Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Greetings everyone, New poster here, though I read this site many times last year as a reference. With the weather cooling off, the kid and I are getting excited about the coming of ski season. Last year we warmed up at Sayama in November, and wrapped up at Kagura in May. Only six short months. So... within, say, 4-5 hours drive of Tokyo, which ski area is likely to open the earliest? (Besides Sayama, or course.) Something in the Nagano area, or somewhere in Tohoku? Gotta make use of those 1000-yen highway tolls! Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 You want real snow or silly crushed ice stuff? Yeti in Shizuoka usually opens mid-October I think with the latter. Marunuma in Gunma is usually open I think end October/beginning of November with the latter. Karuizawa in Gunma plans to open 30th October. Kagura in Niigata is hoping for 21st November. Okutadami in Niigata is gunning for then too. Naeba used to go real early as well but is cutting back and retreating to early December. Link to post Share on other sites
TJ OZ 0 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 I have been taking advantage of those 1000 yen tolls with a couple of surf trips. I have got money on something in Hakuba opening on the 26th of November however it has been quite cold early this year so my bet may be a little late. I can't lose either way. Last year Hakuba47 opened on the 22nd of Nov. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Zao in Yamagata should be around then too... Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Originally Posted By: SKI You want real snow or silly crushed ice stuff? Hey, I'll take what I can get, early on. I hadn't even realized there were other options in Oct./early Nov. besides Sayama. Thanks for the suggestions! Hmm, I had been thinking of checking out Marunuma last year, but never made it there... Will also keep an eye on the other places mentioned. Thanks again, guys. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Good name Matabo Oyaji! Marunuma is fun for a one-off, but it's a small place. I wait until the real snow arrives. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Originally Posted By: muikabochi Good name Matabo Oyaji! Thanks! Still trying to figure out yours... A take-off on Muikamachi, with the implication that the place is like a graveyard at times? Quote: Marunuma is fun for a one-off, but it's a small place. I don't mind one-offs, since I'm still in the exploring stage of trying lots of different places. Last year I don't think we ever went to the same place twice, unless we were staying there overnight. Mostly day trips here and there, to get a feel for what's out there. Quote: I wait until the real snow arrives. Well here's the deal: the little one does a pretty mean ha-no-ji, and will gamely snowplow down big moguls -- or rather, snowplow right over the middle of them, going up and down them like a series of little hills -- but it is time for some professional coaching to get parallel turns down. (Kid won't do anything I say -- takes after me that way...) So I plan to devote the first time out this year to kiddie ski lessons, in which case the quality of the snow is not so important. Save the good snow and scenery for when the season proper gets underway. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Yes Muikamachi, it's where I live. bochi is a secret but nothing to do with graveyards! About waiting til the snow arrives, good for you. I know the places round here really well, and only a very small part of them being open isn't particularly exciting! I am also trying to branch out and try new places more and more. Last season I did and this season I intend to do more. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 I'd take Marunuma over Karuizawa any day. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Did Okutadami close last season mid-season like it usually does even with the less snow than usual thing going on? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 first to open? Naeba, with the snow bunnies on the 400m strip of chemical ice. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Well up north here I'm hoping to hit up Kurodake again for some early turns. We were up there last season on 8th Nov with over a metre of natural snow, here's hoping that happens again! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share Posted September 25, 2009 Originally Posted By: best skier in hakuba I'd take Marunuma over Karuizawa any day. Anyone have any idea when the back road to Marunuma from Nikko typically shuts down for the winter? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I think it's sometime in mid-late November. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 26, 2009 Author Share Posted September 26, 2009 Thanks. Maybe I can slip in a visit before being forced to take the long way around. Link to post Share on other sites
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