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Air New Zealand has a ‘clearance’ sale on Airfares to Japan - below are the details.

Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch to Tokyo Return is just NZ$ 1103 + taxes approx NZ$ 80 per Adult (12 years +)
Travel Outbound Dates: Depart NZ 1 - 13 February 09 or 2 - 13 March 09
Travel Inbound Date: Return to NZ 18 Febrary 09 - 31 March 09
Purchase this airfare on/before: 31 January 09
NOTE: this is $1147 cheaper than the next best published airfare to Tokyo!

This is a fantastic airfare if you want to go and ski in Hakuba, Shiga Kogen, Nosawa Onsen or any of the mainland ski resorts. 

Ring Sarah she has just come back from Japan, Toll Free 0800 11 22 99.

Sarah here…..reporting back from two weeks in Japan, where I visited 6 amazing ski resorts.

Well if Japan has been on your list of where to ski next I can highly recommend a visit.  The only time I had spare to get to Japan was early in the season and I was amazed by the quality of snow.  There is truth to the Epic Champagne Powder on the slopes of Hokkaido.  I left Niseko Resort on the 23rd December, take a look photo of the the snow piled up on the deck of our apartment in Niseko, it was a heart wrenching moment of whether to get on the bus or not!!!

A ski holiday in Japan is the complete package, it offers the ultimate experience combining fantastic snow and culture.  Each resort is unique so why not give me a call or contact me via email so you too can have as much fun as I did in Japan.

Sarah Headifen: sarahh@skitraveller.co.nz 
or Toll Free NZ 0800 11 22 99 
Toll Free AU 1800 19 95 25 

Just reporting in from the slopes of Furano….although considered early season here on this island of Hokkaido, today have just experinced some of ehe infamous Hokkaido Powder.  I can honestly say it was UNBELIEVEABLE to ride every run in fresh powder……dry light snow…..something many of us dream about.

Our travels so far have taken us from the fabulous authentic Japanese ski village of Nosawa Onsen with 13 natural hot springs to the vast slopes of Hakuba and Shiga Kogen.  The locals were worried that snow would be late coming but coming from the Southern Hemisphere and arriving here in Japan in December it is a winter wonderland. 

Highlights of my first trip to Japan have been, so far, the powder, the karoke and meeting Steve Bradbury the gold medeal olympic speed skater from the very famous win at the 2002 winter olympics.  He has recently opened a lodge in Hakuba with his business partner josh.  Japan so far is execeeding my expectations, many of us worry that it cant offer what we perhaps have come to expect in North America, I know I did having lived in North America for 15 seasons.  Japan is a whole new experince in the sense it is not just the skiing and boarding it is also the amazing culture that adds an extra dynamic to your time spent here.

Backcountry skiing and boarding is developing fast, with many ex heli ski guides from North America now basing themselves here in Japan.  They rate Japan with some of the best powder in the world and I would tend to agree with this.  I have been a bit slow to try some of the more interesting local food options but there is always a western dish on hand should you choose to eat something a little more western, but I am pleased to say my chop stick eating skills are improving day by day.

More soon…. off to the Onsen,

Sarah Headifen - talk to me about your next Japan ski holiday!!!
Toll Free NZ 0800 11 22 99
Toll Free AU 1800 19 95 25

I wonder where Sarah and Mark are at the the moment?   We are all waiting to hear about their latest exploits in Japan.  I have heard Sarah was forced to sing in front of a room full of Japanese businessman…very brave!

Lianne at Ski Traveller - left behind in NZ
 

True to form Furano Ski Resort was blanketed in snow on the 22 nd November 2008 and ready for action.The photo attached is from opening day!

On the 9th December 2008 join me on my adventures around Hakuba,Shiga Kogen,Nozawa Onsen,Furano,Tomamu,Niseko and Rutsutu Ski Resorts.For most of my life i have grown up in ski resorts in North America and to be honest i thought it couldn’t get better than what i have experinced so far.However earlier this year we were lucky enough to be the New Zealand Travel Agent sponsor for the Warren Miller movies and it was here on the Playground Movie that i saw a glimpse of what Japan has to offer.It was not only this but the large number of enquires from friends,clients and fellow staff asking “what is skiing/boarding in Japan like compared to North American Resorts. All will be revealed on my trip around Japan watch for my updates on our blog in December 2008!!!

NISEKO’S ski season is unofficially open after significant snowfalls overnight left up to half a metre of powder up high, with locals hiking up for first runs.It unexpectedly started snowing at village level across Niseko at about 7pm last night and by this morning a solid amount of snow had accumulated on the main runs and on cars and grass.Forecasts suggested there wouldn’t be any snow at village level for a few days yet.Niseko ski instructor Mike Richards may well have been the first skier to descend a Niseko resort this season.After hiking to the 1000m hut and skiing Centre Course, he followed some well covered roads to the bottom, along the way finding plenty of boot-deep powder.“Up top the pistes were fully covered and the roads were really well covered,” Mike said.

“A few bits were sticking on the main runs so I came down on the road but I still got a few turns in.”

Thanks to Powderlife Niseko & Mike Richards for photo!

Are you stuck for accommodation in Niseko for Xmas/New Year and January?

We have some FANTASTIC Ski Chalets…great for families and friends !!
These are new chalets with a king bed or twin beds in each bedroom, a full kitchen, great living area and a drying room, your own private shuttle to/from the Niseko Hirafu village….very nice accommodation!

Two, Three and Four Bedroom stand alone ski chalets in Niseko….call us urgently if you need accommodation over Xmas/New Year and in January or February as these will sell FAST.

REMEMBER that our fantastic Aspen Snowmass Snow Holiday Prize worth NZ$15,000 closes 20th of August!!!!

Enter NOW via our Home Page Entry Form.
www.skitraveller.co.nz