Unofficial Japan

Season Review to Date: It Has Snowed A Lot. | Hakuba, Japan | Feb 2

There is a lot of talk so far this season about how it compares to past winters. There are surprising number of complaints that this must be a low snow … Read More

Traveling Japan: How to get to Hakuba

Traveling Japan: How to Get to Hakuba Flying to Tokyo The International Airport (where you want to fly to) in Tokyo is Narita (NRT). Most people have worked out there … Read More

B.A.S.I.C.S. Program Service – Seth Lightcap | HALF-DEAD IN HAKUBA

While backcountry snowboarding in Japan, pro journalist Seth Lightcap made a simple mistake that nearly cost him his life. He was rushing to escape a bitter cold wind and decided … Read More

Avalanche Near Goryu, 1 Dead | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 28

Two male Japanese skiers were involved in an avalanche in the Goryu ski resort sidecountry on Saturday, January 28. One of them was caught in the avalanche and killed. Evergreen … Read More

Deep. Really, really deep. | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 27

A good two feet plus of fresh snow fell last night at Happo. Thats after a couple feet the day before, and a couple feet the day before that, and … Read More

A Collection of Storm Photos | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 26

For the past few days, Hakuba has been thrust back into the center of a storm, and there is no end in sight. Zach Paley has taken a collection of … Read More

Sliding Everywhere | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 25

There was plenty of snow wherever you were skiing in the Hakuba area today. Unfortunately, all that snow has fallen on top of crusts on all aspects at and below … Read More

Salomon Freeski TV Visits Hakuba, Japan

Take a look at Ian Millar’s article on Salomon Freeski TV in Hakuba. The Salomon crew spent the past couple weeks in Hakuba working on a new episode for Freeski … Read More

The Powder Lodge Quiver | Hakuba, Japan

The Hakuba Powder Lodge is the place to stay for freeskiers in Hakuba, Japan. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the quiver here: There are only 16 … Read More

High Pressure Time is Over, Back to Japow! | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 21

After a few days of high pressure in Hakuba, we now return you to your previously scheduled programming: Japow! It looks like we’ll be having a bit of wet and … Read More

Climbing and Skiing Yarigatake | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 19

High pressure, stable snow, and low winds over the past few days have made for perfect conditions to get after some bigger lines. With this in mind, we made plans … Read More

Steep, Stable Powder | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 18

As promised, photos and videos from yesterday. Our objective on the day was not quite filled in enough to be skiable yet, but we made the best of it and … Read More

Perfect Conditions in the Alpine | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 18

Conditions have been perfect the past couple of days for getting after bigger lines in Hakuba. Blue skies, minimal winds, stable snow, reasonably cold temps (for high pressure, by Hakuba … Read More

Wash Your Johnsen Before You Onsen!

Onsen are Japanese bath houses heated by natural hot springs. Onsen and hot springs are everywhere in Japan – the positive that goes with having so many earthquakes. Japanese Onsen … Read More

The Finnish Invasion in Japowland

In the past few years, Fins have been flocking to Hakuba like Salmon of Capistrano. If you haven’t seen Fins in action yet; they ski hard, drink hard, and generally … Read More

Creative Creek Crossings | Hakuba, Japan

Here in Hakuba, many of our backcountry runs require river crossings at the bottom. Usually, slides will bury rivers in enough places that you can ski straight across. Because of … Read More

Pillows and Crowds | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 13

Today started with a little sun, became overcast, and eventually started to snow; as the next low pressure system moves in. Hopefully there will be some significant accumulation tonight, although … Read More

High Winds and Blue Skies | Hakuba, Japan | Jan 12

Finally, a bluebird day! Today was the first time in awhile where we could see all the way into the high peaks of the Japanese Alps.   Although we could … Read More

A Marshmallow World | Hakuba, Japan Jan 11

Its a Marshmallow World here in Hakuba, with some of the better pillow lines coming into prime condition. The biggest ones still need a bit more snow, but overall things … Read More

Another “Meh” Day | Hakuba, Japan Jan 10

Tuesday, January 10. After a few centimeters of snow yesterday in Hakuba, the clouds lifted and the sun came out to partially reveal the Japanese Alps.   Our group worked … Read More

A Beginner’s Guide to Cheap Drinking in Japan

The culture shock of visiting a place as foreign and different as Japan can be stressful. This guide won’t help with that, but it will help you ensure that you’re … Read More

1/9/12 Hakuba, Japan | Sleeper Blower Pow Day

Snow Forecast was calling for light snow all day today, with 1 cm falling in the morning, and 1 cm in the afternoon. Personally, I took the opportunity to sleep … Read More

POV from Hakuba, Japan

Hakuba received about three feet of snow over a couple days this week. This gave us some killer tree skiing, but left us thirsty for some clear skies to get into … Read More

Japan Avalanche Network Begins a Regularly Updated Avalanche Bulletin!

It seems that the Japan Avalanche Network noticed my complaints in the post on Backcountry Safety the other day (or maybe just a coincidence), because as of January 7, they … Read More

Today in Japan (January 7, 2012) : 1 Video = 50 Faceshots

This video was shot TODAY in Nozawa Onsen, Japan. HOT DANG That Looks GOOD! Video by, Jeff Chim 50 faceshots. Here is a bit more about Nozawa Onsen, Japan. Japan … Read More

Where to Find Weather Information and Whats in the Forecast for Hakuba, Japan

So, how do you get mountain weather forecasts in Japan? Unfortunately, there is no NOAA to provide detailed information here. In my experience and in my opinion, there are two … Read More