. Regardless, everything you need is in the area.
Apr 12 2008 5:07PM
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whattheshit
Posts: 6562 - Karma: 107
i heard niseko terrain is a little boring.  hakuba if you want more advanced stuff and less australians.


www.snowjapan.com
Apr 12 2008 5:17PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Yeah, I checked www.snowjapan.com, but Hakuba does not get the dumps Niseko gets around Christmas/New Year's, but correct me if I am wrong.
Apr 12 2008 5:40PM
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snowriderdj
Posts: 344 - Karma: 11
its just a random place thats all
Apr 12 2008 6:03PM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Japan has sick powder and a great culture. Not trying to start a fight, but why not Japan?
Apr 12 2008 6:05PM
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sack
Posts: 4881 - Karma: 147
what about the Hakkoda mountains in aomori prefecture (the 2nd northernmost prefecture in Japan)?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E7%94%B2%E7%94%B0%E5%B1%B1
I also checked out Mt. Osore but it doesn't sound like there is any skiing there.
Apr 13 2008 3:22AM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Have you been, or anyone on Newschoolers?
Apr 13 2008 7:42AM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
I am still deciding on what ski resort to go to, but I need help on which pair of powder skis to get for the deep snow of Japan. Here is the thread:

https://newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/359317/
Apr 13 2008 8:40AM
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Maximumsushi
Posts: 7837 - Karma: 3,351
Hey dude, sounds like you're planning a radical trip. I want to go to Japan for two months next winter to ski. I used to live there, but only in the off season.

From what I've heard and researched, Hakuba gets a little bit less snow and the snow is a little wetter. However, this is offset by the area's sicker terrain. Hakuba is in the Nagano prefecture, which is on the main island, honshu, of Japan. The north island, Hokkaido, gets a lot of snow. However, it is a bit harder to get to and isn't part of "old" Japan. The island was not really a part of Japan until about 150 years ago.

Make sure to post photos when you return!
Apr 13 2008 9:38AM
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jedi.Jim
Posts: 1133 - Karma: 13
Sorry I don't have any information for you. But... fuck you. I want to go to Japan.
Apr 13 2008 12:08PM
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JGP.
Posts: 2785 - Karma: 474
mythreads, considering a trip next year as well, some good shit in here...
Apr 13 2008 1:11PM
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TheMoostafian
Posts: 4504 - Karma: 9,435
wherever they were in realtime was some of the deepest pow i've ever seen

not sure where it was though haha so thats not much help
Apr 13 2008 1:53PM
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sack
Posts: 4881 - Karma: 147
not yet :(
I've read a couple of articles on those obscure out-of-the-way ski areas in Japan, and they sound epic but I don't know  how easy it would be to get by without speaking japanese... (??)
Apr 13 2008 6:53PM
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yanpin
Posts: 7 - Karma: 14
I`m a niseko local and here is surely good powder.
june is best.
Apr 13 2008 9:07PM
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Hairmetaler
Posts: 1200 - Karma: 15
i wanna go to japan so badd
Apr 13 2008 9:12PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
Ya im planning on making a trip in 2 seasons for 3 months or so im sooooooooooooooooo stoked for it

Apr 13 2008 9:34PM
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SushiMan
Posts: 1269 - Karma: 424
it really would not be that hard, almost everyone knows a little (broken) english. and aussies go there a lot so they have translations i bet
BUT for the most epic powder and park you have to go to Okinawa. its sooooo sick
Apr 14 2008 1:49AM
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goneforever
Posts: 794 - Karma: 18
Is Okinawa the section of Japan or is it the ski resort?
Apr 14 2008 6:31AM
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gbalkman
Posts: 605 - Karma: 4,171
Happo-One (oh-nay). So sick. Pillows, drops, deep pow, sick lines everywhere. (In Hakuba, part of Nagano).
Apr 14 2008 4:31PM
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whattheshit
Posts: 6562 - Karma: 107
uhh what? okinawa is the island that is southernmost from the mainland.    maybe surfing, but i doubt skiing.
Apr 15 2008 4:17AM
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StuntCok
Posts: 125 - Karma: 22
I live in Japan and ski every holiday, weekend, sick day in the season and I have travelled across Japan to ski its different resorts.

You are right, Hokkaido (the north island) is the best bet for snow cover at christmas time.  This is the home to Niseko, Japan's most famous resort due to it being owned in part by a western company.  The snow is great, in abundance and reliable.  The terrain can be tame for an advanced skier but that early in the season who is doing big drops anyway?  There are other resorts in Hokkaido that can also be fun.  Asahidake (which is featured in a Tanner Hall vid, I can't remember wich) is basically a tram to the top of an un-groomed mountain.  It has flat parts and is best with some hiking gear (and a guide).  Around Hokkaido's largest city, Sapporo, there are some fun options.  Teine (an olympic host mountain during the Sapporo olympics) has some great steep bowls off the back, Kokusai will actually have park features even that early as will Kiroro.

On the main island (south) Hakuba is Japan's skiing crown jewel.  This is Japan's center for steep tree skiing, pillow lines, cliffs and big open faces.  The snow is a bit heavier than in Hokkaido but that actually creates a better base for its more textured features.  Hokkaido may be more northerly but Nagano resorts are higher so the snow season is roughly the same but, like I said above, in the early season, SOMETIMES hakuba can be a bit low.  

Ddue to altitude and a better base, south island resorts often have a longer season.  The parks are much better on the main island but not actually at the Hakuba resorts.  For park, the resorts in Gunma and Niigata are much better.  Be warned, it is here were the most snow in Japan falls and it is a heavier snow at all but the highest resorts (eg. Kagura or Tenjindaira) so the parks can be burried for days.

Other options in Japan include the backcountry resort Hakkoda (like asahidake but on the main island) Zao (flat but pretty), Yuzawa (close to Tokyo), Shiga Kogen (biggest resort in Japan), Nozawa Onsen (very pretty old-school town and great BC terrain), Okutadami (park specialised mountain with lots of pros, only open in early season or spring due to too much snow) amongst many many others.
Apr 15 2008 4:59AM
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whattheshit
Posts: 6562 - Karma: 107
good info man.  thanks.
Apr 15 2008 2:45PM
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