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About Jamie O’Brien

Jamie has been skiing and snowboarding for more than 30 years. Based in Singapore for the last decade, he organises frequent multi-resort trips to Japan.
Latest Posts | By Jamie O’Brien
What it’s really like to go backcountry touring in Japan for the first time
8 months ago

What it’s really like to go backcountry touring in Japan for the first time

By  •  Guides

After visiting Japan for the last thirteen seasons hunting for tree runs, taking the odd cat tour or lift-assisted snowshoe tour, I felt it was time to sample the backcountry …
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Why Kiroro is probably the best destination ski resort in Asia for a day trip
10 months ago

Why Kiroro is probably the best destination ski resort in Asia for a day trip

Kiroro has abundant fluffy soft snow, modern lifts and resort infrastructure, excellent rental gear, luxury all-inclusive resort hotels, tree run zones, low crowds, and unbelievable backcountry – but what really …
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Is Rusutsu the Japanese ski resort that truly has it all?
1 year ago

Is Rusutsu the Japanese ski resort that truly has it all?

Ski trips inevitably involve some sort of compromise. It’s very hard to find a resort with great powder, modern lifts, slopeside accommodation, good food, activities other than skiing and snowboarding, …
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Avoid the Niseko crowds and get off the beaten track at Japan’s Aomori Spring ski resort
1 year ago

Avoid the Niseko crowds and get off the beaten track at Japan’s Aomori Spring ski resort

This year, Japan has exploded as a destination as coverage on TikTok and other social media has fuelled record visitor numbers to popular tourist spots and the famous ski resorts …
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Japan has invented a totally new way for beginners to learn to ski
1 year ago

Japan has invented a totally new way for beginners to learn to ski

By  •  News

F Village isn’t really a ski resort at all, which is a very good thing if you’re a complete beginner or a family who want to try snowsports without the …
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An insider’s guide to planning a ski trip to Japan – and saving money
2 years ago

An insider’s guide to planning a ski trip to Japan – and saving money

By  •  Guides

If you want to save, planning and booking the individual parts of your winter trip to Japan online is the best move. It involves a little more effort, but when …
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I hired an Olympic gold medallist for the day at Japan’s Aomori Spring Resort
2 years ago

I hired an Olympic gold medallist for the day at Japan’s Aomori Spring Resort

By  •  Guides

I don’t think there are many places in the world where you can “hire” a snowboarding Olympic gold medallist for the day, but that’s exactly what’s on offer at Aomori …
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Morioka: The perfect base for a DIY powder-hunting road trip in Japan
2 years ago

Morioka: The perfect base for a DIY powder-hunting road trip in Japan

By  •  Guides

If you’re used to ski trips where you stay in the same resort for a week or more, usually at a ski-in, ski-out hotel, organising a multi-resort ski trip can …
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Deep dry powder and a world-class superpipe at hidden gem Aomori Spring
2 years ago

Deep dry powder and a world-class superpipe at hidden gem Aomori Spring

There’s something about Aomori Spring that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Like many resorts in Japan, it’s not big and the runs aren’t very long, …
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Is Appi Kogen the best ski resort in Japan that nobody has heard of?
2 years ago

Is Appi Kogen the best ski resort in Japan that nobody has heard of?

When you tell people you’re visiting Appi Kogen resort you usually get blank faces, but Appi is up there with the largest in Japan. Shiga Kogen leads the way with …
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