[Myoko]

Japan, yes been 2 years and I am very keen. Have spent maybe a year actually boarding ion mountains n Japan and at least 40 mountains over the last decade or so, on both islands. Myoko was amazing when the restaurants had nothing in English but it is getting very busy, you need to book a restaurant. Madarao/Tangram are great mountains with limited accomodation. Has something for everyone. Buses have been going there from Myoko for a number of years now so also can get busy. My definition of busy is when all my powder tracks have a single track on them. Suginohara is a big mountain a short bus from Myoko. Myoko is powder in the trees rather than groomers imo. This time I am looking to get away from the crowds (bugger all really but I have been a bit spoilt) but haven't planned anything yet as I'm travelling around Europe atm. Is Kimija still around can I ask?

 

[Myoko]

Here they are!! Remember I still want one. These look very innovative and exciting, no doubt tried and tested. Where do i see your range so I can understand these sick specimens ?

 

[Myoko]

There is a shop in Myoko that lets you demo dozens of boards. The guy is a great boarder and super knowledgable about everything to do with snowboarding including boot fitting. JOEYS CUSTOM BOOTFITTING

 

[Myoko]

Probably safer in January/February though. Check out snow depth/snowfall in various months/years wherever you are thinking of going I suggest

 

[Myoko]

I imagine it will be stupidly busy, thats why I am not going near Myoko again. Was great for the last 15 years though. I haven't done Shiga Kogan, is it worth going? I heard they are very strict about off anything piste. Rusutsu is awesome for trees, Nowaza is good, Furano is a big mountain also. Depends if you care which island you want to be in. I'm also trying to work out where to go as I will be travelling with an intermediate skier this time but i am thinking of a car, smaller mountains, anywhere a bus from a busy Australian dominated place does not go.

 

[Myoko]

Ohhh. ok, i'll suss it out, thanks!

 

[Myoko]

One pass gets you access to these mountains? Well that is new, especially Lotte and Madarao/Tangram..

• Akakura Kanko and Akakura Onsen combined
• Myoko Suginohara
• Myoko Ikenotaira
• Seki Onsen (including lunch voucher)
• Lotte Arai
• Madarao Kogen and Madarao Tangram combined
• Shiga Kogen

.For me, Lotte Arai only on powder days, Kanko is great for trees, Sugi has everything and is a big mountain. Seki only powder and very small, main area gets tracked out very quickly, Onsen is a learners mountain really but powder stashes on sides as learners not keen, Ikenotaira is well worth checking out, has a bit of everything also.
Shiga, now that I have no idea about but am very interested. I don't plan on going back to Kanko so might even draw you some lines

 

[Myoko]

just pre-registered with the Visit Japan site for Immigaration, quarantine, declaration etc to hopefully make it a little quicker out of the airport, pretty simple process, see how it pans out I guess.

God, looks like a pain in the ass

 

[Myoko]

I don’t get too many shots at it so always want to make it easy on myself. I was thinking though that Japan resorts would be pretty busy first year open post-Covid, not sure
[/QUOTE]

Agree. I'm getting away from Myoko and going to check out Shiga Kogan, then back to Madarao/Tangram where I have been many times then to Nowaza where my brother ion law and I meet the wives. Only done 5 days in Nowaza and its a big mountain. Ended up in a giant hole on the extreme edge of an ice shelf that went down to fuck knows where last time. Was off piste somewhere in deep powder an it took me 20min to climb out of, another reason why I always board with someone if i am heading off piste and its deep. Looking forward to Shiga though, so many different places to check out it looks like.

 

[Myoko]

You should be able to get a bus there I would hope but definitely doable for a day trip only 30min away. Amazing tree skiing everywhere, slopes a bit flat

 

[Myoko]

Can anyone let me know if its worth going through all the visit Japan immigration stuff? Not going for a few weeks and generally prefer the lazy option of doing nothing but this time we are landing at 6.30pm and wanting to get to Nagano same night instead of staying the night in Tokyo. I'll be doing Shiga Kogan, Madarao and Nowaza this time. Myoko is a bit busy for me these days, mind you, been going there off and on since no shop owner could speak English or any English menus so time for a change.

 

[Myoko]

So much crap but yes, would like to get on a train earlier this time. Planning to take the Skyliner for the first time to Ueno then get a Shinkansen to Nagano.

 

[Myoko]

Ok.


I hated it too. but after that it makes your entry journey straight forward. Just do plenty of screen shots as per How to save a screenshot of the Fast Track Screen
in case you don’t have internet
Don’t leave it too late. You need to upload your passport, wait about a day for system to verify before you can proceed to next step. Same with vaccination certificate. So at least 2-3 days allowance

you don’t have to fill in the paper custom declaration and entry form.
show The screen shot, they’ll give you a pink paper to show you’ve done it.
scan the QR codes to its designated station.
It’s actually pretty smooth journey for me

Good man, thank you. Think I will go to the trouble

 

[Myoko]

I know it's still a little over a week away but I won't lie, I'm a tad excited arriving 25th Jan

Oh this is good! I will be heading to Shiga from Nagano on the 25th also
I've spent maybe 6months+ actually riding kanko over the years, I've messaged you most of the tree runs as I'm not going back so am prepared to share

 

[Myoko]

I usually for for a month or 2 and always take it but this time I'm only actually boarding for like 17 days and am tossing up with taking it or not as I'm already over weight but there is 2 of us. How often do you guys wax btw?

 

[Myoko]

is heli skiing worth it in niseko?

Its quite expensive but ive always wanted to do it. But it also seems theres that much backcountry and off piste that heli skiing wouldnt be necessary?

You should be able to find a lot of powder in Niseko, generally anyway. Bit suss on the weather in Japan atm, look pretty average which is a shame as it was a shit season in 2020 also

 

[Myoko]

I heading from Nagano to Shiga Kogan on Tuesday also. The Giant resort has like 40cm base ! Wondering if I should take a crappy old board :-(

 

[Myoko]

What am I looking at?

 

[Myoko]

a 7 day forcast for the Hakuba/Nagano/Niigata region, by the looks of it. low temps but no predicted snow (??)

Least its cold I guess

 

[Myoko]

Know the feeling, I've got to get from Nagano to Shiga Kogan on the Wednesday morning also which is a bit of a worry. Most people take the train from Nagano to Myoko station and your accom should pick you up. If i was being completely selfish, i would not complain about a blizzard white out conditions on the Wednesday so that on Thursday (my first day boarding) there is untracked powder everywhere