Japan for family skiing holiday January 2025 - questions

[Himeno]

The only time I've gotten lost in Tokyo Station was during 2018/19 when they were doing the redevelopments and everything had changed from the time I'd last been there.
Shinjuku is just a big maze with over 200 station exits.

 

[Cynicor]

For first timers ( or just coming to japan for first time) a smaller resort like Grandeco is actually better for overall japan vibe.
Any resorts anywhere in

Yes and no. What if you need English lessons? If any, they are often private and more expensive. Plus grandeco IIRC only has a single western style hotel so isn’t the Japan ski village either.

Post automatically merged: Jun 11, 2024

As you are only going to Fukushima prefecture, the luggage will transfer within 24hrs

As before, especially in winter, it can take longer if there has been a big snow closing roads. This happened at least twice this year while I was there

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Yes and no. What if you need English lessons? If any, they are often private and more expensive. Plus grandeco IIRC only has a single western style hotel so isn’t the Japan ski village either.

Post automatically merged: Jun 11, 2024

As before, especially in winter, it can take longer if there has been a big snow closing roads. This happened at least twice this year while I was there

The OP is going on a tour organised by one of our own. I'm sure those details will be taken care of regarding english guidance and lessons etc...

 

[Cynicor]

The OP is going on a tour organised by one of our own. I'm sure those details will be taken care of regarding english guidance and lessons etc...

Sure, but it was a general point.

 

[Quickstatus]

What if you need English lessons? If any, they are often private and more expensive

I would still rather non Aussie-fied Japan ski areas and then add in private English speaking instructors.

The Japanese vibe is alive and well off the popular Japan ski resorts.

 

[elanshin]

The only time I've gotten lost in Tokyo Station was during 2018/19 when they were doing the redevelopments and everything had changed from the time I'd last been there.
Shinjuku is just a big maze with over 200 station exits.

You can get lost if your destination is one of the shops in tokyo station, it's quite easy to get to the outside or another train but a shop inside that Labyrinth is tough. I would always recommend people to try Yabaton (Miso katsu chain from Nagoya) and Tokyo station is one of the easier to get to stores. The only problem is that unless you're exceptionally well versed with Tokyo station, finding where it is in Tokyo station can be a bit of a challenge.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ok @QF WP It looks like one bucket list item is to get lost in Tokyo station (at least).

 

[QF WP]

The OP is going on a tour organised by one of our own. I'm sure those details will be taken care of regarding english guidance and lessons etc...

Yes, his Japanese is slightly better than mine (so know enough to be dangerous, learnt some Japanese in 1992/3).

 

[rbjhan]

The only problem is that unless you're exceptionally well versed with Tokyo station, finding where it is in Tokyo station can be a bit of a challenge.

I consider myself to be well versed with Tokyo Station, but damn they are doing a lot of renos atm and lots of shops are changing!
Well thank god the platforms are still the same.

 

[hsct]

My family of 4 used to ski at Karuizawa or Naeba every year. Very family friendly and cost efficient.

 

[rugbyskier]

I caught up with QF WP today to run through things for the trip in January and he told me he had posted on AFF about his plans and had received some advice. I don't get on AFF that often as I find the number of forums a bit overwhelming.

I thought I'd answer some of the questions. Firstly, why Grandeco? I first came to the Aizu region in 2018 as there were some very good deals supported by the prefecture government to encourage tourism as the region was still suffering post-tsunami. As a ski instructor with 21 years experience I think that Grandeco is a fantastic mountain for all levels and a great place to teach and develop skills. The other benefit is that there aren't too many gaijin there and the resort is not busy during the week, unlike Niseko, Hakuba, Nozawa and other resorts popular with Australians. I have never encountered a lift line midweek at either Grandeco or Nekoma Mountain (the combined former ALTS Bandai and Nekoma resorts). You can get a huge amount more skiing done in a day when you ski straight onto a lift. Also, ski-in/ski-out is fantastic and the resort hotel is extremely well located beside one of the lower slopes of the mountain with a lovely indoor/outdoor onsen.

With regard to lessons, I will be providing the QF WP family with informal lessons, but if Miss QF WP decides to take up snowboarding I've told QF WP that she will have to get a private lesson at Grandeco or we will go to the neighbouring mountain Inawashiro Snow Resort, which offers English language group lessons. My tour has a region pass which can be used to get tickets at several resorts in the region, including Grandeco, Nekoma Mountain, Minowa and Inawashiro.

This is my fifth trip to the Aizu region, staying at both Grandeco and Bandaisan Onsen Hotel which is at the bottom of Nekoma Mountain South Side (formerly ALTS Bandai) and I have built up a good knowledge of the area, including befriending a few Inawashiro locals running family-owned restaurants, so the trip offers a real rural Japanese experience.

 

[QF WP]

Okay, posting some important information here so I can access later:

Haneda Airport to Tokyo via Train​

The fastest way to get from Haneda Airport to central Tokyo is by train, which takes you around 20 minutes. Two main train operators offer services from Haneda Airport: Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu Line.

Getting to the airport train station is a straightforward task. If you're arriving on an international flight, you are likely to arrive at Terminal 3, where the train station is located on the second floor.

via Train:





Stuff that - going up into central Tokyo and then back to Tokyo Bay - then a 2.5km trek to the hotel. Not happening.

Via bus:

The best way to get from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Tokyo Bay is to bus which takes 1h 1m and costs ¥1000 - ¥1500.








That's more like it. Easier to just get a bus to a hotel on the opposite side of the road from Sheraton. Not far from DisneySea either:

 

[QF WP]

You can book these via JR East who is the operator:

https://www.eki-net.com/en/jreast-train-reservation/Top/Index

For Shinkansen, understanding the multiple tickets took a little to understand.

 

[QF WP]

Here I thought that going by bus was going to be easier, but seems that the last bus departs before we arrive:

 

[QF WP]

At least I've booked something, at an eye watering price, but getting there is more imporant than spending a night at HND airport:

 

[QF WP]

After a little more research, seems I found an option that saves us $100AUD:

Pick-Up Location:	Tokyo Haneda Airport
Drop-Off Location:	Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
Pick-Up Date:	09/Jan/2025
Flight Arrival Time	20:00
Number of Passengers:	4
Airline Name: Flight Number: Plane Arriving From: Drop-Off Address: Special Instructions:	Virgin Australia VA77 Cairns Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, 1-9 Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan Terminal 3
Small Luggage: Medium Luggage:	4 4

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Transfer Details​

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Vehicle Type:	Mercedes V class or similar 5pax
Transfer(s) Cost:	USD 79.53 - One Way
Extras Cost:	USD 0.00
Total Cost:	USD 79.53
Payment Type:	Pay In Advance (via Stripe)

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ummary​

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