snowdude

Actually I have seen a lot use chains, usually people coming from Tokyo, who haven't got studless tyres on. If you got a 4x4 with studless tyres then no need for chains at all. With the current weather conditions pretty much all the roads should be free of snow, unless you are going of the main routes.

Yep definitately improved this year, but still got a long way to go. But I am just happy to go out and slide on the snow when ever I can.

I think we will be in for one more big dump before the season is over! Even if not there is far more snow this year than last year, so many of the resorts will be ok until Mid april and even in to may. If you go to some of the high resorts this weekend end there is a good chance of snow as apposed to rain at the lower levels. Anyway spring skiing is fun, nothing like skiing with a t-shirt on.

Why not try PAINT.net its a full working free software and a piece of cake to resize any pic to any size you want. I have paintshop pro and various other software, but I found that PAINT.net to be the best, beacause so quick and easy to use.

Originally Posted By: sanjo It's interesting that you should choose Greenpia. It's a fairly small place and not exactly the easiest to get to either. Only went once and that was in summer. Well I went there by car so was easy enough to get to. Basically I guess as I drive all the time, not many places I consider difficult to get to. It is reasonably small, but I liked the terrain, I guess we all have different preferances. As I am not an advanced skiier, it suited me fine.

Snotrag, I believe there is an area in Ishikawa, Japan that you can ski from July, infact it only opens from June or July until about October because before and after these times there is too much snow to be accessable. Not sure where I read that, but definitaly read that somewhere in one of the ski mags. Don't know if it's any good and if anyone else has been there. I believe it's in Ishikawa, but could be wrong, although it's certainly in that part of Japan, they get 18 metres of snow. Anyone know where I am talking about? Or anyone heard about this?

It's quite usual to get unseasonaly warm weather when first get into March, usually around 2nd or 3rd week it dumps big time for a few days. I don't think winter is over just yet. Anyway with all the snow we have had this year, skiing will last until may on most if not all the higher resorts and until around April on the lower resorts.

Originally Posted By: muikabochi Tsunan? Which resort do you mean there, Greenpia or Mountain Park? As far as I know, both are rather small places....... I went to Greenpia, which I found quite nice, no so big, but definitely not so small either. I found the courses that were there to be very nice, some nice smooth curves and nice scenary. Of course I am not an advance speed freak so not sure if it is so challenging for an expert skier.

Yes good snow, lots of nice powder, although it does tend to get chopped up a fair bit by the end of the day, but you can still find patches of fresh at the end of the day, even if it doesn't snow on the day. It's pretty busy, infact if you are not there before 10 O'clock then not easy to find a parking space. Having said that there never seem to be any real lift lines, maybe 1 min wait at very most. Restaurant is not big enough for the number of people, so if you do ever adventure out to there, I recommend taking a packed lunch and use the relaxation rooms to sit and eat. There are also c

Ok I have found some info, it looks like the only way to get there by bus is from Jomo Kogen shinkansen station, which is actually about a 10 min drive from Numata. It takes around 2.5hrs by bus. Hope this helps you. Not sure how you usually come to Gunma, but if you use the Joetsu Shinkansen bound for Niigata, that will stop at Jomo Kogen station. Might be worth giving the station a call to confirm that buses do run to Marunuma. I probably will go up to Gunma again this weekend if I do I can pop up to Jomo Kogen and ask them, if you don't have any luck over the phone.

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver do you know if there are shuttle buses from Numata station, I still can't find any info No sorry I don't as never use buses. I would say that probably there aren't as I have never seen any buses on the road either going to or from the resort. This is probably due to the distance and the fact that half the road is snowed up when ever it snows there which is often. I will have a look on some sites see if I can find any info for you.

Well up to 11 times now, but hopefully get a few more times in before the end of season. Nice if I can get 15 for this year!

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver I want to go there but can't find a bus company that goes there. Did you drive up? Yes I drove up there, it's about 45 mins from Numata

Went to Marunuma this weekend with my daughter skiing, snowed all day yesterday, loads of fresh powder, was great. Been there twice this season, it's a nice resort for all levels and got things for the children to do too.

Good questions actually wondered that myself sometimes, have to see I have never seen any and I have been to a lot of resorts. I think the courses are made only for olympic events only in Japan, but not sure about that.

Ic good points, never thought about the snow in that way before, but yes that is true the more snow the more stable the snow I guess. Isn't it good how between everyone here we all have answers to all different things. Really great!

Not being funny but I find whether you got 2 metres or 6 metres of snow, if the condition of the snow is the same the skiing is the same. The only advantage I see of more snow is the fact that the season can last longer. Of course I like to see loads of snow, but I don't actually care whether I ski on top of 2 metres of snow or 10 metres, after all the top is the same no matter how deep, right? Anyone else think the same. And by the way guys and gals, did I not say that this year would be a cold one with plenty of snow?

Not related to this weekend, but thought I would put a pick of Marunuma kogen that I took when I was there a couple of weeks ago.

My village this morning

My car outside my house today

View from the top of Akazawa

Akazawa Feb 23rd, was great I got there first thing in the morning and had the slopes to myself until it started filling up around lunch time.

I had a great time yesterday morning skiing while clear blues skys, before the snow started to set in around noon. It dumped all night in Gunma, had about 30cm of fresh snow outside my house this morning, was great! Was too windy for skiing this morning so went for a drive around and took some pics, will post a few up here tomorrow once I check the pics out, see if there is anything worth putting up. Anyone else enjoy the fresh snow this weekend?

Great interview, I really enjoyed reading it. Good stuff!

I think it is because a lot of Japanese are actually put off by too much snow, sounds strange but I have heard this before. As far as I am concerned the more the better, but not everyone see it like that I guess. This maybe why some of the resorts don't report true figures, once they hit the average or above for the month.