So a few friends and I are thinking about taking our families to Japan for a ski trip in Jan/Feb next year. Possibly 3-5 families each with 2-3 kids (8-16yo) so up to about 20 people The main thing Im interested in understanding is accommodation options. Ideally we'd all stay in the one lodge style accom. Appreciate options depend on budget but for the moment, think not the cheapest hostel price and not the luxury Waldorf price. Really just looking for ideas at this stage and would... Read more ..read more

Looking at 4 to 6 weeks accom in a house or say 2 - 3 bedroom apartment in Jan/ Feb 2025. Thinking of around Yuzawa, Nagano or Sapporo/ Kutchan etc as we will have car access but also towns and or transport links will provide us with options for other tourist options , day , overnight trips etc. My wife and i will also work from there remotely for our companies . Does such an option exist particularly for foreigners ? Thoughts suggestions welcome ..read more

I think food is a big part of culture and whenever I travel, I make it a rule to try local foods as much as possible. Sorry if there is a similar thread already. I just thought it would be nice if we have a thread where we can share our favorite Japanese cuisines, our favorite restaurants in Japan and the recipes of our favorite Japanese cuisines. I wouldn't say I'm good at cooking, however, fishing and farming are my big hobbies and I regularly enjoy cooking by use of fishes I catch and... Read more ..read more

I live in Brisbane so only manage to usually ski 5 and bit days each season, typically at Perisher. However, this year I'll be skiing/boarding 7 days at Perisher which makes getting an Epic pass not that much more (last year a mid-week 5 day pass at Perisher/Falls Creek/Hotham was $664, 7 days was $980 and until 4 April I can get an Epic pass for $1099). If I was to ski the northern hemisphere it would most likely be Japan but I noticed the Epic pass now only covers two areas in Japan... Read more ..read more

We just got back from our first ever trip to Hokkaido and while the snow was awesome, we felt we missed the cultural aspect of the Honshu Nagano area for our off days when not skiing. So, for 2025 we are headed back for 2.5 weeks and this time we will plan to go Tokyo-Yuzawa-Nozawa, then back to Tokyo for home. We have been to Nozawa/Nagano a few times and love it, Yuzawa area will be new. My question mainly is for what to do during the 3 days off planned when transitioning from Yuzawa to... Read more ..read more

Was just doing a bit of search on Arai which led me to this report. Also then led me onto these others: https://abandonedkansai.com/2015/03/31/gifu-ski-piste/ https://abandonedkansai.com/2014/03/18/kyoto-ski-resort/ https://abandonedkansai.com/2012/02/23/mt-hiei-artificial-ski-slope/ https://abandonedkansai.com/2014/12/02/gunma-ski-resort/ https://abandonedkansai.com/2013/08/13/alpen-rose-ski-resort/... Read more ..read more

Hey there am looking to open bank account in Nagano. Have researched and been given advice on banks to open with. Just wanted to reach out to wider group for any advice. So far Mitsui Bank, 82 Bank & Post Bank have come into play. This is for a business account. Cheers ..read more

We're visiting Japan in mid April, and my teenage kids are asking about skiing? (we're not skiers). I see that Shiga Kogen have Ichinose Family open everyday until GW. Seems it may be the only one open in April during a weekday at Shiga (in my itinerary I have 17~20th available for Nagano area unless I move some other things around). Are there any other options? Any thoughts? Will be driving in from Maibara so anywhere within 5-6 hour drive would be ideal. Any advice would great. It's been... Read more ..read more

Hiya We got back from Hokkaido few weeks ago. Watching what's happening in Alps, Whistler etc seems like snow-sure places will become rarer in the next 10-20 years. Hokkaido, interior BC, Alaska and Utah seem up there. I am sure it's common to think about being able to buy somewhere after a good trip but we have let the initial heat fade and still think buying somewhere in Hokkaido might be a good idea. We don't own any investment property (Australia or otherwise) so I am a complete... Read more ..read more

This one is probably more for the hard core travelling people. I have a group of friends that want to go to Japan next season. I always bang onto them about Myoko in the old days where I'd usually be the only foreigner on the slopes so they want to do that kind of thing. Some have been before to Hakuba, Niseko, etc. So I'm researching now for a resort that ticks most (or hopefully all) of the following. It's kind of doing my head in TBH so reaching out to those of you who like a bit of... Read more ..read more