sanjo

I was at Ishiuchi today, wow amazing snow and tons coming down relentlessly. About 60cm on our car this evening!! This weekend will be awesome (but I secretly hope it clears up a bit)

I was up at Gala/Ishiuchi/Yuzawa Kogen on Saturday. Gala was busy and narrow, not recommended on the weekend, Ishiuchi ok. We went to Yuzawa Kogen for lunch - they have a "curry viking" (buffet) on there with 8 different curries on offer. It was quite good, although I thought 5 of the 8 were all pretty similar (beef, chicken and pork curry - the only difference seemed to be the meat in the curry!) Not bad for 950 yen eat all you want.

I find that when I am in Tokyo - there is just so much to explore. Where I live, you can explore in a much shorter time its not quite the same.

And they cost over 1000 yen as well hey?

Are they more common overseas than in Japan?? Hardly ever seen any here - many Niigata places have the old farmers with their brushes checking tickets rather than cool robots.

I was up there! Great wasn't it? Today looks like it would have been good as well, but I'm back home now.

Get one of them nice cool ones -theyre not that expensive now either. I wish I had an excuse

OK OK I am sure that the vast majority of the time the lift people at the places I go to just don't look and check my ticket and couldn't give a donkey. Do they check yours?

At Kandatsu today I noticed a frequent message on the loudspeakers telling everyone to "be careful not to go too fast". Yeah, right!

I'm in YUzawa now - spent the day at Kandatsu. Not very busy, didn't really have to wait for any lifts at all. Snow was good in the morning got a big harder in the pm. Iwappara and other places around looked about the same.

Agree on the first parts of that for sure. I would be more than happy for my child to go to my locals school.

I am, yes. I admit it. Happy New Year to you all.

Joetsu Kokusai? While I don't mind the place - actually quite like it - I think you'll be wanting to try maybe nearby Maiko or somewhere in Yuzawa on 1 of your days. Joetsu ain't enough for 3 days I reckon. (But the other places are easy to get to nearby). JK is the same company as the Hakuba Cortina - so you've got the same spooky hotel thing going on. The resort doesn't have much of an elevation, but a few decent courses - especially round the back (Atema I think thats called). (Hotel here http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/viewhotel.php?hotid=26)

I was just looking at some of the chirashi in with the newspaper this morning and there's a few for the large sports stores. From tomorrow, there's some 50% off bargains going on Burton boards and other good deals from the looks of things. I'll have to get myself down there.

Just stop that rain, ok?? Face it, you're not doing very well this season are you?

Any Monty Python fans here? Someone bought me The Meaning of Life on dvd for christmas, gonna give it a watch tonight. Haven't seen it for ages, but I used to really like them.

I was in Ms Dining in Sanjo today - nice food! - and asked the friendly manager there about these silly machines. He said almost no-one uses the things (I think he was hinting at "no-one" without the "almost"), said they have to keep them there for a while longer. Waiting out the contract perhaps.

Good place, good place. Niigata does have some really good places folks...... Myoko, Arai, Yuzawa, Kagura, Hakkai, etc...

Snow Making Markie. Get working mate. Unless you are currently working as Rain Making Markie. In which case, STOP IT!!

I was in Yuzawa yesterday and this morning and it was raining!!! Not a happy thing to happen.

Sorry... I mean Niseko, looking at the now page and webcam images. In Niigata the weather was beautiful today.

Does look very cool

It looks like its coming down this afternoon.

There's a fair few Kobayashis here.

I love roast turkey. The next day cold turkey sandwiches with stuffing is great too. Pity I won't be having any this year.