Kagura will open as planned - Nov 23rd

A public holiday tomorrow in Japan and what is even better than that is that Kagura will open. The long wait to get back on snow is over.

The resort are saying they will have a kilometer and a half of slopes open, being about 40-50 meters wide, depending on snow conditions. The recent cold temperatures in Snow Country have helped and it is great to see winter starting up on schedule, as other areas are experiencing later snowfalls than usual.

There are sure to be lots of enthusiastic snow fans up there for the first day of the season. Kagura is an easy day trip from Tokyo so it couldn't be easier.

Own a place in Snow Country

Interesting article today on NewsOnJapan originally from BloombergBusinessWeek about traditional homes in the Japanese countryside being renovated and sold/rented.

This is something that has been happening in Snow Country too. There are plenty of properties out there that have fallen into disrepair as youngsters flee the countryside for a life in the city. Determined not to let these fantastic houses disappear some people have been stepping in to preserve them.

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Field has been turning some beautiful old buildings into works of art or using then as the settings for installation pieces.

You can even get involved if you are interested in having a place in the country of your own. Head along to some of the buildings that have already been renovated and you will be inspired. Preserving these fantastic timber framed buildings that are works of great craftsmanship themselves is a great project to be involved in.

Day Return Snow Trip from Tokyo

The winter season is almost upon us with Kagura still aiming to open the first of their lifts on Friday 23rd November. A escape to the snow is a great day out and Kagura is the perfect location for it.

Snow Country is incredibly close to Tokyo making a trip to the slopes very easy. So quick and easy in fact that is simple to do a day-return trip from Tokyo. Catch an early shinkansen up to Echigo-Yuzawa, where you are met by a mini-bus from the rental company. They fit you out in all the gear you need and drop you at Kagura for a day of riding. They'll be back there to meet you at a pre-arranged time, and will drop you, exhilarated and exhausted, back at Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Grab a bite and head back to the concrete jungle. It couldn't be easier.

You owe it to yourself to spend some time on quality R&R and there is no better place than the mountains. This hassle-free package is designed with convenience in mind. Check out the Day Return Ski/SB Trip page for details and prices.

Snow at the top of Iwappara

There is a bit of snow at the top of Iwappara Ski Resort this morning.

Still no news on their opening date. They were hoping on a mid-December start but will have to wait to see what the snow does first. We were up their recently and had a bit of a giggle at the vending machines. You better hope you do not get thirsty while you are up there! In preparation for the heavy winter snows, all the vending machines are raised off the ground and in some years have to be dug out a bit. Great foresight for winter  but not quite so handy if there is no snow.

Some pretty colors their too.

Snow At Town Level This Morning

Good news for snow lovers this morning. A drop in temperatures yesterday meant that when Snow Country residents opened their curtains this morning there was a light dusting of snow everywhere. It is still falling, though it is a bit sleety at the moment down low.

Central Yuzawa

Nakazato Ski Resort

This is certainly good news for those that are anxiously waiting to see if Kagura will be able to open on their planned date of November 23rd. There is a nice layer of snow up there from last night and the temperatures are cold enough for them to have the snow-making machines working to help put a decent base down. As a Prince Resort, Elementary School age children can ski for free this year. Check out the Kagura webcam on their home page to keep an eye on the progress up there as opening day draws closer.

2012-13 Winter Snow Levels???

The autumn colors are bright and vibrant in Snow Country at the moment with lots of reds, oranges and yellows, The leaves are starting to fall and that means many minds turn to the upcoming winter. The first resort is due to open in just 10 days time (with a bit of luck), though there is not much white stuff covering the peaks right now.

The long range forecast seems to be for a slightly warmer than average winter which will be a relief for those that struggled under last year's monster snowfalls, though disappointing to snow sports enthusiasts.

A further worrying sign for snow lovers was spotted over the weekend...

That white ball in the middle of the photo attached to the little bush is a praying mantis egg case. Local knowledge has it that the mantis knows how much snow is coming and places the eggs at a suitable height to avoid getting buried in snow. Last year the egg cases were up high and there were near-record levels of snowfall. This year there are plenty to be found closer to the ground.

Old wives' tale or a nature's snow prediction....? We'll have to wait to see.

Back in the day....

History plays a big part in small town Japan, especially in Snow Country. Families have been here for generations, many of them running the same business which is passed down from parent to child. If you are lucky enough to stay in a ryokan in this area you are likely to see some photos from back in the day adorning the walls of the hotel. They are fascinating glimpses of the past and how the town used to look. The height of the snow next to some of the old buildings is staggering and makes you realize what a battle winter must have been. It is a far cry from the built up town we know today.

If you haven't seen some of these photos you can head on over to the website of Yuzawa Shoji, one of the real estate agents in Yuzawa (who'll also be able to help you if you are looking to buy or rent a holiday home in the mountains.

They have collected together a whole bunch of old photos and it is an amazing sight.

They have photos from several parts of Yuzawa, Iwappara, Nakazato, Futai and Naeba. If you have been to the area then you are sure to see some familiar sights. Today's resorts would do anything to have the crowds that you can see in some of the photos.

Koakasawa Onsen

As you probably know we are big fans of kicking back and relaxing in an onsen (just hit the onsen label to have a look at some of the ones on offer.) Snow Country is blessed with some amazing onsen which come in all shapes and sizes. But no matter how many different ones you go to, you can still be surprised.

Koakasawa Onsen definitely has the ability to surprise, mainly due to the color of its water, which is a muddy brown.

It is a fantastic little onsen tucked away in the mountains and certainly has a very rustic feel to it. It feels a bit strange soaking in a "dirty" onsen but is a great experience and a tremendous bath.

It is a really good time of year to visit because the roads leading up there are at their very best in autumn with beautiful colors on display all around.

Minakami Norn - Opening December 20th

New season, new poster and pamphlet for Norn in Minakami. This winter it is planning to open its lifts on Thursday December 20th.

It is right next to Minakami IC so if you are heading up to Snow Country by car it is one of the easiest resorts to reach. Just hop off the Kanetsu Expressway and you are just about there. It also has free parking which is always a bonus at a ski resort.

If you want to know a bit more about Norn and what goes on at the resort there are plenty of videos from last season over at their YouTube Channel. Or you can have a read of what one Snow Country visitor thought about their day at Norn.

Chrysanthemum in Yuzawa

The annual chrysanthemum contest entrants are adorning the East Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station at the moment. It is the 25th year of this display and is certainly an impressive sight. We mentioned it last year and always look forward to the show. This year is better than ever with masses of entrants and some truly impressive blooms that brighten up the station concourse.

If you have time on your hands before you catch you train you should check out the flowers. There are plenty of other distractions available in Echigo Yuzawa Station too - it is fast becoming a little hub within the town with restaurants, shops and exhibitions.

3 Mountain Pass

One of the better areas to ski in Snow Country is the 3 Mountains but it isn't as well known as it should be. It is a pass that covers Yuzawa Kogen, GALA Yuzawa and Ishiuchi. 3 resorts all on one ski pass and easily linked together. It is really good value and opens up a large amount of terrain to explore.

It also means you can pick and choose the best bits from each resort.

How about...

The convenience of the bullet train station at GALA

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An amazing lunch at Alpina in Yuzawa Kogen

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Fantastic terrain parks and half pipes in Ishiuchi

Yuzawa Kogen has a ropeway right in the center of town so it is super convenient. And with the slope-side accommodation in Ishiuchi you have a choice of staying in Yuzawa town or right on the snow.

Each one of these areas is good on its own, but bundle them all together and it will keep you occupied for the whole weekend.

 

Yuzawa Area Ski Resort Videos

Heading to Yuzawa for a bit of snow action this winter but not sure where to go?

Or just looking for some shots of snow to get you pumped up for your turns when the snow falls?

Then check out these video intros to some of the ski resorts in the Yuzawa area of Snow Country. There are guides to Yuzawa Kogen, Snow Wood, NASPA, Nakazato, Naeba, Ludens, Yuzawa Kogen, Iwappara, Ipponsugi, GALA, and Yuzawa Park.

Start getting excited about the snow.....

Snow in them there hills...

Good news for those that are impatiently waiting for the snow. Colder temperatures across Snow Country over the last few weeks have brought a dusting of the white stuff to the top of all the local mountains. When the sun is out it is quite balmy - perfect weather for hiking and checking out the autumn colors - but when the sun goes in, the temperatures drop to single digits and even colder over night, especially up high.

Keep an eye on the webcams at Kagura and Tashiro to see the onset of winter. Here's the shot from this morning....

Kagura will be the first resort in Snow Country to open this year (hopefully with lashing of deep, white snow). You'll be able to put some turns in there from November 23rd.

Echigo Akiyamago Driving Course

It is autumn here in Snow Country - it really is one of the most beautiful times of year and it is hard to put into words how amazing the colors of nature are in this region. It is a spectacular change from season to season. The white of winter being replaced by the vibrant greens of spring and summer and then the reds, yellows and oranges of autumn. The mountains are a great place to experience the changing of the seasons.

One of the top places in Snow Country to see the colors is Akiyamago. The intense colors draw sightseers and photographers from all over the country. For a fantastic day out you could do no better than the Echigo Akiyamago Driving Course. It takes in some great regional sights and just the scenery out of the window is worth the journey in itself.

Jabuchi Waterfall is a highlight

and Maekura Bridge is also a famous spot for stunning autumn color photos

There are 8 stops on the itinerary but plenty more in the area to see and do. An escape to the mountains in autumn is simply a must-do.

Unusual Onsen

Taking a long soak in a volcanic hot spring bath is one of the essential Japanese experiences and Snow Country is blessed with an abundance of onsen. Pretty much anywhere you stay will have an onsen either in-house or close by. (For those of you that are not au fait with the ins and outs of taking a bath Japanese style, check out this handy guide.)

There are some really famous onsen in these parts that have been soothing away aches and pain for centuries. Onsen have played an important role in both curative and preventative medicine is Japan. The different kinds of water all have different affects and there will usually be a notice on the wall explaining the benefits of each particular bath.

Here are a couple of the more unusual onsen on offer in these parts.

Yusenkaku

This accommodation backs onto the river. The river has hot springs pumping into it. You can dig around and create your own personal onsen pool right there. It doesn't get more natural than that.

Kanzan

Their bath has a giant picture window that offers a stunning vista of Mount Tanigawa towering above you.

Takahan

The source of the hot spring is the reason the ryokan is here. It sits atop its own onsen source with the water completely refilling the bath every 3 hours.

Chitose

This ryokan in Matsunoyama has a really famous outdoor bath that is high on the list of onsen aficionados. It really comes in to its own in winter when it is almost buried in snow.

Ryugon

This ryokan is one of the oldest ryokan around and also have great onsen. Their outdoor bath backs right onto the local mountains and is so famous that it was the location for a beer commercial a few years ago.