DumbStick 13 Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 There's a piece on the front page of the supplement of the Nikkei shimbun today with a questionnaire and piece about the top 10 resorts in Japan for non-hardcores. A bit late for people to get it now I suppose, but I thought I'd post. Not go it with me but I'll post the list tomorrow. One of the 専門家 "senmonka" who took part in the article - and is mentioned on there - was SJ#1 from SnowJapan. Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 OK here it is on the front page of Nikkei Shimbum "Nikkei Plus 1" today: 1 Naeba (Niigata) - 452 2 Niseko Grand Hirafu (Hokkaido) - 429 3 Nozawa Onsen (Nagano) - 354 4 Appi Kogen (Iwate) - 310 5 Tazawako (Akita) - 305 6 Hakuba Goryu (Nagano) - 300 7 Rusutsu (Hokkaido) - 268 8 Sahoro (Hokkaid) - 246 9 Alts Bandai (Fukushima) - 242 10 Blanche Takayama (Nagano) - 238 10 Shiga Kogen Yakebitaiyama (Nagano) - 238 Looks like they put together the votes and comments commentary from 20 専門家 in the winter sports related businesses (including SJ1) and the above ranking is based on the total votes. Not sure exactly what the numbers mean. Each resort had a few comments with them as well as an article explaining it all, takes up two thirds of the page. Seems it was for "facilities" and "families/beginners/intermediates" rather than hard-core riders. Link to post Share on other sites
Curt 1 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 I'm surprised Naeba topped it, though I support it's their day return facilities and things like that that got the votes. Never heard of Blanche Takayama - anyone here ever been? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Naeba has a slick operation. Fake snow for early season and fake snow for late season. Yes, number 1 well deserved. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 I just don't know why Hakuba should be number 6. It is totally unrepresentative. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Number 2 sucks too as it has no snow making facilities and they are totally dependant on overseas visitors. Link to post Share on other sites
taguchi 0 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 I saw this today. This article was in a Japanese language newspaper, with all but two of the people contributing Japanese people in the industry. Naeba has a long history with Japanese. In the boom period, Naeba was the place to go and be seen at. This image still lingers for many people. Also I think Naeba try to adapt to day tripper with their new facilities of last season that were just for those. It does not surprise me that it is near top. It is interesting that place like Tazawako makes top part of this list. I personally like that area very much. It is not the most accessible place for many people. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan#Andrew 6 Posted December 9, 2007 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted December 9, 2007 Yes, there was no real 'foreigner market' angle on this piece at all (my lengthy commentary on that didn't seem to make it - perhaps in another article), very much aimed at families and beginners who might want to have another go at skiing... Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Originally Posted By: thursday Number 2 sucks too as it has no snow making facilities Don't need it. Although they have used guns this winter to cover the earthworks for the new lift by the Hirafu Gondola base station. Quote: and they are totally dependant on overseas visitors. As many domestic skiers and snowboarders outside of the main Australian school holiday period. Link to post Share on other sites
9015peter 0 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Originally Posted By: thursday Number 2 sucks too as it has no snow making facilities and they are totally dependant on overseas visitors. WTF As soon as it gets cold it starts snowing and rarely stops. Why would they need it when they have had 200cm= already Link to post Share on other sites
bellavista 0 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Originally Posted By: thursday Number 2 sucks too as it has no snow making facilities and they are totally dependant on overseas visitors. I think tongue is firmly in cheek. Link to post Share on other sites
9015peter 0 Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 or fishing and I took the bait Link to post Share on other sites
SirJibAlot 0 Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 I suppose the positive way to look at it is - let the newbies go to those resorts and leave the shredding to us at the REAL spots. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 What did you vote SJ1? Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted December 10, 2007 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted December 10, 2007 Originally Posted By: joshnii What did you vote SJ1? Quite different from the top 10, I believe... Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Originally Posted By: thursday Number 2 sucks too as it has no snow making facilities and they are totally dependant on overseas visitors. yeah, that was the worst winter of my life...stuck up in that gawd awful dump, it just snowed and snowed, freaking cold, crappy food. Dont go to Hirafu, go to Moiwa instead Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Sounds awful. Couldn't you find any delish curry rice? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 The curry rice was nice but it didn't cost enough. Awful price. Link to post Share on other sites
number9 0 Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Not sure why you'd expect a Japanese language paper to cater to foreign readers when the readership is 99% Japanese. Anyways, disregarding the ranking order, it looks like a good mix of resorts for various purposes. Though, since Hakkoda didn't make the list, it's not "hardcore" enough eh. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Originally Posted By: thursday Number 2 sucks too as it has no snow making facilities and they are totally dependant on overseas visitors. Well better than being dependent on the local market which has been declining every year since the bubble burst.... Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted December 17, 2007 Share Posted December 17, 2007 I see Naeba are boasting about this on their website. As they would of course. Link to post Share on other sites
Cambo 0 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 hi all, i'm new here, that list is very helpful. does niseko have better snow than naeba?? Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Originally Posted By: Cambo hi all, i'm new here, that list is very helpful. does niseko have better snow than naeba?? is the pope catholic? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 not only that, it has better everything, except 80's style ski clothing. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 not everything Naeba has a better rock festival (but thats summer) Link to post Share on other sites
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