Finally, some airline competition for cheap flights to Japan! Air New Zealand, Japan Airlines, British Airways, Jet Star… they’ve all had specials this past season offering cheap flights to Japan.

Yep, he's going that big! No-grab too - just like the wing says.

There’s also a number of short-haul airlines popping up offering flights into Sapporo from Japan’s other gateways such as Tokyo and Osaka, as well as Hong Kong, Beijing and Seoul. Some of our staff recently utilised the services of a new Japanese budget airline called Peach, flying to Osaka for less than 10,000 JPY.

Getting to Niseko is becoming cheaper and cheaper every year, you just have to know where to look.

Where to look?

This all depsnds where you’re flying from of course, but there are sites all over the internet claiming cheap deals. If you’re flying from Aus and want the cheapest option, just book Jet Star, then try Peach or ANA for the connecting flight up to Sapporo.

When flying from NZ, make sure you check out Air NZ’s Grabaseat. If you’re an Air NZ airpoint dollars member you’ll probably know this already, but you can subscribe to daily emails with Grabaseat specials – perfect for picking up cheap flights to Japan if you give yourself enough of a window to book.

For cheap flights to Japan from the UK, try Cheap Flights – a site that accesses a large number of spceials for the coming few months. From everywhere else, use the bigger websites such as Kayak or Expedia. These sites get massive flight numbers through their system for the more popular routes across the globe.

But don’t forget about your local travel agent either. Agents often get access to deals that you can’t find online, plus, if you get a good one, it’s much easier to change your dates – assuming they’re not going to charge you for it.

When to travel?

Of course, travelling in the peak winter months will typically be more expensive. That said, Jet Star were offering flights from the Gold Coast to Osaka and Tokyo for less than $500 AUD (one way) during the month of Ferbruary this past season, and Air NZ had deals from Auckland to Tokyo/Osaka for about $700 NZD. That has to be the cheapest we’ve every seen flights to Japan in the peak powder months.

For our 13 Week ‘Work Placement’ Programme trainees, it doesn’t get any better. If you’ve booked early (which you need to if you want to secure one of the few places available on this course) you’ll have lots of time to find cheap flights. Look at all the options; through Tokyo or Osaka being the obvious, but also check out options through other Asian gateways such as Hong Kong and Korea. You’ll be flying very early in the season so cheaper deals shouldn’t be too hard to find.

For anyone looking for a last minute trip to Japan, keep your eyes open for cheap flights late February next season. The Chinese New Year period is early Feb in 2013, so that’s a period to avoid if at all possible (probably Niseko’s busiest time of year). Jet Star and Air NZ will be the ones to check if flying from downunder. Oh, and check out our Powder Detours too

What time to arrive?

The last bus transfers out of Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Niseko are all around 9pm. If you arrive after this time, the only option is private taxi, which actually isn’t as bad as you might think but still about three times the price of the bus.

Furthermore, if your flight gets into Osaka or Tokyo particularly late, getting a connecting flight up to Sapporo will be much harder. Ticking a night of hotel accommodation up on the travel costs isn’t ideal, so keep this in mind when you’re booking.

Ultimately, look at the connections and what time they arrive in both the gateway airport (e.g. Tokyo) and Sapporo.

What about baggage?

The bane of our skiing/snowboarding existence… excess baggage! Over the years, we’ve learnt a few little important things regarding excess baggage. Here they are:

1. Always check the cost of the excess baggage for ‘sports equipment’ when you book your tickets and make sure you get something printed with the costs on it – excess baggage rates seem to change frequently (usually increasing) and you should be entitled to get the rates published at the time that you booked.

2. Make sure your connecting flights have the same excess baggage options (sometimes a problem if you book them separately over the internet).

3. If your internal flight in Japan is going to charge an arm and a leg, use Takubin services – just make sure you give yourself plenty of time between the destinations for your baggage to catch you up.

4. Look at other options for sport equipment; for example, Emirates airlines allow golf clubs for free. A long ski bag might not pass very easily, but a shorter snowboard bag might slip under the radar with a slightly dosey check-in girl.

5. Always smile very sweetly and be super-duper nice when cheacking in and you might get it for free if you’re lucky!!!

Here’s a quick run-down of the dates and prices on each course, and a brief overview of who each course is aimed at…

13 Week ‘Work Placement’ Course

Our 13 Week ‘Work Placement’ instructor course is for intermediate and above skiers and snowboarders who are eligible for a Japanese Working Holiday Visa, and wish to gain real life, paid teaching experience. This amazing opportunity is only available to a maximum of 8 skiers and 6 snowboarders. We limit the numbers on this course to ensure all our trainees get a work placement. GET IN QUICK!!!

Early-booking discount: Save 50,000 JP Yen on bookings made before 31st July 2012.

Read more about the 13 Week Ski Instructor Course here, or the 13 Week Snowboard Instructor Course here.

9 Week ‘Pro’ Course

This course has everything the 13 Week Course has, but without the work experience placement and in a shorter timeframe: same amount of training, same certifications, same great Niseko Powder! If you can’t get a working holiday visa for Japan (or just don’t want to work while you’re here), but Level Two is your target, this is the course for you.

Early-booking discount: Save 50,000 JP Yen on bookings made before 31st July 2012.

Read more about the 9 Week Ski Instructor Course here, or the 9 Week Snowboard Instructor Course here.

4 Week ‘Rookie’ Course

Aimed at those with ‘normal’ jobs who don’t have the luxury of taking a whole season off, this is a fun, action-packed, intensive course, training you for your first level of instructor certification, with an avalanche course thrown in too!

Early-booking discount: Save 20,000 JP Yen on bookings made before 31st August 2012.

Please note: We can also offer a slightly shorter version of this course in December, should this timeframe not work for you.

Read more about the 4 Week Ski Instructor Course here, or the 4 Week Snowboard Instructor Course here.

Progression Sessions

Challenge yourself to a fun, two-week, skills-based coaching camp. Technique development with all-mountain strategies and tactics to give you the confidence to tackle a variety of terrain and conditions.

The above dates are from arrival date to departure date, however if you wish to stay longer just let us know and we can quote you appropriately. Furthermore, we can also quote camp-only packages (without accommodation etc.) from 144,000 JPY.

Read more about the Ski Progression Session here, or the Snowboard Progression Session here.

We’ll be posting lots of testimonials and other interesting stories about past trainees over the coming months, so pop back from time to time or follow us on Facebook.

And please don’t hesitate to get in touch should you have questions about any of these courses.

Of course, there is mourning for passed loved ones. But maybe just as importantly, there is a sense of pride in the almost uncomprehendible rebuld that has taken place since that day in March 2011.

The way the Tohoku area has been restored is best described by pictures more than words. The image below shows the same setting at three different times; right after the event, 3 months later, and 6 months later.

The amazing rebuild of Tohoku

Impressive, don’t you think?

Our ski and snowboard instructor training courses finished up last week with smiles all around. All our trainees worked really hard during the final few weeks of training and passed their instructor exams. So thats Level One, the Childrens’ Teaching Certification and Level Two.

Well done crew… you did us proud.

SBINZ Examiner Pauly handing out results

Thanks to NZSIA and SBINZ for facilitating the exams. Thanks to Grand Hirafu for offering complimentary passes to the Examiners while they were here. And thanks to our wonderful team for doing such a great job this season.

Jonny stoked with Coach Brian looking proud (kind of)

Two of our guys with their Level Two certs... well done fellas!

The first American to join our Academy courses in Japan, the young Mr Davey (just 19 years old), really did step outside of his comfort zone when he signed up for our 13 week course. And we’re certainly stoked that he did.

With an extensive background in competitive snowboarding, including boarder-cross and freestyle, Andrew has been a valued member of our 2011/2012 instructor training programme, helping push the riding limits of our crew – even the Trainer had to work hard to keep up sometimes.

Davey throws another backy

Here’s a quick Q&A with Andrew about why he came here and how the season has been for him…

What made you decide to come to Japan and has it lived up to your expectations?

“I was interested in becoming a snowboard instructor and wanted to take a year off from school and do some traveling too. When I found out about Niseko Academy I knew it was the perfect program for me. I was almost instantly sold, what better way to get instructor training than in the worlds’ best powder and be able to experience one of the worlds’ richest cultures.”

What do you think of Niseko?

“Niseko is a great area, it has a small ski town feel with Japanese culture and is not to far from the bigger cities like Otaru and Sapporo, plus it’s right at the bottom of the ski resort. Living in Hirafu was a great experience, I had lots of fun times going to onsens, eating some great food, meeting lots of interesting people, and riding the deepest powder ever. I will definitely be coming back again.”

How has this course helped you?

“The instructor course was one of the best decisions of my life. Not only did I become a qualified instructor, but I became a much stronger rider and technically sound snowboarder. The Trainers were very nice and highly skilled at what they do. Brian made me feel right at home as soon as I came to Niseko.”

What goals do you have for the future in the world of snowboarding?

“After this, I plan on taking my new skills back home to Idaho and do some instructing at my home mountain, yet still trying to pursue higher levels in my snowboard instructing. Then later I would like to get into the coaching side of the sport. Niseko Academy has set me up for many good things in my future of snowboarding, even putting me in touch with top-level coaches back in the US.”

Tweaking out a stalefish off a hefty drop

Andrew scoped this double pillow drop for a while before hitting it, but he hit it with style

Bridge drop at Sapporo Teine

Shredding the Niseko pow pow

With the sad natural disasters that occured in Japan last March, we had lower numbers than usual on this year’s training courses. However, this turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise as we’ve had a whole lot of fun skiing and riding the massive amounts of powder that has fallen this season.

Bring on the exams and some March shred-action!

It was super fun. Not a whole lot of fresh snow, but certainly enogh to enjoy the steep terrain they have in Teine Highlands. Check out this little video from the day…

In between our private lessons we’ve managed to get a few powder runs and the occasional photo opportunity too. Check out this shot from today…

Two of our guys, Luke and Scotty, cranking the tree-lined pow runs in some rare blue-sky weather here in Niseko

Here’s a couple of photos from the week, but we have more in an album on our Facebook page here.

NZSIA Examiner Ben Adams presenting to the group

SBINZ Course Manager Matt Phare presenting to some of the boys

Some of the ski crew with Mt Yotei in the background

Well done to our guys that passed their Level One exam this week… You did well!

A four minute chairlift ride in Niseko

We’re in the middle of the Level One exams right now so NZSIA and SBINZ Examiners Matt Phare and Ben Adams have been enjoying pow runs in-between their presentation of the beginner progressions.

Our trainees are enjoying the process but we suspect they’re struggling to maintain attention with all the snow that’s falling, ha!

Only 2 more days to go guys, hang in there.

SBINZ Course Manager Matt Phare presenting with silly amounts of snow falling

We’re stoked to see our 13 week trainees making big progress already. And with the Level One exam just around the corner, our guys have been applying themselves 100%, getting ready to slip into their first paid work placement with NBS ski school over the Christmas period.

Quote of the week: “Ah look, Mt Yotty’s out”… hahahaa, classic. Mt Yotei (Yo-tay) is the spectacular volcano that appears across the valley. Here’s a few shots from the first week…

Peaking out the window... yet another powder day in Niseko

One of our trainess Jonny gearing up

Gotta love the Japanese school groups

Brian and the boys on the chair

Damn those new uniforms look good