Myoko/Madarao thread 2015/16

Murkier than a porta-loo tank.

Challenge is not to get any of it on ya!

 

The politics of the Sun Peaks crew is much worse.

 

Yeah nar.

 

Which is why I mind my own business and keep to my little area of Myoko.

Different. This is local year round stuff rather than ski resort stuff. We have "local shops for locals" here

 

nice try , I packed the K2'S then changed my mind repacked and taking the SIN 7's Doh ! thanks for Googling the question , flying out early Thursday morning heading to Madarao

 

gone for the Amazonian Indian thing ( Rossingnal SIN 7's )

 

Wowsers????

 

Next year I should buy a van and install Uber

 

Lol! Would be ok if you are not here permanently.

We are contemplating something similar but different if we can for next season. Biggest problem is everyone wants first tracks at different resorts. Trying to source cars locally for guests at a sensible price.

 

Geez, a shuttle bus would be good.

 

Politics are just great. Still had a ripper time, but geez Japan really does make some things surprisingly frustrating.

What was the dig at Hakuba before, was that about the transport of getting there being hard? Or in general do you guys hold a less favourable view of Hakuba in most respects compared to Myoko? I've been to Hakuba twice and really loved it, getting around to different resorts was easy and the quality and variety of resorts and snow. I felt it was really similar to Myoko, a low for Myoko was the shuttle bus situation compared to Hakuba's free and plentiful ones, the terrain was close to similar, I got a bit more challenge in Hakuba, but I didn't have the snow base at Myoko in early season to do a fair comparison, it looked like the off piste would be more fun and accessible in Myoko with a deeper snow base. I've gotten the airport bus direct overnight to Hakuba both times though, haven't dealt with trying to train and transfer etc. I'm not sure how naive I sound to you guys when I try compare the two, but this is just a queenslander's opinion with not much more than 40 days on snow experience between Aus, NZ, Japan and Whistler.

I loved Akakura Onsen town though, and had a really nice place and location with a big group of family which made the holiday as great as it was, so I'm very keen to come back with some keener powder hounds in peak snow time next year.

 

Hakuba - some like it some don't. Just different opinions about the place.

 

You need to know Hakuba really well to get the maximum powder value.
There's heaps of powder in places people don't know about or think to look

 

Niigata Nippo is reporting that the number of foreign visitors to Niigata increased by 110% last year. The number has become more than double compared to the previous year. Niigata Nippo say especially Australian skiers, Chinese and Taiwanese have increased a lot. 110% growth within a year is amazing.
http://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/news/politics/20160202232501.html

Another good news for Japanese ski resorts.
http://www.inthesnow.com/japan-sees-signs-of-ski-baby-boom/

Niigata Nippo said most foreign tourists go to Tokyo and Kyoto / Osaka, and they use Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto / Osaka), but Japanese government want foreign tourists to use Hokuriku (Nagano, Niigata, Kanazawa, etc) route between Tokyo and Kyoto / Osaka, and in the future, Hokuriku Shinkansen will reach Kyoto, and they expect more foreign tourists to use Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto / Osaka, visiting Nagano, Niigata, etc.

 

A lot of our guests visit Osaka/Kyoto. It will be much better for them when they can go on from here via Shinkansen rather than back to Tokyo.

 

Any such route would be 8-10 years away. The proposed routes would connect the Shinkansen from Kanazawa probably via Maibara on the main Tokaido Shinkansen line.

 

Yep, it's likely to take a long time. They say Japanese government wants more tourists to visit non "Taiheiyo Belt" area too. So they keep constructing new Shinkansen lines now to non Taiheiyo Belt area. For example, a new Shinkansen line will reach the southern Hokkaido city of Hakodate this spring, and it will reach Niseko around 2025, so we can go to Niseko from Tokyo by Shinkansen in the future. Hokuriku Shinkansen will reach Kyoto / Osaka, a new Shinkansen line to Nagasaki, etc, many more new Shinkansen lines will come in the future.

This is about Taiheiyo Belt.

 

Oh well we won't hold our breath then

We see stuff about it every so often with respect to the Shinkansen going on from Kanazawa. And I am wondering if it will bring more westerners to Toyama prefecture and the resorts there.

 

Yeah, Tsugaike had a sort of side country run in the trees out the back which was a truly amazing day, Cortina I've had a really special day there as well. And I think the back lifts of 47/Goryu there was a side valley you could traverse around to with little effort and still get a run back to the lift. When you've been to Aus/NZ fields, the snow of Japan makes you giddy every time.

Compared to what I saw at Myoko from the lifts though, it looked like less effort to get some pretty special tree pow runs, Hakuba usually required pushing out the edges to get into trees and powder. If only Myoko had filled in just a little bit more while I was there!! Next season!

 

Nope!!!

 

Local media are reporting about Gala Yuzawa too. Gala Yuzawa station is a ski-in-ski-out Shinkansen station. The number of people using Gala Yuzawa Shinkansen station has doubled in the past 4 years or so. They say that recently Gala Yuzawa has been attracting a lot of Australian, Thai, Taiwanese, etc who have never seen snow before and Gala Yuzawa is only 75mins from Tokyo by Shinkansen, so it's a good day tour from Tokyo for foreign tourists. They say JR Ski Ski restarted in 2011, and it helped Gala Yuzawa attract more people recently. I also think JR Ski Ski is very good(It's very good value).


I hope Hokuriku Shinkansen will help Myoko area attract more tourists so that ski resorts can invest more in lifts, etc

 

Madarao is in need of a big dump of snow , still great to be here

 

Haha next time I get to go to Hakuba I might PM you then

 

Any reports from on the ground? Looks to have snowed most of the day looking at Kanko cams?

 

Yeah good snowfalls in the last 24 hours. Had to get the snowblower out to clear the pathway and the car park.

 

Madarao had 20 cm of snow fell last night and early this morning and through out the day nothing forecast tomorrow

 

With multiple resorts and daily lift tickets, what's the method of displaying the ticket at the lift line or do they issue RFID tickets?

PS If somebody knows how to change the forcast for next weekend, couuld you please do it within the next couple of days

 

Just tickets, no RFID. BEst to have a it in a clear plastic window, which they sell.

Better this weekend than the following!!! (my car will be parked there on the following weekend!! )

 

RFID - we are not that modern here.

You can get an armband or ticket holder for your lift ticket. Some keckets have a pocket for them.

My experience is that I have only been asked to show my lift ticket at the gondola. So once they have seen it there it goes back in my pocket for the rest of the day.

 

Thanks Sandy , Skichanger. Guess I'll bring a plastic poach on a neck lanyard.
(No "likes" if the forecast doesn't change)

 

(You need to see my forecast for the following weekend.... )

 

After this coming weekend event, windytv has some very interesing projections but still a bit vague.
Where do you hide your forecast Sandy? Is your car a snow magnet?

 

Sandy's car parked at the lodge means there will be snow. Lots of snow.

 

Yes, my car is a snow magnet and look at your PMs!!!!!!!!

 

I always expected there to be a rain event. Just glad that it's not hitting while I'm there (hopefully).

 

Last time I was there, I had to dig it out 3 times... and that was 3 weeks ago.

 

Apart from the snow stopping yesterday afternoon the snow was still very good the clear sky drew all the moisture out of the snow and it became light and flurry again but still tracked out think snow is forecast for Tuesday

 

But saying that, you are tempting fate!!!!

 

Tue/Wed

 

I never have! Have faith!

 

I have a Nozawa Onsen armband from a few years ago. Will have to see if I can dig it out.

 

Ah, but you're not allowed to use a Nozawa Onsen band at Myoko......

 

They sell them there! How much will that cost, 50 yens?

 

They're more than that, depending on where.

 

Even 500 yen is $6.

 

I forgot the arm band thing...

Meh- as Sara said they are cheap will just get one there.