helen

I wonder if this thread will take off or not. Anyway, here goes. Was wondering the best and the worst snow you've encountered at Japanese resorts. I'll start off. Best : Niseko, amazing powder Worst : Marunuma Kogen, early last season.....terrible!

I was just thinking, in incidents like this, how (if at all) do the resorts take "responsibility" etc etc? Anyone know?

Thats sad to hear.

Just come back from 4 days on the mountains of Nagano....awesome time. It's difficult to pinpoint "why", but it sure is sweet out there!

Hey rob roy! I ain't got no balls, thank you!

Just back from a few days boarding - excellent time. Reader reviews is a great idea...will post some over the next week or so. Good to read what other people are thinking about resorts. Tired! See ya soon! Helen

Yeah Myoko/Arai is awesome, very close to Nagano, but actually in Niigata.

I have now been about 40 days I suppose. Off to Furano next weekend - wish me luck!

I always thought they were formed naturally as people ski down the mountain. Machine made mogul fields. Interesting.

Sorry to butt in you two, but those slopes do seem to be suspiciously empty - even for a weekday Christmas day. But hey isn't that good news for us? The biggest problem with GALA has always been the crowds, so if they disappear??? = happy, doesn't it?

Personal favorite? Goryu, followed by Happo.

Hi folks back again and Merry Christmas! Music? Loads of stuff is OK, but surely just the music of NATURE is the best?! By the way, WTF is Roger Sanchez??

Yeah, Happy Christmas to you all SJG and everyone else!

No info on this front then folks? Well, looks like there are none. Maybe someone should make one!

Seriously? Would like to see more about that..

They certainly do, but maybe a good time to enjoy the onsen or watch TV.....resorts are B-U-S-Y at New Year and sometimes unbearable. Beware!

Love that place. Good to hear that the tashiro problem seems to have been at least part solved. Interesting to see how the gondola will affect things too?!

Hi Marsh Was just wondering, can you buy a lift ticket just for Asagai (that's cheaper?!), or is there just the Naeba/Asagai ticket? Thanks....go up there often? helen

so what is so good about it then people?

Anyone know of any apart from the one in Hakuba? Would be good to hear if we could find out other bars like that? ThankU!

I went up there last season and it was a really good boarder park.....I didn't know it was owned by the Prince people. Good place, heard that someone was opening a gaijin bar up there this season? Anyone know?

The snow, the resorts, the japanese-ness, the lack of gaijin (flames!!!), the onsen, the curry rice, the JPOP (see other thread!), the onsen, and the sake!

danz thanks for that...what was the weather like over there by the way? quite well known for being COLD! h

Just been reading the thread on goofy, and ivo was talking about the term been around from the "birth of snowboarding". When exactly was that? How long have the boards been around as a serious sport? Anyone know? Thank you fellow readers

Confused now!? When was the "birth of snowboards" by the way?