Mac46

As usual great pics ILoveZao.....do you have any of the slide on Yokokura Kabe? for people who are thinking of visiting, it looks as if the wall/yokokura kabe will stay closed for the rest of the season....a great pity for those who enjoy skiing Zao's most challenging slope. a crack appeared across the entire slope around Jan 12th and patrol decided to close it as it started to slide and exposed some rocks

Nozawa, Zao and others in the Classic Ten Japanese ski resorts were opened way back before the advent of boards and so can be a nightmare for those who can't schuss on a board. In Zao we have a similar souvenir shop beside Kawarayu public onsen which rents out its parking spaces to hotels Glad you have lots more snow to have fun in; enjoy!

Skis/Boards are not stolen here, they are 'mistakenly taken' by someone and that person is requested on the P.A. system to return them.

Today most of the runs were groomed so we had packed powder. Yokokura Kabe, 'The Wall', was in great condition with untracked powder at the edges. Viz was not good on the top slopes and although very few people around ski patrol appeared busy. The local business people are hoping for more visitors from the 28th......"they play Christmas songs but they don't want a white Christmas"

'monsters' are getting there....plenty of snow in the last few days....had to clear a lot of snow off my car in the carpark in ILoveZao's excellent pics....and as of yesterday it was still free! The slopes were empty for a holiday weekend.....some criticism from Tohoku people about Zao's expensive lift tickets, so people are choosing to ski elsewhere.....there can be a difference of ￥1,000 on a day ticket if one purchases earlybird.

'Public'......best to ask, if there is someone (working) at the entrance. Have never seen people drinking in public onsen....but in hotels/ryokan usually no problem, but still better to ask. Cans only, no glass please.

Thanks for that ILoveZao. I used to park on Sogo Ground(cross-country area) but often the lift to Ryuzan was not operating.I remember when most parking in Zao was free and there was a lot of nightlife....then the bubble burst. I'll be there with my ski club this weekend and after a crate of beer, several 1.8l bottles of sake will be drunk and then someone will produce a bottle of bourbon or brandy to round off the night......but a few diehards will venture out to one of the small bars near Kawarayu to have a few final 'atsukan'. It's just a different kind of nightlife.

ILove Zao...great pics, thank you. How much for the parking....still ￥１，０００？pie-eater....perhaps paying for parking and lift tickets leaves little money for nite life?