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lena1849

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About lena1849

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    USA
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    Japan
  1. Thanks for the link You can see the sea of Japan from the top of Tangram, which is pretty cool for Nagano (we don't see the sea so often here!)
  2. I visited Madarao Kogen for the first time in awhile last weekend. The snow conditions were good. The website has a good coupon for a full day all-mountain (Madarao + Tangram) plus lunch. This coupon was nice, since most of the area I enjoy is on the Tangram side. As a boarder, I noticed how I was outnumbered by skiiers. Still, the resort was much less crowded (for a Saturday) than places like Happone and Nozawa. There are a few key runs - with hardly any people on them - that made it worth it. One is powder wave (kind of on the border of the two mountains, you need to use a Madarao
  3. If you get the chance, Goryu/47 has the most amazing view from the top; on clear days the small hike to the shrine at the very top is worth it.
  4. I can't speak for Sapporo, but if you want to keep it closer to Tokyo, Hakuba isn't usually that bad in early March. For powder chasing I would keep to the North facing resorts of Tsugaike or Cortina, they catch way more in the event of a snow shower. The big Hakuba resorts might not have as much snow in the spring (as the north resorts) though, and they are likely to get packed and skiied over quickly (unless you get lucky with snow, which does happen now and then). The night life near them is better, though, so it is a trade off. If you're okay with the other side of Nagano, resorts
  5. If you plan on staying there for six weeks, I advise NOT to limit yourself to one (or two) mountains. Happone is big, but you might get bored on it after awhile (especialy if it is crowded). Plus, Hakuba has so many resorts packed into one area (Tsugaike and Cortina just north of the village borders, some smaller resorts in Omachi just south). If you're okay with just going with the flow and seeing what happens, you can score daily deals by checking nearby sports equipment stores and convience stores for coupons. Often these coupons include discounts on rentals, too if you are looking to
  6. If you're going through Shinjuku, there is the Alpico Shinjuku-Hakuba highway bus route. It might be a little slower than a Shinkansen, but the price is more reasonable and you don't have to hassle with stops. Plus, busses are easier for luggage. To get to Shinjuku from Narita, there are several orange airport limosine buses direct from the airport for about 3000 yen.
  7. Waxing yourself can be a way to save money... I did it back home when I had the space and time for the mess (and other people in the same house with waxing demands). However, keep an eye out for good deals in ski shops on or around the mountains. If you find a decent deal, it might be more convienient than getting the whole set up. Last time I was in Nozawa Onsen (Nagano), there was a rental shop just at the base of the Gondola. I had a wax and edge done for 1000yen (500 for each service). Although it was just a quick, do-it-while-you-wait job, it was a step up from rub-on wax, and -c
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