SteveKaz

Assuming a few of you have stayed in various places, can anyone recommend some places in SHiga Kogen and Nozawa.... After our trip last year we decided Ichinose is the place to stay in Shiga and we are looking for the western kinda place with ensuite bathrooms (yeah yeah - snobs).... Nozawa have no idea, so far have found sunroute in shiga and hotel st anton in nozawa but has anyone stayed here or elsewhere they can recommend? Also going with about 10 others, there aren't any options for getting like a big house as in aussie resorts is there? thanks for any help.

Yucky nuts in snickers to contaminate the chocolate.... What's nozawa like? I'm thinking of heading there next season....

Yeah there needs to be more eateries with outdoor eating - like europe. that solves the warm air thing.... Probably not relevant on the north island though.... If they had mars bars too that'd make it better A Mars A Day Helps You Work, Rest and Play

I'm finding more and more I end up having lunch earlier if I start early and later if I start from 9 onwards if i'm on piste.... Crowds seem to evaporate from 12 till 1:30. But the break is good for the legs. But does anyone else fell unco (well more unco than usual) for 2 or 3 runs or is it just me???

I also ski with a camelbak and find it best to have something sugary in it rather than just water.... energy drink or juice is great.... As for the chocolates, you pu them on the inside of the jacket not the outside, that way your teeth don't break eating them cos they a bit warmer.... I usually have about 1530 fatigue but still always do a top to bottom run, I don't know why, it just seems right.... I used to push it but by then the snow is often chopped up and there are tons of other fatigued idiots around to avoid so I take it easy now.... Maybe I'm just getting old.... fast stuff

Now that I am the voice of experience, I can confirm hot chocolates are definately available at Shiga.... The place at the bottom of the gondala at okushigakogen has a very good hot choccie combined with great speghetti for lunch.... Prince hotel at yakebi also has yum hot choc.... and cakes for arvo tea.... Now at hakuba so will see you all out there.... A mars a day helps you work, rest and play.

Unfortunately we begone from Shiga by then and back in the heat in oz so we'll miss you modaddie. Thanks for all the help everyone, got 4 day JR pass and on the way tomorrow.... Got triple choc mars bars in bag along with the normal ones Timcraig, we'll keep a look out for you, we're starting in Yakebeiti on the 26th so there's a chance to see you. Just look for an out of practice aussie on a pair of red Atomic B5's, will keep a spare mars bar in the jacket for you. A Mars a Day helps you work rest and play

Monkey having bad hair day.... We will be in shiga skiing from the 25th and hak from the 31st.... If anyone wants to meet up (read: give us guided tour - can trade for mars bars) just let us know.... We should be easy to find, just look for the fat ski dude with lots of mars bars sipping hot chocolate.

well it's meant to refer to the skis, but all the mars bars....

Yes a little overweight due to the addiction to mars bars while skiing, the fat ski reference is actually meant to refer to the wicth of the skis but they do help spread the load and stop me sinking in pow so much.... maybe carrying the fat skis will work off some of the body fat....

OK then, lots of mars bars to be imported then What about the hot choccies, tell me you can get them not only at vending machines but at bars/mountain huts as well - assuming there are mountain huts - surely they have mountain huts, they have to have mountain huts....

Thanks Again, One more VERY important question, can we get hot chocolates there and Mars bars there, or do we need to bring mars bars from australia?

What about the buses? Do I need to book? And where is Shinjuku? Thanks for all the help

G'Day! We are travelling to Japan for the first time toward the end of January for a couple of weeks and had a few questions if anyone can help? Heading to Shiga Kogen first and Hakuba second. Accomodation and planes are sorted out but that's it. Was thinking to get a JR pass and I know there are buses to both hakuba and shiga kogen from nagano but do we have to book for these? Can you fit luggage and ski gear on them? Also, does anyone know if there is an ATM in Shiga Kogen (Staying at Prince Hotel)? Cash seems to be everyones advice but can I buy lift tickets on foreign Visa?

Thanks for your help guys, boardies packed....