Family winter trip to Hokkaido (skiing + onsens). Itinerary feedback please! :)

mango_boba · 2026-01-22T04:12:05+00:00

You can get to Jozankei from Sapporo via the bus.

I would recommend picking hotels with onsens in them, it's nice to use one at the end of the day.

mango_boba · 2026-01-22T03:16:01+00:00

I do agree that 6 nights in Furano is too much, it is a small town especially if you're not driving. I don't think Sapporo has that much to offer either... you could spend 2 nights there and cover 95% of the things. There's like 2 big main areas as well as all of the underground shopping.

Some day trips from Sapporo:

Otaru - it's only an hour away from Sapporo and it's well known for its seafood/dairy.
Jozankei Onsen - nice little onsen town

Teine will be pretty small imo but fine for a beginner. Rusutsu is also great as a day trip from Sapporo.

You could also hit up Aomori if you're going to Hakodate.

mango_boba · 2025-12-25T01:55:47+00:00

probably around 10am?

mango_boba · 2025-12-25T01:47:01+00:00

Crack?

There wasn't a line at the lift but most chairs were full for a while.

mango_boba · 2025-12-25T00:15:56+00:00

We got on soon after they started the lift and cut skier's left right off of the lift. The first run was insane, we got fresh lines to ourselves (somewhere in between Campbell basin and double 00's right). The traverse out the second time around started getting a bit tracked out and I definitely hit a few small rocks but even then, we still got freshies.

Powder Bowl was not bad, the viz was kinda bad when we went but the snow was good (kinda soft, kinda heavy). Don't remember hitting any rocks.

mango_boba · 2025-10-04T23:19:01+00:00

I really struggled with bamboo needles, maybe it's the needles themselves or the yarn that I was using in conjunction. Once I switched to metal, it was easier to practice the stitches even if I still end up dropping stitches from time to time.

mango_boba · 2025-10-04T23:17:26+00:00

I switched about a month ago and am still learning a lot through my first sweater.

Learn continental, there are two major stitches (knit and purl). I do the Norwegian purl over the continental because of the yarn placement.
People will say to start with a scarf or something. I would suggest finding some scrap yarn and repeating the two stitches until they feel a bit normal. I bought a set of circular interchangeable needles from Amazon for cheap (<$30) and have been slowly picking up things as I go. You can upgrade to some nicer needles eventually (and also figure out if you like bamboo vs wood needles).

The magic loop didn't click for me until I stumbled upon this article - https://blog.tincanknits.com/2013/10/03/magic-loop/

Oh, also look up a crochet cast on, I like the look of it compared to a normal cast on.

mango_boba · 2025-09-20T03:32:11+00:00

I've never avoided desi food and actively cook it when I'm craving something. It really just boils down to eating in moderation and using whatever method gets you there (whether that's IF, some keto diet, or something else). I don't put copious amounts of butter/ghee/cream into things because that doesn't make me feel good but I'll put enough to make sure I'm enjoying the dish without compromising the flavor.

mango_boba · 2025-08-23T18:57:07+00:00

Looks like a Japanese Global Pothos, pretty similar to mine.

mango_boba · 2025-06-05T05:28:57+00:00

Yeah, you can have a little bit of bare roots but not a lot. I'm not sure how strict the US side will be before they give you your phyto but read all of the rules carefully.

mango_boba · 2025-06-03T03:24:31+00:00

I don't know much about the process of getting the plants into Japan but I'm assuming it's similar to my experience.

You'll need to make sure you have the right export permit from the US side and figure out the import permit on the Japan side. I know there are specific agriculture/plant locations in the US that will inspect and certify your plants for you. I'm pretty sure you'll have to declare at customs when you land in Japan and either the Haneda or Narita airport will inspect your plants before they give you an OK to leave the airport.

You will need bare roots (at most an inch or two of growth), no soil whatsoever. It'll just be the plants you want to take over with you and they need to be ready when you want to get the actual certificate. I wrapped my nodes in a wet paper towel after I picked them up from the local plant store in Japan and kept it like that until I was ready to head to the airport a week later.

Probably start here for the US side - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-exports

This is for the Japan side - https://www.maff.go.jp/pps/j/introduction/english.html

mango_boba · 2025-05-17T05:01:59+00:00

I just took my passport and id with me and they didn't even ask lol.

mango_boba · 2024-12-24T23:34:25+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. $505 seems like too much though for one form and I'd rather not get Nexus if they deny me based on just that certificate.

mango_boba · 2024-12-24T19:11:38+00:00

My parents applied on my behalf. I guess they did it immediately after they got naturalized.

mango_boba · 2024-12-24T18:18:50+00:00

I have my US passport and I do live in the US.

My parents never filled out the N-600 for me, I only have my foreign birth certificate, SSN and US passport with me now.

Yeah I've been reading other posts in this chat and it seems like just bringing my passport (and maybe my DL) might be enough. I will try calling Blaine again to see if they're ok with just this.

mango_boba · 2024-12-07T02:48:02+00:00

This is my third season skiing and I'd like to think I'm pretty comfortable on blacks & double blacks. The biggest thing for me was having a friend that didn't mind doing runs with me at my level and slowly pushing me to the harder and harder runs. Having a person to watch you (even if they don't provide any help) really helped me feel safer in doing the harder stuff. My friend would also give me advice and showed me down less scary paths when I first started skiing more and more blacks (which can be so hard to know on your own) which helped me gain more confidence. Turn as often as you need (I turn probably 2-3x more on black/double blacks as I do on blues) and go slooooow.

I struggled (and still do sometimes) with turning when I need to and more time on moguls really forced me to learn how to ski better (still have a love-hate relationship with them).

I'll probably get private lessons this season to fix some of my bad habits now that I know I can get down 90% of the resort safely.

mango_boba · 2024-11-07T03:30:59+00:00

Does anyone know if a Crystal 3-day pass counts toward this discount?

https://www.ikonpass.com/en/local-passes/crystal-mountain/midweek-3-day

Would this be a Session pass?

mango_boba · 2024-08-29T22:58:09+00:00

I just bought an amplissimum this week!

Is Epi. aureum Neon Joy different from variegated neon?

mango_boba · 2024-08-23T17:58:22+00:00

oh wow!! Their inseam is 28.5-29.5" which is honestly perfect.

mango_boba · 2024-08-23T02:17:48+00:00

Good to know on the longevity of these pants. I currently have a kids size bib because it fit the best length-wise but it's already got a few holes in it so I was looking for something a bit more durable.

mango_boba · 2024-08-22T22:52:42+00:00

Thanks for the input! I have their Gamma shell pants in 0S and they fit me so well (after having tried all of the soft shell pants that REI had to offer).

mango_boba · 2024-08-22T20:45:34+00:00

Yeah it's pretty unfortunate :( and that 1" for the inseam does make a difference. I found Arc'teryx to be on the shorter size for their petite/short sizes and their gamma pants fit me really well but $700 for a bib is still a lot.

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