Sports & Fitness Ski Japan

Heading off Thursday to Osaka for a couple of days then on to Hakuba for 10 days skiing.

Book flights and accommodation only and have no idea about travel, passes etc.

Any tips for me ?

Taking the family - leave Osaka on Sunday.

 

@Tonibell - If you're going to Hakuba you must go:
Skiing with Steve Lee (Hakuba Powder Tours) @SkiingWithSteveLee

He doesn't run a website but runs bookings through FB.

Skiing With Steve Lee

Vimeo Linky

 

send us pics when you are there. Love Osaka!

 

Ok - I’ve sent him a message, looks a bit advanced for me but I’m sure it would be great for my 2 sons.

Do you do the $600 tour ? Not sure how long it is or what it covers.

What lift passes do you get ?

 

Maybe - at this stage looking at doing Universal Studios and the monkeys at Kyoto. Only got 2 days - 3 nights.

Any recommendations?

 

The acquarium in Osaka is really big and popular with kids. There is a Ferris wheel next door to it and a shopping mall

 

We skied backcountry (out of bounds) with Steve in Falls Creek - catered for intermediate/advanced skiers - our group had mixed capabilities (kids 9-11) & adults. Steve pointed out the various fall lines (most difficult/easier) so no one missed out.

I haven't done Hakuba (yet) but is on the cards. Check out - linky

 

I love Osaka castle... I was there in 98.

 

How old are the kids?
In Osaka we did Universal Studios (great for all kids), the aquarium. A day trip via train to Nara to see the deer forrest is good. We were travelling with small kids then and they were a bit small for the deer.

How are you getting from Osaka to Hakuba? Plane to Tokyo then train/coach?

 

@Westminster Two boys - 18 & 14.

We looked at Klook and think we will do Universal Studios and get a city pass for the other two days. @larrylarry that would include the castle.

Travel is via bullet train and then a car from Matsumoto. Travel is often the best part of the trip.

 

With 14 and 18yo definitely do Universal Studios. It will be "quieter" as it's winter but still packed. Read up on buying Fast Passes which can reduce queue times. Note all rides with talking/movies are in Japanese but my kids didn't mind. We had a 14yo on that trip (plus a 4 and 6yo)

Japanese drinking laws is 21 so your 18yo might be having a sober trip

I love Japan.

My now 18yo was hooked from that trip at 14 and we went again when he was 16 and he's done a school ski trip to Hakuba too. He loved it. I haven't ski-d there - we went up to Hokkaido to ski

 

Just came back from 16 days in Japan including 5 days in Osaka and 3 days skiing in Hakuba.

There was a lot of snow in Hakuba so skiing should be great. We were at Happo One and a pass for multiple resorts was not much more and maybe worthwhile if you are there for 10 days.

Universal in Osaka is great but has the longest queues. Start early and do the Harry Potter ride first as it is extremely popular. The city pass in Osaka is great.

Beers are in vending machine so 18yr old should be fine...

 

I just have to tell you - extremely envious! Have a good time.

 

Am actually in Japan now. Heading to Osaka from ski fields in 4 days.

Will spend a day in Kyoto then just soak up the city for the following 4.

Skipping Universal. We're theme parked out after California last year. Plus I prefer the ride narratives in English. Harry Potter in Japanese not the best

 

On the trip now - did Universal Studios, Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Garden, both Ferris wheels and a river cruise. Pretty packed couple of days - but we had a pass so felt obliged to get it all in.

Universal Studios has a page where you can see the expected visitor numbers- we did Friday with 17K and the lines were good. The following days were going to be 30K+.

Now in Hakuba and did night skiing and on Guryu today - I’m stuffed so sitting it out after lunch. It is great that Hakuba city is at the same level as the resorts - so you get to them all very quickly.

We have hired a car as it is too hard to lug the gear around - the highest temperature in the next few days will be minus 7.

No queues or many people around - not what I was expecting. Kids are having a ball on the slopes.

 

I saw a pic from yesterday - enough snow fell to completely cover the bindings in the lunch break.

 

Lots and lots of snow.

It makes the skiing so slow that the fear factor completely disappears. The odd fall is pretty soft as well. It feels like my skiing has really improved as I have time to concentrate on technique- probably regress when it gets faster.

Doing a different resort each day. Want to take a day off to see the snow monkeys but kids just want to ski.

 

Japanese powder is so soft is great to fall over in. Having such nice low temps it stays nice and fluffy rather than melting and forming ice patches.

I hear Tokyo has got major snow at the moment causing some issues with trains and airport so I hope it settles down before you need to leave.

 

Front door this morning - shovel needed before driving - then need to find the road !

 

Now that is the downside of not ski in ski out accomodation. Having to get from place to ski fields and lugging everything to bus or car and driving.

Looks awesome though, and I'd still kill for it. I'm over summer