Metabo Oyaji

Right. The US has no such thing as a working holiday visa for anybody else, and the love is consequently reciprocated.

Originally Posted By: Go Native Can Americans get working holiday visas for here? Don't think so.

Originally Posted By: thursday I had never been in a Disney thing park all my life, until I had my baby. Now, I'm an annual pass holder and go about twice a month. I really hate myself But your kid loves you, and really, which is more important?

If there are, Mapion doesn't know about them.

Surprisingly, yes: Daihatsu-cho Seems to have been named after the company, however, so I reckon it's a bit of a cheat.

Thanks. Maybe I can slip in a visit before being forced to take the long way around.

Matsuda No car companies, though. You'll have to take that up with Mr. Matsuda.

Originally Posted By: best skier in hakuba I'd take Marunuma over Karuizawa any day. Anyone have any idea when the back road to Marunuma from Nikko typically shuts down for the winter?

Originally Posted By: thursday is there a place called Toyota? Toyota-shi, in Aichi-ken. Some car company based there -- name escapes me at the moment.

Grew up in a skiing town, before snowboards were invented. Stopped skiing when I moved away. Just recently taken it up again -- a form of mid-life crisis, I suppose. (Hey, cheaper than buying a sports car... I think!) Plus, I realized that I had inadvertently landed in the middle of skiing paradise here in Japan, so it seemed a shame to waste the opportunity. May give snowboards a try at some point, but still having too much fun rediscovering the old feel and thrill of skiing.

Originally Posted By: muikabochi Good name Matabo Oyaji! Thanks! Still trying to figure out yours... A take-off on Muikamachi, with the implication that the place is like a graveyard at times? Quote: Marunuma is fun for a one-off, but it's a small place. I don't mind one-offs, since I'm still in the exploring stage of trying lots of different places. Last year I don't think we ever went to the same place twice, unless we were staying there overnight. Mostly day trips here and there, to get a feel for what's out there. Quote: I wait until the real snow arrives. We

Originally Posted By: SKI You want real snow or silly crushed ice stuff? Hey, I'll take what I can get, early on. I hadn't even realized there were other options in Oct./early Nov. besides Sayama. Thanks for the suggestions! Hmm, I had been thinking of checking out Marunuma last year, but never made it there... Will also keep an eye on the other places mentioned. Thanks again, guys.

Greetings everyone, New poster here, though I read this site many times last year as a reference. With the weather cooling off, the kid and I are getting excited about the coming of ski season. Last year we warmed up at Sayama in November, and wrapped up at Kagura in May. Only six short months. So... within, say, 4-5 hours drive of Tokyo, which ski area is likely to open the earliest? (Besides Sayama, or course.) Something in the Nagano area, or somewhere in Tohoku? Gotta make use of those 1000-yen highway tolls!