Valkyrie 0 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 I've been in Japan for a few months and I want to know if anyone can give me some advice for going skiing (well, snowboarding). I'm in Tokyo and want to go to Gunma-ken. I thought Marunuma Kogen would be a good choice from the reviews. I'm sort of shooting for... this Saturday... hahaha. Although any time within the next month would actually be ok since I don't have anything to do all day (I'm studying abroad but my classes are over for the year). I'm thinking two days and one night. I'd also like to visit Mt. Haruna and/or Mt. Akagi, but for non-skiing reasons. How far would they be from Marunuma? I have no experience in skiing or boarding (unless water skiing counts ), and I've never even traveled by myself before (besides coming to Japan), so any advice would be appreciated. Especially about how to get there from Tokyo (how do you get from Numata to the resort?), costs of lodging, reservations, etc. I'll just stop now since if I go any further my rambling will just get worse. Link to post Share on other sites
Valkyrie 0 Posted December 24, 2004 Author Share Posted December 24, 2004 No takers, eh? Anyway, can someone at least tell me how you get from Numata to the resort? Link to post Share on other sites
SnowConnection 0 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Valkyrie, I do not know about Marunuma Kogen ski resort at all. Please refere to; Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort http://www.npd.co.jp/malnuma/ MAP: http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.48.39.000&el=139.20.2.423&la=1&fi=1&skey=%be%c2%c5%c4%b1%d8&sc=7 As far as reading the web site, it is so difficult to reach the resort from JR Numata station by bus. It's only "one" time a day. http://www.kan-etsu.net/r-bus/timetable/numata-kamata-1.htm http://www.kan-etsu.net/r-bus/timetable/kamata-numata-1.htm They recommend to come there by guest's own car, a rent-a-car, or a taxi from a JR station. It is 45 Km to Marunuma Kogen from JR Numata station. MAP - JR Numata Station: http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.38.21.813&el=139.2.19.769&la=1&fi=1&skey=%be%c2%c5%c4%b1%d8&sc=7 I guess Nov/Dec might be a season off period at Aamgi-san and Haruna-san. FYI. Fijimi-Mura (Mt.Akagi) http://www.vill.fujimi.gunma.jp/ Tell: TEL 027-288-2211 Miyagi-Mura (Mt.Akagi) http://www.hurusato-miyagi.jp/MT/ Tell: 027-283-2131 Ref. Mt.Akagi http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~hatorik/traffic.html MAP: http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.33.26.173&el=139.11.47.264&la=1&fi=1&skey=%be%c2%c5%c4%b1%d8&sc=7 Haruna-machi (Mt.Haruna) http://www.town.haruna.gunma.jp/kankou/ Tell: 027-374-5111 E-Mail: kanko@town.haruna.gunma.jp MAP: http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.28.27.136&el=138.51.14.359&la=1&fi=1&skey=%be%c2%c5%c4%b1%d8&sc=7 ciao, Link to post Share on other sites
Karnidge 2 Posted December 24, 2004 Share Posted December 24, 2004 Try Houdaigi as well. Not busy, nice little place. Really nice place to stay as well on the slopes http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/viewhotel.php?hotid=24 (recommended) Link to post Share on other sites
Valkyrie 0 Posted December 25, 2004 Author Share Posted December 25, 2004 Thanks, that's just the info I needed (I think). So there's one going TO the resort at 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM? There's no way for me to get from Tokyo to Gunma in that short amount of time, but the 1:30 PM one should be fine. And the one coming back is only at 7:30 AM? That could be a problem. Why do I have the feeling that I'm way off? I guess I probably am... Ok, now I'm confused... I see there are more times (besides the ones I mentioned) if you click on some of the buttons, but I don't see any lines that seem to connect Numata and Marunuma Kougen Ski-jo... Does that mean I have to change buses to get all the way (get one one that goes from where it stops to the destination?). Link to post Share on other sites
SnowConnection 0 Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 The site of http://www.npd.co.jp/malnuma/ says it may be problem at narrow band. There are many bus times from Numata(沼田) JR station to Kamata(鎌田) Bus stop. You may have a walk from Kamata to Marunuma Kogen (丸沼高原) bus stop, instead of having 25 minitues bus ride. I suppose there would no English signs there. If you can speak/hear some Japanese, you may try it. The resort have about 30 inns near to the lifts. It is too difficult to have "PENSION" lodge (cheaper) without Japanese language skill. I would pick up a larger lodge "Chalet Marunuma". http://www.npd.co.jp/malnuma/2005fuyu/syare.html The cost is 11,800 yen (weekday rate, with breakfast, dinner, and one-day lift ticket) per person for two groups. You have to pay an additional charge for a single use. For the details, please call 0278-58-4300. I afraid a clerk can not hear/speak your English... ciao, Link to post Share on other sites
white-void 0 Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 These people are very nice and speak English also: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/viewhotel.php?hotid=53 Link to post Share on other sites
Valkyrie 0 Posted December 25, 2004 Author Share Posted December 25, 2004 Hmm. I know the kanji for Kumata (it's on my ticket after all ) and Marunuma Kogen (Just have to think of Maru and Hara), and I know enough Japanese to ask how to get there. I saw that thing about the "narrowband" on the site before, but what does it mean? Cellphones won't work there? Not really a problem since I don't have one. Thanks for your help. If I had to walk from Kamata, how far would it be compared to a 25-minute bus ride? How far is Pension Currants from the resort? Within walking distance? Link to post Share on other sites
Valkyrie 0 Posted December 25, 2004 Author Share Posted December 25, 2004 Ok, now I figured out the time table. I can get to Namuta (damn these names are starting to confuse me) at basically any time that will let me get to Kamata before 1 PM, where I'll take the Kamata-departing bus to Marunuma Kougen Ski-jo. Well, crap, what good does that do me if the slopes close at 14:30? (correction, 16:30, but that's still a waste of a day pass) Link to post Share on other sites
white-void 0 Posted December 25, 2004 Share Posted December 25, 2004 Quote: How far is Pension Currants from the resort? Near. Here's a radical idea --- why don't you contact them??? Link to post Share on other sites
Valkyrie 0 Posted December 25, 2004 Author Share Posted December 25, 2004 I've decided at the last minute to go to Oze Tokura instead. I assume it's the "Tokura Ski-jo" on that bus route (there's also the "Kitashina Ski-jo, which I assume is the one that's "Kitashina, not Kitashina Kogen"), which makes it MUCH easier to reach. Not to mention the day tickets are cheaper, the hours are longer (I should only get screwed out of two hours by the bus schedule, instead of 5), there's night-skiing, and it seems more boarder-friendly (half-pipe, board park, etc...). That is, unless someone thinks that it sucks... there are no reviews, but it seems to get high marks by snowboarders. Or if I've made a mistake about the bus schedule refering to Oze Tokura... Link to post Share on other sites
merryJim 1 Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 Went to Hodaigi last season - really surprised. Fairly small place but great snow and no crowds at all. Link to post Share on other sites
Valkyrie 0 Posted December 27, 2004 Author Share Posted December 27, 2004 Well, I'm back. I'm going to be hurting for a few weeks Learning to drive was never this painful... or expensive... hehe Link to post Share on other sites
HeatherLocklearRocks 1 Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 Get one of those member pages up and tell us all about it. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts