We have had some huge days but loks like the big one is coming tonight and all tomorrow.We may need snorkel
extension pieces!!
extension pieces!!
M_G posted this in another thread yesterday.Has anyone heard about some deaths at Arai?Was talking to a lodge owner this morning
and he said a few people had died a few days ago but didnt have any detail.Scary place.
Never done it (have just used bus transport) , but @Lady Penelope took a Maxi from Shiga to Nozawa recently in heavy snow conditions. So, I suspect it's like the KFC ad.........."shut up and take my money".Ok, this may sound silly but we are booked via maxi taxi to go from Madarao to Okushiga Kogen lunchtime tomorrow. Do they drive in heavy snow?
As @Zimbooo says, the answer is “yes”. And despite the journey taking almost 3 times as long as usual, the final fare for us was exactly the same as the initial quoted price. Beat dragging ski bags on and off buses!Ok, this may sound silly but we are booked via maxi taxi to go from Madarao to Okushiga Kogen lunchtime tomorrow. Do they drive in heavy snow?
Ours was same doing essentially reverse. Prince west to madarao. They just take it slower and pick different routes.As @Zimbooo says, the answer is “yes”. And despite the journey taking almost 3 times as long as usual, the final fare for us was exactly the same as the initial quoted price. Beat dragging ski bags on and off buses!
Has anyone heard about some deaths at Arai?Was talking to a lodge owner this morning
and he said a few people had died a few days ago but didnt have any detail.Scary place.
There is a bus that runs Madarao to Myoko each day look up Akakura Madarao line.leaves Madarao Kogen Hotel 9 am and Returns 4 pm.Is it possible to do day trips from Madarao to Myoko or other local resorts without a car via bus/shuttle? Anyone have any ideas on return taxi cost? Going to base ourselves at Madarao for 5 days in late feb but just looking at other options incase it doesn’t snow and we get bored of piste skiing there.
Official report link is in this threadYes, a French guy was OOB today and killed in an avi.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/shutoken-new...RNvW43avNXb5AHMQ6trNBCKc27B8SnbRDjupwdj-X9aW8
https://www.ski.com.au/xf/threads/nozawa-onsen-2018-19-planning.82417/Can someone please advise if there is a 2018/19 Noz Thred
Most of Arai is completely ungroomed and traffic is pretty light. When I went down the lift line a few weeks ago there were some pockets of totally unskied snow next to terrain that had been traversed previously then covered over in the last fall. In the space of a metre I went from staying above the snow to buried chest deep. When I was there only a small part of the ungroomed section was open, the other sections were still accumulating snow.Seems a lot of incidents at Arai this year for such a small resort. Whats the go? Haven’t skied there but was looking at heading over in a few weeks was going to base at Arai and then travel to other resorts if snow wasn’t great but got a little spooked so going to Madarao now. With Arai is it specific localised conditions, the terrain? the resort? Or just unlucky coincidence. Have done seasons in Europe in big resorts with lots of offpiste and there have been less incidents than Arai this year.
If you can get in, Akakura Onsen Hotel. I’m pretty sure it’s an onsen that also does hotel rooms (c;I’m in Myoko from 27th Feb to 3rd March. What is best hotel for awesome indoor/outdoor onsen. Happy with japense or western style. Don’t want to stay at AKH due to location combined with cost.
Bus terminal is about 100m from the train station. Easy enough to get a taxi from there to Akakura. ¥2200-2400.The late bus from Madarao to Myoko (5pmish) doesn’t to Akakura Onsen according to timetable only to Myoko bus terminal. Is the bus terminal at Myoko train station? Any ideas where it is as will be trying to get to Akakura. Google is failing my sausage fingers currently
Bus terminal is about 100m from the train station. Easy enough to get a taxi from there to Akakura. ¥2200-2400.
Taxi rank is next to the train station.
Unless it is super foggy, you cannot miss the train station from the bus terminal. If in doubt head downhill.@elSpike perfect thanks. I’m a big fan of simplistic maps. I have board and ski bag so don’t want to walk off in wrong direction where possible
I’m in Myoko from 27th Feb to 3rd March. What is best hotel for awesome indoor/outdoor onsen. Happy with japense or western style. Don’t want to stay at AKH due to location combined with cost.
happy wife happy life so I’m in-house onsen this time. Got a Japanese room at refre. Thanks for the tipsOr you can stay with us and go out to visit different onsen.![]()
Akakura Hotel (although be warned - it may remind you of Grand Hotel Budapest in some aspects
Yesterday from the top of Mount Madarao
I love the Japanese way. So much more fun that a boring sign that you find elsewhere![]()
Here's a blunt message from the local constabulary
So what / who is the green ..... thing?![]()
Here's a blunt message from the local constabulary
Even without avalanche danger (I assume Arai are diligent with inbounds avalanche control) I'd say the biggest hazard the for the average inbounds rider is terrain traps....Most of Arai is completely ungroomed and traffic is pretty light. When I went down the lift line a few weeks ago there were some pockets of totally unskied snow next to terrain that had been traversed previously then covered over in the last fall. In the space of a metre I went from staying above the snow to buried chest deep. When I was there only a small part of the ungroomed section was open, the other sections were still accumulating snow.
All of this was inbounds. Out of bounds I would assume would be deeper and even sketchier.
The city mascotSo what / who is the green ..... thing?
Blowing the snow yesterday morning
What greeted us coming out the door
Blowing the snow yesterday morning
What greeted us coming out the door
I know, it even shocked me!!the snowblower.... its working![]()
Special snowblower drone cam...Cockpit?
What do mean by "bus run from the top of Madarao"? There are buses from the village down to Iiyama.Has anyone ever done a bus run from top of madarao all the way down to iiyama ? Is this even possible without a hiking to much ?