Japan 2020 Pre-trip Information Packet
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Japan 2020 Pre-trip Information Packet
Program Faculty
Jerry Isaak, Associate Professor, Chair
Department of Expeditionary Studies
https://www.plattsburgh.edu/academics/schools/ehhs/exp/faculty/isaak-jerry.html
Proposed Itinerary
● Sunday, January 5th - Fly from USA to Japan
● Monday, January 6th - Fly/arrive in Sapporo, Japan (New Chitose Airport)
○ Accomodation: New Chitose Airport hotel
● Tuesday, January 7th - Pick up rental van. Drive to Asahidake (approx. 3 hours driving
time).
○ Food (lunches/snacks) shop in Asahikawa or Furano on the way.
○ Ski Asahidake Ropeway (time permitting)
○ Accomodation: Hotel Bear Monte (Dinner incl.)
● Wednesday, January 8th - Ski Asahidake (Ropeway and/or touring)
○ Accomodation: Hotel Bear Monte (Breakfast & Dinner incl.)
● Thursday, January 9th - Ski Asahidake (Ropeway and/or touring)
○ Accomodation: Hotel Bear Monte (Breakfast & Dinner incl.)
● Friday, January 10th - Ski Asahidake (Ropeway and/or touring)
○ Accomodation: Hotel Bear Monte (Breakfast & Dinner incl.)
● Saturday, January 11th - Ski Asahidake (Ropeway and/or touring)
○ Accomodation: Hotel Bear Monte (Breakfast & Dinner incl.)
● Sunday, January 12th - Ski Asahidake (Ropeway and/or touring)
○ Accomodation: Hotel Bear Monte (Breakfast & Dinner incl.)
● Monday, January 13th - Optional ski Asahidake in morning (Ropeway and/or touring)
○ Drive to Tokachi Mountains. Food shop in Asahikawa on way.
○ Possible visit to Goto Sumio Museum.
○ Accomodation: Hakuginso Lodge (self-catering hostel accomodation)
● Tuesday, January 14th - Ski tour Tokachi Mountains (with Ninja Powder guide)
○ Accomodation: Hakuginso Lodge
● Wednesday, January 15th - Ski tour Tokachi Mountains
○ Accomodation: Hakuginso Lodge
● Thursday, January 16th - Ski tour Tokachi Mountains (morning tour)
○ Drive to Sapporo/New Chitose
○ Accomodation: Sapporo/New Chitose
● Friday, January 17th - Cultural day in Sapporo
○ Accomodation: Sapporo/New Chitose Airport
● Saturday, January 18th - End of program. Depart Sapporo for USA.
On Arrival in Japan
Your international flights will arrive at Chitose (Sapporo) airport. Flights to Hokkaido that require
you to change flights at any major Japanese airport will require you to collect your luggage and
go through customs before checking in for your domestic connection to Hokkaido.
You will need to fill out an embarkation card which will be given to you on the plane. Among
other information required, you need to provide details of your accommodation in Japan. Please
put down the first hotel you are staying at, or one of the lodges you will be staying at in
Hokkaido, or both. You can decide. Be sure you have this information with you.
Daisetsuzan National Park
“Daisetsuzan” translates to “big snow
mountains” and the peaks of this national park
live up to that definition, being snowbound for 7
to 8 months every year. Daisetsuzan National
Park is the largest national park in Japan and
offers the visitor a smorgasbord of delights. The
highest mountain, Asahi Dake (Dake means
“peak”) is 2290 metres (7513 feet) above sea
level. Asahi Dake rises abruptly out of the
surrounding rice paddies and is the highest
mountain in Hokkaido.
Within the park boundaries there are active volcanoes, fumaroles, natural hot springs, ski
grounds and untracked wilderness. The Hokkaido red pines, alpine fields, Japanese spruce and
steep mountain valleys are the home of numerous wild animals and birds. In winter, northern
fox’s and white rabbits are often seen wandering through the powder. The snow melts of May
see the mighty brown bears, animals of 500 kg or more, wake from 6 months of slumber to
roam their native wilderness. Fortunately, they will be snoozing during our stay. The park is
made up of two mountain ranges, the Tokachi mountains and the Taisetsu mountains. Our
skiing is done in these locations: AsahiDake Onsen, The Tokachi Mountains.
The Asahi Dake area is an adventure skier's
paradise. Asahi Dake village is at the base
of Hokkaido's highest mountain, Mt. Asahi
(2290 M). This area is famous for its access
to the huge Daisetsuzan National Park, it's
hot spring baths, extreme skiing and a
powder snow season that can last three to
four months. The area is serviced by a
gondola that gives lift serviced access to
unroped, untouched powder bowls that
stretch as far as the eye can see. The
terrain varies from steep and fast to gentle
and drifting through the Silver Birch and Hokkaido Red Pine forests. The nightly top ups, when
the northwesterly rolls over Hokkaido, are legendary. Ski area lifts are limited to one 100 person
gondola.
Asahi Dake does cater for all levels of skier from beginner to intermediate. However, to ski the
lift assisted powder runs and back country bowls you need to be of an intermediate to advanced
level in your skiing.
Asahi Dake is serviced by one gondola only and does not offer resort facilities such as ski
school or ski patrol. This gondola can close in bad weather and there are no ticket refunds in the
event of closure. There are no shops here. During severe weather caution is required above the
lift line due to white out, extreme cold and possible blizzard conditions.
Hotel Bear Monte
This is a beautiful modern western resort hotel with a
choice of western or Japanese style rooms. We are
booked in traditional Japaenese style rooms. The hotel is
2 minutes walk from the base of the Asahi Dake gondola.
Facilities include: laundry • ski room • cafe • shop •
internet access.
The Japanese style rooms are group share with either
two, three or four people to a
room depending on group size. The Japanese style rooms have traditional ‘”tatami” (straw) mat
floors and “futons” (Japanese beds). Dinner and breakfast are taken in the dining room. Dinner
is usually between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm and breakfast from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. There are no
showers in some lodges, only baths. The mountain inns have hot spring baths.
Gondola Tickets
The Gondola here takes 100 people and goes every 20 minutes. It starts at 9:00 am and
finishes at 3:40 pm. We will use the gondola (aka Ropeway) on some days and solely tour on
other days. Day ticket bought from the gondola base is ¥4200 (as of Jan. 2018), however, lift
tickets can be bought from the lodge. The prices can vary but are currently as follows: 1 day
¥3000, 2 days ¥4000 and a 4 hour ticket is ¥2000. Warning: In high winds the gondola can
close. This is not a problem for us as we will simply ski tour out of the base.
Tokachi Brief
This mountain range lies at the southern end of
Daisetsuzan National Park. The Tokachi mountains
are quite simply backcountry paradise. Everything
that applies to Asahi Dake and Daisetsuzan National
Park in general also applies here. However, there
are two marked differences between the two
locations. Whereas Asahi Dake has a majority of
more open rolling terrain with above the tree line
skiing, Tokachi has steeper fingers of powder
reaching down deep into the forest. The aspect is
also different. Whereas a lot of the skiable terrain at Asahi Daake has a more southerly aspect,
exposing the slopes to the sun, Tokachi faces the cold north, helping to maintain quality powder
deep in the afforested valleys long after the snow has stopped falling.
Nothing comes close to the spectacular ridges and valleys of this volcanic range that faces
northwest. Like most places in central Hokkaido and particularly in Daisetsuzan National Park,
the frequency and consistency of the snowpack sets it head and shoulders above most other
world ski destinations. Add to that classic mountain lodges whose views will take your breath
away and you have all the ingredients for the trip of a lifetime.
The skiing is all done with climbing skins and either telemark equipment or alpine touring
equipment. These mountains are for adventure skiers only, where you earn your turns in the
classic mould of the world's great skiing destinations. Ski runs are accessed after typically 2-3
hour climbs.
Windy.com weather info for Mt. Sandan (Tokachi Mts.):
https://www.windy.com/43.414/142.665?42.958,142.663,8,m:eRwaj6V
Hakuginso Lodge
Some people have the audacity to call Hakuginso Lodge a
mountain hut. It is nothing of the sort. It is accessible by car
all year round. If you’ve ever experienced European chalets
and mountain lodges, then it is more akin to those. It doesn’t
offer meals, but has a large communal kitchen, amazing
onsen hotsprings, a basement gear drying floor, and
comfortable bunk-bed accommodation (each with its own
curtain). As such, Hakuginso mountain lodge (also referred
to as Fukiage Onsen) is in my mind one of the best accommodation you can find in the Tokachi
region in the winter.
If it is ski touring you are into, then the ‘ski touring
mecca’ (as they boast on their website) that is
Hakuginso should be on your list of places to
stay. You can literally ski from door to door.
Shop: They sell some very basic foodstuffs such
as instant ramen, nuts, icecream, alcohol etc.
Onsen: Hakuginso has a massive
gender-separated onsen facility which includes
outdoor baths (600yen per person if you’re not
staying overnight). There’s also a mixed-gender area (swimsuits required).
The Tokachi Volcano - Warning
This is an active volcano. It has in the past erupted twice over the past 24 years. These are
minor eruptions and the area is closely monitored by various scientific groups. If there is fear of
an imminent eruption or earthquakes occur, limitations may be placed on the areas we have
access to.
Medicine
We do recommend that if you need any special medication, that you bring adequate supplies
with you, particularly blister treatments for feet if you have new boots. However, don’t despair of qualified medical aid, as Japanese hospitals and pharmaceuticals are as modern as anywhere in the world. No vaccinations are required for Japan. Expected Weather The Hokkaido winter is cold, and for an island it is unique. Where as most islands have a moist maritime climate, Hokkaido has a cold dry continental climate influenced by the northern regions of Siberia. A weather system known as the Siberian High Pressure System directs an icy north to northwesterly airflow over Hokkaido which has very low humidity. The prevailing air mass picks up moisture from the warm currents of the Japan Sea and drops it as light dry powder snow from Hokkaido’s west coast to its central mountains. The east coast areas, beyond the central ranges, in most cases are a lot drier and colder. The weather in this cold area has one important saving grace, very little wind. There can be winds and on occasions we have experienced blizzard conditions, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Even on the cold days the lack of wind makes for very comfortable skiing conditions. Blizzards can develop quickly and white out conditions in the high mountains can occur in an instant. This description can only offer information on “the norm”, which varies from year to year and month to month. So, be prepared for cold temperatures that may drop to -15 degrees Celsius during the day, but look forward to blue skies, crisp days and powder snow. Food A typical meal in an Inn will consist of Miso (soy bean paste) soup, a bowl of rice which can be refilled when desired and several dishes of either fried fish, chicken or small slices of meat. Sashimi and sushi (raw fresh, rice and seaweed) and tempura (vegetables, fish and prawns deep fried in a light batter) will accompany many of the meals. Breakfasts vary from western-style toast, ham and eggs to Japanese style rice fish and miso soup. We recommend an extensive pre-tour training programme in the use of the ubiquitous chopsticks, but carry a fork for those rare occasions when the rice doesn’t seem to stick together. Many places don’t provide forks. On day tours in the mountains, lunch is Japanese take away, such as rice cakes, fried chicken and pickles. Lunches en route, in Furano or Asahikawa (we pass through here between lodges in Hokkaido) can be anything from Sushi, noodles and Suki Yaki to McDonalds! Drying and Laundry The Japanese Inns do not have drying room facilities to the extent that Australian ski lodges do.
Most daily drying is done in the rooms, and special racks are provided for this. Boots and skis are kept in the basement or doorways of the Inns. Laundry & drying facilities are available on request. Local Customs You have probably heard that the Japanese are polite. Well this is very true, and certain customs and habits have to be adhered to in order not to offend. The locals don’t shout or eat in the streets. They try to live harmoniously and not to offend each other in daily life (although this does not apply to private life, as per the dramas on Japanese television!). Don’t be ashamed about slurping your noodles. With chopsticks, don’t wave them about as you talk, just as with forks, it is considered rude. Shoes are always taken off in the entrance way and house slippers worn from there. As a general rule, where socks go, shoes don’t, and vice versa. When using the toilet, you must change into the toilet slippers, and be sure to change back into the house slippers on leaving the toilet. These slippers are always provided. Bathing is ritualized in Japan and the correct way to do it is to wash yourself off outside the bath, using taps, wash basins and flexible showers. When clean, enter the bath for a long neck-deep soak. There are plenty of other traps so talk to your tour escort if unsure. But in the end, as travellers and foreigners, we are forgiven most indiscretions as we are not really expected to fathom the intricacies of Japanese life and culture, but it is good to at least try. Money Matters Japan has 1, 5, 10, 50 100 and 500 yen coins; 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen notes. Occasionally you will see a 2000 yen note but these are rare. The 1,000 and 10,000 yen notes are very similar so be sure to count the zeroes when spending, although Japan has the lowest crime rate of the industrialized countries, and is therefore extremely safe. However, we recommend that you still take precautions with money, passport and travel documents. Bring Cash Although Japan is world leader in electronics and all the new gadgets cash is still king. With a lot of places that still don’t take credit cards especially some ski grounds for lift tickets So always be prepared and carry enough cash for some situations. There are ATMs at most convenient stores and post offices. We recommend that you carry cash as much as possible. The best approach is to acquire cash prior to coming to Japan. Be sure to check exchange rates. We find that airport based exchange services, throughout the world, offer the worst exchange rates and should only be used as a last
resort. You will need to have sufficient funds for meals enroute or at stopover locations, lunches at the resorts and on transfer days, lift tickets where not included. Credit Cards Although credit cards are widely accepted in major cities, some of the places we visit may only accept one type of card or none at all. Visa, American Express and Master Card can be used at some banks to get a cash advance, but not all. Visa seems to be the most widely accepted, while Mastercard presents some difficulties. A recent development has seen cash machines in all Post Offices in Japan. These have an easy to follow English menu so are a good back up when needing cash. Tipping Tipping is another thing that is not in the culture and can be embarrassing as it is not generally accepted. Additional cultural/etiquette information at https://www.snowsbest.com/respect-etiquette-skiing-japan/ Onsens Hokkaido is full of onsens or hot springs and they are great way to soak away any muscle soreness from a hard days Skiing or Snowboarding. So onsen etiquette firstly it would be shoes off at the front then in the changing areas you get undress to nothing. Wearing clothing or swimmers into an onsen is frowned upon but you can always have your trusty tiny towel to cover if you feel the need. Before entering the hot spring always wash yourself. Generally they will have small plastic chairs with shower hoses, use these to wash your self then enter the hot pools. Language Japanese is an incredibly difficult language to learn, and no-one expects you to be able to converse fluently! However, outside the main tourist traps like Niseko English isn’t always that widely-spoken, so it definitely helps to have a few words in your pocket! Here are some starters: Hello – Konnichiwa Excuse me – Sumimasen Please – Kudasai Thank you – Arigato Where is the toilet? – Toilet wa doca desu ka?
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