muikabochi 208 Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 With fine weather this morning the plan was to go to Kagura. That didn't quite work out though as too many people also decided to go there, and as we approached the car park there were guys out with signs telling us that the car park was totally full and we needed to move on to the Tashiro car park 7km further along if we wanted to do Kagura today. I can't quite remember ever seeing the Mitsumata car park totally full, so I am sure it was quite busy up there today. We decided to go to Naeba instead and that was probably a good choice because looking at Tashiro even that car park was very busy and using the overflow area. So Naeba it was. They have one base quad, the No2 gondola and the pair lift from the gondola up near the top moving. It was enough for us we just wanted a few hours out and it wasn't crazy busy either. Lovely blue skies. The snow was pretty decent earlier on, a bit heavy lower down and later on. I've certainly experienced much worse even mid-season and it didn't feel like April, but at the same time can't boast of "epic powder" either. We had a lot of fun though. A few pics. This bit not open any more Still tons of snow Yayyy! Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Great pix, as always!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 8, 2012 Author Share Posted April 8, 2012 Unfortunately, after today Naeba is only open on Saturday and Sunday for the next two weekends. Link to post Share on other sites
kkk 7 Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 Didn't Naeba used to open into May, like 10+ years ago? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 8, 2012 Author Share Posted April 8, 2012 Not too sure, not since the reports in here started I don't think.. Maybe going further back? Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 What on earth is that Mini doing?! Mini's popular in Japan are they? Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Displaying it's Spider Skills! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Were they taken with your new camera? I like the colours in the icicle shot. We were away, but it looks like it was a stunning day. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 Yes it was a fine day. Actually this was my old camera, with my 105mm Macro ('micro') lens which caused a few problems. I don't think I'll be taking the new camera out skiing this season. Still studying. Will let you know when I have a nice D800 sample to share. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Just looked back at the reports http://www.snowjapan.com/e/daily/yuzawa-now-archive.php?month=04&year=2003 Check this April 2003 -- says Naeba was to open until 5th May, but closed on weekdays late in April. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Yeah, it must be difficult framing when you've only got 105mm. I'm looking forward to the new photos anyway, cheers! Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 Cheers Muika It seems alot of resorts closed prematurely this season. Althoush i don't normaly keep checking the cams. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 9, 2012 Author Share Posted April 9, 2012 I think in this area, only Muikamachi Hakkaisan really closed early, though it never goes on into April. I think most other places pretty much had a normal kind of season. Naeba does seem to have been cutting it's season shorter in the last however many years though, but Kagura does always keep open as long as it possibly can. Perhaps the Naeba close has a lot to do with the operations of the hotel < wild guess maybe completely wrong. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Ah didn't think about that. Is the hotel closed now though? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Was just looking that up. Yes it seems so, the hotel closed Sunday 『苗場プリンスホテル』は2012年4月8日(日)の営業をもちまして、 2011-2012冬期シーズンの営業を終了させていただきました。 シーズン中は多くのお客さまにご利用いただき、誠にありがとうございました。 Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Good to see you still hitting the slopes Muika! Keep up the good work!! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 Thanks Mick. Got to admit my mind is more on learning my new camera than skiing right now though. Perhaps another few times though, I told myself at the beginning of the the season that I'd make more of spring so perhaps I should. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 So the Naeba Prince closes down outside of the ski season? That sounds pretty extreme. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 10, 2012 Author Share Posted April 10, 2012 I think they open again for busy periods - like Golden Week (?), summer holidays and peak autumn leaves time. Something like that. But the rest of the time, it's closed yes. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 The last 10 years or so there seems to have been real downsizing in Prince related operations. Isn't Naeba still the jewel in the prince crown? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 I would imagine so. The skijo. Not the hotel which I think is a problem. Link to post Share on other sites
fruity-sachi 1 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I remember when Naeba really was THE place to go. It was so cool to go there, like a lifestyle statement thing. Maybe not so much now! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I bet Fuji Rock is a godsend for them......the whole hotel is booked out by the organisers for that weekend, wonder how much that costs Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 So THAT's why the Fuji Rock tickets are so expensive!! Link to post Share on other sites
69 5 Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Seen a few Minis here actually. None as cool as that "Spidey" one in the photo here though. Link to post Share on other sites
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