Japan Stoke Thread 2023

17242 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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NT.Thunder

· #101 · 4 mo ago

Doraibu said:
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.

Doraibu

· #102 · 4 mo ago

NT.Thunder said:
Nah, I’ll just wax next week here at home and ride.

You don’t re wax in a two week trip ?

Myoko

· #103 · 4 mo ago

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?

JDA

Discussion Starter · #104 · 4 mo ago

I have never taken wax but most of my trips are usually 2 weeks on snow and I take 3 boards freshly waxed before I leave home.

Rip154

· #105 · 4 mo ago

theres always some block of wax and a scraper and some spare parts in the bag. irons can be found in most lodges i go to. never paid for it.

Craig64

· #106 · 4 mo ago

Doraibu said:
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.

I have a 120v ToKo T8 as well and I take over a small tuning kit to Japan. We normally go for 2 weeks and I re wax half way through the trip. It's powder so not overly abrasive like what we get here in Oz. I do it because I have the gear and you have to factor in the iron weight into luggage as well. It's okay when we have a few of us going as we share the entire luggage weight together.

timwhunt83

· #107 · 4 mo ago

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?

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NT.Thunder

· #108 · 4 mo ago

timwhunt83 said:
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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timwhunt83

· #109 · 4 mo ago

NT.Thunder said:
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

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

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NT.Thunder

· #110 · 4 mo ago

timwhunt83 said:
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

Doraibu

· #111 · 4 mo ago

timwhunt83 said:
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?

Just be aware there a LOT of stairs in Japan and stairs are always the easiest walking path and elevator usually tucked away somewhere obscure.

timwhunt83 said:
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

Just arrived in myoko now and it’s a bit lack lustre this week it seems. Locals saying it’s been raining recently too :/
I had a bad feeling when I saw how clear the road was driving here. Snow is picking up a bit tonight.
Can only hope kami sama will be kind to me and defy the forecast

Next week looks like a way better week. Good timing , lucky you.

JDA

Discussion Starter · #112 · 4 mo ago

Things are looking good in the forecast for Myoko though!

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NT.Thunder

· #113 · 4 mo ago

JDA said:
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!

robotfood99

· #114 · 4 mo ago

Doraibu said:
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.

I packed a tub of paste wax, but gave that to a local friend and picked up a waxing iron and a stick of all-temp wax. Did the crayon-iron-no scrape routine. Takes up about the same room in the board bag as the tub of paste wax.

nitro91

· #115 · 4 mo ago

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?

NT.Thunder

· #116 · 4 mo ago

nitro91 said:
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.

Reactions: 1

Myoko

· #117 · 4 mo ago

nitro91 said:
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

NT.Thunder

· #118 · 4 mo ago

I was reading a FB post this morning saying there was a storm around Tuesday next week that may disrupt transport networks with snow expected in Tokyo. I'm due to arrive 6am Wednesday next week and jump on the sow shuttle from Haneda to Nagano to Myoko, should I be worried? Are the transport networks pretty good? Nothing like a good dump but still need to get there.

Doraibu

· #119 · 4 mo ago

2

Grey Wood Tints and shades Flooring Pattern

Atmosphere Grey Black-and-white Rectangle Tints and shades

No real snow this week in myoko. Loads of ice bricks on a black run in akakura kanko. You can see some greens here and there.
Multiple black ice patch in other resorts too.
My boards to Japan always look pristine because of deep snow. First time getting a gash in japan.
Doesn’t look too deep. Bought a wax bar and waxed it at the lodge.
will probably ptex it when I get home

expected some snow overnight but turns out to be nothing much. warm blue bird again today

Hope you guy have a better trip next week

ill be off to zao

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NT.Thunder

· #120 · 4 mo ago

Doraibu said:
View attachment 166093
View attachment 166094

No real snow this week in myoko. Loads of ice bricks on a black run in akakura kanko. You can see some greens here and there.
Multiple black ice patch in other resorts too.
My boards to Japan always look pristine because of deep snow. First time getting a gash in japan.
Doesn’t look too deep. Bought a wax bar and waxed it at the lodge.
will probably ptex it when I get home

expected some snow overnight but turns out to be nothing much. warm blue bird again today

Hope you guy have a better trip next week

ill be off to zao

That sucks, not what you'd expect this time of year or hope for. Fingers crossed we get some more cover over the next 7 days. Anyway, a bad day in Japan is better than a good day at work so I'll take whatever gets dished up whether it's powder or Asahi

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