jasonbvr 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 I am new to Japan and looking to buy a season pass this year since I will be frequently hitting the hills. Right now it is Naeba vs. Nozawa. I would like opinions ranging from which is more crowded, better runs, better atmosphere and so on. Link to post Share on other sites
JellyBelly 1 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Where abouts is Ota - how do you get to Nozawa from there? Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 hmm costs as well Link to post Share on other sites
jasonbvr 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 Ota is in Gunma, you take the shinkansen from Takasaki to Nagano then the local line to Togari Nozawa Onsen eki Link to post Share on other sites
jasonbvr 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 I've already estimated costs Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 How long does that journey take? From the train talk I presume you don't have a car? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Nozawa has better atmosphere hands down if you ask me. It is also less crowded than Naeba, probably on any given day. I like Naeba though when it's not crowded. Link to post Share on other sites
Rag-Doll 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Nozawa is bigger and better than Naeba and not as crowded. There is some fun to be had at Kagura which is linked to Naeba but not sure that it would be worth a season's pass. Then again, Kagura is probably a good place to learn the basics of BC as it has a pretty liberal attitude to out of bounds riding and it is possible to hike the surrounding hills and ride back into the resort. Lots of easy tree runs within the resort as well. Not sure how easy it would be to get from Gunma to Nozawa though. Link to post Share on other sites
jasonbvr 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 the travel time is the same only a thousand yen more for Nozawa, I may buy a car soon too Link to post Share on other sites
nagpants 1 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 In that case I would choose Nozawa, easy. Link to post Share on other sites
jasonbvr 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 it is two hours for both I believe Link to post Share on other sites
jasonbvr 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 that is the way I was leaning but the trail maps for Naeba make it seem like they had more to ride. The pictures however make it look really bland and a little, well, flat. Link to post Share on other sites
jasonbvr 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Author Share Posted November 9, 2006 Thanks for the advice, I am heading out for the day. The way it looks now is that Nozawa will be my home away from home soon enough. Thnx again. Link to post Share on other sites
woywoy 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Get a car beav-o. Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Ota! whatup! I used to do a radio show at the Ota radio station (FM Taro). #1 - get a car. you need it. not only for snowboarding. but even with a car driving in Gunma is nuts. It's always crowded Naeba gets really crowded but it has the asagai gelande which is a really good (but damn crowded) park. Excellent pipe there. Why do you want a season's pass?? From Ota, you're within striking distance of so so many resorts in Gunma/Niigata and Nagano. If you make some Japanese friends (don't know if you do or not) you'll find that they go to different resorts alot, and if you're stuck wanting to use your pass then you'll be going solo alot. Go to Maebashi and check out the Trickstar shop or Flea in Takasaki or Family in Ota and get to know the shop guys and you'll meet the local riders. Go on shop tours (which are expensive but great ways to meet a lot of people) Link to post Share on other sites
moloneb3 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 Hey does anyone know anything about leasing a car here in Japan? Dont want the hassle to buy and my company said I could lease through them. Anything to watch out for? Basically I need it so I can go to the mountains and enjoy the slopes!! Come on snow, fall already!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 stay in gunma plenty of good trees that no one rides tenjin oze iwakura tokura closer and less money to get to. Id toss up kagura against nozawa though instead of naeba. Link to post Share on other sites
LiquidX 0 Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Nozawa is still better in the long run I think Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 2 hours but you are talking about one of the most snowed on driving routes in Japan. 2 hours if the roads arent snowy 4 to 6 if they are. Gunma has alot to offer you should at least give it a shot. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 4-6 hours? No, I don't think so. From where I live (Yuzawa/Muikamachi area), Nozawa is normally a 70-75 minute drive in summer. In winter, and I have been a number of times in varying conditions, that same journey usually takes around 90 minutes. Link to post Share on other sites
jasonbvr 0 Posted November 11, 2006 Author Share Posted November 11, 2006 The boarders I have met so far all go to Naeba, but I am not so keen about loads of people. The season pass is because I am trying to do like thirty days on the mountain which means if I just pick a good resort and stick with it I will save some money. The cheapest lift price I have seen of 3000 would end up adding up to like 90000 at the end of the season. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted November 11, 2006 Share Posted November 11, 2006 last season that road wasnt even open Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 11, 2006 Share Posted November 11, 2006 Which road? Route 117 between Tsunan and Nozawa Onsen? Correct. BUT it was not closed all season - just in that crazy period we had - and it being closed was also something that has never happened before, so hardly the norm. It is in fact usually a very good road and nice and wide. Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted November 11, 2006 Share Posted November 11, 2006 beav-o, it doesn't have to be large groups of people. who knows? you might get in with 2 or 3 guys and be a tight crew. I find it really boring going to a resort by myself and riding alone all day. but then again, like you said you do save money. best situation would be if you made friends who go to Nozawa too. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 11, 2006 Share Posted November 11, 2006 When it comes to Naeba, the main problem is not roads closed from snow but from heavy traffic. If you are not at Nerima highway entrance by 5:30 in the morning, don’t bother going there at all. Sometimes it is even faster not to get on the highway and just go all the way on the 17 th national road. The road towards Nozawa is not that packed so basically although it is farther than Naeba it would take you more or less the same time to get there as to get to Naeba. Terrain wise Nozawa bits Naeba hands down but if you are interested in park riding then Naeba is definitely better. Link to post Share on other sites
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