Jayatma 0 Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 Hi Everyone, We are a family of four (kids are in late teenage years), new to skiiing in Japan. We are planning a trip in early Feb. The choice of resorts is a bit confusing and we would love some help in deciding which resort would suit us best - probably choosing from Hakuba, Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen. We would like a resort with the following features: [*]a longish beginners run not more than 15 degrees [*]a good variety of intermediate snowboarding runs [*]nearby areas of cultural interest for day or afternoon trip [*]good onsens in the area [*]a traditional ryoko to stay in which is within 5 mins walk to ski lift/run Any suggestions and reasons as to choice would be most appreciated. If you suggest Shiga Konzen, please give an idea of which area is best to stay in. thanks!! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted November 15, 2007 Share Posted November 15, 2007 I would say they all fit. You could spend all the time in Hakuba or perhaps go to both Shiga Kogen and Nozawa during your time there. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Shiga Kogen - I'd stay either in the Ichinose area or Kumanoyu if I was wanting to spent time up there & Yokoteyama. Probably Ichinose is the most central area though. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Kumanoyu/Yokoteyama has bugger all for restaurants/nightlife though. Hows Ichinose and Yakebitai? They seem to be more popular! Link to post Share on other sites
nagpants 1 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Yes they are. Ichinose is the most lively (though still relatively quiet, this being Shiga Kogen!) It would be my choice though. Link to post Share on other sites
Jayatma 0 Posted November 16, 2007 Author Share Posted November 16, 2007 Thanks for your replies so far. Would it be feasible to stay in Nozawa Onsen and ski there for a few days and then ski for a few more days in Shiga Kogen, travelling there from Nozawa? Anyone know how long this would take? If staying in Ichinose any recommendations on Japanese style accomodation close to slopes/lift preferably with onsen? Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Very feasible. Takes about 1 hour from one to the other. Link to post Share on other sites
boardbaka 3 Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I think Nozawa is best imhao - try nearby Togari Onsen - you can't go wrong - good luck and enjoy ! Link to post Share on other sites
Jayatma 0 Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 another couple of quick questions..... Roughly how long does it take to go from: Shiga Kogen to Nagano? Nagano to Hakuba? Nagano to Matsumoto? Nazawa Onsen to Nagano? thanks Link to post Share on other sites
69 5 Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 About 1 hour give or take a bit for each of those questions. Link to post Share on other sites
Jayatma 0 Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 Thanks again for your quick answers. A couple more questions on details: *Can we easily rent ski gear in Nozawa Onsen - including ski pants, parkas etc? *I noticed on this site that there are skiiing/snowboarding classes - are they available in English? Link to post Share on other sites
echineko 1 Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Togari Onsen is nice but I think small. Nozawa is better in every area I think and Nozawa is many Japanese style accommodation and onsen. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Nozawa is best for ryokan. Link to post Share on other sites
Jayatma 0 Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Okay sounds like Nozawa it is. Do you have any recommendations for a ryokan with outdoor onsen....close to slopes? Can anyone explain how the moving footpath works? thanks again! Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 You stand on it and it moves - like a conveyor belt. Link to post Share on other sites
Jayatma 0 Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 I should have been a bit more specific in my question..... Does it take you from the village to a gondola or chair lift? If so from which places in the village does it go? I checked the maps on this site and could not see it? Is there a map anywhere which shows it? thanks Link to post Share on other sites
ProbablyaCrazyPerson 2 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Here's an idea. Contact some of the places in Nozawa and ask them. I'm sure they would be more than happy to help a potential guest. Link to post Share on other sites
ProbablyaCrazyPerson 2 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 http://www.snowjapan.com/e/nozawa-guide/nozawa-places-to-stay.html Link to post Share on other sites
Jayatma 0 Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Thanks - good suggestion. Does anyone know of a ryokan with an outdoor onsen as none of the ryokans I can find in Nozawa have one. Link to post Share on other sites
moloneb3 0 Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Speaking of these 3 resorts, I really want to go skiing one time before Christmas but I dont know where to go. Niseko would probably be best, but hard to get to from Tochigi. Which resort on Honshu generally has most snow by mid-December? Or is it not worth it before Christmas? Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 If you're going before Christmas, I would recommend checking the forecast and conditions just before you go, if possible - you probably wouldnt have to book hotels so far in advance as its not so busy at that time. Last year - a bad year, for snow - I went to Hakuba, I think 27th-30th December - when I arrived, there was no snow in the town and it was raining! Fortunately, Id checked the forecast and knew there was a cold front moving in - there was 1 metre in the town by the time I left!! Link to post Share on other sites
moloneb3 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Cheers! I am looking at the daily reports here on SJ to get a feeling of the forecasts. When do these resorts start in normal years? I am dying to do something before I go to Ireland for Xmas. Anyways I will take your advice and wait. Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 I think different resorts have different opening dates - some higher resorts as early as end of November I think - weather depending of course. I had a day at Kagura a couple of weeks before Christmas last year - knee-deep powder and nobody there. The day before it was raining, and then they didnt get much more snow until after Christmas. I dont want to tempt fate, but I reckon you should have a pretty good chance of some reasonable conditions before your Ireland trip....especially if you can make a decision a couple of days before. They're expecting a bit of snow in Niigata over the next day or two.... Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 If you haven't already check out the reports from previous seasons to get an idea of when things have opened http://www.snowjapan.com/e/daily/nowcalendar.php Link to post Share on other sites
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