muikabochi 208 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I went to Kandatsu Kogen this morning, hoping and thinking it would be one of my favourite 'deep blue' days. Unfortunately it didn't turn out that way, it was more a milder blue and it actually clouded over and went grey by mid morning. Anyway, I don't really like Kandatsu Kogen. I usually go once a season because I like the views from the top on a clear day. The place kind of annoys me, especially how one third of it - the best bit - is closed on weekdays. But I've covered that before so won't go on about it. I didn't change my mind today. Snow was ok but not as good as I expected considering the snow late last week and over the weekend. Just wasn't really up for it today, not even taking pics. But took a few. So here's how Kandatsu looked today. Link to post Share on other sites
KlingKlang 1 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Are they... disco balls?!? Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Love how pissed off you sound even making the thread about it. And love the lumpy snow shots Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 I wouldn't say pissed off maybe, but like I said I just wasn't up for it today at all. Strange. And, I don't like Kandatsu! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Absolutely no idea what those disco balls were for KlingKlang. They were just there, on the back down to base. Perhaps lit up on the all nighta days or something. Don't know. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Maybe keeps birds away (dunno why they'd wanna scare birds away), kinda like cd's I've seen hanging over fields, the light reflects off the shiny surface and scares birds away Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Don't think so Tubby, there were about 50 disco balls all within that one small area and it looked like there were spotlights pointed at them too. Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I'm not too keen on Kandatsu either. Too many 'kobu' and not enough variation for me. Link to post Share on other sites
snowbender 3 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I used to mistakenly call this place Katsudon Kogen. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Better than Butsudan Kogen! Link to post Share on other sites
LCaldwell 0 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks for posting a review and photos. It might seem "blah" to you, but to a newb like myself that just moved here, all of it is exciting. Link to post Share on other sites
Saitaman 1 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 You probably don't know but muikabochi contributes loads to these forums and many magnificent photos from many places. He is a local and lives in that area and certainly does not think it as 'blah'. His point is probably that he personally does not recommend Kandatsu compared with other places in his area. I can understand the weekday lift closing thing being annoying too. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Thanks Saitaman Sorry LCaldwell, don't take my negative thing there too seriously. I feel bad now. I love this area as muchly as is possible, believe me. I feel very lucky to live here and admire the surroundings every single day. Obviously I'm not coming here and posting as an overseas first time visitor - that would be impossible for me to do now. Just passing on my thoughts on Kandatsu, for what they are worth, as someone who has been to all the ski resorts in this part of Japan many times. That's all. And.... if you are a first time visitor, I would recommend other resorts in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma over Kandatsu. And I'd be more than happy to pass on any thoughts and answer any questions about this particular area that you may have too if you want. Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I love this area as muchly as is possible, believe me. I feel very lucky to live here and admire the surroundings every single day. I can vouch for that. I doubt many people in that valley take as many photos of it as muika! Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Katsudon Kogen Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I would have thought the views of old-timers and people who are very experienced in an area -- and not trying to 'sell' it to you -- would be of real interest. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Some of those long-range shots are really 3-dimensional looking, somehow. Link to post Share on other sites
dyna8800 3 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 One man's poison is another man's pleasure...or so they say. Kandatsu is actually one of my favorites, in Niigata, that is. It is a smaller scale resort. I actually wrote a strategic guide sometime back about how to cover the resort, with some lifts only opening at certain times and all... Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 21, 2013 Author Share Posted January 21, 2013 Strategic guide!? Are you absolutely sure we are talking about the same place? Considering there are only 3 lifts (the one that gets you to base doesn't count), and they all bring you back to the same area, I can't imagine that is needed! 4 lifts at weekends (2/7ths of the season) but again that comes around back to the same place. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Do they charge less for their limited weekeday opening muika? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Actually yes they do - for a 1 day ticket - 300 yen less (4200 yen > 3900 yen). Half day tickets are the same on any day though at 3500 yen, which doesn't seem fair. I used a freebie though. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Interesting stuff Muika and great photos as always, even if you weren't in the mood for katsudon! Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Great photos. You've got some lovely scenery. Them disco balls are also well freaky. Everyone knows times are tough for skijos, but ones that stay open yet appear happy to offer a half-hearted attempt at service certainly don't help things. With all the costs involved for city folks to go skiing, a lot of them won't simply decide to go somewhere else after a less-than-satisfying day. They'll just decide to stop going altogether. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 Thanks. I agree. And I would prefer to do my bit to support places that don't give off the air of cutting every last thing they can, like Kandatsu always seems to for me. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Thanks muika Link to post Share on other sites
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