Want to go skiing in Japan as a beginner? How to plan your ski vacation? , let us introduce it to you from the perspective of someone who has experienced it! Make good use of 5W to plan the best first ski trip!
5 tips for organizing your trip
- Why - Why do you want to arrange this ski trip?
- When - When can I ski? How long should it be scheduled?
- What - What do you need to prepare for skiing?
- Who - Who will go skiing with you? How is it a fellow traveler?
- Where - So where should I plan to go skiing?
Why- Why do you want to arrange this ski trip?
- I just happened to be traveling to Japan and wanted to experience skiing ( both ski and sightseeing )
It is recommended to choose an area with convenient transportation, an area that can be easily reached from the tourist area , such as Echigo Yuzawa, Karuizawa, the suburbs of Sapporo, Hokkaido, etc. Echigo Yuzawa and Karuizawa can be reached by Shinkansen from Tokyo, and Sapporo You can take the ski bus to Teine Ski Resort in the suburbs, which is a perfect combination of sightseeing and skiing.
- Because I think skiing is cool and I want to learn skiing seriously ( pure ski travel )
If you are purely skiing, you can choose any ski resort, because it does not require much movement, but it will be easier if you can choose a ski resort that is easier to reach. We recommend popular ski resorts such as Hakuba, Yuzawa, and Niseko area, because there will be more ski resources and accommodation options.
When - When can I ski? How long should it be scheduled?
The complete snow season in Japan is from the end of November to the beginning of May, but the ski resort operating period in most areas of Japan is From the end of December to the end of March , it is recommended to schedule your first skiing trip during this period. The peak season between January and February is when the prices are the highest. After March, the off-season will begin, and the prices will be more cost-effective.
It is recommended that a beginner’s skiing schedule be arranged for at least 1-3 full days, because after you have just learned how to brake, slide, and ride the cable car on the first day, you can learn to master the direction of travel and preliminary turns while the iron is hot on the second day. Techniques allow the body to remember the feeling of skiing during this skiing trip, because everyone is learning so that they can slide and move independently and safely in the snow resort in the future.
What - What do I need to prepare for skiing?
It can be divided into portable equipment & ski equipment, so you can quickly classify what you need to prepare. Among the portable equipment, the inner part can be bought from Taiwan first, and the outer part is recommended to be rented for the first time skiing. It can save space for snow clothes and pants in the suitcase.
Ski equipment rental at various locations
- Rental in the ski resort
Advantage: Closest to the ski resort, no need to move too far
Missing: More expensive Languages: Japanese, English, maybe Chinese
- Rental of self-operated ski shop
Pros: There are many stores to choose from, and some of them include pick-up and delivery.
Missing: Need to carry it yourself Language: Japanese, English , there are some Chinese stores
- Rental of accommodation
Advantage: You can try out the equipment when you check in and it’s cheaper
Missing: May be older style Language: Japanese, May be available in English and Chinese
Because the amount of equipment in the rental store is limited, it is recommended that you reserve your ski rental in advance!
Who - Who will go skiing with you? How is it a fellow traveler?
Will everyone in the group ski together? Or are there family members who simply follow without skiing?
Then allocate the learning classes to "experienced people" and "inexperienced people who are skiing for the first time". This way, we can teach students according to their aptitude and get what they need. With the company of the instructor, the chance of injury and falls can also be greatly reduced. The amount of physical energy consumed.
Beginners: need the most basic basic skills and balance skills. Experienced people: need to modify their movements, increase gliding time and accumulate experience.
The two have different needs!
It’s rare to come to a ski resort. First of all, you must master the basic skills steadily, and then you can slide freely in the ski resort more safely.
Where - Where to go skiing?
The biggest worry when skiing for the first time is how to get to the ski resort. There are more than 500 ski resorts in Japan. Which one should you choose?
Here we recommend the ski area that Azuro is most familiar with - Echigo Yuzawa ! Highly recommended for first-time skiers, "Niigata-Echigo-Yuzawa Station" is only about 70 minutes away from Tokyo Station via the Joetsu Shinkansen. The transportation is very convenient, and the "JR Tokyo Wide Pass (JR Pass)" also includes this stop. During the three days You can take any JR Shinkansen in the area , so we recommend that you reserve a reserved seat in advance!
How - How to arrange ski lessons?
Japanese ski resorts usually have on-site ski schools (Japanese language is used, and groups have mixed classes). However, due to poor language skills and mixed classes, it may be difficult to understand the instructor's teachings, which may cause you to be nervous.
Arrange a five-day and four-night ski trip in the Kanto region
5 days and 4 nights, self-guided ski tour in Niigata-Echigo-Yuzawa area
DAY 1 Taiwan-Tokyo
DAY 2 Ski Day (Tokyo-Echigo-Yuzawa-Ski Resort) JR PassDay1
DAY 3 Ski Day JR PassDay2
DAY 4 Sightseeing Day (Echigo-Yuzawa-Tokyo) JR PassDay3
DAY 5 Tokyo-Taipei, (take the JR Shinkansen to Tokyo Ueno Station)
It is recommended that when booking a coach, you can choose a ski coach who speaks a language you are familiar with. Language communication can make it easier to understand and master skiing skills.
Based on the above five points, I hope everyone has a wonderful ski vacation!
A must-read series of articles for novice skiers
- 【Itinerary】Teach you How to plan your first ski trip!
