Yuzawa Summer Festival 2014

We're in the Obon Holidays at the moment which means Summer Festivals. Yuzawa's Summer Matsuri in on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th August. The main area for the Festival is just outside the East Exit of Echigo-Yuzawa Station. There are things going on throughout the day but one of the highlights will be the Fireworks which start at around 20:00 on Friday night.

There will also be dancing, drums and live music, plenty of stalls selling festival food, and the whole town will be out in force.

The shrine will be making its way around town too, both the children's one and the main one. If you fancy helping out with this, volunteers are always needed.

Hopefully see you there.

Yuzawa Area Bus Tours

Yuzawa is incredibly convenient to get to by train being just over an hour from Tokyo by shinkansen. Once you are here though there is so much more to see if you can get out and about. You could always hire a bike or a car, but there is another option if you are looking for a way to see some of the best sights in the area - the town bus tour.

The guides are locals and will show you around the area that they know so well. There are several different tours to choose from with usually a couple of different ones going out each day, AM (0930 departure) and PM (1330 departure). Shrines, museums, temples, beauty spots and view points are all on the different itineraries.

The tours run daily through the Golden Week holidays starting at the end of April, and then Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from mid-May until mid-July. It is a great way to spend part of your day and you will discover some amazing places. Pop into the Information Center outside the West Exit of Echigo Yuzawa Station for more details.

Billabong Attack 13 at Kagura - March 30th

Some big names on the snowboarding circuit will be in Kagura for a big air competition on Saturday March 30th for this year's installment of the Billabong Attack Contest.

This is a big air contest with the emphasis on "big". Last year saw some amazing tricks thrown down and this year is sure to see more of the same. It is pro riders pulling out their very best moves in front of an appreciative crowd, so a great atmosphere guaranteed if you are just there to watch.

The competition runs from 0900 until the early afternoon. Check out the Billabong Attack 13 website for full details (and check out the videos of last year's action to see what you have to look forward to...)

Fuji Rock 2013 - 26-28 July

It is never too early to start on your preparations for Fuji Rock. This incredibly popular music festival draws crowds from all over the world and accommodation books up quickly, so if you want to get a bed close to the festival venue, it is a good time to set the ball in motion. The dates for the Fuji Rock Festival 2013 are Friday 26th July, Saturday 27th July and Sunday 28th July.

Line up news is starting to come on line so if you are keeping an eye out for a certain artist then the anticipation can begin.

It is an amazing event that gets big name acts across many genres of music. There are stages dotted around the forests of Naeba Ski Resort and hordes of people descend on the Yuzawa area. There are buses from Echigo Yuzawa Station so you can stay up at Naeba or in and around the main Yuzawa town area. Or for the true festival experience, pack your tent and get ready to wash in the mountain streams of Snow Country!

Kagura Heliski 2013

Snow, helicopters, skiing and boarding...... if you like the sound of those things and would like them all together then you need to head off to Kagura for the middle of April. The Kagura Heliski Weekend is back and scheduled for April 12, 13 & 14.

This is a great weekend and a chance to ski the back ridge of Kagura that most people only get to look at.

If you fancy earning your turns with a bit of sweat and legwork then you can get involved in the hike up tour from the beginning of April. The top lift of Kagura has been open for a while so the hike to the top is shorter than in mid-winter and the views from the top are stunning.

We've had some blue skies of late and those fair weather skiers and boarders have been congregating on the deck at the top of the Kagura gondola with a cold drink in hand working on their tans. You have to love a bit of spring snow action.....

Kagura Heliski Homepage

Adaptive Skiing in Snow Country

We get enquiries about adapative snowsports in Snow Country. People are keen to know, with all the resorts around, if there are facilities for adaptive skiers and boarders.

The good news that there is with two schools covering resorts in different areas.

If you are up in Yuzawa the people to talk to are NPO Neige who run both summer and winter activities in the area.

Down in the Minakami area there is Palnetwork who cover all the resorts down there including Houdaigi, Norn, Okutone, Tenjindaira and Minakami Kogen.

There are plenty of options out there and both school would be good to talk to if you need specific advice.

Yuzawa Kogen Downhill Race - Mar 31

For any budding racers out there looking for a fun day on the slopes, the 52nd Yuzawa Kogen Downhill Race is slated for the Sunday March 31st.

It is a fun race that is open to everyone which takes place on a gentle slope at the top of the resort. It is over 2 kms long and is run against the clock. If you have never taken part in a race before this could be a great chance for your debut. Don your bib and feel the excitement as you wait for the beeps in the starting gate.

Yuzawa Kogen has some of the best views of the valley in the whole area so if we get good spring weather on that Sunday it will be a fantastic day out.

Snow Picnic at GALA Yuzawa - Apr 6 & Apr 21

Spring, sun, snow, stunning views and beautiful nature.... It will all be on offer at GALA in April. It is a long season over there with the ski slopes planning to be open through the Golden Week holidays at the beginning of May. There is also plenty going on off the slopes. As part of their series of events for women they are running a couple of snow trekking and picnic events on April 6th and April 21st.

Make your way through the forests at the top of the resort to a special view point with stunning views of the valley and surrounding mountains. Enjoy a specially prepared picnic on a table crafted of snow.

It was a great success last year and sure to be another great couple of days this time around.

Yuzawa Snowmobile Land

If you haven't tried snowmobiling before you should definitely give it a go. Goodbye peace and tranquility, hello revving engines and the sound of the wind rushing past. Yuzawa Snowmobile Land is a great location for your first snowmobile excursion, or if you have done it before, has plenty of terrain to let you open up the throttle.

If you've driven to Iwappara from the center of Yuzawa you may well have driven past it. They are located just by the Aurora Water Slide pool. The large carpark serves as the base where you learn the basics of snowmobile operation, and once you have mastered that, they have several other areas for you to explore. Ungroomed areas with deep snow, trails and terrain courses will all keep things interesting.

It is a great activity for all ages and will certainly give you something to boast about when you get home.

SBJonSnow/Airmix at GALA - Mar 15-17

There is a busy competition schedule around Snow Country throughout winter with lots of chances for aspiring snowboarders to try their hand against the best riders out there. Then there are times when the pros hit the slopes and show how it is really done. March 15th to March 17th will see some of the top riders in Japan take to the skies above Yuzawa, and if previous performances are anything to go by it will be amazing - SBJonSnow & Airmix

It is a chance to see some of the guys you may have watched in videos and seen in magazines to some unbelievably big tricks. The jumps they use are specially crafted for this event.

If you get the chance, find a spot nearby, take your skis off and just sit down to watch. You will be amazed.

Check out the video from last year to get excited.

GALA Spine Session - Feb 23

For those of you that either enjoy hurling yourself of giant jumps crafted of snow, or for those of you who enjoy watching other people hurling themselves off said jumps, the GALA Spine Session this weekend is probably the place you want to be.

It is a 2,000 yen entry fee for those of you feeling brave and will surely be a great day down in the GALA Park. There are some talented riders in the area keen to show what they are made of and it will also draw competitors from much further afield so you can expect some real gravity defying stuff.

It starts at 0900 so if you find yourself in Yuzawa this weekend, head up to GALA and enjoy the show.

Nakazato Snow Carnival - Mar 9

March is a great time to enjoy yourself in the mountains in Japan. There is still good snow but the weather is getting more springlike and there area always plenty of off-snow events and festivals to participate in.

The evening of Saturday March 9th is the Nakazato Snow Carnival.

There will be mochi making, warming winter soups and drinks, fireworks, a torch light descent and plenty of other spectacles to enjoy.

If you have never been to Nakazato before you should definitely check it out. Good skiing, loads of accommodation close by and a very family friendly atmosphere. It is not one of the best known resorts in the area but people that go there often return.

Strawberries in Yuzawa

Valentine's Day is just around the corner which means gifts of chocolates and cookies will change hands. (In Japan it is usually the women who buy the goodies on Valentine's Day and then the men return the favor on White Day on March 14th.)

If you are looking for a less sugary but incredibly sweet gift for your loved one, how about some hand-picked strawberries from Yuzawa's very own Pick Your Own.

The strawberries are grown in glass houses and are ready to pick from mid-January. Resident bees keep everything ticking over as it should and even surrounded by snow, you can enjoy juicy, sweet strawberries - it's quite an experience for those of us who think of strawberries as a summer fruit.

It is worth a visit, and for the gluttons among you, the eat-as-much-as-you-can deal is a great challenge. For those with more control, you can pick them and take them away.

It usually runs until sometime in June so plenty of opportunity to get covered in strawberry juice yet.

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).

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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???