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Bibbitybop · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 8

Does anyone know what mountains or ski resorts in Japan offer season passes? How much are they and can foreigners living in Japan obtain a season pass? I've found a bit of info online, but not much. Thanks!

lalalateda · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 72 Location: JAPAN

Where do you live? Up in Eastern Hokkaido, I've heard that most places will sell season passes. But I haven't purchased one myself.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 8

I'm not Japan quite yet. I'm studying a bit before the trip so I know where I'd like to be and if I can afford to ride the mountains. Thanks for the reply.

johanne · Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 189

I'm not sure about ski passes, but I justed booked a trip to Hokkaido, 3 days, 2 nights from Yokohama for about $400 U.S. That included airfare, 1.5 hour train ride to the ski resort, hotel, ski lift passes for three days, ski rental (I'm not a serious skier), all breakfasts and one dinner.

Considering what I used to pay for just one day, with no overnight stay, of skiing in Whistler, I think it's a huge bargain. I don't know if all ski resorts in Japan are similarily priced.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I got a season pass for my local mountain (Tainai in Niigata-ken) for about $400--that was the "earlybird" price, and it increased to $500 later on. It wasn�t the biggest resort, but it was only 20 minutes away, so well worth it. I went probably 40 times last season.

As far as bigger resorts... I think Arai (also in Niigata, further south) had season passes for about $600. I think some of the resorts in Nagano were similarly priced.

If you haven�t yet checked out www.skijapan.com, (or has it changed to www.snowjapan.com?) do it! It has links to many of the resorts, and the site itself includes prices for day tickets, half days, season passes, etc.

d

Bibbitybop · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks for the tips and info. Denise, I have looked over skijapan.com, but couldn't get much info in season passes.

Here's another question: If you live near a mountain, say 20 minutes away, and you don't have a car, what do you do to get to the mountain? Is there public transit set up in most areas? I've also read that hitchhiking is pretty easy in parts of Japan.

moot point · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 441

Hitch-hiking is a novelty here. Most drivers would be surprised to see a thumb stuck up in the air. I don't know if you could depend on someone to stop with a couple of skis or a snowboard over your shoulder, however.

Cars are cheap and public transport is plentiful.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Sometimes the resorts will have their own shuttles that pick you up from the nearest train station.

d