Travel Hints & Tips

General tips about travelling in Japan The Japanese are an incredibly polite race, so it’s important to embrace this culture whilst in Japan. Of course it’s rude to push into lift queues in any country (except Austria!), but the politeness needs to extend to appropriate behaviour in the streets, restaurants and bars. “Please” and “thank you” are essentials words to learn in Japanese.

Security In regards to security, there are negligible issues in Japan and it’s one of the safest countries to travel in. Theft or violent crime is very rare, as it’s the Japanese culture to obey the rules. Nevertheless, it always pays to be careful with your personal belongings.
Banking Facilities Yen is the Japanese currency, and the cash form will get you a long way in Japan. For a country that is so developed is some ways, the contradiction in their reliance upon cash is quite surprising. Credit cards are not accepted for many things, yet access to cash is not easy, so you’ll need to be careful with your budgetary planning. As examples, you’ll commonly have to pay cash for lift tickets, and budget restaurants rarely accept anything but cash. ATMs that accept international cards (Maestro/Cirrus) are sometimes hard to find, but thankfully are slowly becoming more common with the major launch of ATMs in 7-Eleven stores in mid-2007. Post offices are another common location for ATMs.
Other useful tips Drinking Water - All tap water in Japan is fine to drink.
Mobile Phones - Only 3G mobile phones will work in Japan. Standard digital phones will not work in Japan.
2-Way Radios - Non-Japanese walkie-talkies are strictly prohibited by Japanese law because they have the potential to interfere with emergency communications and broadcasts. 
Internet access is generally possible at most hotels and pensiones. The computers commonly have keyboards with both the Japanese characters as well as the Western alphabet. It’s easy to accidentally hit a key and for your typing to revert to characters, but on many keyboards you push the top left hand key to get back to the letters. Because 3G is widely available in Japan, Telstra's 3G broadband will work if you have a 3G card / account set up. You need to enable international roaming via the setting in your software for it to work. Be WARNED however, as the cost for global broadband roaming is $15 per Meg. A 5 Meg funny video from a friend is not so funny when you are oversees using this service! 
Electrical Plugs - The electrical plugs have two vertical pins, so a Japanese (or USA with only the two vertical holes) adaptor is required. Check how many pins your Australian appliance has, because for some strange reason, the Korjo Japan adapter has been made with only two pin holes on the front. If your appliance also has an earthing pin, you may need to purchase an USA adapter and break off the bottom pin.
Time zone - During winter, there’s a 2 hour time difference between Japan and Australian Eastern Standard time. As Japan is 2 hours time behind Australia, you’ll find it easy to get up early for skiing, but will feel a need to go to bed early.
Onsens - There are many onsens (hot springs) in Japan, particularly in Hokkaido considering the volcanic activity here. Onsens are the perfect remedy for sore muscles. They’re generally segregated, but occasionally you’ll find a touristy mixed gender onsen. There is some etiquette associated with bathing in onsens, which most importantly includes that you need to be nude. Prior to entering the bath you need to sit on one of the stools, and wash and scrub your body three times. The onsen is a place of relaxation for the Japanese, so rowdy behaviour is not appropriate which includes drinking copious amounts of alcohol or performing snow angels! The Japanese are likely to stare at your naked body, so you’ll just have to get used to it. Most of the onsens are much hotter (approx 40 degrees) than your standard spa, so you might not be able to stay in for long. 

Ski gear to take to Japan Essential Ski Gear Accessories It is much colder skiing in Japan than in Australia, so you’ll need to take warmer clothes and thermals. In windy resorts such as Hakuba or Niseko you’ll definitely need a neck warmer, but may also need a face protector or a thin hood. These are sometimes built into tops but can also be purchased separately. If tree-skiing , you’ll definitely need a helmut, but you may also need the hood, a thin lycra hat, or a headband underneath to keep warm. Shoes with good grip are highly recommended, as it is common for people to fall over on the slippery streets. It’s possible to purchase chains for your shoes which will improve the grip, but won’t pass the glamour test. Goggles are essential as there’s not too much sunglass weather in Japan.

Skis If you’re planning on venturing off the groomers, you’ll need to consider the skis you’re on. It is possible to ski on your slalom skis, but if you want to float in the powder, fat skis with a waist wider than 81mm are required. Mid-fats at about 75mm in the waist will give you a compromise between the powder and the groomed runs. Luscious (see About Powderhounds) has a pair of women’s specific skis – K2 Lota Luv – which are good in the powder but still offer plenty of manoeuvrability.

If in powder deeper than your shins, which you’re very likely to encounter off-piste, you’ll need powder straps or ribbons to ensure you don’t lose your skis when they release during a fall. Powder straps attach the ski to the boot, whilst powder ribbons are a long colourful ribbon attached to the ski or binding which is stored up the gaiter or in the front of the boot. The former can be purchased through large ski stores, whilst the latter can be home made with the help of a caribina to fasten the ribbon to the ski.

Some resorts have electronic lift ticket systems where you put a small token in one of your pockets, but others have small cards, so take a lift ticket holder to go around the arm, or wallet style attached to the hip if you don’t have one built into your jacket.

We’d highly recommend a ski or board bag on wheels, particularly if you’re doing some train travel, and octopus straps to fasten the bag to car or taxi roof racks if required.

Powerhound essentials also include avalanche safety equipment.

For tips on what to pack on an overseas ski holiday, have a look at the Powderhounds packing checklist.