Niseko Made Easy: Handy Tips For Bringing The Young Ones
When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, everyone seems to carry the ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality. That is, until it comes to travelling with kids. In that case, ‘no pain, no gain’ very quickly turns into ‘that seems like a pain, maybe we should just go to the beach instead.’ 
We get it. Cold temperatures, moderately long international flights, dietary needs, your grommies first time trying on ski boots (we all remember our first time) – there’s A LOT that can cause a headache when travelling abroad, especially to the snow.
But is it really that bad? Not at all. But we know that a faceless voice on the other side of the screen telling you “it’s going to be all good, dudes” doesn’t really equate to ‘piece of mind’ for all you apprehensive travellers. So let’s break it down, what are the main sticking points of a family holiday to Niseko, and what’s the best way to avoid them derailing your trip?
Firstly, The Unavoidables
Like spaghetti turning soft when it’s cooked, some things are just unavoidable no matter how much you try to combat them. Whether you’re heading to the beach, the snow, or a Wiggles concert, here’s some hard truths that every parent will endure.
- Kids Get Grizzly When They’re Cold
- Kids Can’t Play Outside In The Snow For Long Periods
- Kids Cry In Transit
So how do we solve it? Do we simply just leave the kids at home? Of course not! Unless…. No, NO – we are bringing the kids. It’s decided. We just need a few handy tips that’ll be able to help if that kind of situation arises.
The Solutions
We all have the fondest memories of going on group ski trips when we were in our 20’s, why does that have to stop now that all the squad has some grommies to look after? Not only will travelling in a group mean there’s an additional 10 sets of watching eyes at all times, it also means that parents can take the young ones out for activities in shifts – and it’ll most likely be much cheaper, especially if you all split a big property to share.
And if you’re looking for an extra pro-tip, if you and the crew were to split a large chalet style accommodation, you could temporarily turn one bedroom into a games room for the young ones, giving them a spot to play while also ticking off the ‘can’t play outside’ fears.
Get The Right Gear
It doesn’t matter if you’re 7 or 57, the wrong set of ski boots can make or break your day on the snow and lead to tears verrrryyyyy quickly. So before you even float the idea, no – we are not going to borrow Uncle David’s ski gear that his kids have grown out of. Hand-me-down ski gear can be an epic cost efficient option for things like jackets and goggles, but ski boots, it’s not going to work. But we also don’t expect you to buy your grommies a brand new set of boots that they might grow out of, and unlike water-skiing, barefoot is most definitely not an option.
We recommend getting them the right gear. Not only will it help the kids learn proper techniques while riding, a right fitting boot will save a lot of tears. If you’re not keen on entering the ski-boot owner market, we recommend renting.
Renting is cheap, saves space in your luggage and you’ll be able to make sure the family’s boots are correctly fitted with the help of an expert bootfitter – a win, win, win, if you ask us.
Travel Light
A lot of people think having kids is the ‘make or break’ moment for a couple. Those people have clearly never navigated their way through Narita airport while lugging around ski bags – that’ll really test you…
Save the hassle and travel light. Rent your hard goods, save on baggage fees (and annoyance) and then for your day-to-day wear, courier it. We know, for most countries around the world shipping your clothing off will lead to issues, most likely that you won’t receive your gear until your last day in town.
In Japan, courier services like Yamato Delivery (Black Cat) are incredibly efficient, reliable and widely revered. Drop off your bags at the airport and they will be waiting for you by the time you arrive at your accom – it’s that easy. And, it’ll give you all the extra hands you need to look after the kids while in transit.
Layering Up
Thermals, thermals, thermals – trust us when we say thermals.
Often made from light-weight materials, it’s pretty easy to disregard thermals when getting ready for a day out on the snow, but it is amazing the difference they make to body heat. Outerwear is just that, worn on the outside, so naturally it’s going to get affected by the elements, and when a jacket is wet and cold, a warm set of merino thermals will be the make or break difference between calling it for the day and squeezing in a few extra laps.
Download Bluey and Paw Patrol
If your child is screaming and carrying on while in transit, a Rhythm blog won’t help with that, it’s just a part of life. Maybe download a few extra eps of ‘Bluey’ onto the iPad to help keep them occupied and bring a day bag with some of their favourite snacks from back home?
Plan Dietary and Medical Needs In Advance
Picky eater in the fam? Don’t suggest raw tuna – we recommend konbini and supermarkets. Both offer a lot of western meal options, you will also find many western dishes like pizza and burgers at any of the resorts you choose to visit.
Line-of-Sight
We all know how safe Japan is as a country, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t keep line-of-sight on the young ones at all times while travelling. But that also doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy a side of wide frame Oakley goggles for added peripheral vision.
Get some ski lessons instead! Not only will it help boost the kids skills, it’ll mean they are under watchful eyes any time they are out ripping it up!
Week-Long Programs
Like the sound of that? Who wouldn’t! Time away from the kids while they are safely shredding the slopes, that’s an epic way to keep everyone happy and occupied. So why not look into a kids weekly program?
Offering on snow tutorage from Monday - Friday, kids weekly lessons are an epic way to get the young ones more comfortable on snow, guarantee they are in a safe environment when you aren’t around, and most importantly, give you and your loved one some extra time to yourself to rip up the slopes or grab a cheeky après.
Plus, they end up much cheaper than getting 5 daily private lessons or booking in for day cares. Really, it’s a pretty winning combo solution.
It's now or never! Get in quick before all the epic gear is booked out!