From fb5d18a038ef73a29f3630ccd19a92465da803bf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Libo Zeng <ringil.sword@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:16:44 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] new post

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+<blurb>Public Transit Access to Ski Resorts in Japan</blurb>
+<tag>ski</tag>
+
+<div id="toc_container">
+  <p class="toc_title">Contents</p>
+  <ul>
+    <li>
+      <a href="#hakuba">Hakuba Happo</a>
+    </li>
+    <li>
+      <a href="#madarao">Madarao</a>
+    </li>
+    <li>
+      <a href="#tazawako">Tazawako</a>
+    </li>
+    <li>
+      <a href="#geto">Geto</a>
+    </li>
+    <li>
+      <a href="#togakushi">Togakushi</a>
+    </li>
+    <li>
+      <a href="#thoughts">Thoughts</a>
+    </li>
+  </ul>
+</div>
+
+<p>
+  I recently went skiing at a number of places in Japan in Honshu and I just
+  wanted to write down some thoughts I had about the ease of public transit and
+  the fastest route to each place. The assumption is that you're starting from
+  Tokyo station.
+</p>
+
+<h2 id="hakuba">Hakuba Happo</h2>
+<ul>
+  <li>
+    Shinkansen: Tokyo → Nagano
+    <ul>
+      <li>1h20m - 1h50m. 8340 jpy</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    Bus: Nagano → Hakuba
+    <ul>
+      <li>~1h10m. 2800 jpy</li>
+      <li>
+        Buy tickets at automated vending machine in JR's みどりの窓口 inside
+        Nagano station. Return trip can buy tickets at the Happo Bus Terminal.
+      </li>
+      <li>Lots of space for ski stuff</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    Shuttle Bus: Happo Bus Terminal to Lifts
+    <ul>
+      <li>~10min. <b>FREE!</b></li>
+      <li>
+        Bus is not that regular. Can be very crowded and hard to place stuff.
+      </li>
+      <li>
+        Alternative is to walk ~1km (~15 min). Mostly flat, minor elevation
+        change
+      </li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>Total cost: 11140 jpy one way</li>
+  <li>
+    Earliest arrival time: ~9:30
+    <ul>
+      <li>
+        6:16 departure from Tokyo on Kagayaki 501. Arrive at Nagano at 7:36
+      </li>
+      <li>Take 7:55 bus from Nagano and arrive at Happo at 9:10</li>
+      <li>
+        15 minute walk, if lucky can take one of the extra shuttle buses [next
+        regularly scheduled bus is 9:30]
+      </li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    Alternative Route (Bus from Shinjuku. Have not tested)
+    <ul>
+      <li>
+        ~7.5 hours. 6400-7800 jpy one way depending on the day of week/date
+      </li>
+      <li>
+        23:05 departure from Shinjuku, 6:32 arrival at Happo Bus Terminal. First
+        lift at 8:00
+      </li>
+      <li>7:35 depature from Shinjuku, 12:48 arrival at Happo Bus Terminal</li>
+      <li>Pros: Quite a bit cheaper. Can arrive before first lift</li>
+      <li>
+        Cons: 7.5 hour bus ride at night means probably will be poorly rested.
+        Arrive too early compared to lift start time.
+      </li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2 id="madarao">Madarao</h2>
+<ul>
+  <li>
+    Shinkansen: Tokyo → Iiyama
+    <ul>
+      <li>1h40m - 1h50m. 8780 jpy</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    Bus: Iiyama → Madarao
+    <ul>
+      <li>~30m. 700 jpy</li>
+      <li>
+        Buy tickets at automated vending machine inside Iiyama station. Return
+        trip is cash only
+      </li>
+      <li>Lots of space for ski stuff</li>
+      <li>Bus stop is adjacent to lift!</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>Total cost: 9480 jpy one way</li>
+  <li>
+    Earliest arrival time: ~9:20
+    <ul>
+      <li>
+        6:28 departure from Tokyo on Hakutaka 551. Arrive at Iiyama at 8:16
+      </li>
+      <li>Take 8:50 bus from Iiyama and arrive at Madarao at 9:20</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2 id="tazawako">Tazawako</h2>
+<ul>
+  <li>
+    Shinkansen: Tokyo → Tazawako
+    <ul>
+      <li>2h50m. 16320 jpy</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    Bus: Tazawako → Tazawako Ski Resort
+    <ul>
+      <li>~30m. 560 jpy</li>
+      <li>Cash only</li>
+      <li><b>Limited space for Ski Equipment</b></li>
+      <li>
+        <b
+          >Going from the Bus Stop to lift requires walking up a fairly steep
+          hill.</b
+        >
+        Took ~5-10 minutes for me and it was exhausting
+      </li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>Total cost: 16880 jpy one way</li>
+  <li>
+    Earliest arrival time: ~10:15
+    <ul>
+      <li>
+        6:32 departure from Tokyo on Komachi 1. Arrive at Tazawako at 9:21
+      </li>
+      <li>Take 9:40 bus from Tazawako and arrive at ski resort at 10:07</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2 id="geto">Geto</h2>
+<ul>
+  <li>
+    Shinkansen: Tokyo → Kitakami
+    <ul>
+      <li>2h30-3h. 13610 jpy</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    Bus: Kitakami → Geto
+    <ul>
+      <li>
+        ~50min. <b>FREE!</b> This means staying at a cheap location in Kitakami
+        is really easy for a 2 day trip.
+      </li>
+      <li>Lots of space for ski stuff</li>
+      <li>Bus stop is adjacent to lift!</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>Total cost: 13610 jpy one way</li>
+  <li>
+    Earliest arrival time: ~10:00
+    <ul>
+      <li>
+        6:04 departure from Tokyo on Yamabiko 51. Arrive at Kitakami at 8:54
+      </li>
+      <li>Take 9:10 bus from Kitakami and arrive at ski resort at 10:00</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2 id="togakushi">Togakushi</h2>
+<ul>
+  <li>
+    Shinkansen: Tokyo → Nagano
+    <ul>
+      <li>1h20m - 1h50m. 8340 jpy</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>
+    Bus: Nagano → Togakushi
+    <ul>
+      <li>~1h20m. 1600 jpy</li>
+      <li>
+        Buy tickets at automated vending machine near bus stop. Return trip is
+        cash only
+      </li>
+      <li>
+        <b>Limited space for Ski Equipment</b>. The return trip in particular
+        had the bus at max capacity as we arrived near Nagano station (this was
+        a weekday). May not be an issue if sending equipment via delivery.
+      </li>
+      <li>Bus stop is adjacent to lift!</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+  <li>Total cost: 9940 jpy one way</li>
+  <li>
+    Earliest arrival time: ~9:50
+    <ul>
+      <li>
+        6:16 departure from Tokyo on Kagayaki 501. Arrive at Nagano at 7:36 (Can
+        take a later train such as 6:28 Hakutaka 551 for a 8:03 arrival in
+        Nagano as well)
+      </li>
+      <li>Take 8:30 bus from Nagano and arrive at ski resort at 9:50</li>
+    </ul>
+  </li>
+</ul>
+
+<h2 id="thoughts">Thoughts</h2>
+<p>
+  Just some thoughts about ease of access overall. I felt getting to Geto was
+  extremely convenient and I saved a lot by being able to stay in Kitakami
+  instead of near the ski resort (5k-8k JPY a night instead of 10k-15k). This
+  might make up the difference in cost in Shinkansen transit fare. Madarao's bus
+  fare was also cheaper and more convenient so that might be a reasonable
+  strategy there too, especially since Iiyama is relatively cheap too.
+  Meanwhile, stuff near Nagano Station is not too much cheaper than stuff near
+  the resorts especially if one considers the round trip bus cost. Lastly,
+  Tazawako's uphill climb after the bus stop was truly awful.
+</p>
+<p>I might update this in the future. Will likely update the dates too.</p>
+
+<style>
+  #toc_container {
+    border: 1px solid #aaa;
+    display: table;
+    font-size: 85%;
+    margin-bottom: 1em;
+    padding: 10px;
+    width: auto;
+  }
+  .toc_title {
+    font-weight: 700;
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+
+  ul ul {
+    margin-bottom: 0;
+  }
+</style>