Loading

Search

:

Shigakogen Yakebitaiyama Ski Area

  • Category:Snow
i439ai6rpocrzcg5edfx_320_320-e7a867ad.jpg

JAPAN TRAVEL



Japan's Highest Quality Snow

“Japan doesn’t get snow! It’s an island! It’s tropical!” Those were the words from my mouth when I first heard that Japan would host the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. A look at a map and the unfolding of the Olympics taught me better and put Nagano on the list of places where I wanted to snowboard. Twelve years later in 2010, and then every year since then, I was able to make that dream a reality. Japan’s snowboarding experience didn’t disappoint me, but it never quite equaled the great days I’d grown up with in the dry fluffy snow of Colorado. Until I rode at Shigakogen.

j6i4yn283s23ge7van4x_320_320-c3d67146.jpg
 
The icy road meandered out of the forest and onto a curving bridge in the sky. The v-shaped view down the valley to my left took my breath away more fully than the altitude. The staff at the Prince Hotel Shigakogen received me graciously, making parking and checking in a smooth and easy experience. Many of the staff also spoke great to fluent English. Once I’d torn my eyes from the view offered by my immaculately clean room, I put on my snowboard gear, was shown to my ski and board locker by the staff, and made the short 30 meter walk from the hotel’s entrance to the ski lift.

I took Yakebitaiyama Ski Area’s Number 2 Gondola to the summit for an unobstructed view in contention for my favorite in Japan. The whole of the jagged Northern Japanese Alps towered above the Nagano Valley and ran the length of the western horizon. The slopes of a ski area on the Kurohime Highlands near the boarder with Niigata, the resorts of Hakuba on the slopes of the Alps, Nagano City partially veiled by morning mists, the peak of Mt. Ontake rising above the sea of clouds to the south, and the other slopes and peaks of Shigakogen, all were visible with one turn of the head.

jzp9ikz2h3fhahtccw7x_320_320-ce4d63f5.jpg

fscjx99i82vt5e5fzw63_320_320-22a029b4.jpg
 
Awe commanded all who passed this point along the Panorama Course to stop, stare, and take it all in. There is a course named “Panorama” at almost every ski area I’ve visited, but none are as worthy of the title as Yakebitaiyama’s Panorama Course. The view invites your gaze and invigorates every turn all the way down.

Yakebitaiyama was the stage for the inaugural snowboarding Giant Slalom at the 1998 Olympics. It ran from the top to the bottom of the Number 1 Gondola. Yakebitayama has set up poles and made a mini giant slalom along the topmost section of the run. It’s open to everyone and the layout of the course makes running through the poles accessible to anybody. Knowing that I was quite literally following along the course ridden by the first Olympic snowboarders was really cool.

gkasnb43fitxpsigv6ui_320_320-6ad247da.jpg
 

Besides great views and the Olympics Giant Slalom course, Yakebitaiyama has the only freestyle park in Shigakogen. There are four jib features: 2 flat boxes and 2 flat rails. All of them are ride-on ride-off, making them accessible to all boarders and skiers wanting to learn how to get their jib on. There are also two sets of jumps with two different sized kickers, allowing one to ease into and get confident going off of jumps.

ywtw4g9bcp8gyyh5fpo2_320_320-f7d1d17f.jpg
 
The maintenance of Yakebitaiyama’s freestyle park is impeccable. The rails were smooth and free of barbs, the sliding surfaces of the boxes were level and slippery, and the kickers on the jumps produced smooth easy lift offs, allowing for confident launches and safe landings. Want to learn the ropes of freestyle riding? Yakebitaiyama’s freestyle park is the place to start.

I’ve ridden at ski resorts in 4 prefectures during my 6 years in Japan, but none have equaled the quality of snow that I found at Yakebitaiyama.

o45uog87kzib5296uapb_320_320-c352282a.jpg

szeejnoo43on8sb63m6g_320_320-302a5f53.jpg
 
There hadn’t been a large snowfall in advance of my visit, and as I was treated to a pair of the clearest bluebird days I’ve had in Japan, there was no new snow either. Despite this lack of fresh snowfall, the snow on the slopes of Yakebitaiyama was soft, easy and fun to turn in, and forgiving to fall on whenever I wiped out.

tk9dmgk7ov3bvwhoodam_320_320-b9aa68b8.jpg

87iutub5jamf7tiwnkob_320_320-e95f58e4.jpg

Yakebitaiyama’s high elevation (1,000 meters at the bottom) keeps the moisture down and temperatures at or below freezing all day, allowing to the snow to remain soft and fluffy even after being skated around by skies and boards. Quality of snow is everything. I can honestly say that the snow at Yakebitaiyama (and probably all of Shigakogen) is the equal of Colorado snow.

Want to ride the best snow on Honshu? Make your way to Shigakogen. Happy turns!.
 
 

Comment(s) Write comment

nr2iqutf8ko viagra jelly <a href="https://clashofcryptos.trade/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">buy viagra online without script</a> buy drugs without a prescription [url=https://repo.getmonero.org/radishdead84]best viagra[/url] generic viagra canada
canadian pharmacies without prescriptions <a href="https://mooc.elte.hu/eportfolios/1383020/Home/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">cialis best price</a> cialis [url=https://marvelvsdc.faith/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]drug world canada[/url] generic cialis canada pharmacy
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa <a href="https://byfc0396.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=740689">prescription drugs without a prescription</a> viagra online prescription [url=https://poigrala.ru/user/savebaby93/]prescription drugs without a prescription[/url] cialis from canadian pharmacy
vg0ksternx1 london pharmacy canada <a href="https://botdb.win/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">viagra free samples</a> viagra professional [url=https://marvelvsdc.faith/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]canada pharmacies online prescriptions[/url] buy cialis from canada
pills from canada <a href="https://escort-siden.dk/author/radishgarlic75/">canada online pharmacy</a> viagra india pharmacy [url=http://lz13w.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=222204]canada online drugs[/url] usa pharmacy online
prescription drugs canada <a href="https://atavi.com/share/vowxqazqxb3x">buying drugs from canada</a> cialis from canadian pharmacies [url=https://wacowla.com/chineseclassifieds/author/rugbyguilty40/]canadian cialis[/url] cialis at canadian pharmacies
riuqltubyt8 viagra wikipedia <a href="https://lovewiki.faith/wiki/Exactly_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">viagra from india</a> how does cialis work [url=https://minerheart.com/space-uid-716085.html]viagra without a doctor prescription usa[/url] buy viagra online canada pharmacy
baclofen <a href="https://wacowla.com/chineseclassifieds/author/rugbyguilty40/">buying medications in canada</a> online pharmacies in usa [url=https://bookmarkspot.win/story.php?title=five-facts-about-pharmacy-you-need-to-know-8#discuss]5 mg cialis canada[/url] buy cialis online in canada
cialis over the counter in canada <a href="http://www.0471tc.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=299863">best canadian online pharmacy reviews</a> cheap viagra online canada pharmacy [url=http://efootballtips.pro/home.php?mod=space&uid=977060]canadian pharmacy cialis generic[/url] universal pharmacy
pgaib27c9re cheap viagra without prescription <a href="https://lexsrv3.nlm.nih.gov/fdse/search/search.pl?match=0&realm=all&terms=http://www.canadotcphar.com/">generic viagra online</a> viagra costs [url=https://vuf.minagricultura.gov.co/Lists/Informacin%20Servicios%20Web/DispForm.aspx?ID=3278363]best price viagra[/url] viagra from a pharmacy in canada
buy brand cialis online canada <a href="https://zixuezikao.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=685722">how to use viagra</a> order cialis in canada [url=https://digitaltibetan.win/wiki/Post:Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]walmart viagra price[/url] canadian cialis]
viagra prices <a href="https://sciencewiki.science/wiki/How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">erectile dysfunction drugs online</a> sildenafil generic [url=https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1458287439/about]canadian medication[/url] viagra pfizer
qocfvakqxud canada online pharmacy <a href="https://rosalind.info/users/jellyguilty06">viagra cialis</a> canada pharmacy for viagra [url=https://blogs.nmit.ac.nz/showcase/question/five-facts-about-pharmacy-you-need-to-know-3/]canadian-meds[/url] viagra facts
canadian viagra online <a href="https://www.trainingpedralbes.es/forums/users/clovergarlic98/">viagra natural</a> buy cialis [url=http://aawolf.uh-oh.jp/index.php?chambersskipper194067]natural viagra substitute[/url] viagra online canadian pharmacy
viagra canada with prescription <a href="https://businesspeopleclub.com/user/sphereguilty87">canadian pharcharmy</a> generic drugs [url=https://dohabb.com/index.php?page=user&action=pub_profile&id=1391699]viagra online cheap[/url] brand viagra online canada pharmacy
wkm3e2tbx4l viagra online canada pharmacy <a href="https://yogaasanas.science/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">canadian online pharmacy viagra</a> is there a generic for cialis? [url=http://6uzy.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=508829]cialis cheap[/url] canadian-pharcharmy
viagra tablet <a href="https://clinfowiki.win/wiki/Post:Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">buy drugs online</a> list of canada online pharmacies [url=https://zzb.bz/XzIIB]canadian-drugs[/url] buy viagra without prescription
buy brand viagra <a href="http://www.ccwin.cn/space-uid-10222683.html">kamagra gel</a> side effects viagra [url=https://urlscan.io/result/2269fb06-063e-432b-a7c7-978e6f5a9b73/]ed medication[/url] medication without prescription
hhdktg4lawp cheap viagra generic <a href="https://writeablog.net/sphereanimal73/just-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy">buy lsd online</a> ordering viagra [url=https://www.6isf.com/space-uid-881987.html]viagra tablet[/url] buy cialis from canada
price for cialis in canada <a href="http://teafish.cc/home.php?mod=space&uid=414151">drug online</a> prescription for cialis [url=https://blogs.nmit.ac.nz/showcase/question/five-facts-about-pharmacy-you-need-to-know-4/]canadian pill store[/url] canadian pharmacies generic drugs online
canadian pharmacies generic drugs online <a href="https://classificadosmaster.com/author/reasonbuffet01/">viagra sale</a> cialis without a doctors prescription [url=http://kb9453.com/space-uid-1260604.html]generic viagra pills[/url] viagra online uk
usbrp2uwgdf buy viagra uk <a href="https://www.click4r.com/posts/g/6389070/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy">cialis for sale</a> viagra facts [url=https://driverpoisk.ru/user/easewrist68]cheap cialis in canada[/url] order cialis online canada
cheapest viagra online <a href="https://squareblogs.net/knightcap06/just-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy">www.onlinepharmaciescanada.com</a> sildenafil generic [url=https://myemotion.faith/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]viagra generic[/url] 5 mg cialis canada
drugstore canada <a href="https://bbs.now.qq.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=2761584">how long does viagra last</a> brand name viagra [url=https://zzb.bz/ghIf6]canada pharmacy for cialis[/url] discount viagra online
pt5gxpozztw canadian rx prices <a href="https://dppet.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=743099">cialis low price</a> canadian pills [url=https://jy58tz.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=475470]order viagra without prescription[/url] viagra use
canadian rx <a href="http://bbs.2016xiaozhuge.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=7950256">cheap drugs</a> legitimate online pharmacies india [url=https://blogfreely.net/knightcap30/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy]viagra effects on women[/url] canadian generic cialis
canada viagra online <a href="http://1ctv.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=673233">viagra dosage</a> cialis in canada [url=https://atavi.com/share/vox0v7zfie8p]free sample of viagra[/url] viagra pharmacy
cs0jpt2zmam cialis without a prescription <a href="https://manchesterclopedia.win/wiki/How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">how long does viagra last</a> viagra online canadian pharmacy [url=http://bbs.txzqzb.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=1293609]uk viagra sales[/url] canada drug companies
brand viagra online canada pharmacy <a href="http://qooh.me/northshade31">ed drugs online from canada</a> canadian prescription [url=http://5axn.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=387256]buy viagra from canada[/url] buy viagra online without prescription
northwestpharmacy <a href="http://www.touzichaoshius.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=1255852">indian pharma</a> cialis from canada [url=https://v.gd/Ylt2wZ]online viagra prescription[/url] cheap canadian drugs
qmbegr5mve0 canadianpharmacy.com <a href="http://qooh.me/northshade31">cheap viagra pills</a> order medications online [url=https://www.7khatcode.com/user/banjogarlic97]buy viagra without a prescription[/url] safe generic viagra
www.northwestpharmacy.com <a href="https://www.cheaperseeker.com/u/outputoboe44">viagra directions</a> online canadian pharcharmy [url=https://poigrala.ru/user/jellyavenue84/]viagra soft tabs[/url] buy canadian drugs without prescription
drugs shop <a href="http://daojianchina.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=628199">generic viagra 100mg</a> where can i buy viagra [url=http://efootballtips.pro/home.php?mod=space&uid=976999]canadian tadalafil[/url] viagra best price
zv16hv8n868 canadian generic cialis <a href="http://www.buqima.com/space-uid-1057996.html">viamedic.com</a> northwestpharmacy.com canada [url=http://mc-dqm4.xii.jp/index.php?squidseal26]viagra natural[/url] buy viagra without a prescription
viagra directions <a href="https://www.cheaperseeker.com/u/banjoeye86">online pharmacy canada</a> baclofen [url=http://52meiss.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=80183]cialis canadian pharmacy[/url] women taking viagra
pharma from canada <a href="https://wacowla.com/chineseclassifieds/author/clovercap18/">best generic viagra</a> us pharmacy for cialis [url=https://bysee3.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=993444]cialis from canadian[/url] viagra coupon
ee5yy5ph1h9 viagra effects on women <a href="http://brewwiki.win/wiki/Post:Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">viagra online prescription</a> canadian pharmaceuticals [url=https://www.vid419.com/space-uid-508426.html]drug prices[/url] drug world canada
cheapest viagra online <a href="http://www.ksjy88.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=2611211">viagra free</a> viagra prescription online [url=https://wifidb.science/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]best online canadian pharmacies[/url] medications from canada
buying from viagra canada <a href="http://1ctv.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=673046">cheap cialis canada</a> sildenafil canada [url=https://www.blurb.com/user/beatgarden21]canadian cialis reviews[/url] viagra order online
coopwazszdl tadalafil canada <a href="http://tbfx8.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=143497">cialis on canadian pharmacy</a> canada drug superstore [url=https://atavi.com/share/vox0bjz19tcso]l484 pill[/url] buy generic cialis canadian pharmacy
buy brand viagra <a href="https://site-9198084-8243-2989.mystrikingly.com/blog/five-facts-about-pharmacy-you-need-to-know">viagra over the counter</a> viagra free [url=http://926gm.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=647283]canadian medications[/url] viagra without a prescription
low cost cialis <a href="https://ipunplatform.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=402908">order cialis online canada</a> canadian meds [url=https://humanlove.stream/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]female viagra pills[/url] what is the price of cialis in canada
qnm7zh7ow2o cialis from canada? <a href="http://1111wm.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=384868">cialis canadian pharmacy</a> sildenafil canada [url=https://cutt.ly/6BQOXOW]natural viagra substitute[/url] northwestpharmacy .com
generic viagra buy <a href="http://6ujd.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=393650">best online pharmacies</a> canada pharmacy viagra [url=https://app.glosbe.com/profile/6986058895449918712]generic viagra sale[/url] viagra online pharmacy
canada viagra online <a href="http://aawolf.uh-oh.jp/index.php?jensbythomassen568273">viagra coupon</a> ed meds online [url=http://hglt.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=808737]viagra patent[/url] drugs from canada

Trackback (You need to login.)