Things you love about winter in Japan

February 19, 2014, 9:57 pm

≫ Next: Tanigawadake Tenjindaira (Minakami, Gunma) - 24th January 2014

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Never been here in any other season but thought I might start
#1
The snow consistent and light compared to other countries
#2
Easily accessible from Perth (where I live) with minimul time difference
#3
Affordable especially considering the costing the cost of skiing, eating, drinking, smoking in Australia
#4
Polite friendly people who have respect for everyone else
#5
Beautiful scenery and landscapes
#6
Onsens the whole Japanese bathing culture
#7
Toilets that wash your bum for you
#8
Vending machines
There are so much more and I am sure things people hate as well but I love being here

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Tanigawadake Tenjindaira (Minakami, Gunma) - 24th January 2014

February 19, 2014, 9:58 pm

≫ Next: Grandeco, Fukushima 2014.2.11

≪ Previous: Things you love about winter in Japan

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I have had my eye on today since earlier this week as it was always looking like it would clear up and be fab weather.
The question was.... where to go.
I found myself on the Kanetsu this morning going over to Minakami and the fantastically awesomely beautiful surroundings of Tanigawa, along with the always annoying ski-jo that is Tanigawadake Tenjindaira.
I'll put the rant in spoilers, as lots of it is similar to last year. And the year before. But it needs to be said!

So, fantastic blue skies this morning. Lots of 'ants' walking up the mountain. Yes, it's just beautiful up there.

Spoiler

OK so I knew it only opens at 9am so only turn up at 8:50. Big long queue waiting for the lift ticket counter to open. You can see they are stood there actually waiting for 9am before they open up the counter. So it opens at 9am sharp, or should I say they start to prepare to open at 9am. So of course that takes a few minutes. Then there's only one dude doing the tickets. And of course, he's slow. So it's 9:15am before I can get on the gondola. I just missed one and so needed to wait 2 hours for the next one. Well, a few minutes. Blimey they only have a few gondolas going at the same time. And of course, it's ridiculously slow and I completed a novel and read a few books on the journey. Get up top and it's already past 9:30am. I see the main pair lift is still not open but see that the lift far left is moving so ski down to that lift. 'Mada desu'. Not open yet. We aren't sure when it will open, they said, so please use that lift up there... you know, the one you have to walk up to over there. Why are you so late in opening? Well, we staff only get up here 15 minutes before you do! I decided not to suggest that perhaps the staff could get up there earlier to prepare, but decided that it must just be a ridiculous concept. I saw quite a few people ski down to that lift like I did only to have to walk back up the slope to get the lift that was actually moving. No sign at all saying the lift was not open yet.

Every time I go, I get the feeling at Tenjin that opening a skijo is actually really bothersome for them.

Extremely annoying, like Japanese banks.

Note to self. Think of Tenjin as opening at 9:45am to avoid frustration next time.

In no particular order, all taken from within the skijo area.

Grandeco, Fukushima 2014.2.11

February 20, 2014, 4:02 pm

≫ Next: Oze White World Questions

≪ Previous: Tanigawadake Tenjindaira (Minakami, Gunma) - 24th January 2014

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It was supposed to be clear and sunny yesterday at Grandeco, though as can be seen from the photos, it pretty much wasn't except at the very top of the mountain, later in the day. No matter, good skiing weather, cold enough but not too cold.


















They have added a third park area on the bottom leg of the Akadeko course, which is the long beginner course that winds its way down to the bottom from the top of the gondola. The main mogul course also empties out into this leg, after which that leg always felt like an overly long (kilometer or so?) run-out, so the park features are a nice addition to make that section more enjoyable. Good addition.

There are some PR articles posted in the main building, one of which quotes the manager of the resort as saying that skiing the trees off-piste is officially ok. Patrol will not only not stop people for going into the trees, but will actually give advice on where to go. Instructor guides can be hired as guides to areas outside resort bounds. This seems to be a change from several years ago, when reports indicate that they were pretty aggressive about trying to keep people out of the trees (though without much success, from what I have ever seen). Good to know that it is now officially ok.

Bad news: The Kashmir on-hill restaurant is closed this season, deleted from the list of restaurants. This means: no Deco Rangers! (I peeked into the other restaurants to see if they had relocated. Nope, no sign of them.) Looking for more information on the web, I found the following video from last spring, which purports to be the final Deco Ranger video. The horsing around they are doing with the plastic food samples seems to confirm that the decision had already been made to shut the place down:



Saraba, Deco Rangers.
Thanks for the memories!

Oze White World Questions

February 20, 2014, 4:08 pm

≫ Next: Heavy snow please. Now!

≪ Previous: Grandeco, Fukushima 2014.2.11

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Won a ticket to White World (thank you SJ!) and am thinking to go this weekend with NECK as the forecast is for more snow there than Hakuba!?

My question is.... Do they open the resort on big snow days? Do lifts eventually open if they have to spend time clearing, or is the day a write off? Did they open this last weekend with the big snow?

I live 2hrs away, so it would suck fairly hard if we got there and it was a no go....

Thanks for any info!

Heavy snow please. Now!

February 20, 2014, 9:13 pm

≫ Next: Zao Onsen (Yamatata) 2013-2014

≪ Previous: Oze White World Questions

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Zao Onsen (Yamatata) 2013-2014

February 20, 2014, 10:03 pm

≫ Next: SnowJapan Giveaways - 30 Hakuba Alpen tickets (Happo, Iwatake, Tsugaike) lift tickets

≪ Previous: Heavy snow please. Now!

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Some pics from Zao this season, will do my best!
Last few days the snow has arrived.

SnowJapan Giveaways - 30 Hakuba Alpen tickets (Happo, Iwatake, Tsugaike) lift tickets

February 20, 2014, 11:26 pm

≫ Next: Hokkaido Calling!

≪ Previous: Zao Onsen (Yamatata) 2013-2014

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SnowJapan Giveaways 2013/2014
Friday 14th February 2014 until Thursday 20th February 2014

This weeks prize:
30 one-day lift ticket vouchers - each one can be exchanged for a 1 day lift ticket at any of the following resorts - Happo-one (Hakuba), Hakuba Iwatake (Hakuba), Tsugaike Kogen (Otari) - in Nagano Prefecture.
The vouchers can be exchanged for a 1 day ticket on any day this season (until the resorts close).
The lift ticket vouchers are coming to you courtesy of Hakuba Alpen 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 'Hakuba Alpen 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;
- We ask that you post a review of the resort and upload photos to 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:
15 people will be chosen - each to receive 2 vouchers - and notified within four days of the Giveaway period closing.





We would like to thank the good people at Hakuba Alpen for taking part in this Giveaway.

For more information on the resorts:

Hakuba Happo-one:
http://www.snowjapan...akuba-happo-one

Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field:
http://www.snowjapan...take-snow-field

Tsugaike Kogen:
http://www.snowjapan.../tsugaike-kogen


-----

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.

Hokkaido Calling!

February 21, 2014, 7:06 am

≫ Next: Niseko 2013-2014

≪ Previous: SnowJapan Giveaways - 30 Hakuba Alpen tickets (Happo, Iwatake, Tsugaike) lift tickets

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Hi all!

I've been a stranger on here recently due to a combination of assignment deadlines, sulking about a bad back (tweaked over Christmas whilst messing about on my bmx!), buying a new bmx (the old one obviously not being good enough for my back!!) and watching the Olympics!

So having just finished my assignments, and my back has survived clearing snow off the balcony for a second consecutive weekend, it's finally time to go snowboarding!!!

Am flying up to Hokkaido on Tuesday, then heading over to Furano for a few days then back to Sapporo. Am going to give Niseko a miss this winter as I fancy checking out some new resorts, namely Kiroro, Teine and maybe another. Can't wait!!

So a quick question for those on the ground, how's it looking up there?

Cheers!

Mick

---

Niseko 2013-2014

February 22, 2014, 12:28 am

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

≪ Previous: Hokkaido Calling!

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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.

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

February 22, 2014, 4:36 am

≫ Next: Heavy snow please. Now!

≪ Previous: Niseko 2013-2014

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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?

Heavy snow please. Now!

February 23, 2014, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Cheeseman's "Cheese at Resorts" Gallery

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

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Cheeseman's "Cheese at Resorts" Gallery

February 23, 2014, 6:17 am

≫ Next: Fukushima 2013/2014

≪ Previous: Heavy snow please. Now!

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This year I thought I would create a special "Cheese at Resorts" Gallery.

At the moment, myself along with Cheesewoman, Cheesegirl and Cheeseboy are at Nozawa Onsen in Nagano. Lovely place, but no good views yet as it has been snowing.

Anyway to start off my gallery, here's the gallery and some cheese in Nozawa. Just some run of the mill 'natural cheese' as they call it used to melt on pizzas etc. Not the most gourmet start....

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/member_photo_gallery.php?userGallery=222




Please upload any cheese at resort pics to SnowJapan and tag them as 'cheese at resort'. That way, they'll all be grouped together.

Thanks.

Fukushima 2013/2014

February 24, 2014, 2:14 am

≫ Next: Zao Onsen (Yamatata) 2013-2014

≪ Previous: Cheeseman's "Cheese at Resorts" Gallery

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With Minowa opening today, the 2013/2014 season has officially started in Fukushima.
And hence, time for this season's thread.

Previous season's threads:
2010/2011
2011/2012
2012/2013


Planned openings:

11.15
Minowa (B lift)

11.30
Grandeco

12.14
Adatara Kogen
Nekoma

12.15
Oze Hinoemata Onsen

12.19
Aizu Kogen Daikura

12.20
Grandsunpia Inawashiro Resort
Numajiri

12.21
Aizu Kogen Takatsue
Alts Bandai
Fairyland Kaneyama
Family Snow Park Bandai x2
Grandee Hatoriko
Inawashiro
Listel Ski Fantasia
Nihonmatsu Shiozawa
Tadami
Ten-Ei
Urabandai

12.22
Aizu Kogen Nango
Aizu Kogen Takahata

12.23
Yanaizu Onsen

From 14 Jan. to 31 March 2014, 21 resorts in Fukushima are offering free weekday skiing to 20-22 year-olds who register through the 雪マジ！ふくしま/Snow Magic Fukushima program. (Separate from, and in addition to, the nationwide 雪マジ！１９ program for 19-year-olds.)

Zao Onsen (Yamatata) 2013-2014

February 24, 2014, 2:18 am

≫ Next: SnowJapan Giveaways - 30 Hakuba Alpen tickets (Happo, Iwatake, Tsugaike) lift tickets

≪ Previous: Fukushima 2013/2014

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Some pics from Zao this season, will do my best!
Last few days the snow has arrived.

SnowJapan Giveaways - 30 Hakuba Alpen tickets (Happo, Iwatake, Tsugaike) lift tickets

February 24, 2014, 5:26 am

≫ Next: Niseko 2013-2014

≪ Previous: Zao Onsen (Yamatata) 2013-2014

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SnowJapan Giveaways 2013/2014
Friday 14th February 2014 until Thursday 20th February 2014

This weeks prize:
30 one-day lift ticket vouchers - each one can be exchanged for a 1 day lift ticket at any of the following resorts - Happo-one (Hakuba), Hakuba Iwatake (Hakuba), Tsugaike Kogen (Otari) - in Nagano Prefecture.
The vouchers can be exchanged for a 1 day ticket on any day this season (until the resorts close).
The lift ticket vouchers are coming to you courtesy of Hakuba Alpen 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 'Hakuba Alpen 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;
- We ask that you post a review of the resort and upload photos to 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:
15 people will be chosen - each to receive 2 vouchers - and notified within four days of the Giveaway period closing.





We would like to thank the good people at Hakuba Alpen for taking part in this Giveaway.

For more information on the resorts:

Hakuba Happo-one:
http://www.snowjapan...akuba-happo-one

Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field:
http://www.snowjapan...take-snow-field

Tsugaike Kogen:
http://www.snowjapan.../tsugaike-kogen


-----

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.

---

Niseko 2013-2014

February 25, 2014, 2:47 am

≫ Next: Affordable Powder Boards

≪ Previous: SnowJapan Giveaways - 30 Hakuba Alpen tickets (Happo, Iwatake, Tsugaike) lift tickets

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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.

Affordable Powder Boards

February 25, 2014, 5:34 am

≫ Next: Hokkaido Calling!

≪ Previous: Niseko 2013-2014

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I broke my board at the end of last season and recently found a Rossignal Imperial at a used shop for just over 3,000 yen with bindings and couldn't help but buy it. The more I read about it the more I think it would make a better back-up board than main board for me. I'm one of those riders that likes to spend as much time on powder as possible and this board seems more like a beginners light weight groom runner. I don't like spending too much on boards because I have a tendency to break them. Any advice on boards I should be looking for at recycle shops or on the auction?

Hokkaido Calling!

February 25, 2014, 5:55 am

≫ Next: White World Oze Iwakura (Katashina, Gunma) - 26th February 2014

≪ Previous: Affordable Powder Boards

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Hi all!

I've been a stranger on here recently due to a combination of assignment deadlines, sulking about a bad back (tweaked over Christmas whilst messing about on my bmx!), buying a new bmx (the old one obviously not being good enough for my back!!) and watching the Olympics!

So having just finished my assignments, and my back has survived clearing snow off the balcony for a second consecutive weekend, it's finally time to go snowboarding!!!

Am flying up to Hokkaido on Tuesday, then heading over to Furano for a few days then back to Sapporo. Am going to give Niseko a miss this winter as I fancy checking out some new resorts, namely Kiroro, Teine and maybe another. Can't wait!!

So a quick question for those on the ground, how's it looking up there?

Cheers!

Mick

White World Oze Iwakura (Katashina, Gunma) - 26th February 2014

February 26, 2014, 3:14 am

≫ Next: Kanetsu Expressway Grief vs Sunooooparu

≪ Previous: Hokkaido Calling!

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Got up early this morning and was out by 6:30am, destination White World Oze Iwakura in Katashina, Gunma.

Got on the always-popular Kanetsu Expressway at Shiozawa Ishiuchi and got off at Numata IC. Negotiated the rather busy Route 120 in Numata area, then was interested to see the new tunnel connecting Numata with the Katashina area. It really does cut a chunk off the journey which is nice to see. Photos at the bottom here.

My house to White World was just under 90 minutes.

White World is an interesting place. I agree with lots of what Gunma Boarder said in his review here:
http://www.snowjapan...ews/detail/1982
(I'll write my own sometime later).

Blue skies looking up to the resort, hazy in lots of other directions (though not as funky hazy as it was when I returned to Minamiuonuma this afternoon).

Snow was... well, I was a bit disappointed. It was snowing a bit yesterday there I believe and I was expecting to get lots of lovely cruising groomed runs in early morning. But they didn't seem to have bothered with the grooming at all. No corduroy that I could find. And it wasn't soft, my knees were taking some load there on the long cruising runs.

The lift system is not obvious here. I made a few mistakes early on even though I have been here before a few years ago. Worth studying the map before going. Even when I know them though, it's a bit disjointed but that's hardly unique in Japan! There's also a few lifts over the back that they have discontinued since 3.11 and they don't look like they'll be moving again anytime soon.

But I quite like lots of the courses here, and would have liked them better if there was more fresh snow and it had been groomed. (I wanted a groomed morning).

Also had a kebab. Though forgot to take a pic of that, before I knew it it was gone! Mister Donuts at Numata on the way home.

I quite like it here, though I'm not sure I'll be making the journey much.











































The tunnel on the Numata side....



...and on the Katashina side...



Old road just about visible in both. Looking very lonely!

Kanetsu Expressway Grief vs Sunooooparu

February 26, 2014, 3:37 am

≫ Next: Koi Suru Fortune Cookie @ skijo

≪ Previous: White World Oze Iwakura (Katashina, Gunma) - 26th February 2014

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Hi Everybody!



Trying to eek some fun during the weekends, and weighing up two options:

1) Marunumakogen
2) Aizukogen Takatsue

Both are higaeri via Bus or the tobu overnight train, sadly. Can't drive, work's a swine, etc.

I would normally beeline straight to Marunumakogen as I love the range and the pow there, but last weekend I had a H o r r i b l e time getting to Maiko thanks to the conjestion of the Joetsu Kanetsu Expressway from Takasaki allllllll the way to past Numata. This left only 3 hours of board time on slopes that were hard-packed thanks to the hordes, on essentially powpow rocker boards. It also left a very bitter taste in the mouth and a very sore arse. I'm willing to hope that the traffic was just a one-off, but is it pie in the sky?

Alternatively, the 'safe' option is Takatsue- I live in Kasukabe so getting an overnight train to Aizu on the Tobu snowpal is too easy. Negative points are that I don't really sleep well on the train (too tall for J-town), and the snow/track is IMHO nowhere near as fun as Marunuma.

So, boils down to whether I can risk the roads. Marunuma's bus leaves Omiya at 7:20 on sunday March 9; do people here reckon the traffic will behave by then? Has anyone else had some Joetsu Kanetsu woe? Or should I play safe and get more earlybird time at Takatsue?

Thanks in advance!