Slippery Jim 65 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 To say nothing of attracting people who may want to be planning vacations. I get very annoyed when I can't find out at least how much lift passes cost last season. Sure, prices can change, but not by that much in one year. Link to post Share on other sites
JellyBelly 1 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 They don't deserve to be a success really do they? Link to post Share on other sites
forty 0 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Well, I can't really input anything into the discussion but I just want to say that has been very interesting reading! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 One man's rust-scarred, concrete bunker is another man's investment opportunity! Yeah, they are all in big demand....must explain why they are all snapped up so quickly! Is there ANY resort area, ski or not, that does not have this mess going on? Call me slow, but just came up with two examples of resort areas that do not seem to have decrepit eyesore syndrome in evidence: Karuizawa and Nasu. (Not major ski centers, though they do both have ski areas.) Of course, being playgrounds of the Imperial Family probably doesn't hurt. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Yes Karuizawa definitely has a different atmoshere and look about it. Not been to Nasu - nice place? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I've only looked at it from the train, but it appears to be a nice looking place as well......not the usual crappy buildings that so mire the views of urban Japan. What else goes on there? Apparently the snow is crap, is it a big hiking area....mountain biking.......how come its "famous"? Just for being popular with the royals? Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Lots of second homes and leisure activities. Bit of an "international" atmoshere, but not in the way of their being tons of gaij running about. If that makes sense. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 yeah, getcha. Also they have those shopping outlet malls....but so does Gotemba and that place is a dive Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I found it to be very pleasant when I went there, would like to go again and spend more time than we did. Here's what wiki says: Karuizawa (軽井沢町 Karuizawa-machi) is a town located in Kitasaku District, Nagano, Japan. As of January 1, 2008, the town has an estimated population of 17,833 and has a total area of 156.05 square kilometres (60.25 sq mi). Karuizawa is known throughout Japan as a popular tourist spot. People from Tokyo will travel to Karuizawa to get away from the city especially in summer. There is a Shinkansen station as well as a large outlet store shopping mall. It is also known for its historic shopping street known as "Ginza dōri" or "Kyū-dō" (Ginza Street, or the Old Road). Karuizawa hosted equestrian events in the 1964 Summer Olympics. The town also hosted curling in the 1998 Winter Olympics. To date, it is the only city in the world having hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic events. Edo Period: Served as a post station town on Nakasendō, called Karuisawa-shuku at that time 1886: British theologian Alexander Croft Shaw introduced Karuizawa to fellow missionaries as a getaway spot, particularly as an escape from the summer heat of Tokyo 1910s: Begins to attract the attention of other expatriates and Japanese. 1922: Gained town status. The village of Higashinagakura becomes the town of Karuizawa 1951: Selected as International Cultural and Tourism City. 1964: 1964 Summer Olympics (Equestrian) October 1, 1997: Nagano Shinkansen opens 1998: 1998 Winter Olympics (Curling) 2004: Mount Asama erupts Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 there's a ski-jo on Mt Asama right....asama2000 or something. Anybody been there? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Yes Karuizawa definitely has a different atmoshere and look about it. Not been to Nasu - nice place? Farily nice. Haven't seen downtown, actually, as it is on the opposite side of the expressway from the mountains, where the main resort areas are. Basically resort facilities (onsen, besso, skiing, country clubs, cafes, boutiques, safari park, amusement park, and the obligatory outlet mall) spread out among forests and ranches in the Nasu Kogen highlands. Pretty obvious that a lot of money is parked there, and of course the Imperial family have their summer residence there. Ranged on the west by some very scenic mountains. A somewhat similar region, come to think of it, is the Tateshina Kogen area -- where the Imperial Family has been known to go skiing, if I'm not mistaken (at Kurumayama, I think?). Perhaps a theme developing there... In a different vein, I think the pottery towns of Kasama and Mashiko have some rather charming areas as well. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Not sure about that but I do know they go to Okushiga Kogen every year to ski. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Hmm, perhaps I am mistaken about that. I thought I had remembered reading that in one of the reviews on this site, but see no sign of it now. ...And I do see such a mention in one of the Okushiga Kogen reviews. Must have misremembered. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 I'm sure the theme really is a co-incidence, Metabo Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Apparently some Tokyo companies will pay for folks to commute on the Nagano shink from Karuizawa. Along with the massive outlet mall right next to the station, a fair few "sheltered housing" type blocks of flats for old folks have gone up in recent years. Enough for other folks to get on the Nagano news trying to stop more of them being built. I guess the idea is that folks don't feel cut off from Tokyo if they move there. In spite of its location, its pretty cold there in winter, much colder than Matsumoto or Nagano City. I bet they don't tell that to the old people in the brochures. Its quite a pretty area and the old Meiji/Taisho hotels and chapels there are fine buildings. Well worth seeing. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Yes one of my friends lives in Karuizawa and commutes to Tokyo weekdays. It actually takes him less than many of his colleagues and his office is close to Tokyo station and so actually quite convenient. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 That must be an expensive commute! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 1, 2011 Share Posted November 1, 2011 Company'll probably pick up the tab Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 A somewhat similar region, come to think of it, is the Tateshina Kogen area -- where the Imperial Family has been known to go skiing, if I'm not mistaken (at Kurumayama, I think?). Ah ha, I DID read that somewhere after all: Kurumayama is semi-famous for its imperial patronage. Apparently Japan's princes and princesses go there, of course with all their security in tow.[...] http://www.snowjapan.com/e/features/oceans-view-12.html Link to post Share on other sites
xxx 2 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Never been to that part of Nagano. Wouldn't mind checking it out, even if just because I haven't so far. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Kurumayama is a lot colder than it is interesting. Fairly small and typically wind-scoured hilltop that doesn't get huge amounts of snow. It might be fun on a sunny 30-40cm powder day, as it's mostly all open, but don't think they get many such days in a season. Based on my limited experience there; YMMV, of course. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I think I would agree with that, again my experience limited too. Perhaps save it for a guaranteed day that you want to try somewhere new. There's a few other places up there in the same area. Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 A place in that region I'd like to try on the right day is Pilatus, and I thought Echo Valley had some potential though it was a long time ago and I really don't remember it very well. It just doesn't snow that much up in that part of Nagano and they get a lot of thaw/freeze. Link to post Share on other sites
69 5 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Nice area in summer. Never been in winter. Link to post Share on other sites
yamayamayama 2 Posted December 8, 2011 Share Posted December 8, 2011 Interesting read, missed this first time round. Kurumayama. Interesting name. Car mountain?! Link to post Share on other sites
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