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Snowboarding Japan

20K views 124 replies 26 participants last post by  pjstyles 
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#1 ·
As the title states, has anyone been to Japan? which locations are the best? Also do you need to be speaking fluent Japanese if your there? I've heard the powder there is amazing but has anyone here experienced Japan first hand?
 
#93 ·
I spend more than 7 days there, I see a lot of people say they would only want a day there and then back to niseko. Those people baffle me but each to their own. There is more off piste terrain than you can discover in 7 days at rusutsu, those who get bored simply arent finding the goodness in my opinion.
In saying that you probably should just stay at niseko ;-)

Ps a few of the boys on this forum are organising an informal meetup for the first week of feb at rusutsu if you are interested.
 
#101 ·
Just moved to our house in Niseko for the next 2 months or so. Initially wanted to come sooner, but early season reports were poor - and then it started to dump! Definitely missed a few great weeks, but am hoping that it was a harbinger of things to come for the rest of the season.
One thing: It has been COLD the last few days!
 
#103 ·
Going to Niseko for second time in February. Its wonderful, fresh soft snow continously (so much that sometimes you don't quite know which way is up) and great food. The terrain is not as steep or long as Europe (my past experience has been les Trois Vallees, Grindlewald/Muerren, Kaprun) but the off-piste makes it very different and special. Going back to soak in the onsen after a day, fabulous dinner, night skiing...... its a great experience. And its a bit like being in Australia......
 
#106 ·
Hey guys,

Just read this thread and am getting serious about jumping on a plane early February to Japan.

Curious how you all approached finding housing? Where did you guys stay and how did you find housing? And what's a decent price? I have no idea what "cheap" means for housing near the resorts and am curious what you guys shelled out for room/board. I don't need to be in the cheapest place, but don't want to be in the 4 seasons either!

Any help would be appreciated!
 
#107 ·
I used Deep Powder Tours, I just do a full package.
Flights + Bus tranfers and Accomidation.

They have heaps off accomidation too choose from budget backpackers through to 5 star, so its up to you to choose what you need and what your budget is.

Its very well run, heaps off info is supplied, they meet you when you land, put you on a bus. When you arrieve in the town someone meets you and shows you around the town and drops you off at your accomidation. If you have any issues they are your point off contact for the whole trip.
This was our first Japan trip and had zero needs or issues.
Then its the same deal when leaving, they pick you up and organize everything.
Me and my mate found it quite a relaxing way to travel.
 
#124 ·
Hakkoda was the nest snowboarding of my life. Hands down. It was simply awesome. But it's noy for everyone - If you don't like doing backcountry or aren't comfortable in close quarters with trees (seriously, some of the tracks that you have to follow are a foot wide and you're winding super close to trees near the bottom), or are opposed to doing some hiking with snowshoes - Hakkoda is not for you.

Also went to niseko - resorts were nice but the mountain itself is quite small. Best runs I had were off the back side, and again, all of the above applies again. The resort had some good pow, but not unlike pow you can get at American resorts. The backside is really where it turned awesome.

Can you tell I like backcountry riding???
 
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