mina2 6 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I've seen nighta go from being something a lot of resorts offered to something that is now much more limited (which resorts and which days). Surely due to the lack of people that get out there and use it. I don't know the costs but with only a few people on the slopes it's easy to see how it ain't making any money. I think the best in this region (if we include Yuzawa area in that) will be Ishiuchi. I really like nighta when there's new snow - not something we've had endless amounts of this winter. Was wondering how nighta is doing in other places? I hear Niseko is pretty big area - is it popular and busy? Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Wonder how many of them actually make any money.. Link to post Share on other sites
kintaro 0 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I used to go to Miyagi Zao (Eboshi) and they'd stay open until 12:00. It was a lot of fun but they only opened up half of the hill. Link to post Share on other sites
XilR8 0 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I had some awesome nighta at Appi and at Niseko this season. Best time to enjoy the powder. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I like nighta too - though it can be a nightmare if it's ice-rink conditions! As to how it goes business wise, I don't know. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 Nightas nicer. Link to post Share on other sites
D train 0 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 well hirafu spends 100,000 yen a night to light their field - thats the cost of lights only-hirafu only- so I am guessing its a massive money drain. Some nights like tonight it is busy ( with almost all riders being season pass holders I would imagine) whereas others it is virtually empty. One of the positive blips in Japan`s " don`t think, just do" social collectivism. It`s no one`s specific job to ask whether the nighter is worthwile for business, therefore no one asks. so shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Interesting that D train (the cost). Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 imagine the cost to run the gondola and chairs for those extra hours Link to post Share on other sites
XilR8 0 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Actually someone at the resort told me that running the chairs is surprisingly cheap. Doubt a few hours makes a massive difference. Those lights literally burn power though. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 The other thing to be considering in all this is the advantage of having a good nighta in the promotional sense. It is often said you cant buy good publicity ... but you bloody can! And providing things that other places don't can be just that ... good publicity. What is your point difference, why should Mr Money to Burn HolidayMaker choose YOUR resort over the other 5 he/she is looking at? facilities, inclusions and things like a good nighta can mean your resort thrives while the neighbours is stagnant. Perhaps the Nighta itself is not making money, but perhaps the fact that the resort HAS nighta is the reason there are double the numbers coming to your resort over the stagnant neighbours resort in the first place. Maybe I am blowing smoke....but it is all worth consideration. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Originally Posted By: XilR8 Actually someone at the resort told me that running the chairs is surprisingly cheap. Doubt a few hours makes a massive difference. Those lights literally burn power though. nah, think of it this way, 1kg up 1 meter in 1 second. Then imagine how heavy each gondola is, how many gondolas there are and how much friction to overcome. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Back of envelope but 100,000 a night Say five hours so 20,000 an hour. Guess 12 yen/kWh commercial rate. That would make it 1600kW of lighting. As a comparision,a quick google says City of Manchester Stadium uses 436kW for its floodlights. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 yeah, but Man City plays in the dark anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Under the Blue Moon. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 When I first came here I used to do a fair bit of nighta, but haven't at all this last few. Last time I did go it was very quiet and it seems that way when I drive past as well. It just seems to be much less popular now. Round these parts anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 I go the nighta most weekedays with the kids racing team. Besides the racing club - there are not many punters, not sure what it is like at the weekend. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 everytime I approach the hill on the coach from the airport and see it all lit up, it's like approaching a winter wonderland during Christmas. Everytime is special. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Where do you do the nighta stemik? The best one in Niigata I reckon is Ishiuchi Maruyama. They light up a fair big part of that resort. Finished for the season now though. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Originally Posted By: sanjo Where do you do the nighta stemik? Usually on Happo- but they finished early this season. Now training on Goryu - much better for the kids Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 How big is the nighta in Happo stemik? Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 very very short. Link to post Share on other sites
abe 0 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I have never been to a nighter that I thought was worthwhile (have not been to Niseko), but I agree with Mamabear and I think it makes a resort sound appealing. Link to post Share on other sites
Wizz 11 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Ishiuchi Maruyama is definitely worthwhile when the snow is good. Big area and some decent terrain open. Link to post Share on other sites
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