Japan at Christmas and Skiing - possible?

[monojoker]

Hi All,

Looking at taking my wife and 6 year old son for a White Christmas but don't have enough FF points to get anywhere N.America or Europe wise so I was wondering if it's doable in Japan. We often ski/snowboard so if it was possible to overlap the ski season with Christmas that would be really good too. Still just an idea at the moment so maybe it's not possible. Having a poke around on Google there seems to be areas that get light/medium snow in late December in several areas which there is also ski resorts. Having not been to Japan before we'd also obviously like to spend some time in Tokyo so I was thinking 10 days or so.

Another catch (LOL) is I want to use up most of my remaining QFF points - wife had 3x,xx_ expire through lack of activity DOH! - although there's a few reward flights around 20th outbound returning 30th December. I know Japan isn't very Christian (neither are we) so it might be a good time to go as shops won't tend to be shut, etc?

Anyway any ideas or suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[travelislife]

Ski season generally starts end of November. So you will be able to find snow at Christmas though it is still early season.

 

[Cynicor]

If is very early season in December, but Christmas time can be quite variable with a decent base in some of the northern resorts. It's a chance game, but I would head to Hokkaido for your best bet of snow- Niseko/Rusutsu area only. Furano and other central areas snow less and don't get a decent base until mid Jan.

If you get a good week you'll be riding fresh pow and a lot of the sasa (bamboo style grass) will be covered.

In Hakuba 2 years back they were riding rock and grass til Jan. Last year their season was better than the north, so it's all a punt, but I still recommend as far north as possible to maximise your odds.

 

[monojoker]

Thanks for the tips, so Hokkaido sounds like the best bet. Is there much of a Christmas feel to the ski resorts or is it more festive in cities? I realise the culture isn't about the Christianity of the event (neither are we for that matter) but just looking for "how Christmasy" various areas are - mainly as we will have said 6 year old in tow.

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks for the tips, so Hokkaido sounds like the best bet. Is there much of a Christmas feel to the ski resorts or is it more festive in cities? I realise the culture isn't about the Christianity of the event (neither are we for that matter) but just looking for "how Christmasy" various areas are - mainly as we will have said 6 year old in tow.

The bigger hotels have a bit of Christmas but not much. One of the lifties often dresses up a Santa around that week and there may be some tiny decorations around. May be a christmas buffet with turkey, even, but I can't remember. It's much less than SE Asia, anyway.

 

[travelislife]

Bugger all 'Christmasy' stuff when I have been there.

 

[Assassin]

If you are planning this I would book accommodation ASAP. We are going around the same time and despite booking about 2 months ago, found accommodation options already booked out. A few days in Tokyo and skiing is a good combo. At that time, Hokkaido is probably the safest bet for reliable snow. Niseko is the obvious choice but there are other options. I doubt you will see anything Christmassy - we have not in the past - and there won't be shop closures etc.

 

[APAC747]

Don't forget to book Xmas dinner in advance!

BBC - Capital - Why Japan celebrates Christmas with KFC

 

[Cynicor]

Have you checked prices yet? It's ultra peak at that time and many places may be around $500-$1000 a night.
If you haven't booked already I think it will be very expensive.

 

[travelislife]

If you are planning this I would book accommodation ASAP. We are going around the same time and despite booking about 2 months ago, found accommodation options already booked out. A few days in Tokyo and skiing is a good combo. At that time, Hokkaido is probably the safest bet for reliable snow. Niseko is the obvious choice but there are other options. I doubt you will see anything Christmassy - we have not in the past - and there won't be shop closures etc.

A lot of the Japanese accommodation places won't even open bookings until 3 months out. Though yes over the 3-4 day new year period things can get very busy accom wise.

 

[love_the_life]

And the few days before and after New Year will be busy transport wise if you were wanting to use the trains. New Year is a big time when people travel back to the family home.

 

[timbervolt]

I went 2 Xmas ago, to resorts around the Nagano area. There was snow but not a lot. I was told that it's where snow starts before the bigger resorts of north island. But when the pow gods was nice, it was super nice. There was so much pow, you could be buried.

 

[Cynicor]

Doesn't snow in Nagano before the Hokkaido resorts, that's for sure. Unless they meant more northerly Honshu resorts. I've been the last 8 or 9 years running now, and closely track the snow each year. It's ski-able much earlier on Hokkaido than Honshu.