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

ih24lflqo0k canadian rx <a href="https://dohabb.com/index.php?page=user&action=pub_profile&id=1392139">viagra free sample</a> drugs shop [url=https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/293486833/about]generic viagra pills[/url] canadian drugstore online
viagra order online <a href="https://clinfowiki.win/wiki/Post:Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">buy viagra online without prescription</a> canada viagra generic [url=https://v.gd/Ylt2wZ]viagra doses[/url] candida viagra
online canadian pharmacies <a href="http://6uzy.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=508755">buy viagra in canada</a> viagra buy online [url=http://flymouses.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=667828]drugstore of canada[/url] viagra overnight delivery
hfo0ra0zfvf viagra online from canada <a href="http://2345eny.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=354643">tadalafil 20 mg in canada</a> viagra pharmacy online [url=https://sehu888.cc/home.php?mod=space&uid=110012]canadian online pharmacy[/url] online canadian pharmacies
online medications <a href="http://www.buqima.com/space-uid-1057943.html">buying viagra from canada</a> canadian-pharcharmy- [url=https://zippyshare.com/spherewar51]cialis and pharmacy[/url] online pharmacy medications
cialis at canadian pharmacies <a href="https://www.blurb.com/user/squidhair75">cialis canada pharmacy</a> online rx [url=http://wjyyouxi.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=155504]best canadian pharmacies shipping to usa[/url] viagra canada
hdpwzbvdl0n price for cialis in canada <a href="http://bbs.txzqzb.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=1293590">cialis pills</a> buy cialis in canada [url=https://notes.io/qheCu]canadian meds viagra[/url] discount viagra
how much does viagra cost <a href="https://sehu888.cc/home.php?mod=space&uid=109993">generic viagra online</a> price of cialis in canada [url=http://yaya-home.ch/home.php?mod=space&uid=530175]ed drugs[/url] get a prescription online
cheap viagra online <a href="https://sementivae.com/author/menujar76/">cheap viagra uk</a> get viagra [url=https://classificadosmaster.com/author/cloversnow29/]purchasing viagra from canada[/url] canadian pharmacy for cialis
ciotqy7bw8v canadian pharmacy without a prescription <a href="https://public.sitejot.com/harpfall03.html">canadian online drugstore</a> canada pharmacy online [url=http://bbs.2016xiaozhuge.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=7950149]how long does viagra last[/url] viagra before and after pictures
effects of viagra <a href="http://zltgo.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=648472">viagra generic online</a> where to buy viagra [url=https://postheaven.net/genderhair31/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy]ed medications[/url] generic pharmacy
cheap viagra online canada pharmacy <a href="http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/gb/unigb/www.canadotcphar.com/">wwwcanadianpharmacy.com</a> cheap canadian viagra [url=https://bysee3.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=993380]buy cialis online canada pharmacy[/url] buy viagra online at
lop0k2ntrju canadian pills online <a href="https://ipunplatform.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=402939">viagra online uk</a> online pharmacies in canada [url=https://bbs.bakaxl.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=498795]how to get viagra without a prescription[/url] northwestpharmacy
canada pharmacies online <a href="https://motogpdb.racing/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">viagra pro</a> cheap viagra india [url=http://ageloc.store/home.php?mod=space&uid=706278]viagra-canada[/url] cheapest viagra
ed drugs - canada <a href="https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/u/fishtailor43">viagra in india</a> canadian medication [url=http://wiki.openn.eu/index.php?title=Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]canadian pharmacy without prescription[/url] cialis canadian pharmacy
po44peknh1e pills from canada <a href="http://wjyyouxi.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=155513">metoprolol</a> viagra online from canada [url=http://www.mifengedu.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=3235835]canada pharmacies[/url] viagra alternatives
best price viagra <a href="https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/u/northbuffet59">viagra canada pharmacy</a> cialis low price [url=https://atavi.com/share/vowvesz1kgipa]metoprolol[/url] cialis from.canada
best price on cialis 5mg <a href="https://blogfreely.net/jellyrake62/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy">generic viagra online pharmacy</a> drugstore canada [url=http://gm6699.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=586823]canadian.cialis[/url] ed meds online
vw0eyhwxtb7 canadian pharcharmy online cialis <a href="https://classifieds.villages-news.com/author/bargedead82">lowest price on cialis</a> buy cheap viagra online uk [url=http://1ctv.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=673127]cialis in canada[/url] buy drugs
what is viagra <a href="http://ageloc.store/home.php?mod=space&uid=706311">viagra buy</a> canada prescription [url=https://app.glosbe.com/profile/6986041760560450803]canadiandrugstore.com[/url] buy cialis in canada online
price of cialis in canada <a href="http://6uzy.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=508755">generic viagra sale</a> viagra tablet [url=https://app.glosbe.com/profile/6986068616672185583]viagra prices[/url] adhp
bgc7wm7ldvc cialis canada online pharmacy <a href="https://jy58tz.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=475470">viagra mexico</a> adhp [url=https://bookingsilo.trade/wiki/How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]canadian pharmacy online[/url] viagra canada
order viagra without prescription <a href="http://gm6699.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=586897">cheapest viagra prices</a> how much is viagra [url=https://www.instapaper.com/p/jellybuffet77]viagra effects on women[/url] viagra from a pharmacy in canada
cheap viagra 100mg <a href="https://lexsrv3.nlm.nih.gov/fdse/search/search.pl?match=0&realm=all&terms=http://www.canadotcphar.com/">canadian online pharmacy cialis</a> the canada pharmacy [url=http://yaya-home.ch/home.php?mod=space&uid=529949]viagra canada with prescription[/url] viagra overnight delivery
awtae6ek21d order cheap viagra <a href="http://qooh.me/barberfall73">generic viagra free shipping</a> cialis- canadian pharmacy [url=https://m.jingdexian.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=647536]www.cialis.com[/url] buy viagra without prescription canada
cialis and pharmacy <a href="https://bbs.pku.edu.cn/v2/jump-to.php?url=http://www.canadotcphar.com/">canadian drugs without a prescription</a> how does viagra work [url=https://jszst.com.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=796911]india pharmacy viagra[/url] viagra free trial
purchasing viagra from canada <a href="https://www.zotero.org/squidoboe00/cv">generic viagra online</a> natural alternatives to viagra [url=https://yanyiku.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=545207]canadadrugstoresonline.com[/url] cialis canadian pharmacy's
hwb4bqkl77e canada pharmacies <a href="https://fakenews.win/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">viagra and alcohol</a> canadadrugpharmacy.com [url=http://tkwlt.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=583275]generic female viagra[/url] cielas
viagra without a doctor prescription in canada <a href="https://fakenews.win/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">alcohol and viagra</a> best price for generic cialis [url=https://blogfreely.net/piefall28/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy]generic cialis in usa[/url] cialis online in canada
canada viagra <a href="https://cutt.ly/jBQLlzJ">cialis viagra</a> generic viagra canadian [url=https://zippyshare.com/bearsnow91]cheap cialis[/url] canadian cialis]
dh07r33rhul prescription drugs canada <a href="https://humanlove.stream/wiki/How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">walmart prescription prices</a> viagra online pharmacy [url=http://yaya-home.ch/home.php?mod=space&uid=530037]cheap viagra in canada[/url] drugs of canada
cialis in canada <a href="http://1111wm.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=385008">viagra prescriptions</a> best price on cialis 5mg [url=https://securityholes.science/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]prescription viagra[/url] viagra tablets
northwest canadian pharcharmy online <a href="http://www.ccwin.cn/space-uid-10222556.html">cialis canadian pharmacy</a> medications from canada [url=https://www.blurb.com/user/squidavenue9]viagra brand for sale[/url] onlinepharmaciescanada.com
hfo8vnvu62i viagra india <a href="https://postheaven.net/versedead94/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy">viagra tablets</a> canadian online pharmacy [url=http://hawkee.com/profile/2265795/]viagra without a doctor prescription in canada[/url] buy cialis canada
generic cialis canada pharmacy <a href="https://unsplash.com/@bargebuffet23">herbal viagra</a> sample viagra [url=https://0rz.tw/create?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadotcphar.com%2F]buying cialis in canada[/url] canada rx
best treatments for ed <a href="https://bbs.pku.edu.cn/v2/jump-to.php?url=http://www.canadotcphar.com/">purchase viagra in canada</a> cialis.canada [url=https://rosalind.info/users/easetailor70]daily cialis[/url] free sample viagra
ydg3ooywn3l canadian pharcharmy <a href="https://classificadosmaster.com/author/reasonbuffet01/">cialis</a> canada prescriptions [url=http://kiki001.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=731249]cost of viagra[/url] generic cialis canada pharmacy
buy drugs online <a href="http://idea.informer.com/users/inputwar21/?what=personal">canadian tadalafil</a> viagra [url=https://devpost.com/azaliya-yakovleva]internet pharmacy[/url] cheapest generic viagra
cheap cialis canada <a href="http://lzrs4.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=349351">cvs pharmacy</a> approved canadian online pharmacies [url=https://bbs.pku.edu.cn/v2/jump-to.php?url=http://www.canadotcphar.com/]buy viagra online at[/url] cheap cialis online canadian pharmacy
ve1tgy9hjjn viagra dosages <a href="https://anotepad.com/notes/esw92khg">viagra 50 mg</a> canadian drug [url=https://jy58tz.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=475375]viagra canada[/url] online drugs
effects of viagra <a href="https://www.folkd.com/submit/http://www.canadotcphar.com//">canadianpharmacy.com</a> drugs-med.com [url=https://botdb.win/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]viagra for women[/url] viamedic com
canada online pharmacy viagra <a href="https://chaomianzhu.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=587477">canadian meds viagra</a> cheap viagra india [url=http://itw99.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=340866]generic cialis canadian[/url] canadian pharmacies generic drugs online
iy5rfxjjrl7 canadian pharmacies without prescriptions <a href="https://yogaasanas.science/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">buy cheap generic viagra</a> how to get viagra [url=https://www.zotero.org/squidoboe00/cv]viagra canada pharmacy[/url] cheap cialis canada
online canadian pharmacy <a href="http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/gb/unigb/www.canadotcphar.com/">viagra pro</a> cialis on canada [url=https://www.haoyouhuiba.com/space-uid-733963.html]buying cialis in canada[/url] viagra for women
canada online pharmacies <a href="http://qihou123.com/news/home.php?mod=space&uid=1539180">viagra 100mg</a> buy viagra [url=https://site-9197491-4125-8156.mystrikingly.com/blog/five-facts-about-pharmacy-you-need-to-know]canadian pharmacy reviews[/url] cost of viagra in canada

Trackback (You need to login.)