going to japan in about a month for a snowboarding trip and im hitting up these destinations:-Niseko -rusutsu-furano-yuzawa gala-nozawaonsenmy question is do you guys know any cool sh#t to do at these locations. im not talking about going to some cafe, im talking stuff that the tourist's usually stay away from.
Zao Onsen Ski Resort in Yamagata
>>2855419>Skiing :|>Skiing Japan :O
>>2855115>stuff the tourists stay away fromevery tourist thinks like this
>>2855115If you rent a car you can probabaly go to some onsens that are less busy and blownout and eat foood at some spots with less peopleHow much are the lift tickets and hotels?
What are some resorts with good off-piste? (free ski i guess for you Americans)>>2855115My Japanese friend said Niseko is a shithole run by gaijin and the prices are expensive.
>>2855985Rusutsu has open trees you can leave the runs and ride down without any work. Kiroro requires you to carry an avy beacon, probe, shovel and sign a waiver to enter the tree gates. Teine has backcountry right off the top of the resort. Niseko has back country gates you can access without signing up but you should probably carry avy stuff. Asahidake ropeway looks interesting for side country riding. I haven't snowboarded in hokkaido yet, I'll be there in two weeks but my impression is tree runs are the only real off run riding you can get besides the open bowl from gate 3 at Niseko.
>>2855985There is a lot of off-piste skiing/snowboarding, but as I'm sure you know, be careful. I guy I knew here was snowboarding through the trees and ended up going over a small cliff he couldn't see/didn't anticipate and flew smack into a tree. Yes, he died.
>>2855985You're a gaijin and Australian so everyone would prefer if you stay in your containment zone. Nobody is going to think you're special if you try finding some random neighborhood. Everyone just wants tourists to stay away from them.
