Selfguided skiing in Japan

Does anybody have recommendations, observations, pointers on going to Hokkaido on your own?

I have for years heard that nobody over there speaks English, that booking and getting around is hard if not impossible and that going with a local guide is the only way to go. I actually heard it so many times I started to believe it but a brief scan of the internet shows that booking accomodations and cars is easily done in English, the Niseko (and other) ski areas have webpages in English. Looking at Google Earth it seems obvious where the best sidecountry (freeride) is and skiing the volcanoes seems straightforward.

Am I wrong?

YOU are absolutely right!
Well done!

Thank YOU Scotsman for the confidence booster, a bit unexpected but always appreciated.

We are looking at staying around Niseko, the biggest ski resort on Hokkaido, and making two or three excursions to some of the smaller resorts or backcountry trips to Nisekoan-Nupuri or the perfectly conical Mt. Yotei. I am in very early planning stages, not too concerned about particulars right now, but I am interested in reading trip reports and looking at slideshows to get a feel for the landscape. Links and references (ski guide?) appreciated.

This is a useful overview of most of the ski areas on Hokkaido. The names are linked to detailed pages:
www.powderhounds.com/best-ski-resorts.aspx#Japan

Nice google map showing the overall situation:
www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=z4bSxYLW8NsU.kx4ftRoHyyKo

The thing to think about when going to Japan is respect but not our American style of respect something a bit different. People follow rules and not because it makes sense but more because these rules have been passed down by the elders and it is disrespectful to question that. A lot of people hire guides within the ski resorts because the guides have a deal with the resort allowing them to duck the ropes but we had issues doing so because A:) We were white and B:) We were wearing backpacks so the moment we got off the chair they were letting us know not to go in any closed areas.

I found it a bit challenging but in general people are very nice. You will have a blast to say the least and whether you choose to have a guide or not I am sure that the North Island will deliver the goods.

Thanks Kyle for your insigts, interesting note about the respect. On the subject of sidecountry it is my understanding -- from reading on the web -- that it is accesible from several backcountry gates that are open to all except when they are closed for various reasons. Are you saying that the guided groups get first tracks even before the gates are officially open? Would this apply to local guides only?