SnowConnection

A "speedy" skier/snowboarder should buy assuarance when he/she have to pay for the loss at a clash in ski resorts. The cost is apx. 3,000 to 6,000 yen a year for skiing, and apx. 4,500 to 8,000 yen a year for snowboarding. A search word is "スキー保険" (ski insurance). You may see any ad flyers at ski shops. Some posts a comparison list. http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/h-hasegawa/hoken.html Many BC skiers buy assuarance when paying resucue cost at any accident. A search word is "山岳保険" (mountaineering assurance). You may see some ad flyers at most mountaineeing gear/clothes shops.

Naeba&Kagura Heli/BC Ski/Snowboard Tours 2006 was released. The web page is Japanse (No English). http://www.naeba.gr.jp/heri.shtml 1. Heli Ski&Snowboard Tour Date: Apr.8(Sat) and 9(Sun) #Guest: Max.150 persons per day Route (one day excursion): Start from Mitsumata Ropeway base sta. (07:00-10:00am) Go up with Heli to Kiri-no-tou, Walk/down to Ganga-mine. Ski/Snowbaord down to Kagura Gondora base sta. Cost: 14,500 yen (no lift ticket and no food) 21,500 yen (w/lift ticket, one night bed and two meals.) Reservation is requrired. (See the web page

This accident addresses: Snow fall this year is UN-USUAL. cos: 1. Maeyama route is very popular, a half-day round BC trip can be accessed from the top lift station of Akakura Onsen ski resort. I've never heard avy report there. 2. The group is a well-known mt skiing club "La Randonnee".

Shiga-Kogen Backcountry Ski tour 2006 was released. The Japanese web page (No English): http://www.shigakogen.gr.jp/events/021.html 1. Skiers Only (above 12 years old with intermediate skiing level) 2. One day excursion: 2006.Feb.25(Sat)/Mar.4(Sat)/Mar.12(Sun)/Mar.18(Sat)/Mar.19(Sun)/Mar.25(Sat). All are Kusatsu Onsen courses except Mar.18 Manza Onsen course. Max.60 persons per course. 3. Start from Hasuike at 8:30 am. Return to Shiga-Kogen at around 17:00 pm. 4. Charge: 12,000 yen including lifts, guide, lunch, onsen and insurance. 5. Reservation is required. (T

Yes, SJ4 is right. Kumanoyu area is a separate one (skiers only) to whole Shiga Kogen resort, the right side of the picture map. http://shigakogen.gr.jp/english/snow/ski.html The Japanse page reads; 1. For Kidoike, *Snowboarding is restricted when the ski run is being used for the school excursion program. 2. For Shibutoge, *Snowboarders need to carry skis until mid April when the Shiga-Kusatu Route will be open. The English page must need the corrections.

Tomam Cat Tour: http://www.snowtomamu.jp/info/015.html http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/%7Esnowbum/hk/tomamu.html I've never been....

I've never been. My guess, two chops (20) x 10 times x 2 days might beeee ???. I will inquiry their operation schedule on Feb.1 ....

Chacoal in traditional Japan. The circle cut face is for an eye, and the long side is for a mouse. Usually none is for a nose, cos Japanese noses are small. Recently, we do not see chacoal except Yakitori/Yakiniku restraunts. Kids seems to find & use other materials. The traditional Yukidaruma (Japanese snowman) went away from the streets.

Yakeyama Heli Skiing 2006 was released. Date: 2006 April 1st(Sat) and 2nd (Sun) Cost: 16,000 yen per head per day (one time) (Total: 400 persons) Course: 15 Km (start:1,700m) Vert.1,400m (Snowboard is acceptable.) Map: Yakeyama-Onsen, Niigata-ken http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.59.26.49...2%b9%c0%f4&sc=6 HP: http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~yakeheli/ Poster: http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~yakeheli/img/panf.jpg Contact: 025-555-4233 e-Mail: yakeyama-heliski@ninus.ocn.ne.jp Note: Reservation is required. Inquiry/Application will start on/after Feburary 1st

Yah, I got it here in Hakuba on Jan.18 morning. http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.41.10.48....x=254&CE.y=249 Also, my car skidded when going out from a narrow road (Hakuba 47) to Hakuba Olympic road on Jan.18 early mornig, even it was a 4WD with studless tires.

How to access to Hakuba Goryu47. This is a good navi in English. http://www.hakuba47.co.jp/06winter/e/access.html Comment: According their beta, the Toyoshina route is only 10 min & 150 yen higher than the Nagano route, from Tokyo. Your decision depends on Tokyo access gate(Chuo or Kanetsu), traffic and road condition.

As far as safety driving, snow tires (chains or studless tires) are neccessary when driving to a ski resort in Chuo/East/North Japan from Dec-mid thru April-mid. (Studded snow tires are prohibited in Japan.) 4WD may be wanted when driving at "narrow" roads in pensions (B&B's) area with speed. I've drove Ford Explore 4WD with normal tires in winter Canada, but I do not want it in winter Japan ski resorts. On my exprience, a 4WD car with studless snow tires is OK in winter Honshu areas except Shiga Kogen ski resort. So far, my 4WD car with studless carries chains from Jan thur Mar.

As far as BC races, JMA mt ski race is stronger athelete level while Myoko BC Ralley is more recreational. Myoko BC Ralley is open bi-yearly, then this year, and around March end. No web site. This is 2003.Mar.30 report by me. http://photos.yahoo.co.jp/myoko2003mov --> PUB --> 2003.03.Rally Gears are telemark & AT skis. I am not sure if snowboard is OK or not. Sure, we, Japanese welcom GAIJIN butai.

Toque, thank you for your invitation. I would like to join you. But, I already have appointment to go to Kagura with my friends on Jan 28. See you on the next time. Japan BC season will start from late March and late May mostly. If anyone will setup a meeting for planning BC tours for this spring season, I would like to attend. I will go skiing to Golden from Feb.8 thru 28, so Mar.11 around is nice for me.

Oh, no. Joshin-etsu & Olympic road is better. Nerima to Koushoku to Nagano : 204Km & hway 4,900 yen. Nagano to Hakuba: 45Km A brochure tells Nagano IC route takes 3 hours 40 min and Toyoshina IC route takes 4 hours. But, I've never taken Nagano IC route for avoiding traffic on Kanjyo No.7 from Ohara to Nerima, though my navigation system recommends Nagano IC route. Also, I prefer the traditional Toyoshina route. The navi might be right... Edit: I changed "yes" to "no", which Japanese sometimes take mistake. (laugh) PS. When you leave Nakameguro at 21:00, Nagano IC

When having Chuo-do expressway; Shibuya to Takaido: 19Km & hway 700 yen Takaido to Toyoshina: 215Km & hway 5,050 yen Toyoshina to Kamishiro Sta: 58Km Kamishiro Sta to Hakuba Sta: 4.4Km Hakuba Sta to Happo Cross: 1.6Km Total 298 Km & hway 5,750 yen on one-way. PS. When you want to escape from traffic around Shinjyuku, pls ride on Eifuku and get off from Takaido. In this case, you can save 1,100 yen hway cost a round.

Appi Kogen is the best when you expect a big ski resort with many tracks and some snow park. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=110 http://www.appi.co.jp/foreign_country/english/ Hakkoda is a remote/smaller one in terms of resort, but getting to be an unique spot where people enjoy backcountry skiing/snowboarding. In winter season(Dec-Mar), you are strongly recommended to buy guide service. You go up to the top of the mountain by a cable car. The BC courses have less climbing so you do not need skins or snowshoes. Usual alpine skis (fixed heels)

_spud, Oh, yes, chairlifts may be used in non-snow seasons. e.g. Hakuba 47 must choose chairlifts for "4 seasons & 7 days", right ? In summer season, a chairlift may scare visitors if it is too high.

Many T-bars are in Euro/North America, but less in Japan. T-bar system is strong for wind, so is better at open terains such as ice fields, glaciers and over the timberline. Also, it is strong for high snowpile. Chair-lift system sometimes has to be stopped by strong wind or high snowpile. I guess construction cost of T-bar is cheaper. Yes, it is difficult for beginners to ride T-bars. It is ski company's decision which they choose...

> manda wrote: > do tourists usually pre-book shinkansen tickets > too? or do they buy tickets just before they > board the train? Yes, mostly it is the later. People in Japan think they have to make reservation of transportation on Y/E&Y/B week and on OBON week. Usually, they buy tickets just before they board the train. The issue comes when a foreigh traveler wants to fix his/her schedule "exactly".

> manda wrote: > i didnt reserve and i was already in japan > (staying for 4 weeks or so) so my schedule was > fairly flexible. i just rolled up and bought a > ticket (in cash) so im afraid i am absolutley > no help in buying off the phone. manda, thank you for your posting. Basically, Japan major travel agencies and ticket offices do not accept credit cards issued outside Japan. Cash payment is welcome. HIS does not accept c/c except their brand c/c. Keio expressbus shinjyuku office does not accept c/c. At this point, I can find NO WAY that people outside J

http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/chihou/nagano/news/20060101ddlk20040046000c.html An avalanch happened near Hakuba Kokusai Cortina ski resort on December 31st 07:55am. No one was killed, but one injured. The scene is near to Warabi-daira course at alt. 1,200m, 10m width and 300m long. It was outbound of ski tracks. Five ski patrols were attacked when checking the course. A guy (27) was seriously injured, breaking his arms.

manda, I am very interested in how you reserved an ALPICO bus and how you paid the fare from your country (Canada). Were you OK on telephone reservaton? Did they accept your credit card ? (Some Japanese travel operaters refuse credit cards issued outside Japan.) If you do not mind, please tell me.

The Keio Highway Bus term says: A Passenger can carry one moderate size suit case. Once I asked a driver about this term. He answered that they would carry additional oversize luggages as far as the bus trunk space was available. He can refuse to load passengers' oversize luggages when the space gets full. Mostly, they have enough space from Monday night to Thursday night except Y/E&Y/B and OBON seasons. Note that JR Highway buses for Osaka have less trunk space, so you can never carry your bike. Probably they refuse to load skis or snowboards. I had an experience to carry my

I would say it is difficult for non-Japnase speaking people to use long-distance buses in Japan. All (guidances, signs, etc.) are in Japanese. Japanese only. No English. Don't imagine the bus stations/stops as US/Canda Greyhoud ones. Sometimes, there are no signs be addressed as "just in front of xxx building." Sometimes, even for native Japanese, it would be tough work to find out the local bus stops at the 1st visit. Some Gaijins would say it is easy. But, it is rare happy cases, or he/she can speak/read Japanese very well. Then, you want to challenge "Kousoku Bus" (long-distance exp