A work trip to Tokyo in Feb, opened up the possibility of a few days bonus skiing at the end. So packed the gear, not really looking forward to hauling it through Singapore and Beijing before hitting Tokyo for the final leg. Corona virus put paid to the Beijing leg which meant an earlier arrival in Tokyo and a free weekend. I was thinking of going to Hokkaido at the end of the trip to meet up with some SnowHeads so was searching for somewhere closer to Tokyo for the weekend. I saw this picture of Hakuba from a Swiss IG connection which wet the appetite...
However cane across this site which threw up some massive snowfalls in a place called Myoko, in the next valley that I’d never heard of.
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily-snow-weather-reports
A #Myoko search threw up these pics on Friday and the target was locked and loaded
It was my first time in Tokyo and it’s quite a place. I love Japanese food and that was certainly a highlight
Sushi chefs doing their thing
The result
Check out the spice spoon!
The toilets are also quite special!
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Fri 21-02-20 12:53; edited 1 time in total
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Does anyone go to Japan for the first time and not take a photo of the control panel for a toilet? Not judging, I've got photos of toilets from my first trip. I've also got videos and photos of other random everyday things, like the little sets of roadworks that spring up overnight and are gone by morning.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Quote:
little sets of roadworks that spring up overnight and are gone by morning.
Got the Friday evening Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Tokyo to Nagano
18:40, platform 12, Car 10 seat 13B. They’re nothing of not precise!
Changed trains at Nagano to Myoko kogen
Arriving at 22:30 it was a DIY pot noodles dinner for 1 at the Myoko Ski Lodge!
Run by a lovely Aussie family the lodge was great
And even better was that the owner, Geoff, agreed to show me around the next day, along with Huw and Bryn, an Aussie father and son. With another 25cm of fresh overnight on top of the metre the night before the excitement levels were high!
After a couple of warm up laps we met up with another Aussie lodge manager, Tom, and toured up above the top lift. It would have looked like this if we could see!
Avi risk was 4 so time to dig a pit and check the stability
Felt pretty solid and sun popped out so skis on and time to ski!
And it was blower!
http://youtube.com/v/Gd8jtxPLvMc
Room name was apt...
The Onsen was fantastic
As was dinner at the Shiro!
Snowing again as I left
That’ll be 85cm overnight
Plans to head to Seki Onsen or Madurao we’re shelved as apparently the roads were carnage so I returned to Akakura Kanko, 5 mins walk/ski from the lodge. Waiting for the lift to open...
Didn’t take long and of boy it was deep!
http://youtube.com/v/to-E7t48oxg
Basically you had to ski straight or ended up in a waist deep drift! After a couple of laps decided to hike up for steeper terrain. Hmmm where’s yesterday’s skin track? This will be interesting!
Do not fall over in this snow!
Made it up about 150m of altitude in 30 mins and that was enough!
Enough to open up a path into the steeper forest, which I lapped for the rest of the day. Never experienced face shots like it!
Back to Tokyo and a long day to get work done before the public holiday on Tuesday. Had booked a couple of days off and another IG post suggested Hakuba might be on.
Just made it to the last Shinkansen to Nagano and frantically searched for accommodation finding a cancellation at the Hakuba Lodge. Even the Swiss would be impressed by this order!
Cleaning crews at the ready!
After changing at the now familiar 1998 Olympic city of Nagano, got the bus this time to Happo One, one stop after Hakuba. Scene of the FWT first stop.
Hakuba House is another cracking Aussie run lodge. Simple but super friendly and again the owner Grant and his crew agreed to show me a few of their favourite spots on Tuesday
It sure was busy at the lift station!
Hotfooted it behind the boys off the top lift into a steep gully and all of a sudden we were alone in the Lazy bowl
http://youtube.com/v/KovuaSRMwFQ
Which ran all the way out along the river valley to the dam where they called the lodge to pick us up
http://youtube.com/v/IJUh1rCjznM
Back round again and this time we skinned up above the top lift higher up the same valley onto the slopes opposite the cat face - ridden by Jeremy Jones a few years back
The sun came out and it the descent was superb!
http://youtube.com/v/PYm6aUca1TI
All the way down
Although this time we were higher up the valley and needed to cross the river to get out. Let’s just say I picked the wrong stone to balance on!
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Wed 19-02-20 23:33; edited 1 time in total
The only negative - not enough sushi
I am already planing (ie dreaming off) my next trip and with the impossibility to predict snow I will from now on plan the trip according to best onsens/reataurants. These left me with big smiles. And people are so lovely.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
With a Southern front on its way bringing soaring temps and rain forecast that evening the boys decided to have a crack at Mount Karamatsu, basically a 900m vertical ascent from the top lift. Let’s do it!
Start of the hike from the top of the Gratt Quad
Yesterday’s face
A Japanese guide stopped to say a prayer here
Their banter was better than the dress sense
Grant, the chief
Damn windy but made it to the top
Boys didn’t fancy the steep entrance in the game so we down climbed to the ridge
Out of the wind it was peachy. Guest privilege
http://youtube.com/v/LqksjDRdH2E
And there we have it
Evening Bus/train back to Tokyo and out on a midnight flight back to Switzerland. 4 days, 2 resorts, a lot of powder, a bit of sunshine, a mix of bamboo forests and high alpine. Loved every minute. There’s more to Japanese skiing than Hokkaido!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Score
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Mike Pow wrote:
Score
Have you skied around Myoko and Hakuba? The other place that looked good was Hakkoda but was difficult to get to from Tokyo. It’s amazing how many great places to ski there are in Japan!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@BobinCH, glad you had a great time!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@BobinCH, had 5 days in happo one a few years back and love it , the alpine added to a fresh snow fall is awesome !! How did the kastle /xenic combo cope in the deep
Great report got yearning for another trip to tokyo !!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Dabber wrote:
@BobinCH, had 5 days in happo one a few years back and love it , the alpine added to a fresh snow fall is awesome !! How did the kastle /xenic combo cope in the deep
Great report got yearning for another trip to tokyo !!
The Kastles and Zero-G’s were great. The Xenics broke
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
BobinCH wrote:
Mike Pow wrote:
Score
Have you skied around Myoko and Hakuba? The other place that looked good was Hakkoda but was difficult to get to from Tokyo. It’s amazing how many great places to ski there are in Japan!
Amazing - we went to Myoko for our honeymoon. Brings back happy memories. Saw 3 westerners all week (2013) : think it is slightly more cosmopolitan now. Literally didn't stop snowing for 5 days. Blower. Though just being in Japan itself was an adventure.
Seki Onsen was a super cool spot. One bucket chair lift / highest snowfall on Honshu / family run. Though loved all the small resorts. Myoko, Suignohara etc
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Haggis_Trap wrote:
BobinCH wrote:
Mike Pow wrote:
Score
Have you skied around Myoko and Hakuba? The other place that looked good was Hakkoda but was difficult to get to from Tokyo. It’s amazing how many great places to ski there are in Japan!
Amazing - we went to Myoko for our honeymoon. Brings back happy memories. Saw 3 westerners all week (2013) : think it is slightly more cosmopolitan now. Literally didn't stop snowing for 5 days. Blower. Though just being in Japan itself was an adventure.
Seki Onsen was a super cool spot. One bucket chair lift / highest snowfall on Honshu / family run. Though loved all the small resorts. Myoko, Suignohara etc
Yep I didn’t even get to Seki Onsen, Madurao, the newly opened Lotte Arai... that area would definitely be worth a week. The snowfall stats are nuts. I think it’s the highest in all of Japan? Lots of Aussies now!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
A useful resource if you’ve not come across it already.
Have you skied around Myoko and Hakuba? The other place that looked good was Hakkoda but was difficult to get to from Tokyo. It’s amazing how many great places to ski there are in Japan!
Just Hakuba.
3 days.
Happo-one, Tsugaiake, Iwatake.
Scored great powder. Loved it.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@BobinCH, the words lucky and illegitimate kid spring to mind
Especially so as the week before guides were evacuating to go to Hokkaido.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Great TR!
You were SO lucky with the snow conditions given your limited time, and lack of snow/abundance of warm weather and rain in Honshu this winter.
I skied at Lotte Arai on a deep day last year, which was fantastic. Definitely recommended if you return to the Myoko area. Madarao has great potential too but I've not managed to hit it on a powder day yet.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
musehead wrote:
Great TR!
You were SO lucky with the snow conditions given your limited time, and lack of snow/abundance of warm weather and rain in Honshu this winter.
Aware that I was extremely lucky. Myoko was in poor shape before the 2m of snow arriving in 2 days. It is such a gamble. Living in CH its very difficult to justify a (non work related) trip. Happo One is the favourite of all the JP resorts I’ve experienced. The views and backcountry terrain options are stupendous. Would love to ride the « Cat face »
After all it is free
After all it is free
Weathercam wrote:
Face-shot day, best day of the season according to the guide.
Great book (fellow Scot and friend Jamie Mackay on cover).
Japan is an incredible ski trip : though with moral dilemma that its not great for carbon foot print
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Ok - that's pretty impressive.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@BobinCH, spotted that , shame they've let you down , its got me a bit worried as using them on a trip to Svalbard later this year and not much chance of fix if they break up there , will give some proper workouts before them to make sure , but defo looked like you sorted any backseating issues with those nice shims , hope you can get them warranted and sorted
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Dabber, mine were almost impossible to lock so must have had some fault which then resulted in the right one freezing and ne breaking the lever putting too much force on it. Sounds like you and @weathercam have susses it out so should be fine
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@BobinCH, That is the snow fall the Spoons were made for, pity you didn’t have them.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@BobinCH, That looks like a pukka trip. It reinforces the keep it flexible mantra.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
PowderAdict wrote:
@BobinCH, That is the snow fall the Spoons were made for, pity you didn’t have them.
Hahaha you are so right!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
rogg wrote:
@BobinCH, That looks like a pukka trip. It reinforces the keep it flexible mantra.
Agree but it’s much easier if you’re going solo and willing to chance it on accommodation, trains/buses, local tips etc. Not so much if you’re in a group, want a guide, don’t want to chance it with accommodation (which was in very short supply!) etc
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@BobinCH,
Awesome pics and really great powder lines, thanks for sharing.
Yes I can also read which resort it is. Think you’ll find it’s within the boundaries of Myoko city
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
BobinCH wrote:
Mike Pow wrote:
Lotte Arai not Myoko
Yes I can also read which resort it is. Think you’ll find it’s within the boundaries of Myoko city
Clutching there boy
Similar weather systems but Arai always gets more
After all it is free
After all it is free
Well the thread title was Myoko and Lotte Arai is only one of the many resorts in the Myoko area. I was simply bringing attention to the fact that the area has been pummeled again this year.
If we’re being pedantic, to my maths Seki Onsen seems to have the deepest cover of the resorts still reporting
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
