Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 All right! That's two. Who else is game? Somewhere in the Inawashiro/Bandai area would seem to make sense, for easy access from both Tokyo and Niigata directions. Looking at web sites, none of the Fukushima resorts have declared that they will not open, that I can see. Inawashiro Minero has declared their intention to operate for the 2011-2012 season, starting late December. Alts will run with some lifts and restaurants shut down, to save electricity, but are planning on a full season (mid-Dec. to early May for Nekoma, late Dec. to late March for Alts). Alts/Nekoma is offering extra discounts on their joint season pass for the 2011-2012 season. Adatara Kogen plans to start 10 Dec. Grandee Hatoriko expects to be operating in the 2011-2012 season as well. Others have not said anything clear yet, but none have declared any intention to quit, that I can see. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Wish I could. Good to hear that they are not closing up though. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Yes good to hear that Metabo. Lets hope it doesn't change. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I'm on for that too. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 I can on a weekday (but would pass on Listel or Nekoma) Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Yomiuri reports that Kayama Captain Coast in Yuzawa is officially throwing in the towel, citing the earthquake as a trigger. ...the earthquake connection being that, while Kayama admits the ski area has been running at a loss ever since it first opened, with ever-decreasing visitor numbers, those numbers are expected to worsen even more post-quake, and he is now concentrating his resources on earthquake charity, so he cannot afford to keep propping up the place. So anyway, move that one from the "merely resting" category. No "renewal open" forthcoming after all. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Yes, just heard myself. Frankly, it was rubbish anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted July 30, 2011 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted July 30, 2011 Originally Posted By: Metabo Oyaji So anyway, move that one from the "merely resting" category. No "renewal open" forthcoming after all. And come October, that kind of thing should be quite clear on the site. (At long last!) Link to post Share on other sites
KatyB 0 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Good to hear about those Fukushima resorts. Lets hope they're not just saying that as other things are happening behind the scenes so to speak. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Good report Metabo. I hope they manage to keep to that plan. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Updates on some Fukushima resorts: Minowa Ski Area is aiming to start up Dec. 3rd. Also, Minowa and Adatara have announced their 2011-2012 season ticket prices, which are the same as they were last season. (No discount such as Alts/Nekoma have announced.) Listel Ski Fantasia is planning to open Dec. 23rd. No closures declared yet that I see. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 December. Seems so far away. But always good to have a lovely autumn before it. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Does a place like Minowa usually get enough to open 3rd Dec, or is that just being very optimistic? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Muika: Well, here are the opening dates for Minowa for the past few years: 2010.12.1 2009.12.12 2008.11.28 2007.12.1 2006.12.5 2005.11.25 2004.12.14 2003.11.29 2002.11.16 2001.12.1 (or earlier) So, maybe they have about a 2-out-of-3 chance of meeting their Dec. 3rd target. (Of course, it will be mostly artificial snow on opening day.) SKI: December does seem so far -- and yet the time to start thinking about early-bird specials on passes and tickets is almost upon us already! (For those interested in such.) Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 They manage quite early hey, I suppose I'm surprised. But that's due to really not knowing the area! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 The news said the other day that power rationing is unlikely in winter, so that's some good news! Link to post Share on other sites
Geeh 0 Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Heard that as well. Good to hear. Does it apply to nighta as well? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Huh, my daily fishwrap is claiming power shortages and setsuden will be the order of the day again in winter. Hope they're wrong. Alts is cancelling their nighters this winter, plus closing down the left one-third of their mountain. They say it is to conserve electricity, though I wonder if it may not be more of an excuse to shut down uneconomical parts of their operation with a less-than-stellar season expected. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 they are shutting down the very left side of their mountain.....isn't that where the Super-pipe is? I thought that would be a major draw for them Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 No pipe this year apparently, but they are beefing up the park features at Nekoma. Also shutting down the family quad serving the central beginners' slope at Nekoma. Perhaps the idea is to focus on advanced skiers/riders on the Nekoma side, and everyone else on the Alts side? Link to post Share on other sites
yamayamayama 2 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Seriously, Fukushima resorts are surely shafted this season. Just a lot or more than a lot. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Thats not good to hear. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Bad news about Alts. That was on my list. Not sure if it is now, though I would like to "support". Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I was at the Madarao Toyoda resort this past weekend for a snowboarding event/festival thingee. Someone said it had been closed since 2007. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Well it had been closed, but then was open these last two seasons after being bought by the Sympathigue hotel guys. Who have subsequently gone bust. So I presume it won't be opening this next season. Link to post Share on other sites
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