Japan 2010, who's going?

[SA]

Actually, thinking that through a bit more, QF is oneworld, so business and higher FF status members will probably get access to the JAL lounges at Kansai - worth checking.

[karen97]

I will let you know if I can get into it next week

[KStud]

Flying out from the Gold Coast on Monday and going to try the new Jetstar lounge! Will let you know what its like. Can't be too picky for a $9.99 fee per person! Pity there isn't one at Narita on the return journey.
Will be at Hakuba from 15th to 26th Feb. Can't wait. MORE SNOW IS COMING!

[ausi ski bum]

I am flying Star Class so most likely Iwill get in at KIX

[SA]

On check-in at KIX you will be given a ticket/voucher to the Asuka lounge. I've still got mine here (never bothered to use it).

[ausi ski bum]

Well I am in Sydney early flight tomorrow so I am about to head to Japan for three weeks of snow snow snow.

[John Deere]

NRT Qantas Club has the coolest beer pourer!

[Podlettte]

is she cute?

[John Deere]

It's Japan.....its a machine!

[ausi ski bum]

Had a great day skiing Furano today, I enjoyed it more than Niseko. Some excellent runs here. I am at Tsuru Apartments, a great suprise, they are well appointed and very good value. Might do a few runs tonight.

[blutek]

hey ASB, we're at Asahikawa - was at Kamui today (lots of windbown), & Pippu tommorrow.
Was heading to Kitta Taisetsu, but it did not open this year.
Still may do Kurodake or Asahidake, depending on the weather.
Rusutsu has been great (& no crowds) - Last Saturday was excellent (offpiste).
How good has the curling been on TV.

[SnoWhite]

.....How good has the curling been on TV.

:big_laugh::big_laugh::big_laugh: How would we know? Those of us who work during the day, which is most of us, are lucky to get a few hours of hightlights in between Eddie crapping on and the ads at 9:30pm or later when the stupid cricket finally finishes! :cry:

[blutek]

Work, don't remind me, it will come around too quick.
The Jgirls just lost to Sweden, that should put them out.

[ausi ski bum]

Another great day at Furano, how long are those runs.

Here is something worth knowing, you can buy a two day ticket with 2000 yen in vouchers for meals which you can use for two people for the day for 7000 yen , so instead of 4200 yen for a day ticket you pay 3500 and get 1000 back as a voucher. You can not buy on mountain but you can from the ski shops in town

One thing I believe about skiing in Japan is people would have a much better holiday if they hired a car, We have one and pass very tired looking aussies walking up the street.

Its very quiet here now, no lines no crowds and great snow. Furano needs to do a few things if they want to increase the number of Aussies, most important is to improve the transport system and shuttles, the other is to have a few English signs. They try very hard and they do have a great resort here.

[Bear]

Too many Aussies in Japan already ASB. We don't want to encourage more to head here. ;)

[blutek]

Some info on Kamui Ski Links. It's about 40min by Resort Liner Bus from Asahikawa city. Day ticket was 2,800yen after small discount from Tourist Office voucher. Lockers are 400yen, although the locals just leave their bags in the rest area. There was less than 50 people there in total.
It is a big enough area to spend one or two days. Offpiste is allowed, but besides the obvious inbounds stuff, it can be a bit difficult to identify, particularly up past the back No 5 chair. There were 3 avalanche areas posted. Powder potential is very high. Gets 8mts annually. Recommended if in the area. Attraction - is the out of bounds.

[ausi ski bum]

Furano today was like skiing on Elephant snot, it was 10C and very warm wind blowing. Was like Falls Creek in September 2000, over 2 metres of base and not worth the effort.

I suspect this is pre frontal warming with a snow front forcast for the next three to four days.

I didn't mind we had a great time here in Furano and we move on to Sounyko tomorrow.

[blutek]

It was very close to snow in Tokyo this morning.
Cold & wet with some noticable wet slush (flakes) falling. Had to buy a $1 umberalla. Things can be so cheap here.
Tokyo Marathon was run today, causing pedestrian kaos in the city.
Currently watching the Tsunami on TV. It's like a really high tide and has flooded some buildings and covered a road in Hokkaido (up to 1.2mts).

[ozgirl]

We debated about the rain/snow/sleet in tokyo too. Got a great view of the start of the marathon.

[Sandy]

Too many Aussies in Japan already ASB. We don't want to encourage more to head here. ;)

Actually, there aren't that many ;)

They are mostly concentrated in TWO places: Niseko & Hakuba.

Go to just about any other place, and the concentration drops to very low levels.

[ausi ski bum]

Exactly have seen very few Westerners this trip, havent seen any for five days now. Having a great time, found two small ski slopes on my travels that we stopped at for a few hours, was great fun. Both had one lift that fed three or four runs, very cheap and any new hill is always a new adventure.

In Abashiri at the moment, looks like there is no drift ice though on te ocean :cry:

[SA]

Furano tip:

You can get a group discount known as the Nakayoshi group plan. During March it's 3,200 pp for 2 people; 3,000 pp for 3 people and 2,800 pp for 4.

The normal day ticket price is 4,200 pp so it's a good saving.

http://blog.princehotels.co.jp/ski/coupon/furano/entry/307.html

[Vet]

Do we need a 'one stop shop' post/thread - per countrty, State or region, that people can copy and edit to add:

- links to sites/deals/tips like the one SA mentioned?
- link threads that review accom (like tripadvisor's members do)
- gets googlers over to snowatch when they google words like "Japan, cheap, ski'

[John Deere]

Gaijin count (besides us, party of 3):

Kagura = 1
Asahidake = 6
Kamui = 3 (3 out of Asahidakes 6 funnily enough!)
Furano = 15-20

[ausi ski bum]

I am in Sahoro Resort now a couple of other Aussies here but mostly Japanese. nice snow fall last night so heading out now. Four days here then five at Tomamu then my ntrip is over.

[SA]

Your timing for Tomamu should be just about perfect. Get into it!

[ausi ski bum]

why is that SA

[SA]

'cos you missed the rain/warm spell and there should've been some new snow this week.

[Xena]

Do we need a 'one stop shop' post/thread - per countrty, State or region, that people can copy and edit to add:

- links to sites/deals/tips like the one SA mentioned?
- link threads that review accom (like tripadvisor's members do)
- gets googlers over to snowatch when they google words like "Japan, cheap, ski'


good idea

[ausi ski bum]

We did pick a good time to travel around Hokkaido so widely, many of the mountain crossings and smaller roads we traveled would have been difficult in heavy snow.

Fairly mild today, we went to a nearby lake to visit a huge snow bar and igloo village. This trip has not all been about skiing, its been to see far more of the areas we are in and get to know Hokkaido well.

Still very few Westerners around there was three in the Sahoro resort but they left this morning.

Sahoro is nice I am enjoying my stay here.