Peetan 10 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Trying to line up a 2.5 day trip with Lady Peetan March 21(pm) to March 23/24. Two options are Shiga koen, and Appi. For those who have been to Appi, would you say it was worth it for this time of year? the hotel looks pretty nice. Is there anything there that we wouldn't find back closer to home? Input much appreciated! Link to post Share on other sites
Slagfart 0 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I was at Appi in mid Feb. I think that as long as the temperatures aren't too warm by now, it's perfect for a couple of days - I had one of the best on-piste days of my life there. The mountain is large by Japanese standards and you won't get bored, but there is absolutely nothing to do except ski. However, I think unless you're really keen for a western-style hotel, avoid the Prince. I was inside a few times and its dated quite badly. I would suggest instead Resort Inn Miwa - a totally underused Japanese pension run by a lovely elderly couple. I stayed there this year and it was wonderful, especially because I was the only guest - make sure you get both dinner and breakfast. (I'm not getting commission for this post!) Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Haven't been to Appi, but planning to head there starting from the 23rd (pm), staying at Pension Mutti: http://www.snowjapan...i/pension-mutti Sounds like we could just overlap, or just miss, as the case may be. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 To be fair there is nothing to do at SK but ski/snowboard Does the Prince group have any nice hotels that haven't dated? Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Does the Prince group have any nice hotels that haven't dated? Not a big fan of Prince (the hotel group, not the purple guy) but the New Prince at Furano looks fairly modern though it's ugly as, and totally out of keeping with its surroundings unlike, ironically, the Alpine-themed Prince hotel that it superseded over on the Kitanomine side of the resort! Not that I've ever stayed at either ;-) Back to topic, I'll be up in Hakuba at that time if you change your plans and fancy meeting up :-) Link to post Share on other sites
69 5 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Does the Prince group have any nice hotels that haven't dated? No. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 It's their selling point: Dated but still (un)suitably expensive! Can imagine the movie trailer gruff voiced dude saying that. Link to post Share on other sites
Rock-hand 0 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 The hotel at Appi is nice, but I preferred the rooms in the grand villas. It is a little further to the slopes (100-200m) but I found the room to be more comfortable. As the others have said, there is nothing to do at Appi but ski/board. If you have a car there are some good onsens in Hachimantai about 30min drive away, otherwise the onsen at the resort is fine and has a huge sauna. Apart from that there is nothing in terms of nightlife unless an event is on at the resort which is rare. The boarding is sweet. Heaps of variety, the park this year is much better than last season. Link to post Share on other sites
u-tan 2 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Is it all groomers at Appi? How is the sidepiste etc.? Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Happy at APPI Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Must not forget the cheese. Link to post Share on other sites
Rock-hand 0 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I usually ride only one or two groomers a day at Appi and spend most of my time on the sides or in the trees Link to post Share on other sites
Peetan 10 Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 My trip to Appi was cancelled due to my, er, forgetting I had a tournament on that weekend. Plus the lady said that she's had enough of the snow for this year. I would still like to go sometime, so Metabo Oyaji's feedback in other threads is well appreciated. As for this year, well, I'm going to try one last hurrah on Marunuma on Wednesday, but the weather's looking a bit dodgy. Think that'll be the last of it for this season Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I'm in the middle of a visit to Appi now. Will definitely report in full later. Pretty good spring skiing conditions today, better than yesterday, except at the very bottom run-out where it turned to glue. Nishimori lift was closed today, though, which was a disappointment. Tomorrow looking a bit worrisome for wind... may or may not take a side-trip to Hachimantai Shimokura if the wind is as bad in the morning as currently predicted. Will decide then. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Looking forward to hearing about it. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts