Japan
Feb 6 to 20 2010
朝日の土地はスキーをする
Ski The Land of The Rising Sun
Get your booking in fast as places will be limited for this trip. Unlike most Japanese trips which are fly in, ski, fly out, this is Ski Japan Snoworks Adventure style. You get a taste of everything. Tokyo, culture, travel and skiing 5 of the top Japanese resorts spanning the North and South Islands.
see 2009 blog
The itinerary has been amended from last year. We've taken the best of last years trip and added a few extra's to make the itinerary even better!
Here are some of the top reasons why skiing in Japan is a must.
Snow
Literally masses of it! In the north island of Hokkaido there is an average yearly snowfall of up to 15 metres! The cold air blows in from Siberia across the Sea of Japan and that brings powder and plenty of it! In Niseko last year we skied the lightest powder I have ever skied!
So you want to ski powder? Above skiing the powder in Niseko. Nigel, Snoworks 2009.
Resorts
80% of Japans landmass is mountainous. Choice is in abundance with over 700 ski resorts. That's more ski resorts then any other country in the world. We've combined both the south and north islands covering some of the best ski resorts in Japan. We're heading back to Nozawa Onsen which culturally is an absolute must. This year we've also included Hakuba into the itinerary. The ski resorts that make up the Hakuba valley combine to make this the biggest ski area in Japan. No one goes to Japan without skiing Niseko on the north island of Hokkaido. So this year we've extended the time we will be skiing there. A days skiing in Rusutsu remains in the programme and we've added an off piste excursion into Moiwa (if conditions permit). This itinerary is literally amazing!
Niseko Ski resort with Mt Yotei in the background.
Photo: Japan National Tourist Organisation
Japanese Culture
Experience something completely different to western culture. Stay in a Ryokan, sleep on a 'futon', take in some Sushi, ride the high tech 'bullet train' from Tokyo to Negano, relax in an onsen and soak up the atmosphere in Tokyo.
  
Photos: Japan National Tourist Organisation
Tokyo
How can you go to Japan without a visit to Tokyo? In true Snoworks Adventure style we've included a stop over in Tokyo. Be prepared to be mesmerized in this city of 12million people.
Bullet Train
No visit to Japan is complete without a ride on the world famous bullet train. Bullet trains whisk you across Japan at speeds up to 300km/h. The fastest recorded was 581km/h. Now that's fast.
Night Skiing
Niseko has to be the best night skiing in the world. In 2009 we headed to the top and then proceeded to ski off piste in powder at night. The floodlights literally go almost to the top of the mountain and are powerful enough to illuminate the off piste. It's worth heading to Japan just to experience this.
The Itinerary
 Hi, I'm Phil Smith, Snoworks director and instructor. In 2009 I hosted and taught on Snoworks first visit to Japan. We've taken the best of the 2009 trip, amended it and added to it creating an even better itinerary. In true Snoworks Adventure style we've created a bespoke itinerary combining the best of the skiing in Japan along with local culture. This year Lee Townend will be hosting the trip with possibly either myself or Emma Carrick-Anderson joining him. The trip is open to a maximum of 14 skiers, then it's full. So please get your booking in quickly.
Lee and possibly myself or Emma will be available to ski with you all day everyday we're on the snow, on and off piste operating in a 'coaching role' to make the most of this fantastic itinerary. That's the equivalent of more then 3 full 'All Terrain' courses included in the price!
To see a review of last years trip click here:
see 2009 blog
ITINERARY
DAY 01 FEB 6
DEPART FROM LONDON HEATHROW
Fly London Heathrow to Tokyo Narita. International flights are not included in the price to allow for flexibility. Recommended flights are listed below the itinerary.
DAY 02 FEB 7
ARRIVE TOKYO
We'll take a private minibus to the Hotel Cerulean in the centre of Tokyo. This year we've included a guided tour in the afternoon of arrival. This has allowed us consolidate our time in Tokyo without any loss to skiing time. Overnight accommodation at the Hotel Cerulean (B&B). The hotel is situated in the Shibuya district with easy access to local trains and ideally situated to explore Tokyo. We'll head into Tokyo for the evening (meal not included).
DAY 03 FEB 8
BULLET TRAIN TO NOSAWA ONSEN
We take the famous Bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano. It's fast! Followed by bus transfer to Nozawa Onsen.
We've opted to stay in Ryokan Sakaya in Nozawa Onsen, a traditional Japanese Inn to get the 'real taste' of Japan, so get ready for futons, sushi, hot springs and kimono's! Accommodation is on a half board basis and we'll be able to experience a real taste of Japanese culture. We stayed her last year and it was one of the highlights of the whole trip.
RYOKAN
If you ever go to Japan you have to stay in a ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn dating from the Edo period (1603–1868), when they served travelers along Japan's highways. They feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths and visitors may wear be asked to wear kimono. Almost all ryokan feature common bathing areas, usually segregated by sex, using the water from a hot spring (onsen). Bedding is a futon spread out on the tatami floor. When guests first enter their room they usually find a table and some supplies for making tea. While guests are out, staff will move the table aside and set out the futon. The meals are outstanding. This is a true taste of Japanese culture and cuisine at its finest. The Ryokan Sakaya is as good as it gets.
  
DAY 04 FEB 09
DAY 05 FEB 10
DAY 06 FEB 11
SKI NOZAWA ONSEN
We've included three days skiing at
Nozawa Onsen. One of the largest and most famous ski resorts in Japan. Nozawa combines the traditional Japanese way of life with a modern skiing infrastructure. The village was one of the first ski resorts to operate in Japan and has a famous history. Hannes Schneider from Austria came to Nozawa Onsen in 1930 and taught the techniques of Arlberg skiing. This boosted the popularity of the sport in Japan and established Nozawa as one of Japans top ski resorts. Nozawa Onsen was host to the 1995 Interski Congress. We'll be skiing here for 3 days making the most of this fabulous ski area. This will be your first taste of Japanese skiing and you will be impressed. First class service, fantastic restaurants, perfectly kept slopes and an amazing ryokan. Off Piste skiing is relatively new to the Japanese and Nozawa is one of the few resorts that are beginning to turn a blind eye to it. With the increase in western visitors off piste skiing is on the up.
Norman off piste in Nozawa. This was some of the lightest snow I have ever skied.
Phil Smith, Snoworks Director in Nozawa Onsen with the British Demonstration Ski Team at the 1995 'Interski Congress'.
After skiing on Feb 11th we head across to another of Japans biggest ski areas Hakuba. We'll check in to the fabulous Hotel Tokyu (HB) offering 5* service.
DAY 07 FEB 12
DAY 08 FEB 13
SKI HAKUBA
New for this year we've included Hakuba. The Hakuba Valley includes 10 ski resorts, 139 ski lifts and an average snowfall of 11 metres. Hakuba was one of the hosts for the 1998 Winter Olympics. We've opted for skiing the two biggest resorts in the valley, Hakuba Happo and Hakuba 47. Happo One is one of the biggest resorts in the valley offering great skiing for all levels. Off Piste skiing is relatively new to Japan and the management of these areas are gradually getting used to the idea. Hakuba One appear to be more relaxed about off piste skiing with some great routes that are easily accessible from the top station.
DAY 09 FEB 14
HAKUBA TO THE NORTH ISLAND OF HOKKAIDO
We leave Hakuba and take the high speed Bullet Train back to Tokyo, transfer to Narita and fly to the North Island of Hokkaido. Here we transfer to Niseko. The wind blows in from Siberia across the sea of Japan hits the Niseko mountain and explodes, dumping tons and tons of light dry powder, over 15 metres annually! Niseko is made up of three interconnecting villages, Annupuri, Grand Hirafu and Higashiyama with a total of 38 ski lifts. This year we'll be staying at the Hilton in Annupuri. In recent years Niseko has become accustomed to 'powder hounds' coming across from Australia and Europe to experience the amazing snow. Consequently they are much more relaxed about off piste skiing then many of the ski areas in Japan with many off piste areas open to the public. Last year the snow at Niseko was literally amazing and I have one word to describe it. WOW!
Nicola (above) and Ching Yee (below) enjoying the Niseko powder. Snoworks 2009
We'll be staying at the Hilton at the foot of the slopes. Accommodation is on a B&B basis (no evening meals included). This gives us plenty of choice for dining out. With numerous restaurants in the hotel to choose from plus many more in the village we will be spoilt for choice. The Hilton offers a shuttle service to and from the village.
DAY 10 FEB 15
SKI NISEKO
OK get ready for a ski of a lifetime. Last year Travelplan our hosts provided us with their own resident ski guide Pete. Pete's an australian who just loves to ski and surf. We were lucky to ski with both Pete and Natalie who works full time for Travelplan in Australia. So we had a couple of amazing guides to take us around. Natalie had never see a picture of herself skiing so this one's for Natalie in the Niseko powder.
Natalie in the Niseko powder Snoworks 2009.
We are hoping Pete will be back with us for this year. His knowledge of the area is outstanding. Last year we took a route out wide from the top of the highest lift. Other skiers started to peel off and head down the untracked snow but we just kept on going. Finally we came into an untracked bowl with the deepest lightest snow I have ever skied. We ended up way out and coming back into the far edge of the ski resort. That ski will stay in our memories forever.
DAY 11 FEB 16
SKI RUSUTSU
We take a trip across to nearby Rusutsu, another one of Japans top ski destinations. With the skiing spread across three mountains there's plenty of skiing with 4 gondolas, 7 quads, and 8 double chairlifts. Hopefully another day in the light dry Japanese powder for which Rusutsu is renowned with some amazing tree skiing.
A day away from Niseko you thought. The skiing doesn't finish here at 4.30pm. You can ski until 10pm at night. Niseko has the biggest and best night skiing in the world. Prepare to be mesmerized. The lights literally go to the top of the mountain. You can ski on and off piste. Yep, the lights are powerful enough to light up the off piste.
DAY 12 FEB 17
SKI NISEKO
Another full day skiing in Niseko. So any slopes we did not ski on the first day we'll get another chance today. Again we hope to have Pete with us guiding. Don't forget on this trip you'll be skiing with Lee and possibly Phil or Emma every day. We'll be able to offer full all mountain ski training on and off piste. So if you haven't done much off piste skiing before, we are there to teach you and Niseko with it's light dry powder is the place to learn. We're hoping Pete will be able to guide us again. If we have two groups Pete will be spending a half day with each group.
DAY 13 FEB 18
SKI MOIWA
Today we plan to ski off piste across to Moiwa. This resort is not included on the Niseko ski pass so we'll have to purchase separate ski passes when we arrive in Moiwa. Moiwa is relatively unknown to the tourists and is more of a 'local place' so less skiers and more fresh snow for us. Again we hope to have Pete as our guide for the day. So get ready for another thrilling day.
Another night session for anyone who fancies it. There is night skiing accessible directly from the hotel but we'll take the shuttle around to Niseko Grand Hirafu to experience again what can only be described as 'the best night skiing in the world'.
DAY 14 FEB 19
SKI NISEKO, TRANSFER TO TOKYO
Our last day skiing in Niseko, so any slopes we have not yet experienced we have one more day.
We'll take the bus late afternoon to the airport and fly to Tokyo where we'll stay the night at the nearby Hilton (B&B). This allows for any possible delays. We can relax in the Hilton for the evening relishing our experience of Japanese skiing.
In the morning a relaxed breakfast, shuttle to the airport and our return to the UK.
DAY 16 FEB 20
Arrive UK |
