Coops

Spoilt for choice. Have spent hours on this site and have decided to put a call for help out. I boarded at Nozawa in Feb 2005 - wet snow and ice. Gala in Jan 04 - powder but crowded. I have three days to spend out of Tokyo and am trying to decide where to head this time. Hope to find somewhere that is relaxed about tree runs and b.c, is fun for freeride boarding, and of course offers the best chance for some drier powder. My rough thought is that the further north the better? i.e. Is the snow typically more dry in Niigata (and further north) than Nagano, or is it luck of the timing?

Could anyone please recommend a resort besides Gala Yuzawa that can be visited for a day trip / one overnight from Tokyo? Occasionaly I have time off work when visiting tokyo and boarded Gala a couple of years ago. The convenience of Gala was superb, being able to hit the gondola right from the shinkansen station. Are there any similar possibilities? Thanks!

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and am trying to plan a trip to Nozawa in Feb. I've read somewhere that some parts of the mountain have been off-limits to boarders in the past. Is this still true? If so, is there still plenty of terrain for a boarder to keep themselves ammused? Also, is it difficult for a non-japanese speaker to find accommodation on arrival. Any tips on how to book into a minshuku? Any help much appreciated. Thanks!