Arai Trail Map

Check the new piste map for Lotte Arai Ski Resort

When compared with the old piste you can see that there has been a big expansion of allowed, avalanche controlled, inbound terrain zones. There will be 4 non-groomed, advanced zones.

New English trail map for Arai (click for larger map)

Old trail map for Lotte Arai Resort

Book Arai Ski Resort Hotels Now!

Arai Ski Resort closed in 2006 but is scheduled for full re-opening in late 2017 under the new ownership of the Korean Lotte Group. Formerly branded as “Arai Mountain Resort and Spa” it will be known after re-opening as “Lotte Arai Resort”. It will offer world-class standard hotels with nearly 250 rooms, extensive spa and onsen facilities, a variety of restaurants, retail stores, an international snow school, and alpine activities.

Arai Mountain Ski Resort will re-open with five ski lifts. It has a very impressive 951 metres (3,120 feet) of vertical descent with 11 pistes. Four advanced areas will be left ungroomed – perfect for the powder dogs. The resort is best suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders but there is some terrain for beginners and advanced skiers.

The nearest stations are JR JoetsuMyoko Station (shinkansen) and Echigo TokiMeki Arai Station (local line). See this info on getting to Myokokogen for more details. Transfer details to Arai Resort from the two stations will be available in due course.

For more information on Lotte Arai Resort check out the comprehensive (and ever expanding) website here or the official site.

Lotte Arai transfers available from Red Warehouse Myoko!

Tags: Lotte Arai Resort, Arai Ski Resort, Arai Trail Map, Lotte Arai Resort, ロッテアライリゾート, 롯데 아라이 리조트.

Lotte Arai Resort will definitely be the new must-ski destination; just one visit and you will know why the mountain had been called legendary!

The post New piste map for Lotte Arai Ski Resort. Arai trail map. appeared first on Myoko-Nagano.

Hakuba Valley is launching a new ticket and electronic gate system for 2016-2017

Like this Hakuba Valley Pass but haven’t booked your Hakuba Accommodation yet? Get the best deals via our Hakuba booking engine!

Hakuba Valley Pass

There’s some awesome news for 2016/17 ski season with the new Hakuba Valley Pass – an integrated electronic gate system that covers all resorts in the Hakuba Valley. Now when you arrive at your Hakuba Accommodation you can buy an electronic chip that will be used to access lifts at whichever resort you decide to go to for the day. No longer is there the need to line up daily to exchange your multi-resort ticket and receive your daily lift pass.

This is what Hakuba valley is saying:

“From the beginning of this season, Hakuba Goryu, HAKUBA47, Hakuba Happo-one, Hakuba Iwatake, Tsugaike, Hakuba Norikura, Cortina resorts in Hakuba Valley will implement a new ticket and gate system for skiers and riders to access the lifts with one pass. This will greatly improve customer’s experiences at these snow resorts. For the 2017-18 season Kashimayari, Jiigatake, Yanaba plan to install the new ticket and gate system making Hakuba Valley snow resorts even more accessible.”

Haven’t booked your Hakuba Accommodation yet? Get the best deals via our Hakuba booking engine!

For more information on the Hakuba Electronic Pass see the resort site.

Eligible season pass holders from Mountain Collective resorts can also enjoy skiing and riding for less by purchasing lift tickets at 50% off for up to 5 days.

The post Hakuba Valley Pass – Electronic gate system covering all Hakuba resorts appeared first on Myoko-Nagano.

Join us for March Magic in the Japan Alps

Sunny spring time skiing

March is an excellent time to be skiing in Japan, especially with kids. The slopes are quieter, the days are sunnier but there is a great snow base with occasional dumps of the famous Japow!

Get the best of both worlds and enjoy Spring skiing in two of Japan’s most popular ski resort areas. Locally based area experts, Nozawa Holidays and Destination Myoko Kogen, come together to offer a great Myoko Nozawa ski package – the March Magic deal!

What are the highlights of this Myoko Nozawa ski package?

• 10 Nights Stay (5 Myoko, 5 Nozawa);
• Daily breakfast;
• Use of all the village hot springs (Nozawa only);
• Local knowledge and experience from the area’s locally based and trusted experts;
• Accommodation at two of the area’s most popular lodges – Alpine Villa Nozawa, Red Warehouse Myoko or equivalent standard.

Alpine Villa Nozawa

Rate per person

• All of the above is for just 99,500 yen per adult for this Myoko Nozawa Ski Package!
• Kids 7-15 years old – 59,500 yen (sharing same room)
• Kids 3-6 years old – 39,500 yen (sharing same room)
• Kids 0-2 years old – free (when sharing beds, no meals)

Ten days doesn’t suit? Traveling by yourself or in a group? Contact us with your request.

What are the inclusions and extras of the Myoko Nozawa ski package?

• Includes 8 days tickets (4 days – Nozawa, 4 days – Akakura Onsen, Akakura Kanko, Ikenotaira or Suginohara)
• Optional intra-resort transfer + 7,000 yen per person
• Optional one day Madarao Kogen (ski only) + 5,000 per person

Red Warehouse Myoko

Myoko Nozawa ski package: Other Information

• Cost is based on twin room with shared bathroom/hot spring. Ensuite rooms may be available for + 1,000 pp/pn;
• Ski school and ski rental not included but can be arranged easily;
• Available from 25 February, 2018 until lifts close;
• Bonus gift if confirmed by October 1, 2017.

Myoko Nozawa ski package: How to book

To grab this great deal contact Nozawa Holidays or Destination Myoko Kogen directly. It is not offered through any agencies. Include the term ‘Magic March’ in your enquiry

Ten days doesn’t suit? Traveling by yourself or in a group? Contact us with your request.

Myoko Nozawa ski package proudly brought to you by:

Booking conditions

All bookings must be made by December 1, 2017 with deposit paid by December 15, 2017 at the latest.

Deposit & Balance

A 20% deposit is required (by credit card, Paypal or bank transfer) to secure your booking with the balance due at least 30 days before check-in.

Cancellation Policy

We strongly recommend travel insurance for any unforeseen circumstances.

The post Myoko Nozawa Ski Package appeared first on Myoko-Nagano.

Onbashira Festival details

If you think the Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival is crazy, well then mark your diaries for 2016 and head for the Onbashira Festival (御柱) in Suwa, Nagano. Being one of the “Big Three Strange Festivals” in all of Japan, the festival is held every six years and is something that definitely shouldn’t be missed. The purpose of the festival is to symbolically renew the Suwa Taisha or Suwa Grand Shrine. “Onbashira” can be literally translated as “the honored pillars”. Every six years in April and May, huge logs are selected from trees in mountain forests in the Lake Suwa region and transported by hand to the smaller shrines of Suwa Taisha. The Onbashira festival is reputed to have continued, uninterrupted, for 1200 years. The festival is held once every six years, in the years of the Monkey and the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac, however the locals may say “once in seven years,” because of the traditional Japanese custom of including the current year when counting a length of time. Onbashira lasts several months, and consists of two segments, Yamadashi and Satobiki. Yamadashi traditionally takes place in April, and Satobiki takes place in May.

Part of the journey includes Kiotoshi, where local men climb aboard the logs and endeavour to stay on as they slide down the steep mountainside. Injuries and deaths have occurred during the festival in past years, though being killed by one of the trees is considered to be an honourable death.

“Yamadashi” literally means “coming out of the mountains.” Before this portion of the festival, huge trees are cut down in a Shinto ceremony using axes and adzes specially manufactured for this single use. The logs are decorated in red and white regalia, the traditional colors of Shinto ceremonies, and ropes are attached. During Yamadashi, Teams of men drag the logs down the mountain towards the four shrines of Suwa Taisha. The course of the logs goes over rough terrain, and at certain points the logs must be skidded or dropped down steep slopes. Young men prove their bravery by riding the logs down the hill in a ceremony known as “Ki-otoshi.”

“Satobiki” festival involves the symbolic placement of the new logs to support the foundation of the shrine buildings. The logs are raised by hand, with a ceremonial group of log bearers who ride the log as it is being raised and sing from the top of the log to announce the successful raising. After two festivals, there is an important event “Building of Hoden”. This event isn’t generally famous, and few people know that the event is held even among people who live nearby and participate in Yamadashi and Satobiki. The end of this event marks the end of Onbashira.

Onbashira Festival videos

The post Onbashira Festival in Nagano appeared first on Myoko-Nagano.