Has anybody any tips or experience of longer stays in Niseko Japan?
I'm looking at "working from home" out there for about a month.
UK hours are 8 to 5 so 5pm to 2am local so I'll need a space to work on the laptop and have online meetings and calls.
I don't mind roughing it in a dorm but I'm sure I won't be popular climbing into a bunk at that time every night.
Scratch that, maybe everyone else will still be out partying
Anyway I thought the 5 hour day ticket, slopes 10 till 3, food, a nap and work till the early hours for a few weeks would be a win.
February/March seems to be a good time for powder (feel free to put me straight) so I was thinking of arriving just after Chinese New Year and staying about 4-6 weeks
How cheap/low can you go and still be in easy access of the slopes?
How easy is it to change places once you're there (different resorts/better deals)?
Any tips on the seasonnaire/long term/worker accommodations?
Is it easy to jump into the community and find company for the slopes (especially as I won't be part of the dawn till dusk crew)?
I'd never normally consider it but with the gate system would you ever go off the sides on your own ?
Thanks in advance for all your help.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:
I'd never normally consider it but with the gate system would you ever go off the sides on your own ?
Never mind about the gates question. I thought they were to patrolled areas between the pistes but I found a fantastic guide to the Niseko Japow that put me straight.
All the best back country runs with all the hints and tips you would ever need. Amazing watch with step by step FatMap walkthroughs.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Tip; try not to call it Chinese New Year outside of China. It’s a great way to offend several other Asian nations, likely including Japan. I think Lunar New Year will probably suffice.
February/March seems to be a good time for powder (feel free to put me straight) so I was thinking of arriving just after Chinese New Year and staying about 4-6 weeks
Jan/Feb typically better for powder. Accommodation is very cheap outside Niseko. I think I paid around $30 a night for a private room at the K House in Asahidake
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
You're only going for a month.
It'll be over in a flash.
Just book the best crib nearest the lift or shuttlebus.
Maximize the skitime.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Quote:
K House in Asahidake
What's the skiing like up there? I was a bit nervous about going to other areas.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Are you planning to rent a car?
Accommodation will be expensive no doubt in Niseko especially if you want to be near the lifts. I don't think you'll find any long-term deals for a stay of only 4-6 weeks.
If you have a car, accommodation in Sapporo or Otaru (or even central Hokkaido as mentioned above) is much, much cheaper. But you'll obviously have to drive for skiing, up to an hour each way, and you might struggle to meet people. Would probably be a more interesting experience though overall.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Quote:
You're only going for a month.
Yeah, I know only a month I should make more of an effort
I've been doing the usual week in France thing but if I can make this work, there's no reason I couldn't do this for longer but that's the key.
I need to pay for living out there but will still need to cover my bills & mortgage back home so time away is cost limited.
I need to keep the boss onside so missing a client meeting because I got lost in the back country or something isn't going to fly.
But if I can live cheaply, ski the early party of the day and work nights I could do this for a good few months.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Quote:
Are you planning to rent a car?
I was thinking about it and trying to work out if the saving in accommodation costs would just go on the rental (but it would give me greater flexibility)
Time is a factor as well. As I'm planning to get back and work online after skiing I need to be comfortably back at the accommodation within an hour and preferably under a 30-40 minute drive.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Quote:
Sapporo or Otaru (
What do you think about staying at (and driving in from) Komobetsu, Rusutsu, Rankoshi etc?
Anywhere within about 30 minutes drive that's worth a look?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Skid9992003 wrote:
Quote:
K House in Asahidake
What's the skiing like up there? I was a bit nervous about going to other areas.
I need to pay for living out there but will still need to cover my bills & mortgage back home so time away is cost limited.
work nights I could do this for a good few months.
Rent out your place on airbnb to provide some extra cash
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
A car is super convenient but quite expensive. Alternatively from Sapporo and Asahikawa I think there are ski buses to all the main resorts
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Have a look at the Australian Alpine Club in Niseko.
It's pretty simple, big communal space, big communal kitchen, and a side room that would be ideal for zooming etc.
Very social too.
Not as cheap as a dorm, but I think it would be a much better experience.
Bear in mind rhat it is priced in Aussie dollars not US.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Skid9992003,
Ask on ski.com.au - probably someone on there that has done similar.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Otaru
Use public / private transport to access Otaru Tenguyama, Asari, Sapporo Kokusai, Kiroro, Sapporo Teine.
You can do day trips (long days) to Niseko Resort Area and Rusutsu.
Hour by train to Sapporo.
You'll see a very different side of Hokkaido and spend a fraction of what you would in the Niseko Resort Area.
If I didn't have business interests in and around Niseko that's what I would do.
Thanks @Mike Pow but was hoping to do a small amount of daily skiing in the mornings M to F, work in the evenings and then do the day trips with some big ski days or exploring further afield like Sapporo etc. at the weekends.
My dilemma is to be close enough to do daily skiing (little but often) at reasonable cost.
From my side, I'm prepared to drop the standards, be further out (30-45 minutes drive), dormitories, living with resort workers, explore other accommodation options (pensions etc.)
But I understand that anywhere close will be in high demand
I think I was hoping that by staying longer I could tap into some lower cost options.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Skid9992003, You still have the weekends to do full day trips.
Perhaps look for a lessor known resort up to an hour away from Niseko and base yourself there? Hopefully it’d be less expensive. You‘ll get to ski that smaller resort in the morning before your work day starts. Then go to Niseko or other worthy mountains on weekends?
You’ll probably need a car for that. So need to figure out if the saving in lodging can pay for the car.
Thanks @Mike Pow but was hoping to do a small amount of daily skiing in the mornings M to F, work in the evenings and then do the day trips with some big ski days or exploring further afield like Sapporo etc. at the weekends.
My dilemma is to be close enough to do daily skiing (little but often) at reasonable cost.
From my side, I'm prepared to drop the standards, be further out (30-45 minutes drive), dormitories, living with resort workers, explore other accommodation options (pensions etc.)
But I understand that anywhere close will be in high demand
I think I was hoping that by staying longer I could tap into some lower cost options.
Unless you're prepared to get to the lifts super early in Niseko and stand around waiting in line then you'll discover that even with the drive you'll be skiing quicker and more at other resorts.
Niseko was really busy this Winter. And it's just going to get worse IMHO.
Basing yourself out of Otaru you'll have almost no competition for lifts and tracks mid-week.
I didn't ski one day at Niseko this past Winter.
But each to his own.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Big Thanks everyone and especially to @Mike Pow.
In looking for big powder in Japan, I'd got myself fixated on Niseko but it looks like Sapporo / Otaru WILL suit me better for the balance of accessibility and accommodation options (and avoiding the Niseko queues) so it's back to the drawing board with the research.
I haven't got to checking Otaru yet but Sapporo with the Kamori season pass for Teine and Rusutsu is ticking a lot of boxes for me as well as the quick journeys to Bankai (although it looks small, it is convenient for the weekdays).
I did pick up loads of tips from the Captain Ikigai vids which are short, sweet and very informative so I strongly recommend checking out their content.
@Whitegold, It looks like I will be extending my stay after all.
Thanks again all, a lot more research to be done but you've set me on the right path.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sun 31-03-24 13:20; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
My pleasure
Yes that Kamori Season Pass is great value if you use it
Otherwise the 25hr ticket for Rusutsu is great value and the best way to ski there.
I've spent more time and had better days at Sapporo Kokusai and Kiroro over Teine.
But when Teine is on, it's hard to beat.
Also covers Sahoro for a road trip to Central Hokkaido.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Quote:
Season Pass is great value
For Rusutsu alone the standard Kamori pass pays for itself in 7 days and for Teine in 12 days and the Gold (with locker reservation) isn't much more than that so the plan is currently:
Kamori Teine & Rusutsu Gold season pass, currently 104,000 (standard - no locker 95,000) on the earlybird deal.
Weekdays at Teine with Bankei occasionally for some variety. I did consider the Bankei pass (50,000) for weekdays and the Rusutsu 25 hour (30,000)for weekends but I think Teine is the better option.
Weekends at Rusutsu with trips to some of the others mentioned
Week or 2 off work out of a 6-8 week stay for sight seeing.
I think, that's cracked it
And again, a shout out to some of the videos that helped me with my plans.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Sapporo is much larger than Otaru.
Getting out the city to slopes and back will take much longer. Drove in/around Otaru by car - easy/fast access to Tenguyama, Asari. A twisty 40min to the fab Kiroro. Samish to Teine (or was it Kokusai?). For what you are after - find a place next to Otaru station and you are set
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Skid9992003, if you have a month you really need to go to Central Hokkaido also. After a warm spell we left a warm, mushy Kiroro and skied blower pow the next day in Asahidake. Conditions can vary hugely so watching the weather and being flexible really pays off
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Indeed, alternatively - base yourself in Asahikawa and drive/bus to nearby resorts and over weekends get to Asahidake (magic place!)
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
mooney058 wrote:
Sapporo is much larger than Otaru.
Getting out the city to slopes and back will take much longer. Drove in/around Otaru by car - easy/fast access to Tenguyama, Asari. A twisty 40min to the fab Kiroro. Samish to Teine (or was it Kokusai?). For what you are after - find a place next to Otaru station and you are set
This
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
BobinCH wrote:
@Skid9992003, if you have a month you really need to go to Central Hokkaido also. After a warm spell we left a warm, mushy Kiroro and skied blower pow the next day in Asahidake. Conditions can vary hugely so watching the weather and being flexible really pays off
Most definitely
Three major storm patterns/locations
Niseko Resort Area
Resorts out of Otaru and Sapporo
Central Hokkaido
All can be very, very different on any given day.
As an aside, Asahidake tends to get more and drier snow than other Hokkaido resorts because it's higher. It's not some mystical thing going on. Base of the gondola is 1,100m which is higher than nearly all the summit lifts across Hokkaido. Top of the gondola is 1,600m. Then you can tour up to 2,291m from there. It's the tallest mountain on Hokkaido and cops the lion's share of the weather in that area.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Mike Pow, ha, still can’t forget first trip to Hokkaido in 2018 when you took me from Niseko over to Kiroro and how skies had changed just after the tunnel. Same change on the way back to Niseko. Still got the fab picture of Yotei-san in evening sun.
To the OP - to maximise your 1month experience listen/read carefully to what Mike shares with you.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Mike Pow wrote:
BobinCH wrote:
@Skid9992003, if you have a month you really need to go to Central Hokkaido also. After a warm spell we left a warm, mushy Kiroro and skied blower pow the next day in Asahidake. Conditions can vary hugely so watching the weather and being flexible really pays off
Most definitely
Three major storm patterns/locations
Niseko Resort Area
Resorts out of Otaru and Sapporo
Central Hokkaido
All can be very, very different on any given day.
As an aside, Asahidake tends to get more and drier snow than other Hokkaido resorts because it's higher. It's not some mystical thing going on. Base of the gondola is 1,100m which is higher than nearly all the summit lifts across Hokkaido. Top of the gondola is 1,600m. Then you can tour up to 2,291m from there. It's the tallest mountain on Hokkaido and cops the lion's share of the weather in that area.
And don’t believe the Snowforecast totals especially for Asahidake. Several times it forecast 5cm and in reality it dumped more like 40cm. It’s the opposite of Europe!
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
out there for about a month.
?
Oops, good advice thanks.
