Hey,
This month's edition of Transworld has Niseko, Japan as one of the best spots for powder in the world, night riding, etc.  They say you can get to Sapporo for around $350 roundtrip.  However, I've been checking flights out of NYC, and the best I'm finding is over $1,100!!!

Any thoughts? I know nothing about Japan, and really just want to freeride the nicest pow I can find, and learn and enjoy the culture.  Any help on how to get out there in March on the cheap would be super appreciated. 

Suggestions on other countries as well, would be great. Cheers!

im going there in the middle of febuary. its gonna cost me $500 for 4 days /nights for a train ticket, hotel and 4 days of lift tickets. but i live in japan, no idea how you can get to Sapporo round trip for $350. 
heres a good site with alot of info on the resort and area..

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo_section.php?userid=NisekoNow

i saw that article and i am pretty sure they mean round trip for $350 once you are in japan...

its gonna be an expensive snowboard trip, if you are coming from the US.

Expensive but worth it. Come in January or February. You'll love it.

its certainly on my list

are there many or any cat skiing/heli ski operations in japan? im looking at heading over that way next season and would love to get in some backcountry riding while im there.

Posted by christofski
are there many or any cat skiing/heli ski operations in japan? im looking at heading over that way next season and would love to get in some backcountry riding while im there.

For Hokkaido (and maybe all of Japan?), I believe there is only one.  Or so I've read.

Really? thats kinda shocking to me, i would have that there would be a drive for that type of thing, so am i to take it  Japan is mostly resort/hiking out of bounds at a resort riding?

Posted by christofski
Really? thats kinda shocking to me, i would have that there would be a drive for that type of thing, so am i to take it  Japan is mostly resort/hiking out of bounds at a resort riding?

Mostly, yeah.  The snow on Hokkaido is so ridiculous though, you can practically park your car on the side of the road and get untracked steeps a stone's throw away. 

Posted by anti-bling

Chris, the only market here is for faux-thug burton gear and tiny jib boards. Almost no-one rides off the groomers, except at a few choice hills. It is the worst conformity of north american snowboard culture (minus the attitude) to the nth degree.

 

I would suggest saving then money and going on a road trip at home to a rad hill. Flying is stupid polluting, and only serves to hasten Global warming for the sake of snowboarding some pow.

 

Besides, Niseko is pretty flat compared to other hills

+1 If only there were rad hills in Australia, that didn't cost an arm and leg to hit for a week.
Seriously we pay premium prices to ride 13 Lifts at one resort. This coming season Adult all day ticket = AUD$98 + park entry (+ snow tube @Perisher)