BagOfCrisps 24 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Not heard much on the Arai front of late. Last I think was that it would be closed last winter (which it was) but maybe open next winter (ie. the one in front of us). So - will it be? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 maybe yes, maybe no. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Not heard much locally here, apart from the rumor that they might open the hotel facilities as apartments/mansion rather than hotel - or not open that at all... just the ski hill. That's all I heard. Link to post Share on other sites
Rag-Doll 0 Posted June 20, 2007 Share Posted June 20, 2007 Did anybody hike Arai last season? It would be a fun hill with no other punters to ruin the powder. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 why did it close? Where exactly is Arai? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 That is whay it closed Link to post Share on other sites
Snow-Woman 0 Posted June 21, 2007 Share Posted June 21, 2007 Tubby Check this: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/85025/page/0/fpart/1 It's just to the north of Myoko in Niigata Prefecture, actually now officially part of Myoko City. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Reliable friend who some of us know has told me it won't be opening in any capacity this coming winter. Link to post Share on other sites
kaiser soce 0 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Originally Posted By: Fattwins That is whay it closed Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 TB. Some people make out it is in this middle of nowhere location. It's not really. It is about 15 minutes drive north of Myoko and you can get to Arai in 1 hour from Nagano (sounds similar to Nozawa / Hakuba that). Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 It is in the middle of no where. The only access is by car. The town is far down the road. 1 hour from nagano equals one more hour that people have to drive. You must use the pay highway or drive up and over from nagano. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Well just to qualify a few points here. It's only really "in the middle of nowhere" as much as many other resorts are if you ask me. First of all, there IS access by train to Arai. The train goes through Myoko and up to Joetsu, stopping at Arai on the way. From the station the resort area is a 10 minute shuttle bus ride, which the resort lays (laid?!) on for guests. So that's pretty much like lots of other resorts in other areas. One hour from Nagano = about the same time it takes to get from Nagano to Hakuba or Nagano to Nozawa. So there's not much difference there. You don't need to use the pay highway to get there within a reasonable time - there is a fairly fast normal road, Route 18, that takes you up into Myoko. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 if you come from tokyo you dont have to drive all the way to nagano. ti myoko or arai in the winter you are looking at almost 6 hours of driving. hakuba is 4.5 thats a big difference. Ive been mate, its expensive, in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do. route 18 in the snow is not fun. Nagano is too small to support that many ski resorts. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I'm not saying you are wrong Fattwins, just I do not think it is quite as simple as you suggest. Many people use the train. They go to Nagano. From there they get another train. In that case, Arai is comparable to other popular areas. It is also nearer to people like me than Myoko (slightly) or Hakuba. Tokyo is not the only market. Whatever! No skiing or snowboarding there this winter! Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 ps you guys ok up there now? Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan#Andrew 6 Posted July 16, 2007 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted July 16, 2007 OK here. You feel it strong over there Fattwins? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I was chatting with the wife and we felt nothing. but my friend at the computer felt it. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 OK thanks. It happened soon after my last post, didn't it! Earthquakes are without doubt the thing I dislike most about Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Looking at the map, Arai was pretty close to this last earthquake. Would lifts and stuff be affected by it? I wanted to go there. Link to post Share on other sites
Oyuki kigan 0 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 speaking of which, the first earhquake i ever felt in Japan was at Arai. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 might have done something??? PS is there a contact number for the holders of the stuff at Arai? Some stuff might liquidate Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 too bad Blair isnt on the forums anymore...provided good information and sure you could get it then. Mate, google "Arai" and sure it will come up Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Mate I think a bank has total control period Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 then why ask Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Cause someone might know what bank Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts