u-tan

So? It's Ibuprofen. Works for other kinds of pain, too. I think the male version is called "Adam". I think the ingredients and effect are basically the same.

Has anyone ever used a set? The dimensions are pretty interesting... super short and wide. They look like they could be a lot of fun to throw around in the trees or even take into the park. Also, if anyone has a pair they want to get rid of I might be interested.

That's what I have, plus a little flashlight, some painkillers and a few other odds and sods in my pockets, mainly because I hate carrying a backpack. Mr. Rich, what brand of painkillers do you carry? Can you buy them without a prescription? I took a slam on my skateboard and busted my shoulder a year or so ago. I couldn't find anything with much effect on the shelves of the local drug store.

Thanks, that is great advice. I will look for one for next season.

If there is fresh everywhere, perhaps not worth the risk with Kagura. Then again... first tracks in the morning of a day after a closure at Kagura. That is is pretty damn tempting. Sorry, I am not really helping you make a decision, am I? It seems your luck has been good so far this trip... scored a lift up, got saiko conditions at saiko Mt. Granview and a deep morning at Maiko... definitely on a bit of a hot streak but can you ride that luck all the way to the top of the number 5 romance lift?

Also, don't bother with the Maiko side of the resort unless you feel the need to hit some kickers. The Okusoeji and Nagamine is where the fun is.

With some embarrassment I am sharing how my own stupidity led me to two close calls in one day in the hope that the rest of the community here will learn from my mistakes or to at least bring safety to the front of minds as everyone tries to get a few more sessions in before the season ends. Yesterday, I was at Ninox in Shibata city, Niigata. It was about the 7th or 8th time I have been there this season and I was using the second of the two tickets I was kindly given by SnowJapan. I wrote a review of the place recently if you are interested. Basically, Ninox has two courses up top se

Is it all groomers at Appi? How is the sidepiste etc.?

Get on that bus! Which Myoko resort?

I spent nearly a week around Christmas at Myoko in the 12/13 season. There are a few options to keep you busy there. Snow was... iffy that early. We had one huge all night/all day dump which meant two great days and 2 average ones over the 5 days or so we were there. The day we were leaving it was melting hard. I am pretty sure all of the resorts were open by that time this season but I am not sure how good conditions were. I would say Myoko is a nice place but a bit of a gamble at that time.

Peetan, Mick and Tully, Thanks for the info. I will look into that overnight train to Aizu Takatsue/Takahata. That is an interesting option that I didn't know about. I will miss being nearish to the small but almost never crowded resorts up here though. For what it is worth, brutal, stoke dissolving rain outside right now.

What is this book now joke all about?

Peetan how do you feel being on the slopes all day after a night on a bus? Are you able to get any sleep? I am moving to Tokyo from Niigata soon and will be looking at similar options to get my snow fix next season. The consensus here seems to be that the Shinkansen to Yuzawa area is the best day trip option. I like the idea of being able to hit some new and more remote resorts though and I like first lift fresh. (Who doesn't?) Anyway, I am keen to hear about any experiences opinionsabout the late night snow buses. Have a safe journey. In keeping with the original topic, rain here

Thanks for the answer. You are using snow shoes right?

Sweet and informative thread Gunma Border. The pictures really help as well. I have been planning to hit it for a while but since I would go past so many other resorts (all of Yuzawa etc.) to get there I haven't been able to justify it. I am moving to Tokyo soon and will probably hit it from there. "you can drop into the forest along the top of course number 5." From that panorama picture those trees look damn tight! How is it? How long was the hike to your drop point among the evergreens? Also, hardly any tracks in any of those pictures. Do people tend to stick tot he pis

I just read through this whole thread. You, Mr. Ozsnowbum are a beast and a machine. Hats off sir. Thanks for taking the time to upload all the pics and details so lazy gits like me can tag along on your epic journey from our living rooms. Those Rishiri videos were intense. Stay safe and stoked.

An official declaration of Rat Shit conditions. That is scarier than the brown skies.

It was a warning about the air in the prefecture everywhere. Budoh ski-jyo is owned and operated by Murakami City so maybe they are obligated to broadcast official public warnings and announcements or something. It was damn hazy around today. What we need is another proper winter storm to blow the bad air away and deliver a nice refresh to all the slopes. The roads in Shibata city are completely dry and clear. I actually rode my skateboard to go shopping this evening, something unthinkable in February. It seriously looks like April up here.

I was at Budoh today. Bright sunshine and soft Spring-like conditions. I was out without a ski jacket. While we were there there was an announcement over the speakers saying that there was a prefecture-wide warning about air pollution, to avoid going outside for long periods and particularly to avoid strenuous exercise outside. Scary stuff.

I don't have much confidence in the short range forecast these days. On Saturday I was at Wakabuna ski-jyo up in Sekikawa-mura. The forecast just before I left my house was for cloudy and calm. There was pretty heavy snow on and off and really strong winds all day. I was thankful for the snow but the wind was so strong it was stopping me in the flat parts. I am hoping they are wrong about the warm spell this week.

Let's hope so. I certainly am not ready for spring.

Wow... I used to want to go to Hokkaido but reading about the dramas and crowds in this an other threads I have changed my mind. I spent yesterday at a small ski hill in Niigata with a total of 15 people on it. It is a tiny place but great snow and fresh lines all day, If you are in the Murakami area, drop in at Budoh and help them stay in business.

Seems everywhere is getting snow except where I am. Rain outside right now. Rain I tell you, rain!!!!!!!!!

My snow day tomorrow is cancelled too. I was booked on to a bus tour to Maiko, leaving from Niigata City. I got a call about 2 hours ago to say it was cancelled due to the weather. The report up here in Kaetsu is looking dodgy, strong wind and maybe even rain. Looks like a lay day for me.

Sorry for the thread hijack Bushiman. Thanks for the advice everyone, I will be living in kind of central Tokyo so I won't have a car. I will be using trains or one day bus tours etc. I have been to Kagura once, early this season. The mountain is awesome but the wait for the gondola and sometimes for the lifts was less awesome. I was told that was because hardly anywhere else was open then so all of the early season snow fiends were there.