Boardhounds
I don't know where to start with booking a family snowboarding trip to Japan for Jan 2023, information overload on the net.
Any suggestions(I'm based in WA if that makes any difference).
Thanks legends
We used Ski Japan. Neseko. Fly direct to Sapporo from Sydney. Told Nagano area is good and less busy. Bullet train up from Tokyo or Osaka.. Looking forward to going back myself. Family loved it. Cheque book takes a beating, can do it much cheaper 2nd time around.
There's a lot of hype around Niseko, but IMO it's like Bali in the snow and you may never meet anyone who isn't Australian. There are more options and a bigger overall ski area in Hakuba (fly into Tokyo and take the train), so that is where I would recommend.
If you're chasing the best powder, Hokkaido in January. If it's more family fun without almost constant snowing and very grey days, go a bit later. Niseko is like Bali on ice, but it's a decent sized resort with multiple options for accommodation and great variety of terrain with a lot of "side country" runs. Furano is a smaller Hokkaido resort, bit more family oriented, and excellent snow. Just don't stay in the New Prince resort, go for the village on the other side of the mountain as it's less isolated. Can't compare to Honshu resorts, only skied Hokkaido.
Select to expand quoteGrevas said..
Thanks guys, definitely not a cheap holiday, but not going to die wondering
If it helps, the Epic Australia pass gives you (some) access to resorts in Hakuba too amongst other international resorts. Not bad value if you are going to ski here a few weeks or in Japan or the USA.
Cortina is some of the best snow in the Hakuba area ! Stay in the prince hotel ski in ski out way better than some of the accom on offer you need to b getting first runs on pow days ! Cortina also encourages tree runs which is good in limited viz ! Also the other resorts r accsesable from there ! Iwataki is not far and one of my picks on a bluebird day ! And if your liike me and over 50 your a senior and half price tickets r the go ! I still cant get enough of canada tho
We had a snow holiday at Hakuba which is on the main Japanese island. We flew into Tokyo and got on a bus that drove past Mount Fuji then up into the mountains. The snow was really deep in the mountains, like it was 3 meters deep on vacant lots in town.
Lifts were quite cheap too. I think it was 1000 yen for a day pass.
hakuba.com/
I have done a lot of Japan snow, both north and south islands. Certain places are better depending on your circumstances.
How many in the family and what are thier ages and snow competance?
What is your families offpiste requirements v piste? ie are you chasing Japow....or want nice piste cruising.
Is your family looking for primarily skiing all holiday or do you need diversions? how many days skiing v sightseeing?
Do you need access to good resturants / cafe's etc daily - ie if some take regular half day's and want to be social.
Do you need access to ski instruction and other hire facilities?
What time of year are you looking going and how long for?
