grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 You know how some places have those water sprinklers in the road (you know the ones that are usually set just to sprinkle all over pedestrians?) - I presume they clear a lot of the snow in places that have them. How do the places without them cope? Hakuba don't have them, right? But I've never felt that Hakuba has more traffic problems than somewhere that does have them (eg Yuzawa). Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 The roads become nightmares. You can only travel about 2km/h or risk ripping the body right off the frame of your car. Either that or get a concussion from hitting the roof of the car. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 big waste of money and water those things are. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 Hakuba has a couple of heated sections, I think. The steepish curved one going up to Wadanomori for example. The car park at the 7-11 and at the new Rapie have hot water sprinklers. Hakuba has four main sources, but isn't overly blessed with onsen water. The onsen baths sometimes run out on very busy days. Clearing the roads is good business for the construction people who would otherwise be idle along with some of their dozers. A lot of the blokes go out without waiting to be called. 10cm and they're off out. Btw, if anyone with a questionnaire asks you in Hakuba about traffic, please tell them that you think it is fine. There is the very real prospect of a dirty great highway being built through the valley. The proposed budget is something like 5,000 yen for every single person in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 just make the road now a bit wider and keep it free. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 In my experience of both, I'd say Yuzawa copes better with huge snowfalls than Hakuba. How much that has to do with sprinklers I don't know. Link to post Share on other sites
mogski 0 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 Those sprinklers are a PIA!!! Spend time and money on educating people that snow covered roads should not be driven at the same speeds or in the same way as normal roads and on snow clearing machines and people. I personally think the sprinklers ruin the pristine setting and quietness that a snowstorm can bring! They make the place look dirty! Link to post Share on other sites
marnix 0 Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 Spraying warm water sounds like a good idea, until another car drives through a pothole in the road and instantly turns you windshield into a layer of ice. This happen to me twice the first time \i saw these things it scared the s*@t out of me. Good for a adrenaline rush that got me through the day. Link to post Share on other sites
oblivion 5 Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 Is the water actually warm? The one time I felt that water, it was most definitely cold. Link to post Share on other sites
me jane 0 Posted February 10, 2005 Share Posted February 10, 2005 A few weekends back, onsen-ed & changed into dry clothes for the drive home... then got blasted by the buggers in the Naeba Prince car park. Got to admit they do seem to work at keeping the car parks clear though. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 13, 2005 Author Share Posted February 13, 2005 Yesterday I put my hand on a few of the sprinklers and the water was decidedly cold. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 So can someone in the know tell me a) where that water is coming from and does someone turn it on when it snows or is it automated somehow? Link to post Share on other sites
funkychaz 0 Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 I've never seen any... what they look like?? Link to post Share on other sites
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