Having skied Niseko before, and with a favourable exchange rate, it was time to do an extended Japan visit.
Starting with Skiing Hakuba (west of Tokyo) which had been having legendary snowfalls for weeks (#1 worldwide on most daily reports)
Travelplan Australia set me up in the near new Evo Hotel, directly opposite the Happo One Bus Terminal. Sensational location for this boutique & hip hotel.
The valley of Hakuba hosts 10 slopes, accessible by routine shuttle buses. The most southern 3 are small family-friendly hills. Then the more expansive Goryu / 47 ski area prior to Happo One. Head north and you get Iwatake with The City Bakery deck and swing, Tsugaike (white-out on my day) and then Norikura / Cortina.
Advertised as open to May 1st, reality is that things start to shut down from mid March. A lot of restaurants had closed, shuttle buses were reduced by half at least, various lifts were switched off, and temperatures rose quickly to +15degC 20th March.
Weather is weather, you roll with the circumstances. High winds had shut down gondolas & upper mountains, heat had created fragile slops with some landslides, and the snow had become sticky by the end of the week.
But in between, there were some blue-bird days after fresh overnight snowfalls. Epic views, powder most everywhere and still some fantastic Japanese restaurants to enjoy.
Time now to chase Sakura season (Cherry Blossoms)
