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.