Myoko Guy

I detest the long stringy paste in natto. Looks like my snot one week into a heavy head cold.

Excellent choice Rob, although I tend to go for a big frosty mug (or 2 or 3) of chu-hai afterwards.

Yep, second and third on the onsen. Nothing better at the end of the day. Beginning of the day is great too. I was in Beppu last year where you sit in one on the balcony and watch the sun come up over the ocean. Awesome! Crowded? Maybe but ESID.

I always liked "Depresso", if only for the name. I also used to buy "American 350" - only because the vending machine played "Yankee Doodle Dandy" every time.

How do you carry camembert in your pocket Cheeseman? Or do you hide in the snow for later retrieval?

Nothing beats a big steaming bowl of chyashu-ramen. Warms me up, fills me up and provides plenty of carbs to burn off in the afternoon. I'm gonna check out that ramen at Etoru BM. If it's the place I'm thinking it is I've never thought about the mabo-dofu there.

There was an IMAX movie about the Nagano Olympics. That was pretty cool. It would be interesting to see it again now and see how/if anything has changed. Been looking for a link/download but only come up with: A small synopsis: "The 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, is the setting for "Olympic Glory." Between spectacular sequences of bobsled races and snowboarding are profiles of athletes such as Philip Bait, a Kenyan cross-country skier making his Olympic debut at Nagano, and Bjorn Daehlie, the world's greatest cross-country skier and the most decorated Olympian of all ti

My friend will face the same dilemma this Christmas who is also a size 12. I'll be scouring around in the local area during my summer break but would otherwise gratefully accept any tips.

It's not that difficult a deal, at least if you're not building the place new. We have been going through the process of getting ready to buy but just can't find the right place at the right deal. Got close on one, signed a contract and then found out there was a crack in the retaining wall. But the agent was good, was getting us through all the paperwork and the split was amicable when we both realised there'd been a mistake made (one partner forgot to tell another partner...) A mate bought an architect designed place last year. About 5yo and cost 60 mill to build. He picked it up for 25

Gotta love those single lines. Then, more often than not, when I get to the front of the queue nobody wants to ride the chair with me. There are some not so busy places at NY but the lodging prices can still cause your wallet to say 'ouch'.

I don't stay in local hotels so it's hard to make any recommendations. You don't get a lot of ski-in, ski-out type places in Myoko as they tend to be at the bottom of the hill. Suginohara has a few places If money is no object try the Akakura Kanko Hotel. Alpenblick in Ikenotaira has a really great onsen and you can just walk out to the lifts. Not much to do around there though. Don't forget to try: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/myoko-niigata-accommodation.html

A general comment about snow on Honshu at Christmas Christmas will be really touch and go. We have friends coming to visit then and said we can't guarantee any snow but they can't come any other time. I've had some New Years without any snow at all and other years been boarding in the middle of November. Also take note that three days either side of Jan. 1 is pretty much super-peak so make your bookings early.

All except one in North America? Not so sure about that. As others say, bit of extrapolation and hypothesis going on. Locals here swear Seki Onsen is just about the snowiest place in Japan. Maybe one of the TOP THREE as Japanese like to do with everything. They've never backed it up with hard evidence (though I've never asked either).

Maybe if they wait long enough it (and a number of other ski towns) will just become really retro and cool looking again (bit like Moji in Fukuoka-ken). Just have to hope things don't go completely down the toilet between now and then.

The old main route to Echigo (what is now mostly Niigata-ken) was through what is now Myoko and Joetsu but (I think) the train tunnel opened up a new faster route for the transport of goods and people through Yuzawa. Nice pics too. Thanks SJ1

I stand corrected. Exceedingly good news if it happens.

Depends on what booking system the places are using. Some use the larger online booking engines so you can pretty much book now. If booking direct many places put their plans out by season so you have to wait until a couple of months beforehand. Just surf around and try making some bookings. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Also try second hand places like "Off House". You can pick up some great gear at ultra cheap prices.

"The earthquake did a bit of damage over there" Japanese way of saying, "Good excuse to close part of the resort and save money." I doubt it will be open again anytime soon unfortunately.

Don't go out in a thunder storm just in case you're asking the wrong deity...

I haven't got as quite a good set of pics but those ones above bear an uncanny resemblance to Myoko. Here's a couple that I could fish out of my collection of the Myokokogen eki. Really is looking a little tired. Love to see some more posted up of other 'resort' towns too.

Originally Posted By: Creek Boy >Bill Ross has been interviewed several times by some of the Japanese ski mags. seems to have a great thing going on over there. Yep, he's pretty much an ornament up this way. He and a few other local identities really opened up free-heel not just in Myoko, but Japan in general I think.

There is also an English Ski School in Akakura or you could possibly also look up Bill Ross in neighbouring Akakan Resort. Other schools elsewhere are listed here: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/english.html As for eating habits you'll be able to find pizza, fries, tempura fish, noodles, sizzling steak, etc. without too much problem if they get real fussy. If they don't like the breakfast you can buy buns and flavoured milk from the local convenience store. Good luck! MG

>Lots of besso land nearby at giveaway prices for sure. And besso too. I saw a place nearby there with 5 cabins on it go for about 10 mill last year. >The rumour was that they were doing okay then they built some huge concrete building at the bottom and its mired the resort in debt. Not sure about this but it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility.

Kurohime is smallish but pretty good for families. >There's a good looking mountain there with a handful of resorts coming off it, which the user might see as being one resort Agree SKI, think that's the way they have to move forward.