SnowJapan.Com#3 0 Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 A new As I Ski It feature, "Exploring Tohoku...on your skis", has been put online. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/as-i-ski-it-11.html "Pity poor Tohoku, it is all but ignored by the rest of the world, and even the rest of Japan. Tokyo is the worlds arguably most developed city. It is also the economic and pop cultural hub of Asia, with the city coffers larger than that of 75% of the countries in the world. Osaka, or the "anti-Tokyo", plays a wonderful second city, was recently in the running for its own Olympics, and much like the second city of the United States, a legendary "yakuza" or gangster haven." http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/as-i-ski-it-11.html Please note that the views expressed in any Features on Snow Japan are not necessarily those of Snow Japan. Discuss it here.... Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 You like Tohoku don't you, Dean?! Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted April 25, 2003 Share Posted April 25, 2003 How has your season gone this time round Dean? Sounds like you get around a fair bit. Link to post Share on other sites
cheeseman 1 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Whats the story on the cheese scene up there? Any good cheese-friendly resorts up there at all?? Link to post Share on other sites
nagoid 4 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Hi cheeseman. Dean, where are you based now? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 If I wasnt married I would move there. Hachimantai sounds like the place for me. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Rach San, I would much rather be "out in the boonies". Was born and raised there, and when ever I go overseas to work, it seems I end up there. Love BFE. Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 7-11, Ive managed to hit the slopes 30 times this year, may get one or two more times in, may hit the summit of Hachimantai(no lifts, but skiable snow, and lots of it still up there). Been a good winter but not two the legendary status of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Cheeseman, what exactly do you mean by cheese? Are you taking about Japanese Ski fashion? We have that in abundance, but again maybe not to its lengendary level of the past few years, it was a tad subdued. Are you talking about the Dairy Product? Iwate is home of Koiwai Farms which has some decent cheese, killer yoghurt drinks, and good dairy and farm products. However being a native Vermonter I will take time to plug the merits of my homestates "rakunoo meibutsu". Cabot Farms Cheddar Cheese and Ben and Jerry`s Ice Cream(which sells in Japanese 7-11 convienence stores). Peace, Love and Butterfat, Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Nagoid, Im in Nishine Cho, nestled in at the base of Iwate San. Nishine is a great place to work, eat cheap and greasy Japanese food, but the nightlife is um...well....Im lucky its only a 35 minute drive to Morioka. However my apartment is exactly 20 minutes by car from Appi, one can hit Shimokuora and Hachimantai Resort in about 45 minutes. Shizukushi(my fave in Japan!!!!!) ,Hachimantai, and Amihari, are all within 90 minutes drive(a little more than an hour for each), provided I do not get lost on my way(happened twice this winter). Dean "Hookoo-onchi" Ruetzler Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Fattwins, Can you talk the wife into coming up to Hachi? Even if she doesn`t want to hit the slopes, Hachimantai is a very famous onsen resort....It may provide a decent diversion while you get to hit the Pow?? Dean Link to post Share on other sites
snowboard_freak 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 Dean, you'll get used to cheeseman and his constant cheese related posts. I think every last one of his posts has something to do with cheese. Normally about its nutrious value. In fact i think you may be the first person to answer one of his cheese questions seriously! Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 26, 2003 Share Posted April 26, 2003 The wife can ski and keep up with the any girl in powder. she is only ever 30 secs behind me. she likes to see my tracks so she knows where to go. We got here a pair of fat skis and that just jumped her level up. The prob is she is a salarywoman and she has a pretty good job here. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 27, 2003 Share Posted April 27, 2003 Well coming from a state where 75% of the revenue coming into the state comes from skiing and dairy products(read cheese). I may take cheese a bit more seriously than the man on the street. I didnt take him too seriously my toungue was lightly planted in my cheek when I replied. But coming from the state that won the European Cheese finals in 1998(kind of like a Tanzanian skiier winning the FIS world cup), I realize chesse can be very important. Swiss Chee-rs, Dean Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 27, 2003 Share Posted April 27, 2003 Fat twins, as they say "show me the money". Probably better to stay in Kyoto. Do you wives "salary-MEN" colleagues know her true gender? Ha Ha! Seroiusly, in Iwate a flent English speaking female friend of mine who worked Fuji Bank Atlanta and New York can do no better than an OL job here in Iwate. "Danson Johi"(rampant sexism), is strong in these parts. If you wife has a god job there... enjoy the weekends on the slopes....Dean Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted April 27, 2003 Share Posted April 27, 2003 Yeah they know her gender. She out sold most of them this year. She is in the house reform business. She has had a good year. We both used to ski bum and the dream is to save an retire in or near a resort. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted April 28, 2003 Share Posted April 28, 2003 Fattwins, isn`t a life without dreams not really a life at all? Good luck! Dean Link to post Share on other sites
green 0 Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 I am going to try further north next season I think, it looks like fun. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 The north contains some treasures. Id like to claim invention of the "Shinjuku on Snow" line about the lines and crowds at southern resorts, but I can not it was a friend visiting Echigo Yuzawa. But the longest line I`ve ever had to wait in Tohoku this side of the Zao and Hakkoda tramways was less than 10 min. That in itself makes it worth it to come "Explore Tohoku". Dean Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 The SHinjuku on snow thing is a thing of the past in Yuzawa I can tell ya. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 Since I was relying on information that was passed on, I welcome elaboration. Does it really have short lines? How is the snow? Shold the chance for me to go on a similar trip to the ones my friends took be accepted. Yoroshiku, Dean Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 You should try it. I think gg was just pointing out that lines compared to 10 years ago are so much smaller. Mid week resorts are very not busy, even places like Naeba. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Its a mixed blessing the economic doldrums of Japan aren`t they? Well one fring benefit is, like you say, the lack of crowds compared to ten years ago, and unlike in the States, the ticket prices are the same as they were back then too(rougly). Now if only i could get that shink ticket to cost a little less...... Dean Link to post Share on other sites
IceEiji 0 Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 Very good! Tohoku is a great area of Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
rudean77 0 Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Thanks Alot, with so many other notable places in the country Tohoku can be overlooked, even by the Japanese themselves. However, it has sone very nice places to visit ski areas and more.... It is worth the extra transportation hardship for sure. Dean Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts