Skiing Japan for first time "Help"

December 24, 2013, 11:49 pm

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Each season I usually ski in North America but have heard exciting things about Japan, so this year it's my first trip to Japan.
I will be skiing Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen and Niseko. I would love to hear about other skiers favorite Ski runs, pubs, shops, in fact anything at all as I will be on a big learning curve.
Thanks everyone, and have an awesome season.

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Nagano snowboarding trip

December 25, 2013, 1:29 am

≫ Next: Ski in April with decent selection of izakayas

≪ Previous: Skiing Japan for first time "Help"

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Hello!
During the end of January, Im going to drive from Aomori prefecture to Nagano. On the way I would like to hit some side country snowboarding any recomandations? Also, I never been to Nagano before so any good backcountry mountains? Up in the north I snowboard around Hakkoda. Thanks In advance.

Ski in April with decent selection of izakayas

December 25, 2013, 2:24 am

≫ Next: Christmas Shred

≪ Previous: Nagano snowboarding trip

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We are beginner/intermediate skiers. Am considering spending 2-3 nights in April in a conveniently reached ski resort from tokyo. We are 2 friends who love food and drinks(beer sake) so nightlife options like nomihodai or izakaya would be nice. Was thinking naeba, kagura or hakuba area. Any suggestions? Among the three, which would be the most affordable? How much would accomodation cost approximately? Thanks!

Christmas Shred

December 25, 2013, 2:49 am

≫ Next: GALA Yuzawa (Yuzawa, Niigata) - 25th December 2013

≪ Previous: Ski in April with decent selection of izakayas

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Who's getting out for some turns on Xmas day? I will be up at Teine for the morning at least, before coming home and stuffing my big beaver like face with food.

GALA Yuzawa (Yuzawa, Niigata) - 25th December 2013

December 25, 2013, 3:30 am

≫ Next: Stolen ski/board gear in Japan

≪ Previous: Christmas Shred

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It was a very cloudy and dull start to the day, but those clouds started clearing up mid morning and we were left by mid afternoon with very nice clear blue skies.

Was wondering where to go, thinking it might be busy today but driving into Yuzawa it was clear that it wasn't that busy at all - so I went to GALA Yuzawa.

Yes, I had a GALA day! And no it wasn't busy at all, didn't wait for a lift and the two main quads aside the lifts were probably less than 50% occupancy.

The snow was nice with them saying 10-20cm of new snow overnight.

Nice views of Yuzawa this afternoon. Did my usual standing around just looking at those beautiful mountains. And trees.

Stolen ski/board gear in Japan

December 25, 2013, 7:16 am

≫ Next: SnowJapan Giveaways - 10 Happo-one (Hakuba, Nagano) lift tickets

≪ Previous: GALA Yuzawa (Yuzawa, Niigata) - 25th December 2013

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Talk in another thread about stolen gear

http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/23478-skiing-quivers-in-niseko/

Always amazed at how almost no-one locks stuff up here, but also that I have never heard of anything being stolen.

Any experiences - when and where?

SnowJapan Giveaways - 10 Happo-one (Hakuba, Nagano) lift tickets

December 25, 2013, 8:30 pm

≫ Next: Muikamachi Hakkaisan (Minamiuonuma, Niigata) - 26th December 2013

≪ Previous: Stolen ski/board gear in Japan

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SnowJapan Giveaways 2013/2014
Friday 20th December 2013 until Thursday 26th December 2013

This weeks prize:
10 one-day lift ticket vouchers - each one can be exchanged for a 1 day lift ticket at the Happo-one resort in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture.
The vouchers can be exchanged for a 1 day ticket on any day this season until 6th May 2014.

The lift ticket vouchers are coming to you courtesy of Happo-one resort.

Who can enter?
Any current and active member of SnowJapanForums. ('Active' means you have actually joined in and made posts on the Forums - not just simply signed up!)

How do I enter? Please read carefully!
1) Send an email to giveaways2013@snowjapan.com
2) Please note your SnowJapanForums username in the email - if you do not write this, you will not be entered.
3) Subject line 'Happo-one Giveaway'
4) Any comments either about the resort, giveaway or SnowJapan are most welcome.

If your mail has been received, you should receive an automatic reply from us soon after sending. That means you have been entered!

Important! Please:
- Only enter if you are at least fairly sure that you will be able to use the prize if you win;
- Try to post a review of the resort and/or photos onto SnowJapan after you have used the prize - it helps the resorts, it helps the many people using SnowJapan to research Japan, and it helps us.

The winners:
10 people will be chosen - each to receive 1 voucher - and notified within four days of the Giveaway period closing.









We would like to thank the good people at Happo-one resort for taking part in this Giveaway.

For more information on Happo-one:
http://www.snowjapan...akuba-happo-one

Please do take a few moments to post some comments when you enter... each year your comments help us try to improve SnowJapan.

Just to be very clear - we do not do ANYTHING with your email address other than use it to contact you if you win - your address is not put on any mailing lists, and your address is not shared with anyone.

Thank you.

Muikamachi Hakkaisan (Minamiuonuma, Niigata) - 26th December 2013

December 26, 2013, 2:40 am

≫ Next: Snow Dude's 2013-14 ski thread (Sun Meadows, Kiyosato, Yamanashi)

≪ Previous: SnowJapan Giveaways - 10 Happo-one (Hakuba, Nagano) lift tickets

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Mostly clear skies this morning so it was off to another local, Muikamachi Hakkaisan.

Glad I made it in the morning because by noon it was more overcast than clear, and now the skies are a uniform grey over Minamiuonuma and Yuzawa.

I had a fun time but it's very clear that there isn't much snow yet. I have never been to Hakkaisan in December before. While it's mostly open (top steep run is not open and the left hand side lift is never open on weekdays), we need much more snow. Lots of stuff popping up and in some of the places where I usually stand to take photos, it's noticeably much lower than mid season.

Snow was just ok, bit heavy.

But Hakkai-san is a beautiful mountain, as can be seen here:

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Snow Dude's 2013-14 ski thread (Sun Meadows, Kiyosato, Yamanashi)

December 26, 2013, 5:01 am

≫ Next: Kawaba Christmas Forest Adventure

≪ Previous: Muikamachi Hakkaisan (Minamiuonuma, Niigata) - 26th December 2013

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I thought it would be nice to make a ski thread as I will be visiting my local resort a lot this year and document the weather/ snow conditions, etc each time I go as a reference for others and as a record for me.
I will also (sometimes) add photos that I take at the resort.
It is a small resort and has 10 courses with the longest being about 1600 metres top to bottom.
The reason I go there, is it is about 20 mins from my house, it is somewhere I have been going for years now and I like the area/ski resort and we have friends who go there too.

Day 1 : 7th Dec 2013 (Opening day) Just one lower course was open with mostly man made snow. Weather was mostly sunny, but very windy peaked out at about +1oC that day. Almost empty!

Day 2 : 8th Dec 2013 Same as above really!

Day 3 : 21st Dec 2013 Two thirds open all natural snow, soft powdery snow, sunny, nice conditions, although clouded up in the afternoon. Quite a few people, but never crowded. Top to bottom skiing.

Day 4: 22nd Dec 2013 It snowed up to about 8cm or so the night before so was treated to fresh pow on top of the already soft snow and sunny sky in the morning. The snow remained soft and powdery the whole day and were plenty of powder pockets to be found all day, albeit chopped up.
Around lunch time onward it clouded over and some light snow fell for a while before turning sunny again More people today..
A great day was had by all.
I will add some photos later, takes too long download from my phone now.

Day 5: 25th Dec 2013 Woke up to absolutely crystal clear blue sky, which lasted the whole day, but no new snow, calm conditions. The snow was soft and powdery on the sun facing slopes and a bit hard packed with icy patches on the sheltered slopes, especially as the temps didn't get above -6 today.
Basically a really nice day on the slopes, although would like some new snow. Looks like tomorrow afternoon onwards should give some nice new snow.
I added a few new pics which I took today.







Look closely at this photo, what can you see, that normally would not be there during the day?

Kawaba Christmas Forest Adventure

December 26, 2013, 5:03 am

≫ Next: Japan's most famous snow icon - the Emergency Telephone Box 13/14 (Yuzawa, Niigata)

≪ Previous: Snow Dude's 2013-14 ski thread (Sun Meadows, Kiyosato, Yamanashi)

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I made it out to Kawaba on Christmas and was rewarded with a beautiful morning.

Japan's most famous snow icon - the Emergency Telephone Box 13/14 (Yuzawa, Niigata)

December 26, 2013, 6:26 am

≫ Next: Guess Where This Is

≪ Previous: Kawaba Christmas Forest Adventure

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We missed the snowfall the other day but there's still a bit hanging around the base of the famous telephone box.

A rainy day here today, but I noticed that last year's thread was also started on 15th November.

May the box be completely covered this year.

(For newcomers, last year's fantastic and thoroughly exciting thread is here)

Guess Where This Is

December 26, 2013, 5:22 pm

≫ Next: SnowJapan Giveaways - 40 'Smile Resort' lift tickets (Asahi Tengston, Muikamachi Ski Resort, Ninox, Yuzawa Nakazato)

≪ Previous: Japan's most famous snow icon - the Emergency Telephone Box 13/14 (Yuzawa, Niigata)

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See if you can guess where this is?

If you get it right you get to post the next pic and so on..........and so on.

I have made this one fairly easy to get the thread started

SnowJapan Giveaways - 40 'Smile Resort' lift tickets (Asahi Tengston, Muikamachi Ski Resort, Ninox, Yuzawa Nakazato)

December 27, 2013, 4:33 am

≫ Next: This Charming Man

≪ Previous: Guess Where This Is

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SnowJapan Giveaways 2013/2014

Friday 27th December 2013 until Thursday 2nd January 2014

This weeks prize:
This week we have 40 one-day lift ticket vouchers, 10 each from four of the five skijo in the 'Smile Resort' group.
There will be 20 winners, each receiving 2 vouchers for one resort.

-- Asahi Tengston Snow Park (Shimane Prefecture)
-- Muikamachi Ski Resort (Niigata Prefecture)
-- Ninox Snow Park (Niigata Prefecture)
-- Yuzawa Nakazato Ski Resort (Niigata Prefecture)

It's the first time that we have offered lift tickets for each of those resorts, and the first time for a Giveaway from a resort in Shimane Prefecture.
So hopefully there will be a good response and people will go out to check these places.
The lift tickets are coming to you courtesy of Smile Resorts.

Who can enter?
Any current and active member of SnowJapanForums. ('Active' means you have actually joined in and made posts on the Forums - not just simply signed up!)

How do I enter? Please read carefully!
1) Send an email to giveaways2013@snowjapan.com
2) Please note your SnowJapanForums username in the email - if you do not write this, you will not be entered.
3) Subject line 'Smile Resort Giveaway'
4) Please mention which resort (out of the ones listed above) you want tickets for. You can name more than one.
5) Any comments either about the resorts, giveaway or SnowJapan are most welcome.

If your mail has been received, you should receive an automatic reply from us soon after sending. That means you have been entered.

Important! Please:
- Only enter if you are at least fairly sure that you will be able to use the prize if you win;
- Try to post a review of the resort and/or photos onto SnowJapan after you have used the prize - it helps the resorts, it helps the many people using SnowJapan to research Japan, and it helps us.

The winners:
20 people will be chosen - each to receive 2 vouchers - and notified within four days of the Giveaway period closing.








Resort Spotlights

Asahi Tengston
Muikamachi Ski Resort
Ninox Snow Park
Yuzawa Nakazato Ski Resort

We would like to thank Smile Resorts for taking part in this Giveaway.

Please do take a few moments to post some comments when you enter... each year your comments help us try to improve SnowJapan.

Just to be very clear - we do not do ANYTHING with your email address other than use it to contact you if you win - your address is not put on any mailing lists, and your address is not shared with anyone.

Thank you.

This Charming Man

December 27, 2013, 7:19 am

≫ Next: Ski in April with decent selection of izakayas

≪ Previous: SnowJapan Giveaways - 40 'Smile Resort' lift tickets (Asahi Tengston, Muikamachi Ski Resort, Ninox, Yuzawa Nakazato)

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Email we got today:

Quote

You have buggered up a good website. Couldn't get archive snow reprot history. Your new website is a dog!!!

We don't usually respond to stuff like that, but I thought perhaps in this case to help other people who might not be sure where to find the 'snow report history' on the new site....

For example, Niseko reports:

http://www.snowjapan...orts/Niseko-Now

Linked to from every single page of the website.
Every report we have posted, dating back to 2003...and each one is within two clicks of the main Niseko Now report (most recent ones just one click).
Same for the other reports.
Which actually means that all Niseko Now reports are 3 clicks away from any of the thousands of pages that make up SnowJapan.

And here's the Calendar, also linked to from every single page within SnowJapan.

http://www.snowjapan...eports/calendar

Thanks.

Ski in April with decent selection of izakayas

December 28, 2013, 12:36 am

≫ Next: Niseko 2013-2014

≪ Previous: This Charming Man

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We are beginner/intermediate skiers. Am considering spending 2-3 nights in April in a conveniently reached ski resort from tokyo. We are 2 friends who love food and drinks(beer sake) so nightlife options like nomihodai or izakaya would be nice. Was thinking naeba, kagura or hakuba area. Any suggestions? Among the three, which would be the most affordable? How much would accomodation cost approximately? Thanks!

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Niseko 2013-2014

December 28, 2013, 5:09 am

≫ Next: Helmets

≪ Previous: Ski in April with decent selection of izakayas

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My first day of skiing at Hirafu. Overnight we had about 10-15 centimeters.
The snow was pretty dry but hard and icy underneath. I just cruised, taking it easy and getting my legs in.







photos by Tai. thanks.

Helmets

December 28, 2013, 10:17 am

≫ Next: Grandee Hatoriko, Fukushima, 2013.12.30

≪ Previous: Niseko 2013-2014

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I went to Tokyo to buy myself a new pair of ski boots today well actually an xmas present from my wife and at the same time I decided to buy a ski helmet.
Been considering getting one for a while but never really bothered before but thought why not get one especially as I do tend to ski rather fast and do lots of fast cornering.
Might help a little if I were to take a spill.

Hope to give both the boots and helmet a try tomorrow depending what time I get back tonight.

Grandee Hatoriko, Fukushima, 2013.12.30

January 3, 2014, 4:28 am

≫ Next: Schumacher accident

≪ Previous: Helmets

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We had planned to go to Grandeco for the first outing of the season, but the weather forecast was looking way too blustery there. Grandee Hatoriko looked more reasonable, so off we went, for the first time in almost 4 years (http://www.snowjapan...shima-201019-10).

Heading into the tunnel that separates Ibaraki and Tochigi on the Kita Kanto Expressway, still Autumn colors in Ibaraki:


Emerging into Tochigi, winter in the distance:


Shirakawa is the first exit off the Tohoku Expressway after the Tochigi/Fukushima border. From Shirakawa, you can see Mt. Jeans (center), and if you look closely, Nasu Onsen Family Ski Area (center left):


Just to the right of Mt. Jeans are the remains of the former Akazurayama/Shirakawa Kogen ski area (the border between Tochigi and Fukushima prefectures goes right between the defunct ski area and Mt. Jeans):



Grandee Hatoriko is about a 45 minute drive from the expressway. Coming into view:


The base area:



The weather was a good call. Sunny all morning, good visibility:


Snow was packed powder, nice and dry, with side stashes.


The lake in the distance is Hatoriko:


To the left of that is Hatoriko Kogen, a highland populated with hotels and besso (kind of like neighboring Nasu, I guess):


Looking further left, the windfarm atop Aizununobikiyama can be seen, which lies about halfway between Grandee Hatoriko and Lake Inawashiro:


Some more photos:










The kid was trying out a new snowboard.
As before, when the kid was still a skier, the favorite course was the Border Valley course, a natural halfpipe:




(To be continued.)

Schumacher accident

January 3, 2014, 5:01 am

≫ Next: Guess Where This Is

≪ Previous: Grandee Hatoriko, Fukushima, 2013.12.30

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Wearing a helmet, serious condition

Quote

Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is in a "critical condition" after a skiing accident, says the French hospital at which he is being treated.

The 44-year-old German "was suffering a serious brain trauma with coma on his arrival" the hospital in the south-east city of Grenoble said in a statement.

Schumacher's management confirmed his critical condition, reports said.

He was skiing off-piste with his son in the Alps when the accident occurred.

Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he fell and hit his head against a rock, Meribel resort director Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte said earlier.

Early reports had said his condition was not life-threatening.

Mr Gernignon-Lecomte said Schumacher was conscious when he was attended to by two ski patrollers who requested helicopter evacuation to the nearby valley town of Moutiers.

He was subsequently moved to the bigger facility at Grenoble. His wife Corinna and children are with him.

The German, who is due to turn 45 on 3 January, retired from F1 for a second time in 2012.

Professor Gerard Saillant, a close ally and friend of Schumacher, and his former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt are at the hospital.

Prof Saillant is an expert in brain and spine injury. He oversaw Schumacher's medical care when the German broke his leg in the 1999 British GP.

The hospital statement was signed by the facility's neurosurgeon, the professor in charge of its anaesthesia/revival unit, and the hospital's deputy director, said AFP news agency.

Schumacher won seven world championships and secured 91 race victories during a 19-year career in Formula 1.

He won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.

The German retired in 2006, but returned in 2010 with Mercedes. After three seasons which yielded just one podium finish, he quit the sport at the end of 2012.

Guess Where This Is

January 3, 2014, 5:42 am

≫ Next: Joetsu Kokusai, 3rd Jan 14

≪ Previous: Schumacher accident

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See if you can guess where this is?

If you get it right you get to post the next pic and so on..........and so on.

I have made this one fairly easy to get the thread started