Kusatsu Kokusai - 25th January 2009

[muikabochi 208]

Kusatsu Kokusai was the target yesterday, and the weather co-operated.

 

It's a nearly 2 hour drive from where I live in Niigata using the Kanetsu expressway and then cutting across west, so much further than I'm used to. But I really like Kusatsu.

 

The ski resort itself isn't really that big - it's very long and thin and there's not much of a challange there in terms of courses. When I have been there the snow has always been really good. Yesterday it wasn't bad, but even up there at 2000+m they got rain recently and so it had taken a hit. Better than the snow lower down in Minamiuonuma anyway thats for sure.

 

Part of the Kusatsu experince though surely has to be the onsen hot springs and little onsen village at the base.

 

Some views on offer from the skijo:

 

Looking south towards Asama, though it's a bit out of sight:

 

Looking over towards Shiga Kogen:

 

I think this is Mount Naeba:

 

Looking over towards Myoko:

 

This is the top lift:

 

 

The "ropeway" which actually looks like a gondola to me, but they call it a ropeway!:

 

Going down from the top of the ropeway:

 

The quad taking you up to the Ropeway. You can see the Ropeway in the middle of the photo going up to the top. To the right there are a few courses and the downhill course:

 

Unfortunately you can only catch a partial glimpse of Mt Asama from the top of the resort. But on the way up to Kusatsu you can get a view like this:

[grungy-gonads 54]

I always thought that place was big.

That Asama shot is ace.

[yoroshiku onegai shimasu 2]

I really like reading about and seeing new places like that.

Thanks muikabochi.

[brit-gob 9]

Am I right in saying that the road that connects Kusatsu with Shiga Kogen is closed winter?

[mina2 6]

Good place Kusatsu. Got a Nozawa kind of appeal I feel.

[DumbStick 13]

Kusatsu is a curious skijo. Others have said it but it feels like a few small places linked up by one long run. The top bit is the best but nothing really challenging.

[SKMT 0]

I like Kusatsu, it's one of the "classic" resorts (also part of the Mount 6 group). The onsen is great there too. It's not really a big resort though it looks it on the map.

[Tubby Beaver 209]

see people got evacuated from around Mt asama the other day because of volcanic activity

[big-will 7]

That was talked about here TB

 

http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/301412/Mt_Asama_Gunma.html

 

[beesleyx 0]

I went to Kusatsu with my family using the ticket I won on this site. We really enjoyed it though the snow was fairly thin on the ground I thought. Pretty much agree with what muikabochi says. I took some photos and uploaded them, though they are not as good as the ones above!! Just want to say thanks for the ticket and all the great info on this site.

 

[onsen tamago 0]

I love Kusatsu, been many a time both in winter and other seasons. Definitely worth a visit. Make sure you check out some of the public onsen near the center.