 Poster: A snowHead
|
| musehead wrote: |
The most frustrating thing for me is that Japan is having an excellent winter (and did last winter too) but it's not yet accessible for tourists. The last time I went, 2019/20 was a historically bad winter there.  |
Two good (normal) winters back to back
The 2019/20 was not an ‘historically bad winter’, it was dry the days you were there and/or at the areas you skied that particular day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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, I don't know why I do it to myself looking at the Japan snow reports reading of endless powder when I know I can't go. Hopefully it will be possible next season, I'd love to go back.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
In Kutchan
When were you there again?
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 15-03-22 10:41; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| BenW_86 wrote: |
| @Mike Pow, I don't know why I do it to myself looking at the Japan snow reports reading of endless powder when I know I can't go. Hopefully it will be possible next season, I'd love to go back. |
Workers and people with business interests allowed in from 01 March 2022
All being well, tourists in from June
So next Winter we should be back to normal
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Quote: |
| and if ski-touring you really have to work to get to the snow, and even then it might not be good |
Mrs MA and I got some pretty decent fresh tracks on each day of a six day Öetztal group ski tour last week 
A real bonus, as we'd expected everywhere to be completely tracked as it hadn't snowed for some time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@mountainaddict, Oeztal is good for ski tours. Not so many people about as other ski areas I think.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| telford_mike wrote: |
| The worst I can remember in recent times was 1989/90. I didn’t even bother going. |
I’m wondering whether it was this or the following winter when I went with a group of friends and the resort was virtually closed for three of the seven days. We sat around in the room complaining and getting fractious. The guy who booked it then claimed against the TOs snow guarantee, and eventually we all got some money back. Not nice atmosphere though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did you go looking for the snow, or just base yourself in one area and wait for the magic to happen?
Self-organised or on a group tour?
I find it fascinating that after all the years I've been posting on here offering advice and 'on the snow' reports, when people do decide to visit Hokkaido - typically the Niseko Resort Area - very few get in touch to get my take on how the season has been going and where I'd recommend visiting to get the best experience.
FEBRUARY 2020
03 February
Rusutsu Resort
On piste
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8j5c-8leUn/
04 February
Rusutsu Resort
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8qW09LFEyu/
05, 06, 07 February
I was teaching a beginner but there was plenty of powder in the trees at Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Hanazono and Rusutsu Resort
08 February
Kiroro Resort
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zc2kQlwu9/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B82I0VsFzgA/
09, 10 February
I was teaching my now intermediate but there was plenty of powder in the trees at Rusutsu Resort and Kiroro Resort
11 February
Kiroro Resort
My intermediate got amongst it just beside the piste
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8-e-fMFtIN/
It was deeper in the trees
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9EAhJDlvL-/
12 -15 February
It warmed up, but there was still boot top powder to be had on N Face slopes up high
16, 17 February
Rusutsu Resort
A skiff overnight
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9L41KzlgDP/
18 February
Niseko Moiwa
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9M6ufylIFt/
19 February
Kiroro Resort
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9OFucXhkcp/
20 February
Kiroro Resort
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9POPm4ldjw/
21 February
Kiroro Resort
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9QujR8FNCk/
23 February
Kiroro Resort
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Rzig6FglL/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Tc75jlRhf/
And that was my last day of the 2019/2020 season
And the snow didn't disappear overnight between the 24-29 February 
The snow was definitely deeper & better between 01-23 February at Rusutsu and Kiroro Resorts compared with the Niseko Resort Area, and that's why I traveled each day.
I can't stress highly enough that if you're prepared to fly half way round the world to get your powder fix, then you have to be open to traveling up to an hour from where you're staying to maximise your chances of getting the goods.
If you've ever been near Mt Blanc you'll know the difference between Chamonix and Courmayeur can be night & day.
Hopefully the examples I've provided will put to rest that 'Hokkaido' 2019/20 was poo-poo.
November and December were slow getting going.
January was even deeper than February in my experience.
And storms rolled in from mid-March to give a stellar end to the winter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
