Popular Post smoothrider 2 Posted January 23, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted January 23, 2013 First trip to Nozawa Onsen for this intermediate over 40 boarder. It snowed for 4 days and we had a bluebird on Monday the 21st. Loved the fact it is an old village and hasn't been commercialized! Mountain was decent--the only negative for snowboarders is you have to unstrap/walk in a few places as I had read in previous posts. The onsens were a huge bonus and a must visit. Since Lodge Nagano was full, we were passed to the Honey Bee/Mistubachi Maaya (Owner is Ikeda-san) which is up the street from the Shinden No-Yu Onsen and around the corner from the Post Office (which has the only ATM in town I think). Great location with about a 10 minute walk to Nakasaka Gondola--a great way to stretch/warm up before hitting the slopes is how I looked at it. BEST PLACE FOR BEGINNERS: The right side of the mountain (Karasawa) is the perfect place for first time snowboarders/skiers (had a cherry-boarder with me), even on crowded weekends. It's wide open. It's a better slope than Uenotaira (way too flat) to learn on. Probably get bored on this after a while, but the best place for beginners to start hands down. BEST TRAILS FOR INTERMEDIATES: Yamabiko A, B, C, D using the C & D lifts at the top of the mountain. These trails had the best snow and were the longest runs (besides Skyline). Lots of off piste/trees/powder. BEST PLACES TO EAT: Sushi - Hamacho Pizza - Billikens and Kaze no Ie Salad - Billikens (couldn't find any places that served salads...needed my greens). Wine Selection - Kaze no Ie Yakitori - Small shack between the Post Office and Mitsubachimaya...been coming to Japan for 25 years and it's the best yakitori ever. BEST RENTAL SHOP: Tomy or Tomii BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE (gloves, goggles, winter shoes/boots, rental clothes) Kanamori Sports (scored a great pair of Swan double lens goggles for 5000 yen, about $60 USD. BEST TUNES; Stay bar BEST ONSEN: It's a secret. Pics in the gallery: http://www.snowjapan...onsen-jan-2013/ Would definitely go back but want to give Niseko a go. Plus the Shinkansen bullet train was 7500 yen ($85 USD) each way from/to Tokyo so why not fly to Chitose or Sapporo? Feel free to ask any questions or PM. This has been my first trip report, hope to contribute many more! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Good one Nate, takes me back to a couple of seasons there. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Nice Nate, thank you for that. Must get there this season. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Truth is, after the recent flurry of actually long resort reviews, i have a feeling the SJ guys are going to be rather stoked. These reviews are way more than i was ever expecting. I was expecting something more like I went here. It was great. I rode a bunch of lines. They were fun. Heres some pics. <pics> It was great. We had a great day out. Thanks for the free tickets! Which is of course fine and pretty much al id personally expect But people seem to really be stepping up. Cheers nate, next season more freebies are looking a little more likely than they were this time last week. As for karasawa, i WISH theyd open that top lift on it. Itd make the area so awesome for beginners. In fact there wouldnt be a better run in japan than top to bottom karasawa for beginners. Perfect pitch, nice and decent length, and utterly bereft of other people... (which of course is in part because its currently a bit out of the way for only one shortish run). 1 Link to post Share on other sites
norcal 5 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Nice review Bonus points for the Never Summer board 1 Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Love Nozawa. Cheers Nate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Nice, Nate. But... what is this??? Please don't tell me someone is trying to bring that degrading custom to Japan... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 I was about to make the same comment. Booo to that. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Agree, that's not cool at all. (Not your fault, Nate!) Link to post Share on other sites
surfarthur 22 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 The whole "let's guilt our customers into tipping" thing is a bit crap really isn't it? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
surfarthur 22 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Nice review by the way :-) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
surfarthur 22 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Nice review by the way :-) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted January 24, 2013 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Nice, Nate. But... what is this??? Please don't tell me someone is trying to bring that degrading custom to Japan... Many regard Noz as a cultural experience with snow sports paradise. The attitude in the pic just does not belong in Japan. I find it quite repulsive. Not an attack on you Nate. Thanks for showing it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
smoothrider 2 Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 Thanks for the comments on my first TR everyone. I used this forum to try and find some information out BEFORE I went to Nozawa Onsen. The forum didn't answer all my question, so I figured I'd do a "Best of" review to help out anyone going for the first time. Ippy...glad you feel the same about Karasawa run being a great slope--definitely a nice pitch to teach first time riders. Norcal--they had a Never Summer demo tent up near the Skyline lift that weekend. Cool American guy from Minnesota running it. As for the picture of the tipping jar, it was on the bar at the Craft Room with a Japanese female bartender Junko. I guess the bar is owned by a yank and an Aussie guy or something. Great location for a bar. I think they only had one microbrew on tap at the time, wasn't bad but not for 900 yen. That was probably the single most over-priced item in Nozawa! I found prices to be very reasonable considering it's a fuggin ski resort 4 hours outside Tokyo. Loved the free apples and nozawa-na (pickled veggies) at a lot of the restaurants. The Stay Bar also had a tip jar that read "The More You Tip, the More it Will Snow". I agree...tipping is stoopid...people should expect great service, period. Not sure if anyone understands my user name...it's what you call people who have become "too" Japanese (Tom Cruise's character in The Last Samurai). Sounds like some of you are Nate Algrens too, ROR. Next trip is 15-18 Feb to Niseko...going by myself...looking for a single bed/accommodation. Nate-Dawg Algren Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Thanks Nate. Well, I just hope that awful 'tip' idea doesn't catch on. I'm believe and have faith in the fair people of Nozawa enough though to think that it won't. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Nate try Peniosn Kanon in Niseko. About the same distance to the lift and cool Japanese run place. Thanks for the great TR. Link to post Share on other sites
smoothrider 2 Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share Posted January 25, 2013 One last thought.... In Hawaii they have bumper stickers that read "Keep the country, country". I'm going to stand on the corner in Nozawa and hand out ones that say "Keep Nozawa, Nozawa". Just loved the small town/village feel of Nozawa and the small mum & pop shops. No Starbucks, no Mackers, no 7-11/Lawsons/Family Marts. Link to post Share on other sites
Ross 4 Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Great report Nate Nozawa is where we recomend any first timers to Japan to head . We could not get accommodation there this year when we wanted to go. But that has aloud us to go and, explore Myoko? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 The Stay Bar also had a tip jar that read "The More You Tip, the More it Will Snow". I agree...tipping is stoopid...people should expect great service, period. Not sure if anyone understands my user name...it's what you call people who have become "too" Japanese (Tom Cruise's character in The Last Samurai). Sounds like some of you are Nate Algrens too, ROR. It has nothing to do with Japan per se, beyond it being a non-tipping country. I used to work in restaurants where tipping was the norm. I hate the dynamic it sets up between employees and customers, as well as between employees. I'll tip in countries where it is expected, but I don't want to see it spread to new countries, and would ideally prefer to see it die out everywhere. I really do find it a degrading custom for all involved. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Not least for the underpaid employee who has to rely on what amounts to a handout by other people to get any decent wage. The Employer should pay what's right for the job Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 26, 2013 Share Posted January 26, 2013 Thanks for telling me about those places. Will be sure not to go there. Nice report though cheers! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted January 29, 2013 Share Posted January 29, 2013 Nice report Nate, thanks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ssar 0 Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Cheers for ths info in this thread, we will be skiing Nozawa Onsen during mid Feb 2014 for the first time, very much looking forward to it! Will browse this & similar threads more closely to help in advance. Go Manly! Link to post Share on other sites
jacko 3 Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 thanks for the report, all good info. Like Sea Eagles its my first trip to Nozawa (but not japan). Looking forward to the crazyness of crowds over the xmas / new year period - should be pretty unique compared to the usual boring old fireworks on sydney hardbour. Link to post Share on other sites
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