SnowJapan.Com Newsletter
6th November 2003
www.snowjapan.com - the ultimate guide to winter sports in japan
   
Online details of updated for the 2004 season can be found here.

Thank you for subscribing to the SnowJapan.Com Newsletter. Winter is almost with us and as usual in early November, Snow Japan has been updated with new features and functionality added in time for the season. The changes to the site are outlined in this Newsletter and on this page, but before we go into details we bring you good news of our first fantastic Giveaway on SnowJapan for the season. Read on......

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
 WIN A HOLIDAY IN HOKKAIDO!
 Introducing "TRIP MAKER"
 Introducing "BUDDY LIST"
 Other changes & modifications to the site


WIN A HOLIDAY AT CLUB MED
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/special.php

What a great way to start the season! One lucky Insider - with friend – will be on their way to Club Med in Sahoro, Hokkaido this winter for a 2 day 3 night holiday including:

- Accommodation;
- Superb cuisine 3 times daily;
- Unlimited wines & soft drinks with lunch & dinner;
- Free pass for gondola & lift riders;
- Free ski & snowboard schools;
- Free indoor sports tuition & equipment;
- Indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, outdoor jacuzzi;
- Fabulous entertainment every night;
- Children's clubs from 4 years old.

For all the details, check out the Specials page, http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/special.php.

Good luck! 
And look forward to many more great giveaways on Snow Japan this winter....


INTRODUCING "TRIP MAKER":
Helping you get to the slopes

Brand new for 2004 - and developed specifically for the Snow Japan - a new feature that we have called "TRIP MAKER" is now online.

Over the last few years we have received comments and requests from users wanting to find ways to find new friends and an easy way to organise a trip to the snow. Trip Maker has been developed in response to those comments.

Using Trip Maker, any Snow Japan Insider can create a new Trip – you can specify details of the trip such as where you are going to, when you are going, how you intend to get there, how many spaces you might have in your car, etc.   Other users can then request to join your Trip.  The system is fully automated.

We hope that the end result will be that by using Trip Maker people will be able to easily organise trips to snow resorts with friends, fill up those empty spaces in your car, or just find new like-minded friends to travel with to the mountains.   Most of all, we hope this new functionality is used and some fun trips result from it!

>> For more information about Trip Maker:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/tripmaker.html
>> The main Trip Maker page on Snow Japan:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/View-All-User-Car-Pool.php


INTRODUCING "BUDDY LIST":

A new Buddy system has been developed within the Insider section of the site.  The system that we have created allows two people to be listed on each other's "Buddy List".  

For example, Mr A can send a request to Ms B, asking her to become Buddies.  If Ms B accepts the request, then they will both be automatically added to each other's Buddy List.  Once someone is on your Buddy List, you will be able to keep track of each others member page updates, journal postings, and Trip Maker participation.  For more details on how this works, check out the following:

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/View-Full-Buddy-List.php
(You need to be logged in to Insider to be able to access the above page. It's free, you can login/register here - http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/login.php)


OTHER MAIN CHANGES TO SNOWJAPAN:

Insider - the Snow Japan Members section - has seen some improvements and refinements since last season.   Below are some of the main changes:

>>  INSIDER - CONTROL PANEL:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/Membermenu.php
The main Insider member control panel page has been redesigned to make navigation easier.

>>  INSIDER - MINI CONTROL PANEL ON EACH PAGE:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/Membermenu.php
You will now find a mini-control panel menu on the right hand side of each Insider page when you are logged in to Insider, making navigation much easier than before.

>>  INSIDER - POSTING PHOTOGRAPHS:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/Membermenu.php
As an Insider, you can now post up to 20 photographs on your Insider page.

>>  INSIDER MEMBER PAGES "UNLOCKED":
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/personalpage_list.php
All member pages have now been "unlocked" - meaning that Snow Japan users who are not logged into Insider are now also able to view member pages. This means that your member page will be seen by more people!

>>  NEW MAIN PAGE OF THE SITE:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/index.php
The main page of SnowJapan.Com has been redesigned and now acts as a central point for the site, bringing together all of the recent updates on one page.

>>  OTHERS
There have been various other refinements to the functionality in the Insider section that we hope will enhance the experience and make using it easier - go use it all and find them out!

>> WEATHER UPDATES:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/daily/index.html
Our weather updates for the 2003/4 season have already started.  The weekly weather forecasts for 600 resorts are now updated three times a day, with snow depth info to be added later on in November.  Over the next few weeks also look out for more Now! Daily Reports as the snow starts to fall.


We hope you enjoy the new features on the site.  If you have any comments about SnowJapan.Com or encounter any problems using our site, please let us know.  Either email us at editor@snowjapan.com or fill out an online comments form.

Most of all – have a fantastic winter!

Editor
SnowJapan.Com
editor@snowjapan.com
www.snowjapan.com