Round the clock skiing at Kandatsu

Every year there is another ski resort marketing idea to help boost numbers at one of the resorts in the region. It is a constant battle to keep things interesting and with so much choice for places to ski every resort is battling hard to make themselves stand out.

This years interesting marketing ploy goes to Kandatsu who have round the clock skiing on weekends. Kicking off early January they will be shut on Friday's during the day. They will open up Friday evening at 6pm so you can roll out of work onto the slopes. It will be non-stop sliding throughout the night (except for a quick break from 4am - 5.30am.) The lifts will then run from 5.30am to 4.30pm on Saturday. From 4.30 you have a bit of time to jump in the onsen and rest those weary legs before it is all systems go from 6.pm for a repeat of the previous day's schedule.

There are several different tickets so you don't have to do the whole marathon. For those that want to maximize their weekend on the slope this is great news, and even if you want to get some cheeky turns in at unconventional times, there are plenty of options now.

Snow is a Treasure

Interesting article  (The New York Times) from the big winter back in 2006 when record amounts of snow fell, on the struggle to keep on top of the snow clearing.

It is a task that takes massive amounts of manpower, even in this day and age, but must have been a huge endeavor before road sprinklers and snow clearing machines.

The article is written about Tsunan which is consistently up there as one of the snowy places in Japan.

Some great recollections from the older residents, and although they admit that it is a constant battle against the winter snow, it is still seen as a treasure.

Banana Week at Joetsu Kokusai & Iwappara

Joetsu Kokusai and Iwappara are both resorts that make a special effort for families. There are great learner areas, dedicated sledging zones and play areas just for the children. They also both have on-snow accommodation which is a great boon if you are having to deal with young ones and all the gear that comes with a winter holiday.

This winter they add another toy to their play chests with the arrival of a banana boat, which is sure to be a big hit.

Save the date - how often to you get to ride a banana with a giant cartoon pig???

New Year in Japan

It is almost Christmas already! Where has the year gone? Everything in Snow Country is starting to hit its winter stride. There has been a good early snowfall which has allowed several resorts to open, and the rest are planning to start their lifts this weekend.

New Year is a pretty busy time in the resorts. The peak holiday period this year will probably start around 29th December, so if you are planning to spend the New Year's Period in the snow, make sure you have your hotel booking sorted in advance.

As a time of celebration there is always great food on offer around New Year and you are also likely to catch some good fireworks. These always looking amazing with snowy mountains as a backdrop.

Here is a list of some NY Fireworks if you are lucky enough to be in the area. Don't worry if you don't know when they start, you'll most definitely hear them.

December 31st

Yuzawa Park Ski Resort

NASPA Ski Garden

January 2nd

Kandatsu Kogen Ski Resort

Enjoy

Iwappara Opens Tomorrow - Dec 14th 2012

If you are a ski resort facing the uncertainties of early season snow you have a few choices as to your opening dates

• post an early one and face an embarrassing postponement in case of late snow
• post a late one and stick to it no matter what
• keep quiet and see what the snow does - react accordingly

This third option was the one Iwappara went for, keeping any trace of an opening date off their website this year. With all this early snow though they are ready for their 2012/13 winter opening - and it is tomorrow.

Good news indeed for fans of wide open runs and ski-in, ski-out accommodation. Or it also a great place for a quick day on the snow if you are planning a day-return ski trip.

The Snow Has Arrived

Every year there is a period of speculation about what this season will bring, and more importantly, when it will start. The long range forecast is carefully studied, nature's signs are taken into account and everyone has an opinion. Invariably in Snow Country the heaven's suddenly open and masses of white stuff falls out of the sky. That has been the case over  the last couple of days.

It is perfect timing for many of the resorts who are planning on opening soon and need a bit more of a base. It is also a boon for those resorts that are open with many people shooting up to this area for the first real powder day of the season. Kagura, which has been open since late November, is one of the higher resorts around and get consistently good snow. It is a popular destination for day return trips from Tokyo and the resorts it links up with, Tashiro and Naeba, both opened this past weekend. All three resorts are offering free ski passes for children this year which make them great locations for the family ski trip.

Naeba is also offering free lift tickets for 19 year olds

It's open season now so get up here and enjoy the snow.

All things igloo at Naeba

There is a great deal going on in January around Snow Country with many places choosing to stage their events during this popular month to ski.

Another yearly favorite is the Kamakura Festival at Naeba. A kamakura is a Japanese style igloo, and a whole host of them will be decorating the bottom of the slopes at Naeba for a couple of weeks.

For a house made of snow they get pretty snug and welcoming so it is great to check them out and see what a traditional snow shelter is like. There are also mochi making nights, treasure hunts, a candle night, fireworks, food and drinks in and around the kamakuras. You can even learn how to make one if you are interested.

They are impressive structures so if you are at Naeba (enjoying the free lift tickets for children this year)  pop your skis off to get a closer look.

Winter fun in Minakami

Minakami has a fantastic reputation as an outdoor adventure paradise. Much of its fame comes from the abundance of activities in summer. It is sometimes overlooked as a great winter destination too. Whether you are looking for fun on the slopes, a gondola ride to the top of the mountains, some extreme backcountry riding or a peaceful snowshoe tour, there is plenty to keep everyone in the family occupied.

There are lots of ski resorts in the area too. In fact, did you know that Minakmi boasts 10 resorts in all? And though you may not have heard of all of them, each of them is worth a visit.

Tenjindaira has already opened but the other resorts won't be far behind. Below are the planned opening dates for the other 9 Minakami ski resorts.

Dec 15th - Houdaigi
Dec 20th - Norn
Dec 21st - White Valley, and Okutone
Dec 22nd - Minakami Kogen, Fujiwara, Oana, and Akasawa
Depending on snow - Kanosawa

There is also plenty of great accommodation in Minakami if you are looking for a memorable stay.

Happy My Birthday in Echigo Yuzawa

If you are lucky enough to be in Yuzawa on your birthday you can reap the rewards this year. From December 10th until April 30th anyone with a birthday (and photo ID to prove it) can take advantage of the Happy My Birthday Campaign.

Pop into the Yukiguni Kankou Sha just outside the West Exit of the Station on your birthday with your ID and you could be the recipient of a free day pass, a onsen ticket and plenty of other goodies. There are a whole bunch of ski resorts, restaurants, hotels and shops that are taking part in the campaign so free food and drinks could be yours too.

A Safe and Prosperous Season

Winter is just around the corner. Some resorts have already opened and some are just waiting for one big snowfall to get their season cranking. It is a busy time of year for the ski resorts and any help is much appreciated. Many resorts have a ceremony to encourage a safe and prosperous season and that was the case today at GALA Yuzawa.

Everyone involved in the operation for the upcoming season, led by a priest from the local temple, raised a glass of sake and said a prayer for Winter 2013.

It is a big year for GALA and for the resorts in the area with celebrations for 100 years of skiing in the region still taking place. This November was also the thirtieth anniversary for the Joetsu Shinkansen line, that trusty workhorse that whisks people up from the capital to the mountains in just over an hour. You step off the bullet train right into the base of GALA's base building - an amazing set-up.

Snow Country Freak magazine

The bizarrely titled Snow Country Freak magazine have just brought out their winter issue. It is a free guide to everything that is going on in Snow Country over winter. Unfortunately it is only in Japanese but it is a wealth of useful information if you can get someone to help you decipher it.

Contents -

"500 yen off" voucher for day passes at Yuzawa Nakazato, Maiko or Muikamachi Ski Resorts
Maps of the area
Event lists by month
Ski Resort Events
The best meals on the slopes
A voucher for the one day upgrade pack at GALA (lift ticket, 500 yen voucher, and discounts off rental and lessons.)
Activity guide
Onsen guide
Gift guide

You should be able to see this free magazine online too

Link to us

Feel free to post a link to this blog on your homepage if you think your site visitors would be fascinated by the fast-paced goings-on in Snow Country. I know it is difficult to keep up with everything that is going on but we do our best.

There is a full range of banners and the code you need to add the link to a page on your site at this page or drop us a line and we can send you anything else that you need.

Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway

Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway is a popular spot for tourists visiting Yuzawa in all seasons. Once the largest gondola in the world, holding 160 passengers, it whisks you up to the top of the mountains that flank Yuzawa town. From there you get an amazing view of the Uonuma valley below.

It pretty much runs all year round with a few short breaks for routine maintenance. They have just finished operation for Green Season 2012 and will shortly be up and running for Winter 2012/2013 - the maintenance period is set for Nov 26 2012 - Dec 14 2012.

Head up to the top to enjoy the views, or have a play in the snow. If you are a skier or snowboarder you can spend some time at Yuzawa Kogen ski resort, which has a run all the way back down to village level. It also has a gondola that takes you across to GALA Yuzawa resort as part of the 3 Mountains area. There are some great restaurants at the top of the ropeway too.

Being right in the center of Yuzawa it couldn't be more convenient...

It's December

December arrives in style with snow falling in Snow Country this morning. The winter season is fast approaching and there are people wandering around with skis and snowboards which is always a cheering sight.

Kagura has been open for a week but the season also starts today with Tenjindaira opening their first lift of the 2012/13 winter.

It looks like there is more snow on the way for the coming week so we can hope for a few more resorts to open their doors shortly.

Snow Country Omiyage

Omiyage is very Japanese - the tradition of buying a small gift from wherever you go to give to your family or workmates. It is fantastic when people come round with a small taste of where they have been and you get to try some really interesting little snacks.

Everywhere you go in Snow Country you will see selections of individually wrapped sweets to take away with you. The rice and sake are also popular gifts to give from this region.

Here's an unusual option that you can get locally, similar to the bamboo-wrapped sticky rice sweet (sasadango) is this bamboo-wrapped sweet - sasaame.

Boiled sweets with an unusual flavor folded into a dried bamboo grass leaf - really tasty and very interesting packaging. They are sure to raise some eyebrows as a gift but everyone we gave them too thought they were delicious too.

If you make it up to Snow Country, don't forget to pick up some kind of souvenir to take away with you

Winter Preparations

It is cold in Snow Country at the moment. The leaves are falling and there have already been some snow showers down low. Higher resorts are already starting to get their lifts fired up for the season.

There is a bit of siege atmosphere in Snow Country at this time of year. The snows are not far off and there is plenty of preparation to get done first.

As you walk around you will see trees and bushes covered in planks of wood. The sheer weight of the snow can easily damage these plants so proud owners go to great lengths to protect them.

Another key element to battling the snow is the water that is pumped out of the middle of the roads. Without this driving around would be a nightmare, and just looking at some of the old photos you can see what happens if you don't stay on top of the snow clearing. At this time of year the water systems are turned on again to clean out the accumulated dirt of the warmer months. Local residents get together and make sure their area of town is ready to go.

If you are coming to Snow Country in winter it is a good idea to pack some decent footwear. With heavy snow and lots of water about the footwear of choice for locals is the trusty gumboot. It may not be fashionable but dry feet are worth any sacrifice. Blend in with the locals with a cheap pair of rubber boots from the local hardware store. Your feet will thank you.