dyna8800 3 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 In recent news, Macearth announced a new resort, titled Mt. Kosha. This would join together 5 existing resorts: Maki no Iri Snow Park, Kitashinshu Kijimadaira Skijo, Yamabiko no Oka Skijo, X-Jam Takaii Fuji, and Yamase Onsen Skijo. The new resort would rank third in area, 234 hectares, only behind Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen. The new website is not up yet, and there are only a few details gleaned from the various group resort websites. Does this signal a new era in mega resorts? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Birth of a New Era! Way to go with the dramatic headline From what I gather it all seems a bit 'messy' at the moment. Whether it will turn into anything grand or not, will be interesting to see. Each one of those resorts though is pretty small and unremarkable. I would take Nozawa over that combo most days. Having said that, would be much more attractive to have all that on one ticket than individual places like now. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Nicely placed very near the Shinkansen station in Iiyama - 10 minutes drive from there to Kijimadaira? Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Maybe it should be "epoch-making" given that 画期的 is the one of the most common words in Japanese hype. Will that lift still be closing for lunch? Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Are those places skiable using lifts, or is it just going to be a "lets shuttle bus" thing going on? I know Kijimadaira and Makinoiri are joined - hasn't Makinoiri been closed for a few seasons? Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Yes very close to the upcoming Shinkansen station. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Certainly seems a worthwhile thing to try. Isn't that how Zao came to be? I can imagine a few other places that that might make sense for. For example, I can't help but think that by merely cutting a few new trails, Alts, Inawashiro Resort and Inawashiro could be linked up into a "Mt. Bandai" mega-resort that could be skied from one end to the other. Possibly add in Family Snow Park Bandai X2 for good measure, and, with the addition of one lift, Nekoma. Interesingly, Macearth is the company that bought up Inawashiro (and are abolishing the distinction between the Minero and Chuo sides there), so perhaps they might try negotiating something with their neighbors to do something like this at some point? Could probably link up Hunter Mountain and Edelweiss just by cutting trails, too. Link to post Share on other sites
nagoid 4 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 The new resort would rank third in area, 234 hectares, only behind Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen......... ......in Nagano. Interesting for sure. Has this actually been formalised and put into action this season? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Here's what Mr Google says Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I'd give it a go. But..... fairly low down generally and the snow quickly dries up there if I am not mistaken. Also is the "3rd biggest area in Nagano" really that meaningful. From the looks, all of the places are actually pretty small so joining them up - while probably a good idea and I would be happy to try it out - still it's not THAT big an area in terms of rideable courses. Perhaps? Link to post Share on other sites
igloo 3 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I probably wouldn't go to one of those places as they were, but on one ticket? Yes, I'd give it a try for sure. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Very interesting. Will go if this is the case to check it all out. When it is possible, places really need to consider doing stuff like this, it really does increase the interest that just wouldn't be there for lots of smaller places. I can only assume that the move has only been made recently as you'd think they'd be shouting it out? Kijimadaira aren't shouting about it that's for sure. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Iwappara <> Maiko would be fairly easy to get going as well. Physically. It was actually a plan in days gone by, but that faltered. Link to post Share on other sites
kkk 7 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 On the same kind of subject, what sort of effect did the Dragondola have on Naeba and Kagura? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Well we can't know what numbers would have been like if the Dragondola had not been made, but if I am not mistaken Naeba's numbers keep going down while Kagura do fairly decent. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Is that Yamabiko no oka actually part of Kijimadaira? It sort of looks like it on the map, and there's no website other than the Kijimadaira. I'd deffo go. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Don't know the places really other than seeing Kijimadaira but it sounds like a good idea to me. As others have said it will get people going who would otherwise not have considered it. Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 All for it. You'd think they would be a bit more vocal about it though unless it's just going to be done on the quiet this time round and then properly next year. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Kijimadaira is the only one that I have heard of and never been there. Interesting seeing where they all are. Which side of that mountain should theoretically get the best snow? The northern Kijimadaira part? Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Is that a golf course connecting X Jam and Yomase? Link to post Share on other sites
dyna8800 3 Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 It seems that I never got around to posting a report on Kijimadaira...will put that on the list of things to do for next week. While the resort was very small, and could be covered in a half day (if the top lift is not running), the addition of the other areas, making it more complete would be a welcome addition. Just a Yamabiko no Oka/Kijimadaira/Maki no Iri resort would be decent for a day, and with X-Jam off the backside (well, it ain't no back bowls of Vail, but the orientation of the hill could make for a go if conditions on the "frontside" were not optimal) and Yomase might lend itself for a decent weekend trip. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 The steep course at Kijimadaira looks like fun to try some time. At end of season, in case I break something. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 One day lift ticket, for the whole area, is only 3900 yen as well. Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Looks like it. Keen to give it a go. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 3900 for a ticket as well? I imagine quite a few people will be trying the place out. Big question is... does it have repeat appeal? Link to post Share on other sites
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