Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 11月下旬, time for this season's Fukushima thread. Some planned openings: 11/23: Minowa 12/1: 11/30: Grandeco 12/15: 12/12: Urabandai Nekoma 12/19: Aizu Kogen Takatsue 12/21: Numajiri Grand Sunpia Inawashiro Resort Grandee Hatoriko 12/22: ALTS Bandai Adatara Kogen Listel Ski Fantasia Family Snow Park Bandai x2 Inawashiro Urabandai Sannokura Tadami TenEi 12/27: Aizu Kogen Takahata Aizu Kogen Nango Minowa were the first in the region to open last year. Judging from webcams they look to be in the running for that record this year as well, though no word yet on plans. We'll see. and now, they have just announced they will open Friday, Nov. 23. Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Dissapointed not to have got up to Fukushima last season, but I didn't know anybody with a car. Hoping to manage a couple of days this season, as I have a friend in Tsukuba now who wants to go and should have wheels...! Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Cheers Metabo! Am definitely going to hit up a Fukushima resort this season! Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I also really really do want to make it this time. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 Cheers, guys. Minowa has just announced that they will open this Friday, the 23rd, with the 640-meter, beginner-level ET Course. Link to post Share on other sites
onsen tamago 0 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I'm on for a trip to Fukushima ski and onsen. Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Are we perhaps going to try and get a meet up going this season again? It kind of didn't happen last year did it.. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I would definitely try to be on for that. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 +1 Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 Yes, last year's attempt at a meet-up was not a ringing success: http://www.snowjapan...ushima-2012218/ If folks are game for another shot at it, I'd certainly be up for it. Perhaps time for a poll thread: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/22222-sj-meet-up-in-fukushima-2013/ Link to post Share on other sites
nippontiger 8 Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 I guess the free expressways after the earthquake thing is finished by now...? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 Yup, all finished. It was good while it lasted. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 24, 2012 Author Share Posted November 24, 2012 The following Fukushima ski areas will give 20-22 year-olds free lift tickets on weekdays from 1/15/2013 to 3/31/2013: Nihonmatsu Shiozawa Adatara Kogen Grandee Hatoriko Ten-Ei Hinoemata Onsen Aizu Kogen Daikura Aizu Kogen Nango Aizu Kogen Takahata Aizu Kogen Takatsue Fairy Land Kaneyama Inawashiro Urabandai Yokomuki Onsen Numajiri Grand Suntopia Inawashiro Resort Urabandai Nekoma Listel Ski Fantasia Minowa ALTS Bandai Grandeco Family Snow Park Bandai x2 (I.e., pretty much all of them except for Sannokura, Yanaizu and Tadami.) Registration required. For details, do a web search on: 雪マジ!ふくしま Note that this is a separate program from the nationwide 雪マジ!19 program for 19-year-olds, which is also being repeated this year. For details on that one, do a web search on: 雪マジ!19 Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 まじで!? Which Fukushima places you hoping to hit up this season Metabo. Which would you recommend for me, scenery wise? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 I'll probably mostly be hitting Inawashiro as my main place mid-season, and Grandeco early and late season (planning to hit Grandeco's opening day this Saturday). But I also want to get around to some of the places I have never been to yet, and will also hit up Adatara Kogen at some point. As for scenery, the best views of the lake, from the flanks of Mt. Bandai, are probably from Inawashiro and Grand Sunpia Inawashiro Resort. If you want views OF Mt. Bandai, Grandeco has a nice view of the back-side, and I suspect Numajiri and Minowa may as well. Then there is Adatara Kogen, which I suspect has an expansive view out towards the Pacific if only the weather is clear in that direction, which it never has been when I have gone. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Thanks Metabo Oyaji. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Won't be going that area, but will read on enthusiastically. Link to post Share on other sites
Gunma Boarder 14 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 What are peoples favorite resort in Fukushima? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 Grandeco is opening a day early, on Friday, Nov. 30. (I won't be able to make that, will have to go Saturday as planned.) Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 What are peoples favorite resort in Fukushima? Others have wider experience than I do. The only ones I have been to so far (hope to hit more this season) are Grandeco, Adatara Kogen, Inawashiro, Alts, Nekoma and Grandee Hatoriko. I would say I'm more partial to the first 3 on that list than the last 3, though not necessarily for reasons that others would share (history, character, or just personal historical reasons). Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 Scenes from Grandeco, 1 Dec. 2012: Today was Grandeco's planned opening day, though they actually managed to open yesterday. #1 Quad lift running, serving the 2-km Center Course. A bit of a queue as can be seen, but not too bad. 5 minutes? Less than 10, anyway. Flurries in the morning, a bit of blue sky and sun mid-day, then clouding over again and snowing for the rest of the day. Somewhat windy at the top of the chair. Snow was packed powder on top of an artificial base, which made for a nice, fast surface on the upper part of the course, though some icy spots opened up lower down later in the day. One of the early-season pleasures is some of the natural features to play around on, before the snow deepens and fills in and smooths out the natural terrain. Cold, but not too cold -- just cold enough to keep everything dry. A good day to be out, and a nice chance to say hi to some familiar faces. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Well done Metabo What's with they yellow security sign on the front? I see you got some blue skies (after the snow, later on in the day?) Kind of reminds me of the silly 'increased anti-terrorism in force' signs that I have seen in the mountain village of Yamakoshi! (Though perhaps there is some reason why it is a top terrorist target!) Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Way to go. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 Cheers, muikabochi and fukdane. What's with they yellow security sign on the front? You know, I have no idea. It seems to have been there for quite some time -- found someone's blog from 2007 where they wonder about the sign. Some kind of anti-theft drive or something? I see you got some blue skies (after the snow, later on in the day?) The sun came out for a while, but went away again later. Kind of reminds me of the silly 'increased anti-terrorism in force' signs that I have seen in the mountain village of Yamakoshi! (Though perhaps there is some reason why it is a top terrorist target!) The signs have obviously been effective, as I have not heard of any terrorism occurring in Yamakoshi. Link to post Share on other sites
fruity-sachi 1 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Good to see that Metabo. Perhaps this year we can meet up! Link to post Share on other sites
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