Resource The big Myoko/Madarao/Arai thread - 2019/20 & 2020/21
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anyone have a recommendation for a hot wax? staying in Ikenotaira, but will have wheels to get around.
For your skis?
Aoyama or Joeys. Go Myoko is based at Ikenotaira next to the GoGo Curry counter. They could probably do it too.Hi all.
Thanks for the great info in this thread. The reports are really helpful. We're hoping to stay at Lotte Arai for 2 days on January 21-23. Wondering if anyone on can give me an honest report of current conditions on the upper part of the mountain ? Reporting seems to vary greatly depending on the source. (Lotte website only reports huge dumps of blower pow.
Is It worth spending the money to head up there? Or should we make alternate plans? Thanks!
Hi all.
Thanks for the great info in this thread. The reports are really helpful. We're hoping to stay at Lotte Arai for 2 days on January 21-23. Wondering if anyone on can give me an honest report of current conditions on the upper part of the mountain ? Reporting seems to vary greatly depending on the source. (Lotte website only reports huge dumps of blower pow.
Is It worth spending the money to head up there? Or should we make alternate plans? Thanks!
Anything can happen in the next 10 days and I would think conditions there would be similar across Niigata and Nagano. If you havent booked, just decide much closer to the date. Things get stupid busy though from 24, 25th etc with CNY.
Thanks ! We’ll keep watching the weather. Very different from what we’re used to in the Kootenay’s
We're in Myoko 20th to 24th and Madarao 25th to 28th. Hadn't factored in CNY - although we had no choice with the dates so wouldn't have mattered anyway. How stupid is stupid when it comes to skiing Myoko/Madarao in that CNY week? Are we just talking massive lift lines all week?
Brutal report on Myoko Now today mind you. Not pulling their punches... Lets hope for snow then!
"It did get much colder overnight, though, with frosted car windscreens and sparkling crystals on the surface of the snow. Unfortunately, it also created about a five-centimeter-thick crust on the surface of the snow, so even if you were thinking of heading offpiste (which would be a really bad idea with all this brush), it would be even more unpleasant. Today is a day for staying on the slopes; it will be sunny, even if the snow isn't the most...ah...optimal?
Like I said earlier in the week, it gives me no pleasure to give these reports, but if we don't get some snow soon, it's going to be pretty awful skiing out there, and it's likely that we'll see more closures. Look at the reported snow depths, and think of them as optimistic at best. If it says 45cm, prepare to meet thy vegetation on the slopes...."
cracking day indeed with one essential ingredient missing. Hmm wonder what that might be ??Probably more than you’d like, less than you’d think
Cracking day at Ikenotaira!
I've had cracking days at Ikenoraira usually involving 20cm an hour then skiing back to Akakura Kanko through the forest and crossing the stream.
Yes, except a day on the snow on even half reasonable snow, is better than spruiking an imaginary 20cm/hr that never happens, from an anonymous hole on the internet, spoiling somebody else's story.
Never happens, right my photos not google. As you said your self this is not a normal season.
I’m happy that you’ve had that experience. I bet you’re the kind of guy who complains about the dip at an orgy.
I have been reading your trip reports for two years now from afar(Canada) and they always inspire me and help me immensely with your wonderful enthusiasm and excellent information. Keep them going! We are arriving to nozawa next week then Myoko week after that and while I hope the snow improves also, i come to japan for more than just skiing. Also, any day above ground is a cracking day!
It's easy to get a bit spoiled if you've experienced japanuary at its best.
That said it's snowing in Myoko 2night!
I tried to think of today as spring skiing... and I've got to say I've never turned up my nose at spring skiing before
My son and I just had our 4th day boarding here in the Myoko area, having a horrible time
A pic from each of the last 3 days:
To answer my own question. Yukibancho on Main Street has an ok selection at retail prices.
Another fun day in paradise in the Myoko region, this morning's new snow.
It never snows 20cm / hour at Myoko. Even in the famous dump of 2012, it averaged between 3-4cm / hour. I've seen as much as 9cm/hour on JMA.Never happens, right my photos not google. As you said your self this is not a normal season.
5-7 at the base of Sugi. Anticipating double that at the top.
Don't break your neck on the stairs down.If your in the area, have a drink for me!
For those unaware there is a bit of a back story to the above.
Those who understand will hopefully go to Jack's and have a drink. those who don't, all good, enjoy your time in Myoko.
Hi mate - we need to pick up some new Goggles as well (and possibly gloves) and arrive in Shiga Kogen on Saturday. Can you advise if any of the ski shops there stock a decent range of gear and what the prices are like or are we better off trying to pick some up in Tokyo (we only have a quick day there before heading to SK). Cheers.
ps- sorry to hijack the Myoko thread - back on topic now!
The Shop at St Christophe in Okushiga had Smith and Dragon goggles and Hestra gloves (rate them!) Snowcan only had Cryo goggles and a very limited Salomon glove selection. I didn’t check Nord opposite shiga grand but I expect they had decent stuff.
On topic: fun to be had at Sugi today!
Smiths and Hestra for the win. Both are an investment that pays off over years.
I’m an oakley fan. The Airbrake XL has the best lens change mechanism I’ve ever used. I just swapped to these red prism lens in the quad on Sugi.
second pic to be on topic.
almost lost the sock putting it on. Shot across the lift!
Julbo zebra light red lens (photochromic) hands down best lens ever. I have Smith photochromic, red sensor, blue sensor and the green full sun one. Can’t remember name of that one. I lend Smith to all my friends with photochromic but will not lend my Julbo. Back to back the differs night and day.
Quick random question on Myoko lift passes. In classic Japanese fashion they specify in the table that 0-6 year olds get free lift tickets - whilst in the same table saying that free lift tickets are for non-primary school students. Well my daughter is 6 years old but she is also at primary school! I guess the school system starts at 7 years old in Japan. Anyone got any experience with this? Did you need proof of age for your kids to get the free lift ticket?
My kids aren’t even visible when I buy the tickets.
We have never been questioned, even on the free for under 12 tickets at Sugi, even though Mr11 is taller than >50% of lift attendants.
No such thing as a 'Myoko lift passes'. All different resorts with different rules.
As an FYI, primary starts at 6yo in Japan. So if you are a 6yo in kindy then you are free, whilst a 6yo in primary will pay. If she turns 7 after April 1 (new school year date), then she's good to go. That said you are unlikely to be asked for ID.
But either way, ticket prices are %^&* all for kids. I can't believe people spend thousands on air fares and hotels, then quibble over $10-$20 for a kids ticket.
Um yeah, except it is.
Presuming that's the 4 resort pass? Don't even bother.
Go to each resort and pay at the counter. As an example I paid 1,000 yen for a day pass at Akakura Onsen for my 7yo the other day.
Suginohara they ski free.
2,400 at Ikenotaira
2,300 at Akakura Kanko
If you buy a multi day pass say 4 days.Do they have to be consecutive days?Bit of a pain if they do.
I bought a three-day combined Kanko/Onsen a few days ago - they told me yes must be consecutive.
