Gunma Boarder

Probably can't go to Hokkaido this year, but that is so cool!

Not about snow, but I really like Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Also Kiyomizudera is a really nice temple to be at for the sunset. Sounds like you have a nice trip planned

Good to know. I should say I've never stayed in Yuzawa due to the proximity to my house. I mostly meant that 9000 yen does not get you all of those things. Though that would be one hell of a deal Yuzawa is definitely cheaper than Nozawa from Tokyo.

I should have said Kanto + Yuzawa JR train pass instead of just pass. Lift tickets sold separately. Though there might be a deal including lift tickets. If so, probably for Gala Yuzawa.

Is it snowing in Muikamachi now?

It rained last night in Gunma. But looking at the surrounding mountains, over 800 meters seems to have gotten snow. Definitely not 40 to 50 cm though.....

Yuzawa vs Nozawa. Yuzawa definitely wins for convenience and price (look into the Kanto + Yuzawa 9,000 yen three day pass you can buy at the airport). Both have good powder (if you hit it right). Nozawa might win for "Traditional Japanese" It is a really interesting village with a nice temple and nice hot spring baths. Yuzawa is also a hot spring but has more of a ski resort feel. There probably are temples and shrines because they really are everywhere in Japan, but I've never been to one in Yuzawa. Nozawa would be a more expensive and long trip from Tokyo. I hope that is helpful.

lol. The myth the legend ...... Tsugaike Kogen.

That doesn't just bother skiers. I agree with onehunga it is mostly the social boarders. I would also add stop siting on the spots where people like to wall ride, but that is probably too much to ask

When I was living in America the nearest ski area was 3 hours away by car if the weather was OK. I would only go maybe once or twice a season. I was also in my teens and early twenties so every time I was on a mountain it was like that. At least for the first day. Sometimes my body would force me to slow down a bit on the second and third

There are a lot in this one. I'm also kind of guessing on a few In the foreground Yomase Onsen on the left and X-Jam on the right. Behind that Madarao. Even farther back a bunch of the Myoko skijos and I think Kurohime Kogen Snow Park on the left. All from Ryuoo.

Myoko Suginohara, Ikenotaira Onsen and Akakura Onsen from Madarao. There probably are more.

Yes, it is Norn. Good eye!

Pretty quiet today. Good powder to go around!

That line was crazy! I don't even know where they were going. They either had to walk up a long ways to get back into the ski resort or go into a valley with a verrrrry big creek. The more I think about it the more I'm just hoping that person is ok.

I would say you succeeded! Though that does explain why the photo is giving me vertigo

Looks like I wasn't the only one out today! Beautiful photos.That black and white of the lift with the trees in the for ground is messing with my brain

Between 25 and 45 minutes depending on traffic and weather.

I did a little snowshoeing at Kawaba today. Really amazing weather. The snow was also pretty good. My best day of riding so far! Mt. Fuji at about 6X I hiked a mini mountain to get some views you can't see from the resort. I put my snowshoes on under this beautiful tree. A couple of shots from my hike up. Mt. Naeba is in the background and Tanigawa is closer but I was really enjoying the ridge on the right. The next few are some close-ups. Those three were close-ups of ridge line. Here is a close-up of Mt. Naeba. Not quite the same as from Kaguraga

I missed this one. I see a giant wind spirit face with its mouth open.

This most recent trip I walked up from the High Speed 1 lift but the number 5 being open will help a lot. I don't think it is frowned upon many people climb it everyday and I think they even do tours. They just have the normal "You are on your own out there" sort of warning. If you have skins those are probably the best way. If not snowshoes. If you don't have either maybe wait for a lot of people to go up and pack down the snow. I have gone up once without snowshoes. It is doable, but hard. If people want to meet up and go up there on a nice day after the number 5 opens I would love

It's really not that hard. There was even a snowboarder hiking it without snowshoes. He did look tired though

I previously wrote Kirigamine but the mountain where I took the pics is Kaguragamine. I just edited it

It's an older Panasonic Lumix. It's my hiking and snowboarding camera. I've had it for about seven years now. Glad I didn't lose it.

A couple more nice pics from the day. Walking up the mountain. Mt. Naeba and the top of Kaguragamine (on the far left) also a horde of snow creatures. Mt. Naeba from the top of Kaguragamine. magical snow land Mt Myoko at about 5X The North Alps at about 5X