Shlumped.Shiv
New member
Any wisdom on how to score Japan right? Where in Japan to go (Hokkaido or Hakuba or XYZ)? Best part of season to go? Good camper van rentals? I am living in Hawaii rn so flights r low key reasonable. Thanks for the help.
Japan trip advice
- Thread starter Shlumped.Shiv
- Start date
Snowwalker95
New member
If you're sticking to the resorts, January is usually the time to go. Hokkaido gets hit hard with snow but the terrain in Hakuba is bigger and steeper. Getting around Japan is really easy by train. I don't have any info on camper van rentals. Train stations all over Japan (in my experience) were all English friendly, and tickets were generally really cheap. No matter where you go or what you do Japan is a magically country and the skiing is exactly as it looks in the videos.
KilaTsunami
Active member
Do you have to know the language to ski Japan???
Snowwalker95
New member
14048203:KilaTsunami said:
Skiing is the universal language.
FaunaSkis
Member
If you (and optionally a few buddies you're going with) are into touring and have the budget you should join a guided group through an australian tour op. you should end up with a guide and group that all speak english so you all understand each other if shit goes south. You can get groups that do just like backside off the resorts but there are also options to go full backcountry or a mix of backcountry and sidecountry away from the main resorts, as places like Niseko get tracked out in a hot minute.
Check out https://www.snowlocals.com/ . My good friend Jake old time pro skier has been running an operation out of there for years and definitely knows what up.
xxACIDTRIPxx
Active member
I'm hitting hakuna December Jan should be gangstarrr
WeedHubJapan
New member
I can help you.
Please contact me.
420japan.simplesite.com
Please contact me.
420japan.simplesite.com
snomaster
Active member
First comment is on point. Get the JR Rail Pass. Take the Shinkansen bullet train to Hakodate or Nagano then rent a car to your local destination. I recommend going to both if you have time, but to be flexible so you can bullet train between the two. Hakuba Valley is where the Japanese Alps are which means the best terrain. Hokkaido is more quiet, in many ways. Snow should be plenty up there but it was less than legendary for us in Jan 2017.
I agree with hiring a guide, but how you do this all depends on your current experience, ability, and goals.
We (my wife is more badass than me) hired a guide for the first 2 of five days in Niseko and first 2 of 8 days in Hakuba and both were best decisions ever. We have lots of experience and were able to learn enough from our guides to learn entry and exit points, avoid major hazards, and be exactly where we wanted to be when it got deep.
And immerse yourself in culture. Raw fish, rice, and ramen; Triangle sushi at Lawson and 7-11; Samurai castle in Matsumoto; Onsens; Snow Monkeys.
[video]https://vimeo.com/215544094[/video]
I agree with hiring a guide, but how you do this all depends on your current experience, ability, and goals.
We (my wife is more badass than me) hired a guide for the first 2 of five days in Niseko and first 2 of 8 days in Hakuba and both were best decisions ever. We have lots of experience and were able to learn enough from our guides to learn entry and exit points, avoid major hazards, and be exactly where we wanted to be when it got deep.
And immerse yourself in culture. Raw fish, rice, and ramen; Triangle sushi at Lawson and 7-11; Samurai castle in Matsumoto; Onsens; Snow Monkeys.
[video]https://vimeo.com/215544094[/video]