Japan

[snowvols]

What are the must hit resorts in Japan? I have a buddy moving out there so I am gonna go there for a week or so and ride.

[ckang008]

Originally Posted by snowvols

What are the must hit resorts in Japan? I have a buddy moving out there so I am gonna go there for a week or so and ride.

Go to Niseko / Rusutsu in Hokkaido for powder snow. Nozawa Onsen also offers quite good snow.

[snowvols]

Ok I have found a flight into Japan. I am staying with a buddy of mine that does not ski/snowboard so I am clueless about everything thing. I have done emense amount of research and had several questions for anyone. Is there away to go from train to the mountain like a shuttle service? If there is a shuttle or cab or however I get there how much do they generally cost? Also all of the resorts I have looked at there is no tree riding or off piste it seems at all. Is that the case or am I not looking at the right places? Any good cat skiing also? How much is the train or is there a week or two week pass by chance? I can convert to USD if you dont mind just giving the yen amount. Sorry for so many questions Thanks for any help at all

[killclimbz]

Tree riding is not encouraged at Japanese resorts but from what I understand it's not illegal to do with maybe the exception of one resort. Evidently going off of the groomed trails is just not thought of much by the Japanese skier/rider. I think that is also becoming less and less of a truth as more people from out West hit up their trees having a blast.

As far as backcountry goes, it is a scene that is in it's infancy but looks awesome. The new Sweetgrass flick coming out this fall was filmed in Japan. It looks like they got some sweet footy. I've spoken with those guys before and they seem friendly enough. Shoot them an email and see if they'll give you some hints as to where to go for some out of bounds and inbounds spots in Japan. Check out the trailer too. They definitely found the pow.

[ckang008]

Originally Posted by killclimbz

Tree riding is not encouraged at Japanese resorts but from what I understand it's not illegal to do with maybe the exception of one resort. Evidently going off of the groomed trails is just not though of much by the Japanese skier/rider. I think that is also becoming less and less of a truth as more people from out West hit up their trees having a blast.

As far as backcountry goes, it is a scene that is in it's infancy but looks awesome. The new Sweetgrass flick coming out this fall was filmed in Japan. It looks like they got some sweet footy. I've spoken with those guys before and they seem friendly enough. Shoot them an email and see if they'll give you some hints as to where to go for some out of bounds and inbounds spots in Japan. Check out the trailer too. They definitely found the pow.

It's quite true Japan resort discourage ppl from doing tree riding. Niseko is a good resort to do that but you need to enter specific gates to their backcountry stuff (which is epic!)

[Method]

Wow those japanese don't know what they're missing!, Tree riding is the best. The Ultimate Ride: Shaun White one of his few backcountry films where he was hitting up the backcountry in japan, THey had some pretty sick footage in it.

[snowvols]

Thanks Ckang about Niseko. Do a bunch of resorts have gates?

I rode in Hakuba last season in december. snow was limited but it was still a ton of fun. dying to go to hokkaido though...theres def some sick tree runs there

[brujito]

Originally Posted by ckang008

It's quite true Japan resort discourage ppl from doing tree riding. Niseko is a good resort to do that but you need to enter specific gates to their backcountry stuff (which is epic!)

where are these gates you speak of?

[ckang008]

Originally Posted by brujito

where are these gates you speak of?

it's mapped on the trail maps. Plenty of places in Grand Hirafu and Annupuri for it. My favorite is going to the top of Grand Hirafu and board down to Hanazomon area