QUOTE(MR_alien @ Nov 30 2014, 10:00 PM)
how agree are u guys towards this?
It's pretty accurate, though I've never really been in Japan during high season so I would't know. The title needs to be changed though: When NOT to go to Japan: Japanese Holidays. As it is its a bit misleading unless you actually watch it.
The few times I have been to JP is usually within the first few weeks of the Malaysian year-end school holidays, which pretty much coincides with *nothing* on the Japanese calendar so yeah, not really *high season*.
Imagine me going to Enoshima in late Nov (back in 2011). The locals all look at me weird: it's cold, cloudy and windy - generally crummy weather - and there's this tourist walking around taking pics.
On the plus side, the train to and fro Enoshima looks like this though, nearly all the way too:
That said, the *end* of fall is around this *nothing* season, so people flock to see the last bits of koyo before it ends - especially in Kyoto and in the Kansai region downwards generally - but for most places there's pretty much nothing left so that's that.
One side point of interest though, this *nothing season* is also considered *early season* for Hokkaido skiing most of the time so prices on the slopes are a bit cheaper than it is normally.
This also means that there will be a slight spike for hotel prices on weekends especially as the smarter mainlanders flock over to avoid the big ski rush over during Jan-Feb, and pay less doing it.
At least that's what I've observed so far ler...
Oh, and if any of you guys plan to go skiing, boarding or *snowing*, try going to Sapporo Kokusai during this *early season*.
Clock on the spoiler for details, lest this post becomes too image heavy lol:
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Paths in the Snow by
Eirakkun, on Flickr
Sapporo Kokusai has great powder snow (especially up the hill) and okay prices (rental, lifts) only around an hour out from Sapporo by bus (it's around Jozankei). Plus you can catch a dip in one of the many onsens in Jozankei itself or at Hoheikyo (at the very far end of Jozankei and a local favourite... takes some exploring to find though) on your way down if you don't catch the express bus straight to Sapporo Station.
A good alternative to more upscale places like Niseko where you usually *have* to stay there (in one of them expensive resorts), at least by my book. And during early season theres not really much snow up in Teine either.
There's also Kiroro, which is another *early season* favourite, but its better to stay at than for a day-trip. Kiroro is much better for families (they have plenty of activities) and if you want ski lessons though - Kokusai is more the "budget skier" type of place: you can ski or board or play with snow... but not much else.
You *can* always these places during the Feb snow fest, of course. But be prepared to be chopped hotel prices wise. Hidden as they are, chopping season is chopping season lol.
Well, that's what I think ler.
If you're interested, get to the Sapporo Station Chuo bus platform (the very last one I think, ask around. "Chuo Bus" and "Kokusai" will generally be keywords to ask people with) and get on the express bus to Kokusai. It takes about and hour and costs ¥1250 one way.
To get to Jozankei and it's hot springs on the way down, *only* buy a one way ticket up to Kokusai and then tell the bus people you wanna get to Jozankei when you line up for the bus going down. The right stop should be "Yu-no-Machi". Check the English website for Jozankei for details on the Onsens.
As for Hoheikyo Onsen... It takes a little bit more of asking and walking around the Jozankei area to get to the bus that actually takes you there, but IMO it's worth it. You know it's a good place when the locals flock to it, right?
Nov 18 2014, 11:50 PM
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