 Poster: A snowHead
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A bit late! but here is a report on our trip last February
Flew into Tokyo Narita and headed to Zao, booked Lodge Scole, Mao who runs the lodge along with her parents was extremely helpful, arranged for a taxi to pick us up, as the last bus had gone. Lodge Scole is comfortable and feels quite European, despite arriving late we where able to have a couple of beers before going to bed. The rooms are simple the one we had a had a bathroom, however the toilet is along the corridor, the place is very clean. we stayed 5 nights, eat in two nights and wondered into town for the other two, one at a local bar and had Shabu-shabu and went to the Robata and had "Genghis Khan" which is lamb that you cook yourself.
The lodge is a short walk form the slopes, up hill but not a big deal, can be a bit slippy.
Breakfast at the lodge was good a sort of Japanese European combo, get used to having salad for breakfast, its really is good.
The two nights we eat in the food didn't stop coming! Mao's mother does the cooking.
Mao makes amazing cakes, her cheesecake is historic!
To get to Zao there is a bus servcie from Yamagata takes about 45 minutes and cost JYP980 GBP 7.50
Ski Pass 1 Day JYP 5,500 GBP 42
Accommodation type A room, B&B JYP 7,500 ppn GBP 58.00
Half board was JYP 10,400 GBP 80.00
Beer large Heineken JYP500 GBP 3.80
Decanter of wine JYP 1,200 GBP 9.50
There isn't much in the way of Apre ski, we finished the day at Dai Chan Ramen, we had lunch there as well, great place run by a lovely lady, as a said we finished the day off with a couple of beers.
The lodge has a restaurant and sitting area come bar, you can relax there have a drink chat to some of the other guest, there was an Australian a slightly strange American and a group of Japanese doctors.
For the skiing and photos see my other thread http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=73205
I would urge anyone wanting to experience Japan and some amazing views to go to Zao, especialy at the moment as they need the business, this is the birth place of skiing in Japan.
From Zao we headed to Shiga Kogen, took the bus to Yamagata then train to Nagano with one change on the way at Omiya, the connection at Nagano for the bus to Shiga Kogen is tight!
We stayed in Okushiga Kogen, which is at the furthest end of the ski area, and its the part where they don't allow snowboarders, it was bit worrying on the bus as we went through the whole of the resort and where starting to worry we had missed it, the bus drops you off at the lift station, and as you go through the whole of the resort you can get an early feel of where everything is.
We booked Bersa Rooms for 4 nights, very modern and comfortable, there is no bar but they have a beer machine in the basement, we had an on suite bath room. The food here is a fusion between various European styles and Japanese and its amazing, its beautiful, we took pictures of the food!
Bersa Rooms is a 5 minute walk to the lift station, there are a couple of hotels there where you can stop off and have a beer, haven't got the prices but it was more than in Zao, but then hey you have to do it.
We stayed half board JYP12,500 pppn GBP 96
Wine JYP 2,500 GBP19 Australian
Beer JYP500 GBP3.80
As with Lodge Scole there was lots of food, three courses for breakfast at least.
Lift pass one day JYP 4,800 GBP37
Unlike Zao where you can ski the entire area, you will need to take the bus to some one part of the ski area Shibutoge, where they have a bakery at the top of the mountain.
The Shiga Kogen ski area has a variety of runs, the connection between the different areas can be interesting as the are operated by different lift companies and weren't originaly developed to be interconnecting, its similar in Zao but less noticeable.
To see the snow monkeys your Shiga Kogen lift pass covers the bus, you need to connect through the central bus station.
Bersa rooms is run by a charming couple, who introduced me to the Japanese baggage system, I sent our ski's to Nartia while we went to Tokyo, you hard;y see Japanese with luggage on the trains as they all send it in advance.
the skiing in both was amazing, if your a power hound these resorts may not be for you.
So would we go back like a shot to either resort.
If you need any info PM me or post it
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