10 replies to this topic

[muikabochi]

Yesterday the sun was out early and I had a long day at Kagura. Fantastic blue skies, good snow, not many people. Nice.

Kagura is the biggest and probably one of the most popular resorts in the area. Lots of people go BC, but this is a look at the resort areas.

The resort is called Kagura but there are 3 main areas. The Tashiro and Mitsumata areas both have ropeways that take you up to the slopes. From both of those areas you can get to the central area which is called Kagura. (So you have to get to Kagura either via Tashiro or Mitsumata).

VIDEOS:

Kagura area:
http://www.snowjapan.tv/view_video.php?viewkey=47e897f954495eab16a8

Tashiro area:
http://www.snowjapan.tv/view_video.php?viewkey=40ce177cf70da146c8dc

Mitsumata area:
http://www.snowjapan.tv/view_video.php?viewkey=1e61cb8dd3612f26d5ec


PHOTOS:







Lots more photos here:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo_section.php?userGallery=193&userid=muikabochi

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Other info if you're interested

Info on sj:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=3

Location:
http://www.snowjapan.com/e/japan-ski-town-maps/naeba/naeba.html

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/maps/japan-map-and-satellite-photos/niigata-prefecture/naeba.html

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/maps/snow-jap...-naeba-map.html

[rach]

Nice work muikabochi, that must have taken a fair while to put together!

I have heard a lot about Kagura and seen photos, but this really gives me an idea of what it is like. Thanks.

(Tashiro looks nice but rather flat).

[grungy-gonads]

Otsukaresama. That about covers most of Kagura. Big place, hey?

[pie-eater]

Lot of work there muikabochi. Might just bring you a pie next time.

[IIIII]

Isn't Tashiro lake usually frozen mid-season?

[muikabochi]

Actually I was wondering that too. I'm sure I have seen it totally frozen but it was only frozen in one small part on Friday. Anyone?

(Yes, pies please pie-eater)

[skidaisuki]

We were at Kagura yesterday - quite a frustrating day. I hadn't bothered to check the lift situation when leaving Echigo Yuzawa Station. Result? Wasted time and money going by taxi to an empty car park at Tashiro Ropeway. Back to a busy Mitsumata, quickly up to the top of the gondola and what had been a calm and almost cloudless morning very rapidly became exactly what had been forecast - the clouds came in, the wind picked up to gale force, and it started snowing quite heavily.

As the Kagura gondola closed after lunch, I was reminded about the one big bottleneck on the mountain - the ludicrously slow 2-seater lift up to Mitsumata. It was the best part of half an hour to get onto that one, not helped by the number of empty seats allowed on the lift. Putting a high speed quad there would be an obvious major improvement.

Still - it could've been worse. Could've been going today...

[BillTheBinMan]

Good work! Heard a lot of this place, good to see it.

[best skier in hakuba]

 Quote:

the ludicrously slow 2-seater lift up to Mitsumata

Near the base of the gondola right? That lift can be a total nightmare. They really need to change that because on busy days you can be waiting a long time there. It's worth cutting short time at Kagura just to avoid the queues there on a busy day.

[BarbadosBob]

I have never been but it sounds like this is the most popular place in our area.

[brit-gob]

In terms of numbers, Naeba is the biggest. Have you been there yet Bob?