muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Spent the morning at the Maiko resort in my town. This one is about 15 minutes drive from my house. It seems to change name every year! Right now it is Saint Leisure or Centleisure (which sounds quite cheap). The resort itself doesn't seem to know as I saw both at the resort! So I'm just staying with "Maiko". Anyways, it's just to the north of Yuzawa. In fact the top is very very close to the top of Iwappara - literally not much more than 100 metres I'd say. There's 3 main parts to the resort. - the left hand side where the gondola is, there are some good runs down the mountain-side back down to the gondola but the bottom km or so is very very flat. - the top bowl area which you arrive at when you get off the gondola. This is the best part of the resort and usually gets the best snow. Some really good runs up there. - the right hand Korakuen side which is a bit boring for anyone above beginner level, but good for beginners I suppose. Most of these pics were taken in the top area. I made a vid: http://www.snowjapan.tv/view_video.php?viewkey=d3c3b8269faf0ba7491d&page=1&viewtype=&category=mr And here's some pics: About 80 more photos here: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/member_photo_gallery.php?userGallery=175 For those who don't know where it is: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/maps/snow-jap...namiuonuna.html http://www.snowjapan.com/e/maps/japan-ma...o-korakuen.html Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Otsukaresama desu! I hope you are getting paid! Nice job. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 nice pics! (as always) Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 nice Link to post Share on other sites
OkemoLoon 0 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Looks like that mountain is growing a patchy white afro Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I have always wandered why they don't link Iwappara to Minamiuonuma with a lift. That would open a huge area. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2008 Author Share Posted January 15, 2008 I remember SJ#1 saying that there were plans for 2 lifts to link them up at one time. They (don't know who "they" are) even went as far as creating that road going up the back there. But obviously it didn't work out though. But they are really really close and it would make a really big area. You can easily see the Kanetsu expressway from up there - it's surprising just how much Yuzawa curls back to the east after Ishiuchi, well it is for me anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2008 Author Share Posted January 15, 2008 Actually if you look at this photo you can just about see the top of Iwappara gondola building top left. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 seeing so many empty chairs makes you just wonder when the bell will toll. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2008 Author Share Posted January 15, 2008 There weren't many people there at all. That run going down from the top lift (3rd photo in original post) for about an hour I was pretty much the only person there! Every so often someone else came along, but for the most part I had it to myself. I almost wish there were more people there! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 15, 2008 Author Share Posted January 15, 2008 I agree. I would have preferred more people in some ways. It was almost lonely! I made an empty lifts thread thursday: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/253767#Post253767 Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I have been to Maiko once, really liked it. There are some good runs at the top area. Worth a visit. Link to post Share on other sites
cal 6 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Never been but looks good, wouldn't mind giving it a go. Thanks for posting all that lot. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 looks pretty sweet Muika Nice pics! Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 top stuff. I will give you an A+ keep up the good work. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Originally Posted By: muikabochi That run going down from the top lift (3rd photo in original post) for about an hour I was pretty much the only person there! Is that the Gan-gan, the Gun-gun, the Gui-gui, or the Sui-sui? Or could it be the Zoku-zoku? Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Originally Posted By: Mr Wiggles Originally Posted By: muikabochi That run going down from the top lift (3rd photo in original post) for about an hour I was pretty much the only person there! Is that the Gan-gan, the Gun-gun, the Gui-gui, or the Sui-sui? Or could it be the Zoku-zoku? I think that might be the Gin-gin Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 enough of this flim-flamming Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Looks like a decent place. Did I win one of those Minamiuonuma tickets? Link to post Share on other sites
AK 77 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Originally Posted By: muikabochi Actually if you look at this photo you can just about see the top of Iwappara gondola building top left. Is there access to hike that skyline ridge? That peak looks like it has some great lines off it. Anyone ski it? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 That should be pretty easy to access from the Iwappara top lift. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Go do and report tsondaboy, complete with full pictorial report. I expect it by the end of next week. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Its the pick to the left of the top lift here. If you will be my skiing buddy GG I am definitely in. Link to post Share on other sites
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