There are a lot of good reasons to go to Japan. This video of skiing Rusutsu ski resort on the North Island of Hokkaido should get your ears perked. These reason’s below should give you the ammunition you need to ski Japan in the next two years before prices go back up.
REASONS TO SKI JAPAN NOW:
- Japan’s tourism is down 50% or more currently due to the economic crisis and the Fukishima nuclear situation
- Where you’ll be skiing is nowhere near the nuclear danger zone
- On the north island of Japan (Hokkaido) you can get a room, lift ticket, spa, and breakfast for $65/day
- It snows like clockwork in Japan in January
- February is also pretty much clockwork when it comes to snowfall but with a few more sunny days
- Flights from the west coast are only about $900 round trip to Tokyo and they don’t charge baggage fees
- Flights from Tokyo to Sapporo (Hokkaido, north island) are only about $110 one way with $20 baggage fee for ski bags
Oh yeah, and there’s monkeys
You can’t really go wrong in Japan but here are our recommendations via our experience.
JAPAN SKI RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Go to Hakuba, Japan, home of the Nagano Olympic games.
1A. Hakuba has big mountains and big snow on the level of Alaska
1B. Ski at Happo-One Ski resort and Cortina.
1Ba. Happo-One is great for bigger lines and long untouched powder
1Bb. Cortina is the best tree skiing in the area and it snows almost 33% more than the other resorts in the area. Good sidecountry, too and some big pillow lines.
Hakuba, Japan. The Japanese Alps
2. Go to the North Island of Hokkaido for
2A. Go to Rusutsu ski resort on the north island of Hokkaido
2Aa. No crowds, great tree skiing, pillows growing off of EVERYTHING, and plenty of terrain
2Ab. It doesn’t hurt that Rusutsu is a full-on amusement park with an indoor wave pool, 4 story indoor waterslide, and much more. It’s basically Disneyland for skiers…
Rusutsu ski Resort = Disneyland
Keep an eye on UnofficialJapan.com for the play by play.
Sold!
Exchange rate = not cheap! Seriously though, stop telling people about Japan. We don’t like foreigners.
Was a joke. I bring my american friends to Japan all the time.
Apparently Japanese skiers don’t go off-piste from what I’ve heard
It’s true. spent 3 days at Rusutsu. Snowed on the first day. Had powder the next 3 days.
I’m going, that’s all there is to it, I’m fuckin’ going.
Can I hide in your suitcase?
YOU’d dig it the most….
Never thought of there being monkeys in the trees. Had me imagining spraying them in a friendly way and maybe high fives. But yea sounds good to me, next season I guess!
Thanks for this article! We’re definitely coming next season. Sorry KTaro, I’m gonna be the most obnoxious american I can be. Just foolin, but seriously, don’t come to Utah, we hate non Utahns. That means YOU, all you stupid east-coast skiers getting out of college. Go to Tahoe where they want you.
Hey niko, squaw valley says “go fuck yourself”
Chile/ Argentina this fall. Then Japan the next season.
New Zealand then Japan in Jan… way closer
Miles..shhhhhhhhhhush
oops! But seriously, Japan is hurting right now after the Tsunami/Earthquake. The best thing we can do is head out there and spend some dollas. Dollas.
I like the “spa” aspect of that place.
Maybe a lil tug and pull?
If anyone wanna come with I will be going to rusutsu in dec 2012. I am a Japan native but squallywood transplant.
Can I get your email Ktaro i’m considering headed for the slopes since I’m going to be in Tokyo around Dec 26th
282 days and counting…
half japanese and living in Stowe but i’ve never skied in Japan… any more information about the “room, lift ticket, spa, and breakfast for $65/day?” for all New England skiers – there is going to be non-stop flights on AA/JAL from Boston to Tokyo starting this month.
Ya, I am have been looking for information on this supposed $65 deal and I can’t find anything. Anyway you could share that link?
Ya, I have been looking for information on this supposed $65 deal and I can’t find anything. Anyway you could share that link?