...snowboarding in Japan?

elshankos · (#1 (**permalink**))

Hi there,

Im in the process of getting a visa through a company etc and Im trying to figure out where Id like to go - Id like a smallish town/city which is real close to some ski slopes/mountains where you can ride backcountry and also where one can go hiking..
Anyone got any good ideas/good experiences? A friend told me about the Hakuba area - anyone know any nice small cities around there?

Many thanks,

Stephan

maratilla · (#2 (**permalink**))

I can suggest you Abashiri city at North Hokkaido. There is excellent ski-snowboard slope with pipe and restaurant. Usually there aren't much visiters espcially day time. City about 10-15 thousant inhabitants. Port,museum,hotels,Ofuros-saunas ,reindeers, restaurants, snacs and calmy like in Finland . Nearly airport Memanbetsu about 15km. Several lakes, bowling, railway and bus stations in Abashiri like in Memanbetsu, Fish market.
Abashiri City Travel Site-Tourist- see point 10.
also hotels Abashiri City Travel Site-Hotels-

maratilla · (#3 (**permalink**))

More exactly about Abashiri ski slope. This is their site : Abashiri Lake View, Abashiri, Hokkaido (SnowJapan ski & snowboard resorts in Hokkaido, Japan
I was there personaly - from my experience it best

maratilla · (#4 (**permalink**))

Sorry its not Hakuba at all

elshankos · (#5 (**permalink**))

Hi Maratilla,

Thanks for the reply - sounds like an intersting area! Do you go hiking much in Japan?

alanX · (#6 (**permalink**))

Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Not a small area at all, but TONS of snow and lots of great places to snowboard or ski.

spicytuna · (#7 (**permalink**))

I'm really into climbing and backcountry skiing myself and although I'd love to live in Hokkaido because of its Canada-like climate, I'll probably move to Tokyo because of the availability of jobs. Once there, I'll use Yamanishi and Nagano-ken as my playground.

I've never been to Hakuba but it looks like a great place to live. Small town of around 10,000 surrounded by mountains. Sounds like the Japanese equivalent of my current town!

elshankos · (#8 (**permalink**))

Hi Mate,

So are you living in Japan now then? Have you been skiing and hiking much over there? Im a bit clueless as Im only looking into the location type options now...
Hokkaido looks great but perhaps a bit to cold for me - Ive spent the last couple of years suffering in the UK and Im from south africa!

Cheers

jasonbvr · (#9 (**permalink**))

In the first post you said you were in the process of being hired, wouldn't they decide your location?

Do you know about snowjapan.com? If you are looking for jobs, just compare the location of the job to the nearest resorts.

alanX · (#10 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by elshankos

Hi Mate,

So are you living in Japan now then? Have you been skiing and hiking much over there? Im a bit clueless as Im only looking into the location type options now...
Hokkaido looks great but perhaps a bit to cold for me - Ive spent the last couple of years suffering in the UK and Im from south africa!

Cheers

Yes, if you don't like extremely cold temperatures, Hokkaido is not the place to be. Expecially Sapporo.