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I'll be doing everything I can to go, was hoping to do a Niseko trip but might be a little pricy if we don't get the Singapore trips out of Darwin back online. Looking like I'll need to go through Cairns which the RTN trip from Darwin is more expensive than the RTN trip to Japan.

Probably somewhere around Nagano, Myoko, Hakuna or Nozawa.

Only been twice and only to Hakuba, much easier with two of the family that don't ski/board to cruise around and always stayed around Echoland. @JDA what's Myoko or Nazawa Onsen like compared to Hakuba? Is worth venturing up that way?

In terms of boards. I really want to get on my Party Platter as I'm still yet to ride it but just loved the Dada so really want to take that but feel the better combo is the Surfari and one of Dada/PP. PP with Ride LTD bindings and Surfari kith K2 Lien AT's if I can part with the Dada.

 

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Struggle big time to find cheap flights mid-late January

 

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Anyone been to Madarao?

 

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Yes 2018 and 2020 as my post above about Myoko. I consider it part of Myoko and we went there many times when staying in Myoko but I did also spend a couple of nights in Madarao itself on my 2020 trip.

Great place, gets lots of snow and has some really good trees where the spacing is wider than normal for Japan.

This package below has me interested late January. Nozawa, Myoko and Madarao - looks like a little less crowds than Hakuba and more affordable than Niseko. Probably like to extend to 10 days.

OZSNOW

 

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Hey Aaron! Surfari w/ K2 Lien would work absolutely - if i can make a suggestion man, i dont feel like you should bring the PP147 to Japan - the board has its place, and for a sz10 boot it's the right width, but i just feel like its more of a fuckaround board - I personally feel that the Dada would serve you better in Japan.

the PP147 - at my weight, i couldnt even butter it properly. I took it up the hill in multiple conditions, but found that whilst the waist was perfect for the sidecute and flex, the nose and tail were justtoo.. short. Dada will serve you better in JP, in a 2x board quiever.

just my 2C

I was just thinking this exact thought like 10 mins ago. I know the Dada and Surfari would be the better combo, just early trying to get on the PP. Think I’ll keep the PP for a one board boys OZ trip next season for a few days. I loved the Dada in NZ, think it’ll be so much more fun also in Japan.

Thanks for your thoughts as always.

 

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Sorry folks ,news flash just in **
report on NKH, not good afraid to say ...........
foorigan boarders from west set on invade snow areas this season, waring to all to beware devils from west, tourist only allowed on groom family trails 1 at a time, special gates to be installed atop family gondola for foreigners. lines expected to be " hours long" , expect ice moguls as big as 1970 VW beetles on most courses... it seems the locals have spoken to thier local councils and do not want the pristine dumps that ANOTHER la nina will bring this season.........to be ruined by powmunchers from the west slashing too hard and aggressively causing ugly lines and scar marks in the pack.

so suggest only bring smallest gelende groomer carver, no pow sticks, you wont be allowed!

i hear.........................

eurpoe will be aces!

Yeah sure no worries, sounds like a choice tourism move after several Covid affected years - see you in the stashes

 

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I'm looking now to book solo, too pricey atm from Darwin and the kids are likely to be going mid-year with school so really can't justify all of us going. Thinking maybe of going with a progression tour with Moyoko Mint Tours. Small tour, only 6, having been riding with my daughter only these last few years whilst she progresses I could really benefit from some off-piste guidance on technique, also saves me a bitof time sussing out where to go and how to get there so I can just concentrate on riding solid runs for 5 days.

If anyone knows of anything similar let me know.

https://minttours.com/japan-2/myoko-progression-tour/

 

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Well I’m finally booked. Long process being away with work but I’ve decided to do 6 days boarding from 25th January at Myoko and staying in a place only a few minutes walk to the Akakura Onsen lifts.

Looking at the pass it gets me access to

• 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

Amplids Dada and Surfari will be packed - sad to not take the whole family but the girls are doing a trip to the musical Hamilton interstate next year and also heading to Japan for school so I’m going solo.

 

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My kids loved Japan. We make a holiday of it with a week on the snow and 4 or 5 days in Tokyo on the way out. So much for them when they're young. This is my first solo trip this season, sad not to have them with me on the slopes, They're both heading to Japan with school mid-year so that'll be their trip.

 

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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.

 

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God, looks like a pain in the ass

Compared to pre-Covid days yeah, agree

Aaron, is it gonna be THAT hectic??? Or are you just being the travel-planning boss that we know you are??

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

 

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ShitStar just cancelled my return flight through Cairns, fair dinkum Jetstar are f#@king useless.

Been booked back through Bali now the following day, so maybe another 1/2 days skiing so can't complain. Would like to see some more snow around Myoko, been a little ordinary with the Westerly winds favouring Hakuba but still another 4 weeks until I leave.

@JDA - looking like a good seaon for Hakuba - nailed it!

 

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I’ve done it online, wasn’t too bad. Although I have heard it really does depend how busy the arrivals are at the time with some travellers saying the line for the online pre-filled docs was so long that the travellers just filling in the forms on arrival were getting through quicker. For me it’s just one less thing to worry about on arrival, I’ve only got 90 minutes for a connection to the shuttle.

 

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When are you off @JDA

My solo trip is no more which I'm stoked about. A work mate who works remotely FIFO has some time off so is going to tag along which will be great.

Trying to find a long range forecast that I don't need to pay for to get a bit of an idea on any fresh snow 25th onwards for Myoko, anyone have a link? I imagine most will be a pay wall.

Can't wait though.

 

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

 

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Speaking of waxing , does anyone bother bringing their wax kits to Japan ? I just pay 3000 yen but I feel like I can do a better job than some of these Aussie shops. They even left plenty of black stains on my brand new white top sheet!
the usual Japanese shop I go to were either closed or stopped waxing boards that are not their rentals.

Nah, I’ll just wax next week here at home and ride.

 

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im taking a k2 instrument 157 peter sutherland and a k2 excavator 54 22. my other two board combos ive considered is mega merc 157 with yes hybrid 157 or custom x 158w 23 with archetype legacy 57wide. i think the k2 combo is the better of the crop?

Can't go wrong I reckon, where are you going and where? Just looking at the revised forecast for Myoko from Tuesday next week, looks pretty intense!!! Can't wait

 

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Yes my mates arrive on 25th in hakuba i arrive on the 29th. In hakuba echoland til feb 6 then based out of nagano driving to resorts til the 12th. Cant wait especially since 2020 was so shit but we still had some good days of 50-60cm days

Yeah I was there 2019/20 season also, also arriving 25th Jan at Myoko and leaving early Feb, can't wait. Enjoy, been long overdue

 

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Things are looking good in the forecast for Myoko though!

Saw this earlier today and thought it was a good day to wax the sticks - god these next 6 days are going to drag!

 

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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?

I reckon Heli-skiing NZ woul be the go.