Helmet Cam Rental at GALA

The internet is awash with home videos of skiers and boarders carving it up on the mountain and now you too can get in on the action.

GALA Yuzawa have teamed up with Contour to offer camera rental this season.

You'll need some ID and 2,000 yen, and then you'll be the proud possessor of a Contour head cam and mount for a day. It comes with an SD card to capture the thrills and spills. Make yourself the star of the show, capture the face shots as you rip through the powder or as you kill it in the park. It's great fun to watch afterwards and you can show friends and family what a great time you had in Snow Country.

GALA links up to Ishiuchi Maruyama and Yuzawa Kogen as part of the 3 Mountains Area so there is plenty of terrain for you to capture on film.

If you are interested, head up to the Information Desk at the Cheers Building at the top of the gondola.
More info (in Japanese).

Ride On Series at Ishiuchi

The cool kids are in the park these days and there are plenty of opportunities for them to show what they are made of in Snow Country. There are competitions throughout the season and almost every resort these days boasts a terrain park of one form or another.

One of the best in this area is Ishiuchi Maruyama. It boasts 2 half pipes, a couple of parks and lots of good features for freestylers.

They also host the Yonex Ride On Series which is three events in January, February and March. If you think you have what it takes fill out an entry form and book your place. If not, turn up and enjoy the action from the safety of the side. It is fantastic to watch and some of the tricks are breathtaking.

January 27th - Big Air
February 24th - Technical Trial
March 24th - Half Pipe

Yonex Ride On at Ishiuchi Maruyama

Day Return Packages to Yuzawa Nakazato

The beauty of skiing in Snow Country is that it is so easy to get to and is therefore possible to do as a day trip from Tokyo. A day on the slopes can easily fit into the busiest itinerary and needs no special accommodation arrangements. Kagura and GALA are the well-known options for day return skiing but there are plenty of other resorts that offer the same package and have their own benefits. One great option that is off the radar is the day trip to Yuzawa Nakazato.

If you have ever driven in this area you will have seen this resort on your right as you approach the Yuzawa IC after the long tunnel. It also has its own JR line station right next to the resort. The slopes range across the slopes of the local mountains and there is plenty to explore with a good mix of terrain. There is lots of space for kids to play in the snow and some old train carriages make a novel place to take a breather. It is one of those resorts that people have heard of but never tried. Those that have given it a go often keep coming back.

The package makes everything as easy as possible for you.
Bullet train tickets, pick up from Echigo Yuzawa station, rental equipment, and lift passes.
For full details and prices by date, hit up the link.

Snow Camping at Maiko

We are big advocates of the outdoor life and open to new experiences so were pretty excited when we got wind of camping on the snow.

This weekend at Maiko they are offering the chance to get a taste of the winter with some snow camping and cooking in the open air. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but with the right preparations and equipment you will be amazed by how cosy it is. Also with a day of activity in the great outdoors the food that you prepare and cook slowly in your Dutch Oven will be some of the best you have ever tasted.

You get to learn how to pitch a tent in the snow, cook with a Dutch Oven and then there is also a snowshoe tour and the chance to play a bit of disc golf. If that is not a great day out on the snow with a difference, we don't know what is...

Maiko Snow Camping and Dutch Oven Workshop in Japanese

Children's Day at GALA - 20th Jan

The third Sunday of every month is Children's Day at GALA Yuzawa which means that children of elementary school age will get a free lift ticket for the day.

A great excuse to bring the family up to the mountains for the day. There is also a dedicated sledding area and play area for the youngsters at the top of the gondola. Both of these are in sight of the restaurant so mum and dad can enjoy a quick sit down while the kids get their fill of the white stuff.

This is every month so if you are looking for a regular break with the kids, the dates for the diary are:
Sunday 20th January
Sunday 17th February
Sunday 17th March
Sunday 21st April

Chalet La Neige in Minakami

If you are looking for the complete break this winter you should be considering ski-in, ski-out accommodation on the side of a ski resort. Add in amazing cuisine, friendly English speaking hosts and a log fire and you are guaranteed a great time. One place that ticks all these boxes and many more is Chalet La Neige in Minakami.

It is right on the slopes of Houdaigi Ski Resort which is the biggest and best in that area. Great beginner slopes for the learners and some really challenging courses for the more experienced. Stunning views over the surrounding mountains too.

The chalet is cosy with spacious rooms with real beds. The decor is stylish and you would be forgiven if you forgot you were in Japan for a moment, so much does it resemble the European chalet style.

Time on the slopes is the big draw for a winter break but once you have eaten here you will constantly be counting the hours until the next delicious dinner. It really is that good. European-influenced dishes that  are the perfect end to the perfect day.

Highly recommended and it is easy to see why they have such a loyal customer base who keep coming back for more.

Carrots from under the snow

Food and cuisine are important parts of life and culture in these parts. Many of the foods that are traditional to this area are tied up in the climate and geography of the region - warming dishes for the long winter months and ways of preserving ingredients to last until after the snow melts.

There are plenty of dishes and treats to explore and some of them are pretty unique. One that pops up again and again are carrots that have spent the winter under the snow.

An accidental discovery but one that meant sweeter, tastier carrots. It is now common practice in these parts and if you are staying up this way you are likely to come across them at some point in your travels. You can even buy candy made from them and there are also places that put them in their soba noodle mix!

For more of an explanation, check out this page at snow-country.jp

Tsunan Snow Festival 2013 - March 2

We seem to be on a bit of a roll with snow festival dates at the moment so just to make sure nowhere gets left out, here's the save the date for the Tsunan Snow Festival - March 2nd

Live music, treasure hunts, food and drink, igloos, snowmobiles and other winter-themed goodies. The really cool thing at the Tsunan Festival is the sky lanterns. These clever contraptions lift themselves up with their own hot air and hundreds of them illuminate the night sky. It is an amazing sight and one that you will not forget in a hurry.

Tsunan is constantly up there as one of the snowiest places in Japan so a trip here can be an eye-opening experience.

Yuzawa Onsen Snow Festival - March 2nd

Here's a date for the diary - Saturday March 2nd. It seems a long way off but will be here before you know it. It is the date for the 61st Yuzawa Onsen Snow Festival which is always a great event.

The main activities take place around Yuzawa Kogen and Nunoba Ski Fields, with fireworks, candle displays, snow sculptures and a torchlight descent. There is also a whole street of food stalls where you can get some nice warming drinks and snacks - dried fish in hot sake anyone? Last year there was a clash between the Yuzawa Snow Festival and the Naked Man Festival in Urasa so the food stall were a bit few and far between. This year though the Naked Man Festival is on the Sunday so there should be plenty of eats. If you are here for the weekend it would be a good double-header of festivals.

Tokamachi Snow Festival 2013 - 15-17 Feb

Another "Save the Date" post so you don't miss out on the best of Snow Country this winter. One of Japan's most impressive snow festivals takes place in Tokamachi every year and it is certainly worth seeing.

There is masses going on all weekend so you'll want to check out the event schedule a little closer to the time to make sure you are in the right place. There are snow carvings, a carnival, fireworks and loads of other events in and around the town.

There are some amazing sights and you really need to see some of the creations in person to fully appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them. Check out some of these images to whet your appetite.

Tokamachi Snow Festival

Candle Live 13 - January 19th

One of Yuzawa's best loved winter events is just around the corner.

A festival of light and sound, the center of Yuzawa is lit up by over 10,000 candles. It is an amazing sight with points of light shining in the snow. It kicks off around 1800 on Saturday January 19th and will be in the Chuo Park again this year just by the Culture Center.

There will be food, live music and it always draws plenty of visitors. Wrap up warm and enjoy the show.

A Snowy Start to 2013

One of the favorite pastimes of snow-lovers is making predictions about what each winter will bring. There are many methods of forecasting but a wait-and-see approach is our one of choice.

So far it has been a good season for skiers and boarders and conditions right now are fantastic. We had early snow in December which allowed the resorts to put down a good base and open on schedule, and since then there have been regular top-ups of snow. Most of these have been followed by a few days of blue skies and some pink, sunburned faces have been spotted around town.

We are just coming to the end of a 3 day storm that has dumped masses of snow on Snow Country with over a meter falling in the past few days. Some of the off-piste runs have been almost too deep to ski. According to the forecast we have a couple of days to clear away the built up snow before another big snowfall is expected to arrive mid-week.

It is a great time to hit the slopes. The New Year holiday crowds have thinned and conditions right now are first rate. Time to enjoy the snow in Snow Country and see why it has earned that name.

Bridegroom Tossing - Jan 15th

Winter has a whole host of festivals and the first ones to come to mind are the snow festivals that dot the calendar here in Snow Country. However there are plenty more around and many of them are a little more obscure. It might have something to do with being cooped up in your home trying to deal with mountains of snow.

Matsunoyama Onsen certainly has one of the more "out there" winter celebrations. Any male resident of the village who was married in the previous year is thrown down a snow bank!

As if marriage wasn't tough enough already...

This takes place at about 2pm. Straight after that people get the ash from the bonfire, mix it with a little snow, and go around painting each other faces with it, chanting "Congratulation".

It is quite a sight, and a great time is had by all. Head up there for a very interesting day.

10 Great Reasons to Go Skiing in Japan

We've mentioned JapanTourist before - articles and photo stories about life and places in Japan, written by people who live here. For those of you who are weighing up a winter trip to Japan, here are 10 reasons to stop delaying and get over here.

You don't just have to take our word for it. Snow, onsen, backcountry and food all get a mention, and also friendliness/customer service. It is just a great all-round experience, and no matter what you are looking for, there is bound to be an area or resort that caters to your wishes as there are so many of them.

Full article. And there are plenty of other pieces related to Snow Country if you are interested.

Snow Marathon in Tokamachi

Looking for a New Year's challenge? How about a Snow Marathon for a bracing way to welcome in 2013. If this sounds like your idea of fun you need to be in Tokamachi tomorrow for their New Snow Marathon.

There are a whole bunch of distances on offer from the half marathon down to a 3km so there is something from everyone, even the kids. With some heavy snow falling at the end of December there are sure to be some great views of Snow Country and once you finish you will be greeted back at base with a steaming bowl of pork soup and some freshly made mochi. That alone is almost enough to get me to don my running gear.