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.

Maiko 500 yen Night Ski

So for those of you that can't get enough time on the slopes Maiko have a pretty amazing deal on. 4 hours of night skiing for just 500 yen. That has to make it some of the cheapest skiing around.

The usual price is 1,500 yen for an adult so that is quite a nice saving.

Night skiing at Maiko runs every night until Sunday 3rd March (and for one more night on 9th March). The night ski ticket is valid from 4 - 8pm so you can get a decent session in. Night skiing is a great experience as you shoot down the runs under flood lights. It is fantastic if you get to do it in the snow too.

Maiko One Coin Nighta

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

+

An amazing lunch at Alpina in Yuzawa Kogen

+

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.....

GALA Yuzawa 2012/13 Opening - Dec 22nd

GALA Yuzawa have posted their opening date for the 2012/13 winter season - 22nd December is the date for your diary.

It is one of the easiest resorts to get to as there is a bullet train station right in the base of the resort. You spill out of the train right to the ticket counters, pick up your rental gear and then onto the gondola which will whisk you up to the snow. It is all very space-aged and high-tech. Tokyo to the snow in just over an hour.

It is also very foreigner friendly. If you don't speak Japanese they have dedicated ticket staff and rental staff who all speak English, as well as ski instructors and snowboard instructors.

If there is one member of the family who doesn't ski, fear not - there is a pool and onsen in the main building, or a restaurant at the top which has big windows, so they can relax with a book and a hot chocolate as they watch the family whizz past. There are also childcare facilities and a fenced off area for the kids to play.

A trip to the snow does not get much easier than this.

Kagura - Opens 23rd November (touch wood)

Kagura have posted their opening date for the 2012/13 season, and if the weather cooperates, this is set for Friday 23rd November, which is a public holiday.

This is just a planned date at the moment so we will have to wait and see what happens, but they have put in more snow-making facilities at the top, so as long as it is cold, there should be at least some base to have a slide on. The area covered by the snow-making has been extended which is good news for those that like a bit of early winter action. Some years we have even opened the season with powder turns at Kagura so fingers crossed for cold temps and early snow.

As a Prince Resort there will also be free lift tickets for under 12s which is a great new development for families with young kids.

No excuses not to get our there and blow the cobwebs off in time for your Christmas holiday in the snow. Why not grab a ski lesson or snowboard lesson while you are there?

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.

Snow Country Ski Resort

One of the joys of living in Snow Country is that you have a huge range of options when it comes to snow sports. But as with everything, too much choice can lead to difficulty with making decisions. Fear not though, there is a hand Ski Resort Guide to the rescue.

It has a couple of helpful features that will aid you in figuring out where is the best place to spend you days of fun on the slopes. You can search Snow Country resorts by activity - if your thing is nordic skiing or snow biking this guide will tell where to head. Or if great facilities for kids are top of your list, look no further.

Have a play with the guide or comparison chart and you are well on your way to winter happiness. Of course, checking them all out over the course of the winter would also be a pretty good option.

Bring on the snow!

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...

A Sunny Day at Norn - Guest Post by Pelle

Pelle has been spending some time in Snow Country of late and was kind enough to let us know about his day at Minakami Norn

A sunny day at Norn.

We had the opportunity to spend a day skiing at Norn Ski Resort in Minakami after a relaxing stay at the ryokan Tatsumikan  in Kamimoku. For dinner we had food grilled over charcoal and nicely presented like it´s customary at ryokans and for breakfast we had the dazzling view from the top floor dining room of Tanigawa-dake bathed in sunshine. We knew then that it would be a fine day for trying out the slopes at Norn. Even if little English was spoken at the resort we managed to rent our skis without too much trouble. A few phrases and sign language gets you a long way. Also there is a form that you have to fill out with name, shoe size, length and weight that helped.

The ski resort is rather smallish with only four lifts of which three were running on the day we spent there.  Norn has six courses ranging from beginner to expert and gives a good range of experience even on such a small number of courses.  They have a small area with a snowboarding park and a kids area. Most of the courses were really good and fun to ride and I never felt it was too small for a day of skiing. We went on a Friday and there were quite a few others in the slopes but we never had to queue at the lifts. Also the view from Norn was amazing, I don’t think any photo can do it justice but I did try to capture it.

Norn runs free shuttle busses to and from both Minakami station on the local Joetsu line and Jomo-Kogen station on the Joetsu Skinkansen line. They have most facilities you would want in a ski resort except for an onsen.

In all we had a great day skiing at Norn and even if the staff spoke little if any English that was never a problem. Everyone was very nice and helpful so we left Norn with a smile on our faces.