Of course, thanks again to SJ for the tickets to a new place for us. I'd actually never even heard of this resort area before I saw the giveaway contest. We also had a really nice drive to this resort going through an area of Japan that I hadn't been to before north of Kofu. We even passed a couple of little resorts on the way that we may check out next season.
I'm not sure if Ippy's review lowered my expectations so far that it was impossible to have a bad time or the fact that I hadn't been on the snow for almost three weeks but my wife and I had a pretty good time here.
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First of all, Sugadaira isn't a resort per se but more of a resort area. The area is a cluster of small resorts that are hardly even physically connected (Only Pine Beak 1 & 2 and Taro & Davos). If you try to hit all the areas you'll end up frustrated and wasting a bunch of time. It's definitely best to stay in one or two of the areas and roam around than trying to navigate the roads if you are driving or the shuttles if you don't have a car.![Posted Image]()
(Standing at the top of Pine Beak 1 looking across at Hare, the nearest on the left, and Taro/Davos slightly further away. The snowcat goes to the top of the snowier peak on the left in the distance)
It was a pretty warm day and the snow was soft and almost slushy. We mostly played around in the Pine Beak 1 area and within half a day we had easily hit up all the runs and park at the bottom of the hill. We also had a great kebab at the bottom of the hill for lunch. Yummy!
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Over at the Davos side of the resort area things were very different. The snow was definitely patchier and stickier than the Pine Beak side and visibility was almost nothing. The courses are super wide and we couldn't find anything too interesting but that might have been because of the fog (or not if you ask ippy). As well, the snowcats were finished for the season which was too bad because the terrain above Davos looked interesting and the run back into the resort looked long and fun.![Posted Image]()
Sugadaira definitely had a kind of charm for me. I'm not really sure what it was but I can definitely see the appeal. It's a beginner (or blossoming intermediate) area that would be great for families. I kind of liked the slower pace of the place and the local vibe. It wasn't a pretentious place and everyone there was having a good time. I also get the feeling that there aren't really any powder hounds about so after a good dump you'd probably be able to lap up the snow run after run.![Posted Image]()
Would I go back? If I were in the area and looking for a relaxing day, I think so. I'd really like to see what this place had to offer when the conditions weren't so springy.
I'm not sure if Ippy's review lowered my expectations so far that it was impossible to have a bad time or the fact that I hadn't been on the snow for almost three weeks but my wife and I had a pretty good time here.
First of all, Sugadaira isn't a resort per se but more of a resort area. The area is a cluster of small resorts that are hardly even physically connected (Only Pine Beak 1 & 2 and Taro & Davos). If you try to hit all the areas you'll end up frustrated and wasting a bunch of time. It's definitely best to stay in one or two of the areas and roam around than trying to navigate the roads if you are driving or the shuttles if you don't have a car.
(Standing at the top of Pine Beak 1 looking across at Hare, the nearest on the left, and Taro/Davos slightly further away. The snowcat goes to the top of the snowier peak on the left in the distance)
It was a pretty warm day and the snow was soft and almost slushy. We mostly played around in the Pine Beak 1 area and within half a day we had easily hit up all the runs and park at the bottom of the hill. We also had a great kebab at the bottom of the hill for lunch. Yummy!
Over at the Davos side of the resort area things were very different. The snow was definitely patchier and stickier than the Pine Beak side and visibility was almost nothing. The courses are super wide and we couldn't find anything too interesting but that might have been because of the fog (or not if you ask ippy). As well, the snowcats were finished for the season which was too bad because the terrain above Davos looked interesting and the run back into the resort looked long and fun.
Sugadaira definitely had a kind of charm for me. I'm not really sure what it was but I can definitely see the appeal. It's a beginner (or blossoming intermediate) area that would be great for families. I kind of liked the slower pace of the place and the local vibe. It wasn't a pretentious place and everyone there was having a good time. I also get the feeling that there aren't really any powder hounds about so after a good dump you'd probably be able to lap up the snow run after run.
Would I go back? If I were in the area and looking for a relaxing day, I think so. I'd really like to see what this place had to offer when the conditions weren't so springy.