This brings me so much joy | Hakuba, Japan

[@shawneydepp]

Too much good food. What an expensive hobby. Here's my thoughts of Hakuba: Great snow, not as crowded or expensive as Niseko, and many ski resorts to choose from. However, I wasn't a fan of taking shuttle buses everyday, as we had to stress about catching the bus to and fro, and it takes more time to get to the ski resorts. But still, really enjoyed Tsukaige Kogen. The best beginner friendly resort so far.

[@TravelwithYiew]

Awwww!!! So sweet!! I can't help but felt so touched when I saw you and Mel riding on the slopes together! Great job Mel!!! You are so awesome to face your fears! You are doing so well! :) Thanks Shawne for documenting this for us all! Feeling so inspired by the both of you!

[@shawneydepp]

Hopefully she starts to ski a lot more with me :D

[@Jordyhamann93]

keep up the great work shawney, passion over everything @@shawneydepp

[@kidena.338]

Watching this before going to bed. Another good video!

[@shawneydepp]

Sweet 👌🏻 thanks!

[@Mel-kv6py]

I look so graceful falling down 😆

[@shawneydepp]

Totally ;)

[@santesp]

cool testimonial on the chairlift dude, you are a good one! congrats

[@jondoe19896091]

I learnt how to ski at 33. It pains me when I hear stories from friends about how cheap and impromptu snow sports used to be, wish I'd started earlier in life. Now it's commercialized everywhere and prices are eye watering no matter where you are. But still, you make the most of what you have!

[@shawneydepp]

Agreed. It’s getting really expensive esp in Europe and the US. Japan and Asian countries thankfully still remain a little more affordable

[@guaiguaibitbit4246]

Love your Japan series. Keep filming more!

[@アポロン-b3c]

Wow!!!!! Cool video, Togakushi Shrine (Okusha) is myfavorite!

[@MariaMaria-2608]

Been following your Japan Trips since 2019, keep it up!!! :)))

[@shawneydepp]

That’s a long time. Thanks a lot!

[@marcymoksha]

love the excitement!!

[@penniehoma5419]

cant wait for the part 3 :D

[@azharnoor93]

Finally! been missing your vlog bro!

[@shawneydepp]

Cheers man 👊🏻

[@maizakura7]

What a wonderful trip! Thank you for a nice video!

[@shawneydepp]

Pleasure!

[@hosinxuan]

have never seen this part of Japan, and it’s sooo breathtaking! always a joy watching your vlogs 💯

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks a bunch :) still a lot more I’ve not explored in Japan

[@pongpong5108]

Thanks for all your beautiful videos and your personal review . Makes me want to visit Japan… esp those places you rated highly

[@shawneydepp]

My pleasure. Make it happen 👊🏻

[@juliankhw]

love your videos, keep it up !!

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks man appreciate it!

[@jamesongabatin6046]

Bro! Why did I now discover your channel just now? and why are you not famous? It's like a precious gem on KZbin! Inspired me to travel and do more! :) Waiting for your next video

[@shawneydepp]

Famous or not, glad to be creating what I love and to have you around 👊🏻 more good stuff to come!

[@Rhema009]

Hi Shawne, awesome stuff you have here, love it! I'm also wondering the montage from 2022. Where was that?might be a stretch but like which mountain or route is that? The view is amazing!!

[@maheenm]

Awesome video! So great to see your snowboarding progression. My two kids had a lesson at Goryu with Ru last year (skiing), I am now teaching my youngest to snowboard. Everyone sucks in the beginning, however you really improve quickly with boarding, as you can see in your highlight clips. Its a journey without an end. Looking forward to our next trip to Hakubua and the next lesson with Ru. May be a Snowboard/Ski trip to New Zealand is on the cards for both of you next? Only 10 hr flight to AKL to SIN.

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks for sharing! I still have much to go, and only have 1 or 2 times a year to work on my snowboarding haha. No plans to ride in NZ at the moment, though I heard it’s definitely icier than Japan 😂

[@maheenm]

@@shawneydepp having lived in Singapore (and loved it!), pretty sure there is no snow there! Yes the snow is not the best, but there is more than just snow to NZ. Heading back to Japan in a few weeks, it is miles better and such a great place to travel to.

[@thompsontwins3982]

wow great video you are very talented

[@theearlybirdiiees1187]

Excellent content. Was just there a few weeks ago.

[@aphraelk6214]

Thanks for sharing. Okusha is beautiful!

[@shawneydepp]

Yeah it’s unbelievably scenic

[@unclejeda1]

That was a pleasure to watch!! Thank you. My wife, 2 Sons aged 10 & 13 and myself are arriving in February and cannot wait!! Would you recommend us hiring a car? We will be there for 10 days.

[@shawneydepp]

@@unclejeda1 Awesome! Excited for you. If you’re doing road trips around then it’ll be worth to rent a car. Or if you don’t want to be bound by the shuttle bus timings and will be travelling to the different resorts there, then yea

[@unclejeda1]

@@shawneydepp thanks for the reply mate. Will do!

[@powerbankproduction3701]

i can tell ur wife loves u v much and u are so lucky to have her

[@shawneydepp]

I am very lucky 🙏🏻

[@michelleleung672]

Hey Shawn! I'm so glad that I came across your video! I've skied before but never snowboarded and have always wanted to learn it. Watching this vid made me realise to just go for it! Thank you! Am planning to save up and go to a ski resort in Japan for a solo ski trip before I start Uni. Do you have any tips for a beginner snowboarder?

[@shawneydepp]

Hey Michelle glad to have you here :) I guess my no. 1 tip would be to not lean back and trust your body to flow. Watching tons of snowboarding tutorials before your lessons will help a lot too

[@thomassutherland409]

Shiny gold ✨️

[@ShimodaDesigns]

Nice trip. Just a side note, your Shimoda Explore backpack was designed in Hakuba :) Also during the the filming of launch video for that bag we went to the Togakushi shrine to film, and ate at the same soba house. Looked like a great trip. Ian

[@shawneydepp]

Wow you noticed, thanks Ian! Amazing backstory. This was my first trip out with the Explore V2 and it’s been THE adventure camera bagpack I’ve been missing out, coming from so many other bagpacks. You’ve designed a masterpiece. Can’t wait to take this boy out on more adventures.

[@pxdkitty]

very nice video! How's the driving in the snow by the way?

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks man! Roads were mostly clear of snow during that day with slush on some parts, so it felt pretty normal

[@yjs]

Love this video! Can you share where you hired your car and hotel name? Thanks

[@Jorge_maggie]

I’ll be heading there the 9th or 10th!

[@fujipeanut8636]

Can I give you a snowboarding tip? You are constantly “catching an edge”. If you are toeside you are catching heelside edge and vice versa. Work on staying on one edge (the uphill edge). 2nd tip get more over your front foot you lean back too much. Positive vibes, good videos! Good luck man

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks for the tips 🙏🏻 yeah i was noticing that I lean back too much esp on the toe side. Hope to fix that the next time I ride.

[@MauriceJ-s6z]

the processed food in japan is insane

[@robbykidman]

So beautiful to watch. What month is the snow this thick? Im planning to go late December

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks! I went in mid Jan

[@takeru2702]

Great video! From japan

[@shawneydepp]

Thank you! It means a lot 🙏🏻

[@WT-pr8iq]

Hey Shawn, great vid. I’m just gonna take your recommendation to head to TK since it’s the first time I SKI. Can I know what are the outfit you brought yourself? And what are the ones you rented? Worried being under prepped and get denied to ski due to lack of gears.

[@shawneydepp]

Hey it’s best to have your own ski outfit: ski pants, ski jacket, inner layer or base layer, gloves, ski goggles, ski socks. I’d then rent the helmet, snowboard, and snowboard boots. Hope this helps!

[@jenniferbutcher759]

When did you go to Hakuba? Which month? Great video…

[@shawneydepp]

I went there in Jan

[@oricebucket]

Great video! I love how you bring us together with your journey, by the way, do you need to apply for filming permits indoor?

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks! By indoor do you mean places like restaurants or public spaces? No permits needed, that would be too crazy haha unless you’re using big tripods or lightning

[@oricebucket]

@@shawneydepp Thank you so much! I want to do some filming myself and definitely subbed to your channel!

[@Ainochicarat]

Was it difficult to drive around? We are thinking of renting a car but afraid that it might be slippery or dangerous.

[@shawneydepp]

Not during our time. Roads were clear of snow. But it can really vary

[@GlennTaubenfeld]

Shiok, cant wait for my trip LOL

[@shawneydepp]

Prepare to fall a hell lot HAHA

[@randomwanderer824]

Hello which car rental company did you engaged with?

[@nikhilthomas7183]

Hi. Which month was this? Does it snow like this in December?

[@shawneydepp]

It was in Jan. Dec might be a little unpredictable imo

[@dial7383]

Just found your channel and i’m a new subscriber. How easy was it to get to sobanomi and okusha?

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks for the sub 👍def need a car to get to those places

[@thejohn1116]

Do you suggest to go there instead of niseko? I heard it s always too much crowded at niseko and also so expensive I Am going solo in january in japan, and cant choose which resort to go

[@shawneydepp]

Yes I think Hakuba is a great alternative. However, niseko’s powder is unmatched and there is nth much happening for Hakuba’s nightlife

[@introspectiveparty]

Hey Shawney! What boots did you bring during this trip to Hakuba? I'm also planning to go skiing next year. It's going to be my first time and I just want to know what should I pack for the trip? Thanks in advance.

[@shawneydepp]

Hey I just wore waterproof boots for general walking around in the snow. You can rent ski boots and all other equipment at the rental shop

[@introspectiveparty]

Thanks@@shawneydepp

[@gah4257]

Was the pass sponsored by klook for this video? I would had thought the the JR east 5 day pass (Nagano, niigata) or just taking an express bus directly to hakuba would had been a cheaper alternative.

[@shawneydepp]

Yes the pass was sponsored. We were travelling around Japan for 2 weeks and not just for Hakuba so there was value

[@gah4257]

@@shawneydepp Thank you for sharing! Had trouble trying to figure out the logistics of the route. Since the pass was sponsored it makes sense to me now. Having extended ski trips in 1 spot usually negate the value the jr pass brings since one has to travel every other day on the shinkansen to milk the pass dry. It's a shame the jr east company got rid of their non consecutive pass after covid.

[@MickeyOng-i1f]

Have u been to Ginsan onsen,is really besutiful

[@shawneydepp]

Nope, but have always wanted to head there. Was a little too far off for this trip unfortunately!

[@understandinghumans4753]

Hey I love your videos ! Just wondering can you advice on where do you get your snowboard and gear ? I’m from sg and wanting to start doing snowboarding

[@shawneydepp]

Thanks! I rented my snowboard gear from Spicy Rentals, which is spread throughout the Hakuba region. If you’re looking to buy from sg, then you can check out the ride side

[@MauriceSeow]

May I know which hotel or Inn you stayed at over in Hakuba? And also the rental shop for the gear? Thanks!

[@shawneydepp]

I stayed at Happo Kan and rented my gear from Spicy Rentals

[@DanMateee]

what was the date/days you went snowboarding?!?

[@shawneydepp]

Went during the first half of Jan 2023, rode for 3 days

[@batabaka]

hey man what camera are you using?

[@shawneydepp]

a7siii, gopro hero 10, insta360 x3

[@batabaka]

@@shawneydepp owh Sony. no wonders the color tone looks so familiar

[@DosAussieThai]

I challenged myself to find where you stayed based on the view from your window. Did you stay at Hotel Happo Kan? Edit: I got my answer at 11:55 and I was right 😃

[@shawneydepp]

Hahaha I did mention Happo Kan when I checked in!

[@DosAussieThai]

@@shawneydepp I must have missed that part cuz I only got the idea to look where you stay when you showed the view from your window :D I like playing this game. One time my friend sent me a photo of a random country road she took in NZ, surrounded by grassland and mountains, and asked me to pinpoint where it was on the map. The only clue she gave was "Somewhere on the South Island." Took me a few hours to find it. 😆

[@gohthepro]

Just my two cents here - if you don't mind driving every day, rent a car for the entire duration of your trip rather than relying on hotel shuttle bus/public transport. It gives you far more flexibility in your itinerary and the car can be used as storage space for your snowboarding/skiing equipment. Hotel prices right at the ski resorts can cost twice as much as those within 10-15min drive and that makes up for the car rental itself.

[@shawneydepp]

That’s a great suggestion. Chasing bus timings were such a pain

[@xxslysinxx]

Yo bro, I going there next year. Any tips which area to stay 10-15min drive away, where to get ski gear equipment in Singapore? Thinking of buying long term. And which resorts are great for intermediate and beginner skiers? Thanks bro

[@gohthepro]

@@xxslysinxx Not too sure about skis, but snow goggles/jacket/pants/gloves all that can be easily bought online. Also personally don't suggest to buy your own ski/snowboard unless you are super sure you want them - they are not just expensive but they are odd-sized baggage and harder to transport around, would rather just rent them. Some rental places allow you to swap out if it doesn't suit you, which gives you additional flexibility. At most maybe get your own ski/snowboard boots/bindings.

[@GlennTaubenfeld]

How are the winter roads there? Am contemplating this for next season

[@somohlala]

Could you recommend which private instructor/school you hired? We need an English speaking one. TIA!

[@shawneydepp]

We went with Hakuba snow sports school. They’re english speaking 👍🏻

[@vincenttuua7866]

Bro, I have been watching for a little while. Please chop up some of the recent vlogs for tik tok, you seriously deserve more views.

[@shawneydepp]

Appreciate it man. Been starting to upload cool bits on tik tok

[@siuleungchow7698]

hotel happokan?

[@shawneydepp]

Yes

[@elizabethho4620]

Yay there's a part 3! Btw do you speak Japanese Shawne? That's so cool! And kudos to Mel for toughing it out on the slopes!!

[@shawneydepp]

Nope I don’t haha. Just simple words. Yeah she really did great 🤙🏻

[@elizabethho4620]

@@shawneydepp Oooh thanks for the reply! You sound good though! Looking forward to the next part!

[@Chivasgyb]

Wowww Hakuba *0*

[@VeeTravels]

Shawneydepp, I am gong to be honest, but I really did not like how this video was shot. I think showing your tickets on video a horrible idea and it is asking for trouble. It is apparent you did not consider the potential repercussions. May I ask what the thought process was in doing it this way? The train clip at 1:07 was really cool. I have no idea why it was only shown for so short. Can you please consider redoing this video?

[@shawneydepp]

May I know what are the potential repercussions or why is it horrible? There’s no private information and the pass has already been expired. I showed the japan rail pass as an important detail when travelling in Japan, and just a process to get to my next destination. Appreciate your honest opinion and suggestions nonetheless :)

[@VeeTravels]

@@shawneydepp Well someone can easily use it as fraudulent information. The list goes on and on for the possibilities they can do. Sorry I am just trying to help out fellow KZbinrs. What do you think of my recent videos?

[@tsy8514]

You wore slippers and wheeled your suitcase into a tatami room. Big no-no. Read up on tatami room etiquette.

[@shawneydepp]

We only learnt about this at the end of the trip. Thanks for the heads up nonetheless

[@tsy8514]

Should hv edited it out before uploading. At least add “sorry” caption on the video, to infm the other newbie travellers. Leave bad impression for any japanese (my hubby incl) watching this. Imagine other foreigner uploading rude behavior on traveling in your country.

[@marcymoksha]

you guys are adorable