ILoveZao 8 Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 The new ropeway at Zao has started operations. A nice improvement I think and good to see positive things happening. Lets hope the season turns out to be decent. Love the new photos uploader/embed. It is so so easy! Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Thanks for sharing ILoveZao looks good. Less claustraphobic than the old one perhaps. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Good to see some investment into the ski areas. I think it will be tough going for Zao this coming winter, but I really hope they can get some good numbers. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Didn't know there were plans for one. Not that I would! Bit surprised they didn't go with a larger one though - that always seems like a real bottleneck to me. Unless this is much faster. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Perhaps disappointingly, the speed and capacity are pretty much the same. It's only holidays when it gets to be a real bottleneck. At those times I recommend people take the pair lift just next to the ropeway and a few further lifts up. They are often not busy at all, even on a holiday. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I suppose without a major update to the mechanics etc, thats unavoidable. The new ropeways look good though. Wasn't keen on that old one. Link to post Share on other sites
TheOriginalMyoko 0 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 At last the story of a resort putting things up rather than taking them down!! Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 if theres one thing that murdered my two days at zao it was the ropeway. First the bottleneck half way up the hill (after unclipping and walking for miles to get there). That was annoying so we went to the bottom. Arrived at the bottom and stood in teh queue for fifteen minutes before finally getting close enough to see a sign telling us to get a ticket. Went to get the ticket, and was told itd only be an hour wait... I spat a minor dummy. then stomped off, had a chuhai and spent the next day completely avoiding that side of the mountain. Thats right, i went all the way up to zao for two days and was probably one of only three people (me and my two mates) who failed to see the snow monsters up close. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 ILoveZao's tips above are very well worth listening to! Madness waiting for the ropeway and hardly anyone getting on the pair lift 20m away. Much better way to get up there. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Too bad the capacity has not increased, but the new car certainly looks much nicer than the old sardine-can-shaped one. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted September 27, 2011 Author Share Posted September 27, 2011 They would have had to change too much to make it bigger it seems and cost too much. But I think the new one is definitely an improvement. I would tell anyone, especially on a fine day, to get the pair lifts up to the mid-point. It's so much better than waiting for the Ropeway and spending 5-10 minutes squashed up against a window. Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I'll remember the tip about the Ropeway when I'm there in the first week of January (when it'll be just little bit busy). Good to hear about some investment (and therefore optimism). A question for ILove Zao; any other recommendations/insider tips for first time visitors? (2 rusty old boarders and two very young skiers) Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 The best advice he gave me was to go straight to the Kurohime base area for the fastest access to the snow monsters and the upper ropeway to the peak. Even faster than taking the pair lifts next to the Sanrokusen Ropeway. You'll want a car to get there, but if I recall correctly, you will have that? Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 About the ropeway. This is something that had been planned, budgeted and paid for a long while - before the events of March. The resort this year is unfortunately under immense budget pressure.... lots of things have been either cut quite dramatically or cut completely. Optimism is of course good, but the reality is that people are generally a bit grim with slow bookings and the fear that most people will avoid Tohoku and instead choose places more north or more west. But that shouldn't affect your enjoyment of course! Yes I would recommend Kurohime as the place to park. Right next to the lift - and a very very fast lift at that! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Optimism is of course good, but the reality is that people are generally a bit grim with slow bookings and the fear that most people will avoid Tohoku and instead choose places more north or more west. Interesting. I have heard a few people round here mention that they hope that might be the case. In the most respectful possible way of course. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Hey, ILZ I heard it snow stormed a little ? First snow on the mountain !? Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 Not on the skijo mountain, no. Edit: I heard it had yes but I can't see any snow up there now. I heard someone say that some light snow had fallen over up by the crater on the way over to Miyagi. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 Lovely morning now though. Link to post Share on other sites
torihada 2 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 The best advice he gave me was to go straight to the Kurohime base area for the fastest access to the snow monsters and the upper ropeway to the peak. Even faster than taking the pair lifts next to the Sanrokusen Ropeway. You'll want a car to get there, but if I recall correctly, you will have that? I will have a car but am intending to spend about 3 days in resort; knowing my luck probably enjoying the rain & grass skiing. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 The Kurohime base is about 5 minutes drive from the gondola. Definitely a good place to start in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites
fruity-sachi 1 Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 I went to Zao for first time last year. I had always wanted to go and I loved it. Magical kind of place with it's very own atmoshpere and scenery. The snow was great too. I hope to go back. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 It is one of those "places you need to get to" I think. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted October 5, 2011 Author Share Posted October 5, 2011 The first snow - evidence Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Nice to see. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Yes nice. No doubt it's gone now, but good to see all the same. Link to post Share on other sites
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