Yamagata Zao
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32)
Tue 2007/03/06 23:47
I'm sure you've been experiencing the same in your country - funky weather climate (cue spooky music).
No snow in Tokyo this year at all, in fact hardly any snow at all anywhere compared to the averages.
I do try to get my annual dose of snow we and headed off for a weekend break in the Yamagata prefecture located in the northern-ish part of Japan. Spent two days in a hot spring/ski resort called Zao which is a 30 bus ride from Yamagata station.
No snow in Tokyo this year at all, in fact hardly any snow at all anywhere compared to the averages.
I do try to get my annual dose of snow we and headed off for a weekend break in the Yamagata prefecture located in the northern-ish part of Japan. Spent two days in a hot spring/ski resort called Zao which is a 30 bus ride from Yamagata station.
This is the bullet train MAX which was attached to the train that we took (Tsubasa). Many trains in Japan detach at different stations so be careful as to which carriage you get on.
Dropped off our crap (luggage) at the hotel and headed straight for the slopes. Its 3,500 yen for a lift pass which you can use 15 times.
A sign asking you not to jump off the lift. Erm OK...
This slope is for suicidal people.
The trees on the peak are supposed to be covered in snow at this time of year. According to the locals, this year Zao only got less than a third of the amount of snow that it usually gets.
The snow covered trees are called Juhyou （樹氷（じゅひょう））and are supposed to look like this in seasons with decent amount of snow.
Snow is still powdery at this time of year at the peak but becomes slushy at the bottom.
After a full day of skiing n falling down, its time for a traditional Japanese Onsen where you get into a room full of naked men. If you are a man but look like a woman, I suppose you could try to go in the ladies shared Onsen. You need to figure out a way to hide your packed lunch though.
The outdoor Onsen looked like this.
The outdoor Onsen looked like this.
Dinner was a traditional Japanese set meal which tasted very average.
Then its back to the Onsen area of the hotel.
This time round however we go and dip our feet in this foot bath. You can just about make out some benches with towels on. The natural spring water is extremely hot and I began to wonder if the meat on my feet would get cooked this way.
Zao International Hotel is the place we stayed. The Onsen was nice but the rest of the hotel was a bit of a dump.
Planned for another morning of skiing the following day and headed off to the slopes.
But my wife done her leg in (bad sprain) and had to call the patrol guys to pick her up - spend the rest of the day in a local clinic orz.
There were loads of people who were speeding due to the fantastic weather - many of whom broke something and ended up being carried to the clinic ^^;
Zao is 3 hours from Tokyo by bullet train and if you really want to get away from the hustle n bustle then Zao is recommended.
There were loads of people who were speeding due to the fantastic weather - many of whom broke something and ended up being carried to the clinic ^^;
Zao is 3 hours from Tokyo by bullet train and if you really want to get away from the hustle n bustle then Zao is recommended.
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Looks great! Doesnt look that busy either. Nice to see you saw sense and didnt risk skiing in your clunky trooper cozzie! Shame there's been no snow in Tokyo though. Snow is hands down my favourite weather. Hope your wife's leg is better now!
(ID #45162) Posted on 2007/03/07 00:31
Email & Network Support/Administration
I miss the snow. Here it is March and I was out cutting the lawn. Last time I skied, I had my poles stolen! Cost me a pretty penny on the fee because they were rentals. Hope your wife is feeling better.
(ID #45163) Posted on 2007/03/07 00:42
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Not experiencing any of the winter goodness over at where I am orz By the way Danny, what would the predicted temperature of in Tokyo be like over the next 2 weeks? I'll be visitng Tokyo for 6 days from the 21st of March and would like to know what clothes to pack along :)
(ID #45164) Posted on 2007/03/07 01:09
the climate is definitely changing for the worse, you can notice that everywhere, some days are so hot in Brazil that you have to walk around carrying a mobile electric fan to stand the heat or avoid to walk outside in certain hours of the day. I imagine myself jumping on that snow to cool off.
(ID #45165) Posted on 2007/03/07 01:30
Lots of snow here. Even if it is cold (-13°C tomorrow!), it is much less than last year. Winter came later than usual too. It may be more pleasant not to deal with fierce blizzards and frostbite too often, but I am worried about the long-term effects of human activity on the planet... -If it's snow crystals you're looking for, you're always welcome here!-
(ID #45166) Posted on 2007/03/07 02:44
I also hope that your wife is doing well now.
(ID #45167) Posted on 2007/03/07 02:48
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Looks so peaceful and relaxing, just the sort of thing I need right now. Both my fiancee and I have been working our asses off since the beginning of the year. I'm sure you both had a nice time. Sorry to hear your wife sprained her leg. Hope she is doing well. Dam it's been so long since I been on skis, probably would just tumble down the slope. ^o^ ^^; I did try snowboarding a couple of years ago. It has been a freaky winter. I think the weather here in Michigan has changed a lot since I was younger. Thunderstorms in the middle of winter and all these ice storms was unheard of here in years pass. Probably proof we are screwing the planet all to #ell. Ugh, with the windchill it's -21 C right now. Danny, I have always been a big on trains. Would you consider adding the photos of the N4 MAXs to wallpaper. The image number is 5369. Thanks...
(ID #45168) Posted on 2007/03/07 03:57
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
By the way, the new front page is looking good...
(ID #45169) Posted on 2007/03/07 04:02
Bobby R
WONDERING IF YOU KNOW OF A WAY TO ORDER THE SUPPLIES YOU USED ON YOUR SDS HELMET FOR MY MODS THROUGH TOKYO HANDS. CANT FIND ANY OF THAT STUFF AROUND ME HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
(ID #45170) Posted on 2007/03/07 04:05
蔵王、いいですね！行ってみたいです。 今シーズンは結局一度もスキーに行ってないなぁ（＾＾； 奥さんは大丈夫でしたか？
(ID #45171) Posted on 2007/03/07 04:15
it hardly snows in australia but australia's weather is always random, since it could be sunshine one minute and next minute hailstorms or thunderstorms. i've nv seen it actually snowing before so i would love to go to a country like japan during winter and just sit and watch it snow n enjoy the negative temperatures =D
(ID #45174) Posted on 2007/03/07 05:10
Web Designer, Graphic Designer, Student
I know we have received more snow here in Kentucky than I've seen in the last 5 years. The world's going to heck in a hand basket... "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria."
(ID #45175) Posted on 2007/03/07 05:55
milkham (Registered on 2007/03/06 15:56)
You only get to use your lift pass 15 times instead of all day? Wow.
(ID #45176) Posted on 2007/03/07 07:02
Yea, the weather is definitely weird in canada too. I live in richmond, B.C. and it suddenly snow a few days ago. Extremely weird to see snow in march.
(ID #45177) Posted on 2007/03/07 07:43
Gordon Pekeur in cape town -RSA-
Hope Ur Mrs is doing ok now, those slopes look awesome .... Ive never been skiing before, but Id love to go oneday ..... =P
(ID #45178) Posted on 2007/03/07 07:47
does snowboarding count? I need to try skiing one day.
(ID #45179) Posted on 2007/03/07 10:33
今年はスキーには行きませんでしたね。来年は行きたいです。 宿泊したホテルがボロかったって書いてありますけど、ダニーさんの写真が綺麗なので立派なホテルに見えます。 お風呂気持ち良さそうです(´□｀ )
(ID #45183) Posted on 2007/03/07 15:16
The Patrol Guy looks like he's trynna get fresh with your wife... I would have smacked him with a snowboard A question for Danny: which in your opinion is the Japanese car that's best suited for an Otaku?
(ID #45185) Posted on 2007/03/07 17:05
What if I'm a giraffe that can ski? (Kaku)
(ID #45186) Posted on 2007/03/07 23:03
Director/代表取締役
Zer0, I'm not that knowledgeable about cars. I guess a car that has lots of space to display figures? minaseさん、 そうですね、風呂はなかなか良かったです。部屋は正直ぼろい^^; Piecemakr, I should have included snowboarding too ^^; Gordon, ellcy90, D_Blade, AndyH, Thanks - shes much better now. Milkham, They can be tight fisted over here sometimes... Bobby R, I dont think Tokyu Hands ship abroad - sorry! Edward, Uploaded to http://www.dannychoo.com/max.jpg for you. windbell, Bring one medium think sweater - that should be enough. Its getting warmer. If you dont bring enough the Uniqlo sell cheap stuff for 6 USD
(ID #45187) Posted on 2007/03/08 00:45
screw skiing , snowboarding is the way to go, to bad its been snowing weird in RI, and too bad im too broke to go on a long road trip :( sry bout the wiffeys leg
(ID #45195) Posted on 2007/03/08 02:21
radical anime fan in Singapore; starting to freeze up. Mmm, end-of-year weather. (Registered on 2007/01/25 21:20)
Polytechnic Freshman. Mmm... fresh.
singapore dosen't even snow, sniff....
(ID #45247) Posted on 2007/03/10 06:13
jaalin
dude, i went to zao a few years back with a school group... stayed at a ryokan next to that fancy lookin hotel, went to that same bathhouse place u have pics of there every day. my first time skiing and at an onsen... was freakin great. loved the haagen daaz green tea ice cream vending machine and the 100 yen onigiri, and the old lady selling these mustard-covered balls on a stick (dunno what that's called) right outside. never could make it down THE WALL, but was able to do the quad pretty well by the 4th day or so :D then i tried going off a snowboard jump on the left slope and landed on my arm, lol who knows, maybe you skiied right over the remains of my broken sunglasses
(ID #45255) Posted on 2007/03/10 22:52
Part human, part student, 100% loser
@radical anime fan I share your pain...
(ID #68999) Posted on 2008/01/08 16:13
In 50 years, we have never had rain in March (attested to by my father)... And its been raining for about a week now :)
(ID #159984) Posted on 2008/03/22 20:54
Very absorbing scenary. Really like the peaceful snowy feeling.
(ID #178835) Posted on 2008/05/01 11:02
mon_han_FU-reek (Registered on 2008/05/24 18:35)
we got rain than snow here in southeast asia beautiful isn't it? rain is i like running in the rain
(ID #196512) Posted on 2008/05/25 15:00
student
I'm surprised that there's so few people there. Here in Australia it is quite busy during winter. Every time I go skiing it's quite crowded. I love skiing, skiing in Japan looks really good. The onsen looks appealing, would love to relax in one after skiing for the whole day. The only thing to look froward to here after a long day of skiing is a shower and then sit in front of a fire. Well I'm not complaining, as long as I get to ski.
(ID #196735) Posted on 2008/05/25 23:13
awww man i miss the snows.... some be going with the uni some time i think.. Danny could you make some of those photos wallpapers they look awesome!
(ID #196771) Posted on 2008/05/25 23:45
*staring at the bullet train* ooooooh o.O that's cool man, i've never ski before, I'VE NEVER TOUCHED SNOW NOR SEEN IT!!! (sob sob)
(ID #196875) Posted on 2008/05/26 01:58
Student, (Amateur) Mangaka,Autodidact Illustrator, Autodidact Animator, Autodidact Visual Novel Creator, Autodidact Web Designer, Freelance Photograph
Man, I wish I could have skied somewhere like this. I'm getting a bit sick of the western hemisphere. :P
(ID #196920) Posted on 2008/05/26 02:59
だいがくせい
lol not taht bad here, luckily in FL got beach and what not. but what i would give to go snowboard in japan
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