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I was lucky enough to be dragged (kicking and screaming) from Chamonix to Japan a few weeks ago.

After a 27 hour non stop journey from Chamonix to Niseko, Hokkido we went night skiing for 3 hours



I probably look a little tired.



Wandering home the snowbanks were proof this place has seen quite a bit of snowfall



Next morning all the way up to the top, Quad to triple to oldschool single



Then hike to the top



The back bowls were quite expansive



The next few days there was some tree skiing





Some hiking for turns



Some drawing of S's



Some more hiking in the trees



I met a few snowboaders



And saw a few views



Before heading back to Tokyo to take the Shinkansen



To Nozawa Onsen in the Nagano prefecture



Where they use hot water to clear the roads



And cook the veg



And ski some very untracked snow,



Make snow angels



And meet local wildlife



They do get a bit of snow on their lifts



So they cover the escalators




And then be a tourist on the way home at the Tsjkiji Fish market



And catch a gimps of Mt Fuji for a future ski tour

Niseko was quiet enough that you could get fresh tracks every day if you were prepared to hike and search a little.

But Nozawa Onsen has probably 100 midweek skiers, 5 of whom ski off piste

Nice! I have never thought about going to Japan, I have to admit. But this looks interesting.
It looks like all the snow falls in Japan?
The local wildlife, was that a skier or a snowboarder?

I don't think of Japan when I think of snow or skiing. Looks fantastic!

Japan is amazing. Can't wait to go back.

It's on the top of my list.

OAC wrote:Nice! I have never thought about going to Japan, I have to admit. But this looks interesting.
It looks like all the snow falls in Japan?
The local wildlife, was that a skier or a snowboarder?

A Kamoshika, or Japanese Serow, related to dear and antelope. Looked more like a wild boor. This one was 100kg+

They are officially herbivores, but there was a rumour that they would eat those lost in the backcountry.

We were skiing a 45 degree slope and I think we were reasonably safe in avoiding being lunch

skidesmond wrote:I don't think of Japan when I think of snow or skiing. Looks fantastic!

500+ resorts. Quite a few resorts of euro (bigger than anything in the usa) size!

Fly me twice around the world, it still looks amazing!

Great photo's Tom - shaking down new skis by any chance?

I'll be in niseko in 10 days
Nozawa is great. Tree runs off skyline course! I have had a run down through the trees there with 2 kamoshika running down beside me!

Richuk

I traded 2 pairs of skis for this trip. The Freeloaders changed everyone's (well everyone who skied them) perception of fat skis.

They turn way easier than the lead sleds made by some, still navigate a piste without feeling like a pair of serving trays and for those who hadn't tried a real fat ski before - FLOAT

I was bashing around on an old pair of Bouqetin proto types from 2 years ago - a real reminder they need refining.


Falls

Yup most runs off skyline, The Kamoshika I saw from dropping in gondola side of the same valley. Had some nice runs off the far (skiers left) ridgeline as well. Enjoy

Say hi to Big aussie Phil if you meet him in the woods

Very cool - are you going to post trip reports on your new website?