Questions about Japan.

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xxACIDTRIPxx

Active member
I'm wanting to spend the 19-20 season in Hakuba.

How early should I arrive to secure a room, also how much would I look at paying a month?

What part of hakuba should I aim to live in, I won't have a car so somewhere near public transport is boss.

I should have about 6-10k nzd saved up, I assume this would would be enough to last the season, however how hard is it for me to pick up a part time job, provided I arrive at the right time, to supplement my income.

What resorts should I buy season passes for?

If you have any other info you think would be valuable, please do share.

Thanks!
 
yeah, go to Niseko, its better snow and better nightlife. Easier to get a job as well.

you will need a working holiday visa to get a job either way, finding one without one would be near impossible.
 
13981721:pow_pow~ said:
yeah, go to Niseko, its better snow and better nightlife. Easier to get a job as well.

you will need a working holiday visa to get a job either way, finding one without one would be near impossible.
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Australians though ?

I heard the terrain is way better at hakuba aswell.

Thanks for your reply!!
 
Don't go to niseko. It's just another Whistler, but in Japan. Overrated garbage full of aussies, the only benefit being that where there are aussies there is weed.

Look at nozawa onsen, or similar less populated resorts if you want the real experience and not Perisher with ramen.

As for jobs, easy to get. Dishwashing or housekeeping are easy to find. Try sus a job first if possible but if you have backup cash you good. Always paid cash. Better to get the work visa but you don't need it if you can afford to fly to south east Asia to renew your tourist visa after 3(?) months.
 
Figure out your backcountry game before arriving: gear up and get educated. Then find people to ease you into the goods when you're there.

I don't know why anyone would consider anything but the Hakuba Valley pass.
 
13981785:marrows said:
Don't go to niseko. It's just another Whistler, but in Japan. Overrated garbage full of aussies, the only benefit being that where there are aussies there is weed.

Look at nozawa onsen, or similar less populated resorts if you want the real experience and not Perisher with ramen.

As for jobs, easy to get. Dishwashing or housekeeping are easy to find. Try sus a job first if possible but if you have backup cash you good. Always paid cash. Better to get the work visa but you don't need it if you can afford to fly to south east Asia to renew your tourist visa after 3(?) months.
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Your saying alot of disheashing jobs are under the table?
 
13981785:marrows said:
Don't go to niseko. It's just another Whistler, but in Japan. Overrated garbage full of aussies, the only benefit being that where there are aussies there is weed.

Look at nozawa onsen, or similar less populated resorts if you want the real experience and not Perisher with ramen.

As for jobs, easy to get. Dishwashing or housekeeping are easy to find. Try sus a job first if possible but if you have backup cash you good. Always paid cash. Better to get the work visa but you don't need it if you can afford to fly to south east Asia to renew your tourist visa after 3(?) months.
Click to expand...

Nozawa onsen is an awesome place. there's a free hot spring on every block and hot water running down the skinny cobblestone streets.... skiings was good there last year too. Japanese people don't like to ski trees for some reason so you can always find fresh stuff if you look. Same goes for all of japan. Gem
 
+1 for not going to Niseko. It's played.

Hakuba is good as it's fairly easy to get to a few good places from there - Hakuba 47, Happo One, Tsugaike, Cortina all easily accessible with other places such as Nozawa Onsen etc within driving distance.

Echoland is the main place for western/ski crew I think and has restaturants/bars but not as packed with nobs as Niseko is.

It's all less busy than Niseko; Cortina and Tsugaike both have surprising amounts of good terrain.

Myoko Kogen another option though not been there myself.

If you want Hokkaido snow, a better option may be to head to the Asahikawa area; Furano, Asahidake, Tomamo etc.
 
13982185:Nicko1981 said:
+1 for not going to Niseko. It's played.

Hakuba is good as it's fairly easy to get to a few good places from there - Hakuba 47, Happo One, Tsugaike, Cortina all easily accessible with other places such as Nozawa Onsen etc within driving distance.

Echoland is the main place for western/ski crew I think and has restaturants/bars but not as packed with nobs as Niseko is.

It's all less busy than Niseko; Cortina and Tsugaike both have surprising amounts of good terrain.

Myoko Kogen another option though not been there myself.

If you want Hokkaido snow, a better option may be to head to the Asahikawa area; Furano, Asahidake, Tomamo etc.
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So planning all this out, it seems like it would get to do a whole season at just one resort as the terrain will be all explored in one week or so... So the best bet is too travel round multiple resorts across the region?

So far the resorts that sound good are

Cortina

Hakuba 47

Tsugaike

Nozowa Onsen

In which case, if I plan too hit these where should I base myself. I will probably be looking at working in a hostel or as a dishwasher.
 
13982674:XxAc1DtR1PxX said:
So planning all this out, it seems like it would get to do a whole season at just one resort as the terrain will be all explored in one week or so... So the best bet is too travel round multiple resorts across the region?

So far the resorts that sound good are

Cortina

Hakuba 47

Tsugaike

Nozowa Onsen

In which case, if I plan too hit these where should I base myself. I will probably be looking at working in a hostel or as a dishwasher.
Click to expand...

Staying in Echoland area you would be right next to Hakuba 47 and Happo One, which are the largest. Tsugaike and Cortina are smaller but I enjoyed them more - both a short drive away or there are buses.
http://www.powderhounds.com/Japan/Honshu/Echoland.aspx

Nozawa Onsen is a much larger ski area, but quite far from the others; as someone on the thread earlier said, it's a really nice traditional town; whereas Echoland is the Hakuba westerner hub; so it depends what you are looking for.

Someone mentioned Rusutsu and Moiwa - both are great places; Moiwa is very expensive though and last time I went was super busy. Now that Niseko is rammed with people, Rusutsu is busier than it used to be, but still good. However you wouldn't want to live there I think. The first time I skied Rusutsu the only people on the mountain were us, a group of 5 japanese snowboarders, 1 ski school group and the famous japanese backwards skiing man. It was great.
 
topic:xxACIDTRIPxx said:
I'm wanting to spend the 19-20 season in Hakuba.

How early should I arrive to secure a room, also how much would I look at paying a month?

What part of hakuba should I aim to live in, I won't have a car so somewhere near public transport is boss.

I should have about 6-10k nzd saved up, I assume this would would be enough to last the season, however how hard is it for me to pick up a part time job, provided I arrive at the right time, to supplement my income.

What resorts should I buy season passes for?

If you have any other info you think would be valuable, please do share.

Thanks!
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It’s great that you’re planning to spend a season in Hakuba! To secure a room, I’d recommend arriving as early as possible, ideally in late October or early November, since the closer it gets to the season, the harder it can be to find a good place. As for monthly rent, it can vary depending on the area and type of accommodation, but you’re probably looking at anywhere from ¥50,000 to ¥100,000 per month.
 
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