moon sausage 0 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hiya moon sausage here New here, well have lurked a while and now that we are going to get to Japan thought I would join in. Going to get to Japan in January. The plan is time in Tokyo with friend, go up to Zao in Yamagata and perhaps get out to Niigata as well as it is so convenient from Tokyo. My friend has been to Nozawa in Nagano and wondering how it compares for those who have been to both. Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Hi moon sausage! I have been to both and I like them both. In a few ways they are similar - small onsen village with character, right at the base of a large skijo (though I think the village might have been there first). Both get good snow and offer decent variety. I prefer Zao, very possibly because of the spectacular setting that it has, though I do prefer the skiing there as well. I suppose it will depend on what you want out of your skijo. Link to post Share on other sites
onsen tamago 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 They are both fine places and as muikabochi said have similarities. I would find it hard to choose one, I love them both - both my type of place. For lots of people Zao is about the monsters and stuff and there's no real equivelant at Nozawa. But the skiing is quality. At both. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Noz has some life in the village when the lifts close, outside of the onsen and ur hotel, zao has nothing much going on Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Yes good point Nozawa is much more lively than Zao which is sadly very quiet in the evenings. Link to post Share on other sites
moon sausage 0 Posted July 4, 2012 Author Share Posted July 4, 2012 Yes I had read that on here. Partying isn't important though, though of course somewhere lively is good. Is it quiet even weekends? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 I think so. Link to post Share on other sites
Saitaman 1 Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Friend of mine went up there weekend last season and said it was quiet out and about. People seem to stay in their hotels. Link to post Share on other sites
moon sausage 0 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 What's the reason for that? Surely if it is a popular place then there will be a lot of people around? Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Unfortunately, most Japanese ski resort areas are like that. Many people stay in their hotel, especially onsen places where it's usually room + 2 meals. Doesn't make for a lively town. Zao and Shiga Kogen are two major places that strike me as being particularly quiet on that front. A shame really. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Yeah, Japanese snow experience is definitely not for the after party! Japanese people tend to be happy with the post riding onsen, hotel dinner then a can or 2 of beer in their room before sleeping Link to post Share on other sites
Error404 0 Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 I wonder if there used to be more in a place like Zao? And it just wasn't popular and quietened down? Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 Its been a while since I've been to Nozawa, but as I remember, there is more challenging riding there. Zao seemed to be an awful lot of beginner slopes and people stood around taking pictures of the snow monsters. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 The top run at Zao really shouldn't count - it is as much scenic tourism as much as skiing - just the one thin run down from the top. And when the views are so amazing, people would be silly not to be taking shots. But the skijo is much much bigger than that one run. There's lots of what I would call intermediate long cruising kind of runs. Having said that, I would agree that Nozawa does offer more challenges. Though there's a great big bit in the middle that I don't rate at all. I'm not a beginner but Zao wins for me. Link to post Share on other sites
Error404 0 Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Funny last time I found myself doing the "stay in hotel" thing, even in Hakuba. I think I must be getting too old for the going to bars thing. Link to post Share on other sites
moon sausage 0 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Share Posted July 13, 2012 I see. Interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted July 18, 2012 Share Posted July 18, 2012 .....unlike the evenings in Zao! Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 Unfortunately folks I can't see it changing much in the near future. People in Zao are aware of the issue, though some don't look on it as a problem as such. There have been a few places opening in the evening but struggle. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 What kind of places ILoveZao? Interested to hear more. Link to post Share on other sites
yamaski 0 Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 There is more available outside of the resort in Nozawa than in Zao, but i do like them both. For the skiing and also the onsen. Link to post Share on other sites
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