Autore: Viaggisport

Ski in Japan : Hakuba and Japanese Alps

Today we want to take You to an Area of ​​Japan a little less known for skiing than the Hokkaido, Hakuba and the Japanese Alps.

Last January, after a Tour in Hokkaido we decided to spend a few days there and it was the DEEPEST skiing days of the Season! It hasn’t stopped snowing for five days, maybe too much we would say 🙂
Five long days of no-stop snowing ; guess we have seen the sunlight for about half an hour: what do you say, did we have fun?

Geographically, the Japanese Alps are one of the largest Mountain Ranges in Japan, and are located on Honshu Island, the Main Island of Japan, same of Tokyo, so you don’t have to take another flight to get there. It’s located about 4 hours drive from Tokyo and are well served by a network of highways and railways.

Unlike Hokkaido, the terrain here reminds us our home mountains; though the comparison with the Alps for us  seems a little bit forced (we would have called them “Japanese pre-Alps”). However some peaks reach even more than 3,000 meters elevation and some mountains are really worthy of the name, an example above all is the Hakuba Valley Range.

In fact it is not so true that this place is unknown: in the Japanese Alps there are more than 500 Ski Resorts, in memory of the boom that even here in the 80s and 90s knew the Winter Sport. Do you remember the 1998 Nagano Olympics? Well, it was here in the Japanese Alps.

The size of the Ski Resorts is not big on average. These are mostly small areas with 4-5 lifts, except perhaps Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen, the largest and most crowded. Ski lifts take us back to when we were children, another paradox of Japan, where you can still find gondola lifts with hand-closed doors and single-seater chairlifts without a safety bar … also this is an experience that is not expected from one of the most technological countries of the world, this a joke you could tell friends at home.

As we wrote for the Hokkaido Ski Trip -> HERE <-, even in the Japanese Alps the best time for ski and snowboard is from mid January to mid February.
And as for Hokkaido you have to pay close attention to driving on icy and snowy roads, choose the correct itinerary based on many factors, the places and the right period: therefore relying on an Organized Travel is the best choice for You.

At this point, we know, the doubt becomes atrocious: Hokkaido or Japanese Alps?
So even here it depends on many variables. As variables are now Winters all over the world: tracing certainties is really difficult.
Last winter the Japanese Alps saw a lot of snow, with storms that lasted even whole days (we caught one for five days), but the previous winter according to the “locals” did not go very well, as it went better in Hokkaido.
Usually folks say that in Hokkaido it snows more than in the Japanese Alps, we don’t feel like confirming or denying … it could have been true until 10 years ago, today no more, maybe it will be next winter, who knows ?

Certainly in the Japanese Alps the temperatures are not as cold as those of Hokkaido, and a full sunny day can bring, especially if we are at low altitudes, to very spring snow within a few hours. Okk, maybe the snow won’t be the Cold Smoke of Hokkaido, but we assure you that in a run I guess I counted at least 16 consecutive faceshots, then I got bored and I no longer counted, I had the mask misted 🙂

Hakuba with its ski resorts is the best known place. Is competing with Niseko for the palm of Japan’s number one ski resort. It is also the most developed of all with fast and modern systems, divided into small distinct areas: the main ones are Happo One and Hakuba Cortina, so called to replicate the famous Dolomite resort, but with a very bad aesthetic result. Here beautiful woods even steep and many Backcountry and Ski Touring options.
In Hakuba, a stage of the Freeride World Qualifier was hosted in January 2017 (after it was Freeride World Tour stage) for the first time ever on the Asian Continent. Freeride ski and snowboard pros and champions from all over the world gathered here to challenge each other. Very popular place, crowded,  but it is absolutely worth spending at least one day.

Moving away from Hakuba there are many other Ski Areas that are worth discovering, but we don’t want to tell you more ;-).
Just keep in mind that with a little luck and with the good group you will never forget your skiing and snowboarding days in these places.

Typical of these areas are the numerous Thermal Hot Springs, the so called Onsen. You will find them everywhere. What’s better than a Relaxing Thermal Bath after a ski day???
They also made one for monkeys: don’t miss this show!

E anche raggiungere le città di Kyoto e Tokyo per qualche giorno di visita culturale alla fine del viaggio sci è molto più comodo rispetto ad arrivarci dall’ Hokkaido.

Una nota poi sulla sicurezza : a differenza dell’ Hokkaido il terreno qui è da vera montagna, con tutti i rischi che ne conseguono. Da valutare attentamente il pericolo valanghe sopratutto in periodi di grandi sbalzi termici e di vento, scegliere i giusti pendii ed essere equipaggiati e preparati all’ autosoccorso.

Che dire, così come il mio primo viaggio in Hokkaido mi ha lasciato senza parole, questi cinque giorni che ho trascorso sulle Alpi Giapponesi sono stati indimenticabili : il nuovo affascina sempre, e dopo 3 viaggi in Hokkaido non vedo l’ ora di ritornare qui nelle Alpi Giapponesi.
Sicuramente posso consigliarlo a chi è già stato una volta a sciare in Hokkaido e vuole provare un posto diverso, sciisticamente più divertente, anche per gli snowboarders che non vanno molto d’ accordo con i piattoni 🙂

Even reaching Tokyo or Kyoto cities for a few days of Cultural Visit at the end of the ski trip is much more comfortable than coming from Hokkaido.

A note about the Mountain Safety: unlike Hokkaido the terrain here in Japanese Alps is real mountain, with all the risks that follow. To assess carefully the avalanche danger especially in periods of great temperature changes and wind, choose the right slopes and be equipped and prepared for self-rescue.

What can we say, just as our first trip to Hokkaido left us speechless, these five days we spent in the Japanese Alps have been unforgettable: the new always fascinates, and after 5 trips to Hokkaido we can’t wait to come back here in Japanese Alps.
Surely we can recommend it to those who have already been skiing in Hokkaido once and want to try a different place, more fun from a skiing point of view, even for snowboarders who do not get along very well with the flat 🙂

TRAVEL WITH VIAGGI SPORT!

WANT MORE INFO ABOUT THIS TRIP? JUST CONTACT US!

Ski in Japan : Hokkaido the Powder Factory

Many of you already know it, some have been there, many talk about it … And too many would like to go there !!!

Hokkaido, Island of Japan in the far North, almost on the border with Siberia, has become a Powder – Mecca in the last 10 years.
It was “discovered” by Skiers Jp Auclair and Chris Benchetler around 2008, who, attracted by the amount of snow and the very playful terrain, decided to film important Ski-Movies there, then returning every year.

Since then, Hokkaido has been attracting Ski and Snowboard Freeride enthusiasts from all over the world, with its famous snowfall every winter. Also complicit bad winters in all Hemispheres (from the Alps to Canada to the southern hemisphere, we have all experienced periods of no snow in alternate phases), this small island has been able to hold on, thanks to the Siberian currents that bring Cold and Snow, and has earned the title of “Powder Factory”.
And in fact it is not uncommon to feel like the child protagonist of Wolly Wonka in the Chocolate Factory, but that this is all covered in white!

Let’s try to Answer some Curiosities and Questions about the Ski and Snowboard Trip in Hokkaido, from the Experience of our past Ski Trips ince 2011.

HOW TO ARRIVE ?
You can choose to fly from Tokyo to Sapporo International Airport, the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture and famous for the 1972 Winter Olympics. The flight is short, about 1 hour. This is also the best choice to take advantage, at the end of the ski snowboard trip, to do at least one day in Tokyo to visit the city. But if you really don’t care, you can also fly directly to Sapporo from your city (depending on airline routes).
From Sapporo then you move to the island of Hokkaido by car, paying attention to very important details, such as driving on the right, the icy roads and the international driving license necessary for driving.

ALONE OR IN GROUP ?
We really advise against arriving unprepared in these areas.
So why not rely on professionals and leave with no stress? Many want to make this trip every year but find it hard to find someone to follow them. The solution is our Group Travel, designed for skiers and snowboarders at the same level and with a small group (small group = great fun :-)), but above all with an expert and prepared Tour Leader who will follow you from the start of the ski trip, and will take care of the whole organization of the Travel on site.

For those who want to move independently, or already have their own group and want to leave free, we have the option of the Independent Free Travel: leave as and when you want, together we build the itinerary and the content of the journey. Thanks to our advice and the help of our collaborators on site you will never be alone!

Our Local Guides can take you on Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Tours, Snowmobiling and Catskiing with the Snow Cat: you will not get bored!

WHAT ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS AND THE TERRAIN?
Talking about mountains in Hokkaido is perhaps a bit exaggerated, especially for us that are used to the Alps. In Hokkaido you can ski on altitudes that rarely exceed 1,000 meters above sea level. The highest mountain is Asahidake, at 2,290 meters, a volcano that can also be skied and ridden with skins.
In Hokkaido you can ski mainly in the woods and the slopes are very gentle, rarely exceeding 40 degrees: if you are a steep lover  go elsewhere :-). This is compensated by the abundance of snow in one of the most playful skiable terrains on the planet. Fun is guaranteed with natural jumps and pillows immersed in the Powder.

WHEN TO GO ?
January and February are the months for Hokkaido. Before it is not advisable as the terrain may not yet be completely covered. And already after February spring makes itself felt. In March it is still possible to ski, indeed it is a good period but only for backcountry ski touring or splitboard on the numerous Volcanoes of the Island (Asahidake, Kurodake, Yotei, etc …). January is the perfect month, but also the most popular and crowded.

WHERE TO GO?
Hokkaido is divided into two large areas. The Sapporo Area and Central Hokkaido.
The first, the Sapporo Area is the best known, busiest and the one where it snows the most. Here we find the districts of Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Sapporo Teine. Niseko is by far the best known and most developed, but also the most crowded. Moving North in about 3-4 hours by car, you arrive at the most characteristic area of ​​Central Hokkaido. Much less crowded than the previous one, with colder temperatures but with less rainfall. We absolutely recommend you to spend at least 3 days in this area! Here we find the ski areas of Furano, Asahidake, Tomamu and Kurodake. And do not miss a day with the skins in the Daisetsuzan Tokachidake National Park, the largest National Park of Japan, better accompanied by a Guide.

WHAT TO DO? LIFT OR BACKCOUNTRY?
Year after year more and more people are practicing Freeride Ski and Snowboard, and more and more are choosing to spend a week in Hokkaido hunting for Powder. If your intention is to ski only with lifts, well you can be a little disappointed, because competition is high, especially in the most famous areas such as Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano. But you just have to put the skins on to leave everyone behind and find your own private corner of Untracked Powder Snow. You are warned!

ONLY SKI ? NO!
The good thing of a Ski Trip in Japan is that unlike many other places, there is also History and Culture there. Therefore it would be really a waste to dedicate exclusively 10 days to skiing. A visit to the of Sapporo City, perhaps during the Snow Festival time to admire the imposing snow sculptures, or get lost in the glittering and hyper-technological neighborhoods of Tokyo, or enter the workshop of a craftsman, or attend the Tea Ceremony … Also these are the memories that will make your Ski Trip in Japan unforgettable!

Watch the video of our ski trip in Hokkaido here:

TRAVEL WITH VIAGGI SPORT!

WANT MORE INFO ABOUT THIS TRIP? JUST CONTACT US!