Japan Trip v2014

[Fukushima]

Just starting to read about Japan for next year... I know absolutely nothing and cant speak Japanese so it should be fun.

January would have been best for auto salon etc but I think we'll struggle to get time off during school holidays so I'm looking at Febuary...

Thinking of 3-5 days sight seeing in the vicinity of narita/tokyo then head back to the airport for a trip up to ski slopes for 5-7 days.

Would love to hire a GTR / another sportscar and zoom around sight seeing for a day or two but the best option seems to be a 12 hour hire Mt Fuji run sort of deal for those of us with normal size wallets.

How do I find out if there is any d1 exhibition rounds or spectator friendly motorsport in Febuary?

Any other ideas? Catch the bullet train north instead of flying to the slopes?

[Torquen]

Snowboarding.

I'll be there Jan 2014 with the missus and a couple mates. Going to Neisko to board for a week and then sight see for 2 weeks.

[regi]

D1 website has nothing in Feb for 2013, safe to assume the same for 2014? Although there was an exhibition mid January...

[Fukushima]

Actually doing some touge runs in a rental 86 could be pretty fun

[180SXTCY]

Shannon dig deep, get the 35R from premium rent a car and drive it up to Mt Fuji like we did. Its only about an hour-ish each way from memory and quite possibility some of the best roads you'll encounter. We also caught a bullet train from Tokyo to Fukishima, was about 3 hours each way to see a drift event. Best thing to do is get a JR rail pass before you leave if that's the option you choose.

[ClevoCapri]

I will be heading back in Feb next year for some snowboarding.
I go a bullet train to my mates place in Nagano. Then you have Hakuba close by (bus ride) and some other good spots too.

Feb is better for snow than Jan. Not sure about d1 though.

[Fukushima]

I will be heading back in Feb next year for some snowboarding.
I go a bullet train to my mates place in Nagano. Then you have Hakuba close by (bus ride) and some other good spots too.

Feb is better for snow than Jan. Not sure about d1 though.

Yeah skiing / might give boarding a go is the main game, any car stuff is a bonus.

Nagano appeals to me, snow monkeys!

Wouldn't mind a little bit of a road trip if they are cool roads, we did New Zealand that way in an sv6.

[joshg123]

Nagano and Hakuba are awesome, really good places to stay in Hakuba village itself.

Also, Cherry pub in hakuba doesnt cut you off even when your a little too drunk, makes for interesting times when you walk into the wrong lodge, walk up the stairs and to the door, then realise something is wrong.

[ClevoCapri]

The roads are awsome. Lots of hairpins on the mountain roads!
My mate only has a Kei car so im usualy terrified when driving to the mountains!

The onsens are nice. Sitting in 40' water when its snowing drinking beer!
I will be there from the 6th Feb to the 17th feb.

[ClevoCapri]

Nagano and Hakuba are awesome, really good places to stay in Hakuba village itself.

Also, Cherry pub in hakuba doesnt cut you off even when your a little too drunk, makes for interesting times when you walk into the wrong lodge, walk up the stairs and to the door, then realise something is wrong.

Nagano was the first place I saw a local staggering along blind drunk. He fell over outside a bar. So the staff comes out. Props him up on a stool and gets him another beer!
All class!

[j3rk]

Bump!
Planning 2014 NYE / skiing in Jap... best places / hotels / experiences -- k go!

[Intercpt]

Bump!
Planning 2014 NYE / skiing in Jap... best places / hotels / experiences -- k go!

Interested in this too!
Thinking of heading to Tokyo/Osaka in September 14.

Reckon i'll get away smuggling a ti exhaust as carry-on? LOL

[Intercpt]

If you guys are not aware. Air Asia is bulk cheap to tokyo/osaka.
Around $300 one way, not bad!

[Torquen]

Just got back from 8 nights in Hakuba... Fucking brilliant! Had 3 powder days, 2 blue bird and 2 overcast. Only one day was bad vis and it was a powder day so YOLO to that. I'll smash some pics up in a bit but it was awesome and would recommend to anyone. Got links for affordable and decent accom to if you're keen.

[j3rk]

^Link that shit. Trying to decide on NYE in Hakuba/Niesko or going to Tokyo instead.
Keen for decent drinking session...

[Torquen]

We did 8 night in Tokyo too, also a must IMO. Like another world. So good!

[Torquen]

Stayed here: http://www.alpine-hakuba.com/ in the 3 bedroom alpine chalet. Basic, but clean, warm and top location.

Got heaps more on the GoPro but haven't looked through it properly yet.

http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh406/jshakersgmailcom/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0307_zpspzkiq7si.jpg

http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh406/jshakersgmailcom/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0308_zpsvkoigswa.jpg

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Mountain wise we hit up Hakuba 47, Goryu, Happo One and Iwatake. All were good but Iwatake was best for offpiste, Happo for park and sheer size/ammount of runs and Hakuba 47 for a good mixture of everything. Plenty of runs from beginner to expert across all mountains. Myself and my missus were tossing up to go Niseko or Hakuba and ended up going Hakuba as it's cheaper to get to, closer, and has a wider choice of mountains facing in various directions. This is great as while some mountains may be experiencing white outs others can still have good vis, where as Niseko is known for having a lot of white out days. Also if you're worried about snow not being as much/as good: Niseko = 17m/year, Hakuba = 14m ... same same. First day we arrived we had 1m of snow overnight!

[j3rk]

Awesome feedback!

And what's the feedback on drinking holes? Safe to say my trip will be a decent mix of alcohol fuelled nights and hungover boarding days.

[kyle_340]

http://www.premium-rent.com/en/

fuck yes, only $430 for a gtr for 24 hours (plus additional costs).

can someone explain this to me? is an australian license an "international drivers license" or do i have to apply for one?

International Driver's License (Based on the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic)
*Driver's license issued in foreign country (County or region, which does not issue the international driver's license and has the driving license system equivalent to that of Japan (Currently 5 countries, Republic of Italy, Swiss Confederation, Federal Republic of Germany, French Republic, and Kingdom of Belgium, and 1 region, Taiwan. (Limited to the one with Japanese translation by those specified by the Cabinet Order.))

[Torquen]

Awesome feedback!

And what's the feedback on drinking holes? Safe to say my trip will be a decent mix of alcohol fuelled nights and hungover boarding days.

So there are two main entertainment areas, Echoland (right near the acomm I suggested) and Happo. Echoland has around a dozen pubs/bars + 20 odd restaurants. Happo has around the same but more restaurants and shops to go with it. Don't expect massive pumping clubs, they're all small to medium bars/pubs but all have a good vibe and are still fun/have music (live and decent DJ's). Most places close around 3:00am so plenty of time to quench your thirst/get super hungover for the next day ;)
Niseko is more western and has plenty of large club-like establishments, if that's more your thing.

If you're going to go to Tokyo make sure you go to the Robot Restaurant (http://www.robot-restaurant.com/E/) and also visit a few bars in the Golden Gai district (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjuku_Golden_Gai).

[SSICK]

Currently sprawled across 4 chairs at hedana airport in Tokyo waiting for mates to arrive. The trains are fukn ridiculous and the locals just give me a blank stare when I try ask a question. I'm on my own and it took me 3 hours to get from narita to hedana. Should of tAken an hour apparently.

[Fukushima]

Bump!
Planning 2014 NYE / skiing in Jap... best places / hotels / experiences -- k go!

Lol. So my wife told me she was pregnant the week I last posted in this thread. Safe to say not going this year!

[dstyle]

http://www.premium-rent.com/en/

fuck yes, only $430 for a gtr for 24 hours (plus additional costs).

can someone explain this to me? is an australian license an "international drivers license" or do i have to apply for one?

International Driver's License (Based on the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic)
*Driver's license issued in foreign country (County or region, which does not issue the international driver's license and has the driving license system equivalent to that of Japan (Currently 5 countries, Republic of Italy, Swiss Confederation, Federal Republic of Germany, French Republic, and Kingdom of Belgium, and 1 region, Taiwan. (Limited to the one with Japanese translation by those specified by the Cabinet Order.))

you will need an international drivers licence, i think you can get it at RAC in the city. ive driven everywhere in japan, they all ask for your international licence.


Currently sprawled across 4 chairs at hedana airport in Tokyo waiting for mates to arrive. The trains are fukn ridiculous and the locals just give me a blank stare when I try ask a question. I'm on my own and it took me 3 hours to get from narita to hedana. Should of tAken an hour apparently.

they are probably giving you blank stares because you are a baka gaijin.

[SSICK]

I've been told it's because I'm tall and white...

[crabman]

Currently sprawled across 4 chairs at hedana airport in Tokyo waiting for mates to arrive. The trains are fukn ridiculous and the locals just give me a blank stare when I try ask a question. I'm on my own and it took me 3 hours to get from narita to hedana. Should of tAken an hour apparently.

Man, I feel you pain. I suffered the same getting from Tokyo station to Narita Last year straight after arriving from Osaka on the Shinkansen. Me and my mate hopped on a train, then panicked as we didn't see anyone else with luggage so jumped off. Turns out it was the right train, we then caught a non express that stopped at every station during peak time. Sucked so bad with board bags and massive back packs lol.


Those Hakuba pics are making me so happy. Fly out in 13 days, will be on the slopes in 15

[Liberator]

heya guys question , missus wants to go to japan end of this year but i want to go snowboarding at snow season over east , thinking of meeting in middle and going japan snow season NEXT year , so keeping this all in mind learning off the Japanese ? anyone done it ? safer to tell the missus to stick it and go over east learn there ? or possible to learn of japs while where both there and get lots of brownie points ?