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hey,
im planning to go to japan at end of the year and was wondering if anyone could hook me up with some info like where to go and a few wee tips would be great,
Cheers!

my one tip. You dont have to buy passes. I will let you work out how... good luck mate!

It's depend what part of Japan are you going. And what kind of ridding are you doing. I grew up in Japan so I can give you some advise about the trip. Bare in mind most of the people there do NOT speak English. If you don't know Japanese or don't have some friend with you it would be extremely difficult to go around places.
Also your cell phone will not work in Japan because the network are different. And due to new laws. There will not sell a prepaid cell phone to foreigner unless you have a working or student permit.
Best place to be if you can not speak Japanese is Niseko because there are a lot of foreigner. Best time to go to Japan are late January to April.
The parks in japan normally not to be shape until February. (There are some that exist before February but normally not big. eg Teine - in Sapporo, Niseko - in Kutchan, Winghills -Gifu, Hakuba47 - Nagano, Osle - Nagano etc.)
If you want to travel all over Japan. Buy a JR pass, you only can buy it through the internet or holiday planing. JR pass basically give you unlimited access to the train. (Some train require booking before hand.) Renting a car is at least 5,000 yen a day.

Some Resort you might be interested in going

HOKKAIDO

Tomamu - A small ski town just in the middle of Hokkaido island. 5 hours train from Sapporo. 5 and a half hours from New Chitose airport.

Pro - Live like a king in the resort.
So much powder just for you (People there seem to only ride inbound.)
Everything you need are around the resort. (Hotel, Restaurant, Spa, and other random activity)
Night ride
Not much people around ever
Cat boarding - like heli boarding but cheaper (then again it's take longer to get up the thing run like 5 km per hour)
Con - Bloody expensive honestly if you didn't book at least 6 months before it can come up about $170 NZ per person per night not include lift pass.
Food for a meal you're looking at $ 30 NZ or more.
Staff member 1 out of 50 can speak English.
Park are not shape until February. (They have this little fun park it's like little roller thing and like an unshaped hip.

Niseko United - 3 resort on one mountain. 3 hours train from Sapporo or 3 and a half from New Chitose airport.

Pro - Powder so much powder
You can buy a 2nd hand prepaid of people there
Night life and cheap drink
So many option with the accommodations
Everything is so cheap if you eat local
Everyone pretty much speak english
Aussie and Kiwi are so easily be found so you don't get home sick
Powder guild. Hire him/her and remember the spot you can come back later with out him/her. It's worth it.
Cat boarding
Night ride.
Don't have to worried about the down day cause they have light everywhere.
Con - Because there are so many Kiwi and Aussie everyone want powder run and to get fresh track require some effort.
Lift line you would not see anything longer than that in your life. Period.
There are some small park around. but the pipe are not shape until February.

Ratsutu - A small resort 2 hours from Sapporo and 2 and a half hours from New Chitose airport. It's a ski town as well.
Pro - Not many people go there.
Live like a king on the mountain
No lift line
Everything is around town.
Deep and Steep run.
Con - Quite hard to get there you have to catch a train to Otaru and get a bus to Ratsutu.
Park are really really small
Powder are quite light and not so nice to ride in
Trees are packed. Really hard to get through.
not many people speak English.

Teine - A small resort 30 minute from Sapporo.
Pro - close to Sapporo travel there are super simple
Cheap lift pass
The park is the size of mt Hutt park not that big but they normally shape
Con - Lift line are massive due to only 7 lift they have.
So many people. Especially beginner.
There is only one old dude that can speak English there. ( He is a ski instructor in the late 50's really skinny and don't have much hair on his head. Find him)

Far out I type too much I got to stop I'll give you some more after a rest if you want to know anything just ask. I'm happy to help.

There are some more things you have to know about Japan.
If you have money left in the pocket. Buy snow gear from there it's a lot cheaper. There are on sale all the time. Especially if your size is big 158+ will alway be on sale because Japanese are short. (normally)
Police don't seem to mind if you ride rail as long as you didn't make much noise.
Other stuff also cheap. There are so many cool gadget. Buy a boots dryer it's about 3,000 yen. It's cool.
Toilets seat are normally heated and there are touch function around the toilet so when you press it, it's spray your ass so you don't have to wipe it. lol
Every gangster outerwear that you see on music video can be found in Japan. Bape, BBC, Evisu etc.
Taxi are super expensive do not go in it's at least 1,500 yen to start the meter.
JR pass only can be bought outside of Japan. You can find it on travel agent or internet. This give you unlimited access to the train good if you are travel around Japan.

woow cheers bro big help!!!!! appreciate it man. yea i was looking at Nesiko, heard a lot of good about it and me and my mates dont speak much japanese. i noticed the drinking age in japan is 20, are they very strict on that?
would it be a waste going in late december to early january? we were planning on going from the 26th december to the 16 january ( only time my mate can get off work).
What would i expect to pay for accommodation?

Drinking age is 20. But, as long as you're white (No offense) you will never be ask for a ID in Japan. I never seen a white person get ask for ID in Japan ever. You can buy drink from the vending machine as well so as cigarette. If anyone ask how old are you just say 20 and you didn't bring your passport. They shouldn't bother you much.
December to January you can still go there but don't expect powder every night because in December to late January the temperature are not settle and some time it's rain.

www.japanhotel.net

This web site will booked you a hotel even thought you have no credit card. You just have to pay when you get to the hotel.

Ok!! the best way to get to Niseko safely is to book a directed flight to New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. Then simply walk down stair to the train to Sapporo. Once you get to Sapporo train station ask the staff for information center. There will be a English booth. Ask them for the train to Kutchan. Once you sit your 3 hours train ride to Kutchan come outside the station and look on you left there will be a bus stand. Wait for the bus to Grand Hirafu. Hirafu is basically the biggest mountain of all Niseko United. Once you get there just get drop off at your hotel or what ever. From there if you want to rent a car go ahead but there are free bus going around town frequently. There is a information center near Hirafu office you can go there and ask for the map or something. If you want to buy a cell phone just go to the bar and ask some Aussie or Kiwi in there they would be able to hook you up with something. Yeah that all I have to say I hope that help.

When you arrive at the airport, customs will probably ask you for a ph number of where youre staying that night.. Just google a backpackers and write the number down cos we got caught up in customs for that... Also a railpass is real good idea if your going to travel round a bit cos otherwise you just spend sooooo much money on subs and trains cos you honesly need to use them everywhere esp. in Tokyo if youre staying for a few days.
Oh and the LonelyPlanet (Dont buy one, but look/ copy when your at whitcoulls next) can be a lifesaver for accom. or a phrase book, and nah you dont EVER get asked for ID only sometimes if youre in a Geijin(foreigner) bar... and yeah $3 cigarettes and $1.50 beers/ chu-hi from the 2-4 or vending machines. Its such an awesome place!!!
Oh and you can go to these places where you can pay 2,000yen ($22) for all you can eat and drink for an hour or two.. not much eating gets done and yeah check out the Karaoke booths too!

Ha ha I never thought it would be that hard for foreigner to get in Japan. (I just have to walk to Japanese section and one stamp and I'm through!) Really, I remembered when I was 18 I went to a bar that own by a foreigner all the time they never ask me for ID but, this was in Sapporo once I got back to Kyoto everywhere I went I got asked for ID. I always see foreigner walk in without ID. Well maybe you right maybe I'm wrong I don't know. I'm just telling from my experience.

What about lodges? Do you guys know of any good ones? I'm planning to go to Niseko in early Feb09 with 3 mates, ive done lots hunting but its so hard to know what your going to get when your looking online, some one elses recomendation always helps.

Yeah nah it was only 2 really popular bars we got asked for ID that was in Osaka in Shinsaibashi... but other than that we had no problem I was even 19 the first time I went and still got away with going to the bars!

Why does everyone want to go to Niseko? I just don't get it. It's bloody over populated. Well if you insist stay at Shinzenkan (niseko-backpacker.com) is cheap, full of snowboarders, and comfortable.
Check out the ski field in Kansai (Northern Part of Honshu island) if you can. It's lots of powder still and less people. Therefore more freshy for you!!! Try learn a bit Japanese it would make you life so much easier overthere. Even I learn English before I start doing seasons here.
My personal favorite snow area in Kansai are:
Hakuba 47 Winter Sports Park - Shiga, Nagano, Japan - Snowboard only resort, Amazing park
Happo-one - Nagano - Amazing terrain, Lots of powder (with amount of powder they receive you can actually suffocate in the snow) , few people, Lots of avalanches bring full gear - Peep, probe, Shovel)
Check them out.
P.S. first time I drink at a restaurant was when I'm 17 in Okonomomiyaki shop haha. First time I went to a bar was when I'm 18 just because my friend made a 20,000 yen bet on it.

I'm organize a road trip in Japan on mid December - Early January with some Japanese dudes. We'll start the trip from Shiga prefecture and up to Hokkaido and down again. it's a 2 weeks road trip. There still some rooms on the vans. If anyone interested feel free just post and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. This will safe you from the hassle of finding transport, guild etc. All I want is just to help pay for petrol and some high way fee.

Do i get stamped with a holiday visa when i enter japan or do i have to apply for a holiday visa?

no you just go in. japan is the coolest place ever!

heya

im heading 2 japan late april and was wondering if i should buy snowboard gear over there cuz maby end of season sales or buy in nz?? wat u think would be cheaper?? do japan have sick gears?
also do u think season will still be going at that time of year?? is there a indoor snowcenter like snowplanet over thea??

cheers David

Exhange rate wud make everything twice as much so i wud suggest getting gear in new zealand. stores are trying to get rid of last years stock for this years stock so uld get mean deals. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=205150199

Exhange rate wud make everything twice as much so i wud suggest getting gear in new zealand. stores are trying to get rid of last years stock for this years stock so uld get mean deals. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=205150199

Hey guys, planning a trip for early 2010 but don't really know much about lift passes, food and accom costs in Japan. Anyone sweet to give me a rough estimate so i know if my dreams feasible?