nzlegend 1 Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Quote: Ski resorts, onsen towns count cost of snowfalls The Yomiuri Shimbun Ski resorts and hot spring towns in northern Japan are paying a heavy price from recent heavy snowfalls, with some resorts having to close due to fear of avalanches and customers canceling hotel reservations. Tourism industry operators have been overwhelmed by the snow, which is expected to stop falling Monday in most areas along the Sea of Japan. The Tanigawadake Tenjindaira ski resort in Minakamimachi, Gunma Prefecture, was closed Wednesday through Saturday out of fear of avalanches. According to the operator, Tanigawadake Ropeway, the snowfall this winter has exceeded five meters compared with the usual three. The company had expected 1,000 visitors Saturday, the first day of the three-day weekend. The ski area reopened Sunday, and the firm expected about 150 visitors that day. Two of three ski slopes in the Yuzawakogen ski resort in Yuzawamachi, Niigata Prefecture, have been closed since Wednesday, with some lift landings covered by snow. The operator said the number of visitors this winter was down by 30 to 40 percent compared with average years. Hot spring inns in northern Japan also have seen their business damaged by the snow. At Matsunoyama Onsen in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, which has one of the three most popular hot spring baths in Japan, some of the train services on the JR Joetsu Line connecting the Tokyo metropolitan area to the hot spring resort have been suspended since Tuesday. One ryokan in the hot spring resort initially was fully booked for the long weekend. But customers canceled reservations out of concern that they would not be able to find transportation, ryokan employees said. The ryokan was sending a bus to secure transportation between the inn and the station where the trains stopped. At Hachimantai Onsenkyo hot spring resort extending over part of Akita and Iwate prefectures, visitors from outside those prefectures canceled their trips because of the cancellation of flights at Odate-Noshiro Airport, as well as a recent derailment on the JR Uetsu Line. Tourism promoters in the area are worried about the situation worsening. The Towada-Hachimantai tourism association was organizing snow treks as its main tourism event in February, but the association has not received many reservations. "People have got the idea that it's an area thick with snow, and that may keep them from visiting here," an association member said. Meanwhile, a limited express train traveling from Niigata Station to Tsuruoka Station in Yamagata Prefecture stopped Saturday due to snow stuck underneath the train. Inaho No. 5 on the JR Uestu Line stopped between Murakami and Majima stations in Murakami in Niigata Prefecture at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. According to East Japan Railway Co.'s Niigata branch, more than 200 passengers were stuck in the train for almost four hours until they were transported away by bus. (Jan. 9, 2006) too much of a good thing it seems. Link to post Share on other sites
Fubuki 0 Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 That is crazy. I have heard of resorts closing because of no snow, but too much snow, that is definitely a first for me. Maybe if the resorts started using avi control methods everyone might be a litte safer. Link to post Share on other sites
Maysun 0 Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Kandatsu yesterday, about 10:30am Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts