snowboarding in japan - Snowboarding Forum

12-09-2008, 06:25 AM

Just moved to Japan, was wondering if anyone has any tips, advise, about boarding over here. I use to ride at Squaw Valley and Northstar in Tahoe. Any advise would be great. Thanks for any advice.

12-09-2008, 10:25 AM

can you post about what its like when you get some riding in?? shaun white makes it sound like some heaven on earth for snowboarding. i dont see how it can be that much different from the states other than snowfall.

jaybap · 12-09-2008, 12:18 PM

becuase that was the first time shaun white has seen powder.

12-09-2008, 12:37 PM

Im not planning on a lot of boarding this year, just had a little girl so gonna spend as much time with her as i can, but when i go i will let everyone know how it was. if any one has any input for gear, im all ears. never rode powder.

12-09-2008, 11:43 PM

Where in Japan are you? I'm in Osaka and always looking for people to go riding with. I started snowboarding after I came over here so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but deep powder isn't uncommon at all, especially in Hokkaido. Snowjapan.com is a good site (the Now! reports and resort info more so than the forums). It seems like actually going snowboarding isn't that expensive compared to other places, but the mark-ups on gear are ridiculous. Look for deals on Yahoo Auctions. My favorite resorts are Takasu Snow Park in Gifu and Niseko in Hokkaido. I haven't found one I like in Nagano yet, but there'd definitely be a good one there too. I'm hoping to go to Nozawa Onsen, Asahidake, and Hakkoda (among others) this year.

If you're up for a trip to Niseko from 1/6 to 1/9, send me a PM! Right now it looks like I'm going to be going alone, and going alone is expensive.

dek · 10-04-2011, 03:43 AM

huge grave dig. But wondering if any ones gonna be there and wants to ride, or lives there and wants to let two mates and myself stay for a while in february?

dreampow · 10-04-2011, 05:26 AM

I live in Kyoto and I regularly go up to Nozawa onsen.
Great pow, great pistes and great off piste. The onsen is sweet too. Its a little further than Gifu or Hakuba but worth it IMO. Hakuba I don't really think much of. It depends on what you want to do.
My preference is powder and off piste.
Hokkaido is apparently great but just far. You can drive up to Nozawa after work have an onsen stay in a cheap minshuku (4000Yen) and then hit the snow the next morning. I go up for 3 days or so when fresh snow falls.
Also weekdays are way nicer than weekends.

As for crashing at my place, maybe a few years back but I have a 1 month old baby so fraid its a no go.

I usually buy stuff in Feb when its cheap but you can find cheap stuff now too. スポエク (paste and google this (sports express on Rakuten))　is a cheap online store and Jimbo cho in Tokyo has good deals and last years stuff available. its still more than the states or Europe so if you are making a trip back or someone is coming to visit its a good chance to get gear cheap.

dek · 10-04-2011, 10:25 PM

thanks for that dreampow. yea im from australia and two mates and myself are going to try get 2 weeks there, we dont really know what to expect besides powder :P. We wanna know if you know of any sort of backpacker style accommodation, close to niseko? we want to spend all of our time on the mountains, and try and get a great japanese experience. and try do it as cheap as possible over two weeks. thanks for your help

dreampow · 10-05-2011, 05:58 AM

Let me contact my buddy in Hokkaido and get back to you.

dreampow · 10-10-2011, 11:14 PM

Still waiting for a reply from my buddy in Hokkaido. He like me has recently become a father and is probably just busy.
If you look on the internet I'm sure you can find places recommended near Niseko.

If anyone is interested in Nozawa in Nagano here is a vid of me there.

All lift accessed with a little hiking on top.
Just a word of warning if you do go here and want to do some runs like this be with a local who knows the way and know what you are doing. You can get lost easily or into worse trouble.

Any constructive criticism or tips are welcome.

šŽ©—Vlƒ}ƒbƒNƒX‚Ìƒz[ƒ€ƒy[ƒWš

The link to the vid is from my home page which is all in Japanese, its gone all funky but the link still works if you click it. Can't wait for this years season.[/QUOTE]

12-09-2008, 06:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ju$tin Guest Posts: n/a	snowboarding in japan Just moved to Japan, was wondering if anyone has any tips, advise, about boarding over here. I use to ride at Squaw Valley and Northstar in Tahoe. Any advise would be great. Thanks for any advice.

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12-09-2008, 10:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sick-Gnar Guest Posts: n/a	can you post about what its like when you get some riding in?? shaun white makes it sound like some heaven on earth for snowboarding. i dont see how it can be that much different from the states other than snowfall.

12-09-2008, 12:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
jaybap Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: north attleboro, ma Posts: 29	becuase that was the first time shaun white has seen powder.

12-09-2008, 12:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ju$tin Guest Posts: n/a	Im not planning on a lot of boarding this year, just had a little girl so gonna spend as much time with her as i can, but when i go i will let everyone know how it was. if any one has any input for gear, im all ears. never rode powder.

12-09-2008, 11:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Seedy J Guest Posts: n/a	Where in Japan are you? I'm in Osaka and always looking for people to go riding with. I started snowboarding after I came over here so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but deep powder isn't uncommon at all, especially in Hokkaido. Snowjapan.com is a good site (the Now! reports and resort info more so than the forums). It seems like actually going snowboarding isn't that expensive compared to other places, but the mark-ups on gear are ridiculous. Look for deals on Yahoo Auctions. My favorite resorts are Takasu Snow Park in Gifu and Niseko in Hokkaido. I haven't found one I like in Nagano yet, but there'd definitely be a good one there too. I'm hoping to go to Nozawa Onsen, Asahidake, and Hakkoda (among others) this year. If you're up for a trip to Niseko from 1/6 to 1/9, send me a PM! Right now it looks like I'm going to be going alone, and going alone is expensive.

10-04-2011, 03:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
dek Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 18	huge grave dig. But wondering if any ones gonna be there and wants to ride, or lives there and wants to let two mates and myself stay for a while in february?

10-04-2011, 05:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,055	I live in Kyoto and I regularly go up to Nozawa onsen. Great pow, great pistes and great off piste. The onsen is sweet too. Its a little further than Gifu or Hakuba but worth it IMO. Hakuba I don't really think much of. It depends on what you want to do. My preference is powder and off piste. Hokkaido is apparently great but just far. You can drive up to Nozawa after work have an onsen stay in a cheap minshuku (4000Yen) and then hit the snow the next morning. I go up for 3 days or so when fresh snow falls. Also weekdays are way nicer than weekends. As for crashing at my place, maybe a few years back but I have a 1 month old baby so fraid its a no go. I usually buy stuff in Feb when its cheap but you can find cheap stuff now too. スポエク (paste and google this (sports express on Rakuten))　is a cheap online store and Jimbo cho in Tokyo has good deals and last years stuff available. its still more than the states or Europe so if you are making a trip back or someone is coming to visit its a good chance to get gear cheap.

10-04-2011, 10:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
dek Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 18	thanks for that dreampow. yea im from australia and two mates and myself are going to try get 2 weeks there, we dont really know what to expect besides powder :P. We wanna know if you know of any sort of backpacker style accommodation, close to niseko? we want to spend all of our time on the mountains, and try and get a great japanese experience. and try do it as cheap as possible over two weeks. thanks for your help

10-05-2011, 05:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,055	Let me contact my buddy in Hokkaido and get back to you.

10-10-2011, 11:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,055	Still waiting for a reply from my buddy in Hokkaido. He like me has recently become a father and is probably just busy. If you look on the internet I'm sure you can find places recommended near Niseko. If anyone is interested in Nozawa in Nagano here is a vid of me there. All lift accessed with a little hiking on top. Just a word of warning if you do go here and want to do some runs like this be with a local who knows the way and know what you are doing. You can get lost easily or into worse trouble. Any constructive criticism or tips are welcome. šŽ©—Vlƒ}ƒbƒNƒX‚Ìƒz[ƒ€ƒy[ƒWš The link to the vid is from my home page which is all in Japanese, its gone all funky but the link still works if you click it. Can't wait for this years season.[/QUOTE]