Tenjin Banked Slalom - Mar 2&3

The Tenjin Banked Slalom is one of the top races in Snow Country, drawing pro-riders from all over the globe. The course is designed for maximum thrills and spills, and whether racing or watching, it is a fantastic event.

The event runs all weekend and you can expect as much fun and action off the slopes as on it, as the racers and organisers go as hard in the evening as they do on the snow.

There are lots of prizes up for grabs and a long list of big name sponsors. We'll be there cheering behind the fences and marvelling at the high speed crashes, of which you can guarantee there will be many.

For more details on the event, entering (if you dare) or some photos of the action, check out the Tenjin Banked Slalom homepage or click through to their Facebook page.

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.

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.

Powder Ski Magazine Winter 2013

If you are getting excited about winter already then you probably want to start indulging your passion. The winter 2013 edition of PowderSki Magazine is out in Japan and Snow Country gets a mention.

Their cover story is all about tree runs. After some pretty mouthwatering glossy pictures they have a guide to the best tree runs in the country. As you would expect, Snow Country favorites Kagura and Tenjin get a mention but a few other lesser known resorts also make the cut. Houdaigi, Nakazato, Tsunan and Kandatsu all have column inches dedicated to them too.

If you are keen to find the best tree skiing and boarding this winter and discover some new stashes, this could well be a sound investment.

Stargazing on Tanigawadake

Here's a stunning experience for you. Spend the evening on top of one of Japan's top 100 peaks staring up at the awesome night sky without the big city glow interfering. This is what is on offer at Tanigawadake Tenjindaira from the end of August until the beginning of October.

It is a rare opportunity to be on top of a mountain at night, and incredibly serene. The sight of the skies above you on a clear night is incredible and not one you are likely to forget any time soon.

You need to book in advance but all the info you need is on the Minakami website so hit it up for dates, prices and full details.

This is an unusual but highly recommended way to spend an evening.

Minakami Vibes @ Tenjinaira - April 14 & 15

All day today and tomorrow up at Tenjindaira with the after party at Canyons Alpine Lodge tonight. It was a great weekend last year with some specially constructed park features and promises to be a good couple of days this year too.

Spring in Snow Country

Spring is traditionally a time of celebration in Snow Country - another long, hard winter survived and everything starts to renew. The snow melts and as soon as the fields are clear the next rice crop can go in. The green starts to return to return to the valleys after months of white.

There is still some skiing around. With a snow base of several meters it takes a while for it to all melt and the higher resorts will aim to stay open until the Golden Week holidays in early May - GALA Yuzawa, Kagura and Tenjindaira all intend to make the most of the snow and stay open for a while yet.

If you are looking for a break from the snow the outdoor adventure companies are all gearing up for a long summer of thrills and spills with Minakami being one of the best place in Japan for a dose of adrenalin with rafting, canyoning, bungy jumping, canoeing, mountain biking and paragliding all on offer from late April. If you are looking for a fun Golden Week then there are days of activities to be had.

Also as the snow melts mountain vegetables start to pop up and these are highly regarded as a seasonal delicacy. Local ryokan and restaurants will have these on the menu and should definitely be tried if you are here during spring.

Other things too come to light after months under several meters of snow...

Yubiso Snow Festival - March 11

Yubiso is a little township that is part of Minakami. You will have passed through it if you have been to the Tanigawadake Ropeway. It is also home to many of the rafting and outdoor adventure companies that have made Minakami a mecca for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Sunday March 11th is the Yubiso Snow Festival held in Yubiso Park on the way to Mount Tanigawa.

Giant snow sculptures of popular cartoon characters, a sledging zone for the kids and plenty of delicious local food are all there for you enjoyment. It runs from 10 to 3 on Sunday so pop along, and why not take in one of the famous onsen nearby? Or spend some time at one of Minakami's ski resorts that are all within a short drive from Yubiso. Work on the sculptures starts tomorrow so if you are heading up to Tenjin before the weekend you can get a sneak preview.

Right next to Yubiso Park is the Melody Road. Drive at 40 km per hour and grooves in the road play a famous Japanese tune. A pretty ingenious way to get people to keep their speed down.

Snow Country Wildlife II

Another great photo of the Japanese kamoshika on the Tanigawadake Tenjindaira blog.

A few days without snow recently and as you head up the lifts in various places you can see plenty of animal tracks around. More snow on the way as the next front moves in so these tracks will be covered up again shortly, but a good reminder that we are not the only ones in the mountains. I wonder how the local wildlife cope with the big snowfalls we are having at the moment?

Snow Country Wildlife

There are plenty of animals skulking around Snow Country and it is not uncommon to stumble across them when you are skiing. Rabbits, deer and monkeys frequently make appearances during winter and bears & boars can be sighted from time to time too.

Takaragawa Onsen have some Japanese bears at the onsen if you want to check them out. Monkeys are a pretty common sight, most often by the side of the road watching the skiers drive by. They also have quite a reputation for being mischievous.

Over at the Tanigawadake Ropeway website they have a picture of a kamoshika - one of the Japanese breeds of mountain deer. There are plenty of them over that way and they can often been seen as you ride the ropeway up to Tenjindaira ski field. You may well startle one as you explore the backcountry up that way.

Tenjin Banked Slalom - 3&4 March 2012

The FIS Freestyle World Cup in Naeba won't be the only exciting racing going on  in Snow Country this winter. The Tenjin Banked Slalom event will be another one that attracts some big names and will be a thrilling one to watch.

Groups of boarders are set off at the same time and battle down a meandering course (that is usually one of the off piste runs at Tenjin) that has been carefully sculpted down one of the gullies. It is fast-paced and super-competitive with plenty of spills. Check out their gallery page for some videos of the event.

There is also an after party at Canyons Alpine Lodge so you can party with the riders who go equally hard at night.