Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 The Joban expressway north of Iwaki is finally re-opened through to Tomioka, for the first time in 3 years, as of about 15 minutes before this photo was taken. (A bit windy, but open): Aizu Wakamatsu station: Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Where did you ski Metabo Oyaji? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 The usual, Grandeco. Will have something to post about that later. Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 That has been closed all this time? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 That has been closed all this time? Yeah, it was inside the exclusion zone for a while, so repairs were delayed. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 They've lifted the exclusion zone haven't they? Go back and live at your own risk. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 They've lifted part of it. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 I might add, that even though I have no immediate plans to drive to Tomioka, the absence of that black 通行止め mark on the highway status signs is nice to see, even on the southern parts of the Joban down here in Ibaraki. Kind of like a lingering little cloud has been lifted. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 At least some are able to go back, although "normal life" would be far different. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 10, 2014 Author Share Posted March 10, 2014 Entering southern Fukushima from Tochigi: Michi no Eki Tajima on the Fukushima side, where one can buy discount tickets for Daikura (in fact, Daikura requests that you buy tickets there if coming that way, to minimize crowding at the ticket window): Important to have goals: On the way from Daikura to Aizu-Wakamatsu city. Mostly narrow valleys, punctuated by kura-style and half-timbered-style towns. Not the best example of such, but: Ohkawa hydroelectric dam: Tsurugajo, the castle of the Aizu clan featured in last year's Taiga Drama: Downtown Aizu, with covered sidewalks: Mt. Bandai the next morning from the direction of Aizu: Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Important to have goals Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 23, 2014 Author Share Posted March 23, 2014 Remains of the defunct Azuma ski area, as seen from the Azuma Parking Area on the Tohoku Expressway: Link to post Share on other sites
yamayamayama 2 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Is that on the other side of the cool looking volcano? Can't remember the name kofuji? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Is that on the other side of the cool looking volcano? Can't remember the name kofuji? I think you're right. I remember seeing something mini-Fuji-like to the left of the ski area (not seen in the photo), and checking google maps, that would seem to be Azuma Kofuji. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 This is what it looks like from the other side, very cool Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 That does look impressive. muikabochi - target sighted! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 2014 FIS Freestyle Fukushima Mogul Competition at Grandeco, 5 April: Link to post Share on other sites
merryJim 1 Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 How busy was the skijo M|O? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 Not crowded by any means, but enough people to make it feel lively. Maybe half the people there were there for the freestyle competition. No lift lines, fresh snow falling all day. Hard icy base in wind-exposed areas, but to the sides, soft dry powder for the taking. I was happy -- couldn't believe it was April. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 You done for the season now Metabo Oyaji? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 Not sure. May or may not manage one more day over Golden Week. Will depend on weather and conditions. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 what's the choice round there then? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 It'll be down to Grandeco, Nekoma and Minowa. (Actually, I think it is already down to those three.) Link to post Share on other sites
Agent Smith 1 Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Sorry I have probably missed a lot of relevant info, but how has it been in Fukushima generally? I know it's a big area, and that the ski hills are quite a way from 'Fukushima'. Are people going back? Link to post Share on other sites
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