Post by Perry on Aug 7, 2011 1:53:41 GMT -5
Whether you’ve never seen white stuff fall from the sky, or simply can’t live without the rush of sliding down a mountainside, it’s important that you have some sense of what your options are for winter sports. As you may or may not know, Japan has an impressive history when it comes to skiing and snowboarding. This country hosted the first winter Olympics outside Europe and North America (Sapporo 1972) and the first Olympics with snowboarding events (Nagano 1998).
First, please be aware, Kagoshima is likely considered the least ski-friendly ken in mainland Japan. However, you shouldn’t let you that stop you from having a really fantastic time during a frigid, limiting time of the year for outdoor enthusiasts.
Surprisingly, skiing and snowboarding in Japan often costs LESS MONEY than it does in Europe and North America. Lift tickets range from 3,000 to 6,000 yen for a full day and rentals are usually about 2,000 yen for a full ski or board setup and may even include outerwear. Resorts also rent out every type of gear (jacket, pants, goggles, beanie, layers) needed for reasonable prices (less than 2,000 yen usually). You can often BUY a used snowboard set-up from many secondhand stores for less than 4,000 yen!
Also, for beginners, every resort does offer lessons…in Japanese.
Now for the details…
Although Kagoshima has no ski resort of it’s own, there are three small hills within driving distance (practically unreachable without car though) on Kyushu (in order of quality):
1. Gokase Highland in northern Miyazaki-ken
Getting there: About 3 hours 20 minutes from Kagoshima City via expressway and 218
Description: 2 chairlifts; One long snaky run that splits into 4 sections and another steep used for racing;
Freestyle Terrain: moguls, flatbox, flatrail, one small/medium-sized kicker, several rollers, two quarterpipes,
Lift ticket price: about 4,000-5,000 yen
2. Kuju Forest Park Ski Resort in central Oita-ken
Getting there: About 4 hours from Kagoshima City
Description: 3 or 4 runs all around beginner/intermediate level; 2-4 chairlifts
Freestyle terrain: small jibs, boxes, side hits
Lift ticket price: 3,000-4,500 yen
3. Tenzan Resort in Saga-ken
Getting there: About 4 hours from Kagoshima City
Description: 2 chairlifts; 1.5 runs; Night skiing
Lift ticket price: 4,500-5,500 yen
Getting the goods…
If you’re looking for better than beginner/intermediate terrain, then it’s best to leave Kyushu. One affordable way to do this without using nenkyu is to drive/train/bus to Fukuoka, then get on a night bus package deal (includes transit, rentals, accommodations, food, and lift tickets). These buses access many resorts in the Hiroshima and Tottori area. Packages range from 10,000 to 30,000 yen for a 1 or 2-day trip and run every weekend all winter.
But, the best, the crème de la crème, the powder you’ve dreamed about can only be found in northern Honshu and Hokkaido. This would likely require flying from Kagoshima Airport to Haneda Airport, then bussing/training to resorts in the Nagano, Niigita, and other Japanese Alps areas. Or better off, hopping on another plane and heading up to Sapporo Airport, for access to some of the world’s best tree skiing. Pillow lines, limited crowds, and a world-class ski resort experience.
-Justin Globerson
First, please be aware, Kagoshima is likely considered the least ski-friendly ken in mainland Japan. However, you shouldn’t let you that stop you from having a really fantastic time during a frigid, limiting time of the year for outdoor enthusiasts.
Surprisingly, skiing and snowboarding in Japan often costs LESS MONEY than it does in Europe and North America. Lift tickets range from 3,000 to 6,000 yen for a full day and rentals are usually about 2,000 yen for a full ski or board setup and may even include outerwear. Resorts also rent out every type of gear (jacket, pants, goggles, beanie, layers) needed for reasonable prices (less than 2,000 yen usually). You can often BUY a used snowboard set-up from many secondhand stores for less than 4,000 yen!
Also, for beginners, every resort does offer lessons…in Japanese.
Now for the details…
Although Kagoshima has no ski resort of it’s own, there are three small hills within driving distance (practically unreachable without car though) on Kyushu (in order of quality):
1. Gokase Highland in northern Miyazaki-ken
Getting there: About 3 hours 20 minutes from Kagoshima City via expressway and 218
Description: 2 chairlifts; One long snaky run that splits into 4 sections and another steep used for racing;
Freestyle Terrain: moguls, flatbox, flatrail, one small/medium-sized kicker, several rollers, two quarterpipes,
Lift ticket price: about 4,000-5,000 yen
2. Kuju Forest Park Ski Resort in central Oita-ken
Getting there: About 4 hours from Kagoshima City
Description: 3 or 4 runs all around beginner/intermediate level; 2-4 chairlifts
Freestyle terrain: small jibs, boxes, side hits
Lift ticket price: 3,000-4,500 yen
3. Tenzan Resort in Saga-ken
Getting there: About 4 hours from Kagoshima City
Description: 2 chairlifts; 1.5 runs; Night skiing
Lift ticket price: 4,500-5,500 yen
Getting the goods…
If you’re looking for better than beginner/intermediate terrain, then it’s best to leave Kyushu. One affordable way to do this without using nenkyu is to drive/train/bus to Fukuoka, then get on a night bus package deal (includes transit, rentals, accommodations, food, and lift tickets). These buses access many resorts in the Hiroshima and Tottori area. Packages range from 10,000 to 30,000 yen for a 1 or 2-day trip and run every weekend all winter.
But, the best, the crème de la crème, the powder you’ve dreamed about can only be found in northern Honshu and Hokkaido. This would likely require flying from Kagoshima Airport to Haneda Airport, then bussing/training to resorts in the Nagano, Niigita, and other Japanese Alps areas. Or better off, hopping on another plane and heading up to Sapporo Airport, for access to some of the world’s best tree skiing. Pillow lines, limited crowds, and a world-class ski resort experience.
-Justin Globerson
