Gunma Boarder

This storm was definitely too much. I was planning on going snowboarding not shoveling snow all day. That said I met some neighbors I have never really talked too and had an interesting day. A friend and I helped some people in a stuck car and I even walked to the beer and chip star vending machines semi close to my house to get supplies I also saw a tractor throwing snow off a bridge into the Katashina river a definite first. All and all an interesting day. If I can't get anywhere tomorrow I might build a jump on the hill behind my friends place and pretend I'm an Olympic freestyle snowboar

The wish of this thread has officially been answered. Gunma definitely was not passed over in this storm. View from my apartment when I woke up this morning.

Nozawa?

Yes. You are also at great risk of developing multiple personality syndrome. Just choose one or the other so we can all effectively stereotype you.

I'm not lying when I say it's puking snow here thouh Really I'm not. I just looked outside and it's really coming down

I guess it's not (google maps says 48 min to Iwakura and 56 to Marunuma from Numata IC). You could probably take a little off those times because looking at the course, I don't think they are taking the new tunnel into consideration. The drive up the 120 has always felt kind of long to me in summer but I guess I was over estimating it. Maybe I should check out Marunuma late season this year Kawaba says 28 min which is also overestimated it is definitely the closest. Kagura says about 40 min and even Yuzawa Kogen even says 35 min.

Kawaba is higher and gets more snow than White World Oze Iwakura so I would go with Kawaba. I think late in the season Kawaba and Kagura in Yuzawa are probably your best bets from Tokyo. I have never been but the elevation of Marunuma Kogen might also make it a good late season option. Only problem is it is kind of a long drive (Why I have never been). I think I would go with White World Oze Iwakura more midseason.

I don't know when you were planning on driving over but the snow forecast is for more snow than last weekend. I think the expressways will probably close tonight and the other highways will probably be crazy. I might recomend staying local this weekend and coming later. If you do come over be careful

Just started snowing in the Numata area. It's supposed to get crazy tonight and tomorrow morning.

lol. They are not on the legal hunting list, so I have yet to have a taste. Probably taste like gamey chicken

That is a nice pic! The only trees I hit on the front side were just beside run 7 which is the 40 degree slope. From the lift I went just past the run and dropped a couple of really nice powder lines. Due to the steepness and the trees they were a bit scary but fun. There seemed to be some danger if you don't cut back to the run soon enough so of course, be careful. The area between course 7 and 5 is bigger than it looks in this pic. I wanted to try it but the bottom of the gully seems to be a little flat and it was late in the day and I didn't bring my snowshoes. I was also alone which is nev

I think if it isn't bottomless it will be close I really liked the trees between run 15 and 16. Nice lines to be had and no walking out. You can hit them from almost any angle from the connecting course between the top of the lift next to course 16 and the top of the next lift over. The only trap I came across was a fallen tree at the bottom of the first gully. If you ride it wrong, you could get stuck. Stick close together the first time you hit it just in case. With the extra snow it may be hard to see. Are you bringing snowshoes?

For the most part not a problem. I did hit a little on a really steep face off-piste but there was enough snow on top of it for me not to lose my edge.

Even on a busy weekend I still can find plenty of untracked lines at Kawaba. I know that wasn't in your list but I would say Kagura and Madarao track out much faster. Never had problems at Tenjin either and haven't been to any of the others yet except Nozawa in spring which made it hard to judge.

I went early this Sunday and didn't encounter any problems. They were also open on Saturday while the big snow was falling. There was only one closed lift and I got the feeling it is always closed. I might head up there on Sunday for another go. Maybe I'll see you up there! Not all that many foreigners. We are amazingly easy to spot

Madarao

Well, on the brightside, it's snowing here in the Numata area of Gunma! Not sticking where I am but I'm only around 250 meters. I'm sure the Minakami and Katashina skijos are getting some good snow

Very nice report

It wasn't rain! It was snow in liquid form

Niseko Village?

I'm thinking Niseko but where?............. Grand Hirafu?

+1 for Muikabouchi. Unless you are going to Naeba or Kagura ski areas you should stay in Yuzawa town. If you are going to Naeba or Kagura staying in Naeba town would be a good option.

Even though I got it preemptively I will concede to Tubby Ahh......I thought Tsugaiki Kogen was a different place to Tsugaike Kogen Shows how many times I've been to Hakuba (a big phat zero). Either spelling it's all yours

I love this photo! Did you take it from the cleverly named number 1 course or from one of the lifts (maybe the A lift)?

Pallcall Tsumagoi from Kawaba at extreme zoom. If you see it from Kawaba the weather was probably pretty good.