Japan Stoke Thread 2023

17224 Views 373 Replies 30 Participants Last post by JDA, 2 mo ago

JDA

Discussion Starter · 8 mo ago

If you didn't know, all restrictions to enter Japan have now been lifted.

Who is going?
Where are you going?
Have you been before and where?
What board/bindings are you taking?

I can't believe I'm actually going, if you asked me 4 weeks ago we were holding off until 2024 but now myself and 3 other mates have already booked our flights and accommodation for the first week of Feb 2023.

This will be my 7th time to Japan, I've been to around 30 different ski resorts already in areas such as Hakuba, Myoko, Fukushima (Bandai), Yamagata (Zao Onsen) and several resorts up on Hokkaido.

This trip I have 2 first timers coming with me and the only way I could convince them was to keep the trip reasonably short and inexpensive. So we have 7 days on snow in Hakuba Valley and we will be getting 5 consecutive days of lift tickets for free with our Epic pass. We are staying right next to the gondola at the base of Tsugaike Kogan ski resort.

I am taking my Salomon Dancehaul 152 with Now Drive bindings and my Korua Dart 156 with Ride A-10 bindings. Both boards should be good in powder with the Dancehaul having a softer more freestyle focus and the Dart will be great for carving.

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Craig64

· #41 · 7 mo ago

JDA said:
If you do head over to Japan there is a T.J Brand store in Hakuba, Moss Snowstick in Myoko and a Gentemstick in Niseko. It's always nice to fondle the boards but the prices have stopped me buying so far, I usually leave my card in the hotel just as a precaution

Yep most of the Retail outlets in the past I went to in Hokkaido, Japan just browsing at Snowboards and outerwear I found they were a lot more expensive than full Aussie RRP....., and that folks is already a shock to the system.

Myoko

· #42 · 7 mo ago

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

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Craig64

· #43 · 7 mo ago

Myoko said:
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

Pretty sure he works or has worked at ESS in Jindy.

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MountainMystic

· #44 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

Craig64 said:
Pretty sure he works or has worked at ESS in Jindy.

Yup, Joe Stanco def worked at ESS Jindy.

NoirX252

· #45 · 7 mo ago

I forgot to say thanks @JDA
Been doing some more research on my own and it seems like Hakuba/near is the place to camp out for a bit. Just need to finalize some things; plans will go out the window if I switch jobs. (1-2 weeks vs month+).

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NT.Thunder

· #46 · 7 mo ago

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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JDA

Discussion Starter · #47 · 7 mo ago

NT.Thunder said:
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/

Sounds good and the reviews look good too. It's a bit more expensive than what I paid with Powder Recon since its in USD and the exchange rate sucks right now but PR don't really offer any coaching, just guiding with their tour so fair enough I guess.

Kijima

· #48 · 7 mo ago

4

Plant Wood Architecture Road surface Flooring

Carnivore Plant Felidae Road surface Grass

Train Bullet train Automotive lighting Rolling stock Vehicle

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Kijima

· #49 · 7 mo ago

Myoko got a bit of a touch up with the white brush last night

Sky Mountain Plant Ecoregion Highland

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NoirX252

· #50 · 7 mo ago

Am I screwed if I book December-ish (flights and lodging)? Only because of job timing.

Myoko

· #51 · 7 mo ago

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

nitro91

· #52 · 7 mo ago

Will be going at start of February but cant decide on which place.
Ive done hakuba, myoko and shiga kogen before

I'd like to do niseko as i havent done it before and the snow there sounds on point. But my only concern is will it be too busy as this is the first season after covid?

Myoko

· #53 · 7 mo ago

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.

JDA

Discussion Starter · #54 · 7 mo ago

I think Niseko is worth doing at least once to see if you like it or not. When we were there for a week we ended up taking the bus to Rusutsu twice and Kiroro once and it was super easy to do that.

@Myoko the Bandai region is worth checking out if you are looking for something different, resorts like Nekoma, Alts Bandai and Inawashiro.

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Myoko

· #55 · 7 mo ago

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

NT.Thunder

· #56 · 7 mo ago

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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JDA

Discussion Starter · #57 · 7 mo ago

NT.Thunder said:
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.

All you need now is for it to snow while you are there! you're in a great spot for when the snow does come. If it dumps I'd be heading to Suginohara or Madarao/Tangram. Ikenotaira is great 2 - 3 days after a dump, once the snow has settled a bit.

Myoko

· #58 · 7 mo ago

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

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dailo

· #59 · 6 mo ago

Heading to Rusutsu with the fam from 9 to 17 Jan 2023. Not the first time in the land of the rising sun, but will be the first time experiencing Hokkaido & snow there.

Hoping to get a taste of some pow - hence picking up a new K2 Simple Pleasures for the trip. Pairing it up with Rome Katanas and going to try some +/+ stance angles (I usually ride a ducked out).

I'm actually equally excited for my young ones (5 and 3) to experience the snow in Japan. We did our first trip to Falls Creek (Aus) this year and they absolutely loved it. The kids ski program in Rusutsu looks absolutely bonkers as well. I think the resort style setup of Rusutsu will make it a bit more manageable as well with young kids.

I'm so stoked for this trip, can't wait!

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NT.Thunder

· #60 · 6 mo ago

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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