Yokoteyama Skylift 3

That's the view from the Yokoteyama Skylift 3, about 9:30 in the morning, last Thursday.



















And finally, the top of Yokoteyama. This is the lift house. You can see the lifts entering on the right. Also, this is a 2.3005 m above sea level ramen ya (Japanese noodles restaurant). Perfect to warm up after skiing for a while. There's a balcony from where you can have a panoramic view. It's said that in most clear days you can even see Mt. Fuji.

Between the 2nd and the 3rd Yokoteyama Skylift

Mt. Kasadake , symbol of Shiga Kogen and Japanese Northern Alps in the background.

More about Yokoteyama

http://www.shigakogen.jp/yokoteyama/index.html

http://www.yokoteyama.com/index.html

http://www.shigakogen.gr.jp/english/snow/ski22.html

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=261

View from the top of Yokoteyama

That's the view from the top of Mt. Yokote (Yokoteyama).

Here you can have a Japanese meal as lamen, oden and udon, in the 2nd floor of the lift building, or you can enjoy fresh bread, coffee, hot chocolate or some hot Russian meal as Stroganoff at the highest bakery of Japan. This bakery is also an amazing place to spend the night and be able to watch the sunset and sunrise from the top of Yokoteyama, 2.300 m above sea level.

Thursday, 9:42 A. M.

Feb 5th, 2009.

Great chat in the morning

This Friday started with a light snow but the sun is shining from time to time too.

This morning I had the chance to talk with these nice guests.
She’s from Osaka and he’s Australian. They spent 5 days in Shiga Kogen and it was very interesting to talk to them.
Frank Hujber, has spent most of his 63 years-old chasing the snow season everywhere in the world. From Canada and US to many countries in Europe, he’s skiing everywhere and every time it is possible. Also, he worked as a ski instructor in Australia.
So, with this huge background, I had to ask him what is the best thing about Shiga Kogen, and he said here is the most beautiful place he had ever skiing in his life! In these 5 days, he and his Japanese friend skied through all Shiga Kogen. They completed the challenge card in 3 days and proudly exhibited they “Shiga Kogen ’08-’09 Challenge Master” pin. From all Shiga Kogen, he especially liked the view from the top of Yokoteyama, where they spent the last 2 days skiing.
Hujber skied in Shiga Kogen last year and enjoyed so much his stay that he wanted to come back here this year. Also, he told that he definitely will be back as soon as he can. Unfortunately, it was a short ride by bus to talk about his experiences in the snow field so, the last thing he want to say is remind us that life is to short so we all should enjoy it as best as we can, spending as much time as we can doing what we really love to do. He knows what he’s talking about!
It was really nice to meet them! And I hope to meet them again!

Asama, the volcano

Mt. Asama viewed from Yokoteyama, 2.305m above sea level.

Smoking peacefully.

What a gorgeous day!!!

Gorgeous weather today!

I spent all day taking pictures in Yokoteyama...

Really worth!

I will post more pictures during the week.
Mt. Yokote,

2.305m above sea level;

7 lifts;

7 courses;

Shiga Kogen, Joshinetsu National Park, Nagano, Japan.

Feb 5, 2009.

Mt. Kasadake

this morning. People use to come here to hiking in the summer...
You can enjoy all this nature walking 7 km trail in 4 hours.

Here is where Hiratoko Onsen and Horatu Onsen starts. And you can see Mt. Kasadake in the background

Summer Campsite

Hiratoko this morning...

Another lovely place...

and a campsite in the summer...

this morning...

Kidoike this morning...

beautiful day in Shiga Kogen today!
This is a beautiful place to spend the Summer too...

You can hire a boat and fish here...

and people said it's beautiful here in Autumm too... full of yellow trees...

I wish I could spend a hole year here!!!

Cloudy Tuesday

Yesterday was cloudy all day...

but we received the visit of this beautiful dog...

He loves to eat snow :)

Nanakamado

Yesterday afternoon.

Yokoteyama lift and Maeyama in the background

Yokoteyama ready to the next day.

Mt. Kasadake viewed from Yokoteyama ski field.

Monday, 5:00 P. M.

Feb 2, 2009.

A frozen pond

Hasuike (Hasui Pond) frozen in the winter.

Giant ski field and Shigayama in the background, sunset.

Monday, 4:20 P. M.

Feb 2, 2009.

Shiga Kogen after a snowy weekend

Kidoike this morning....

Higashitateyama is white again... Sunny all day today!

Yakebitaiyama summit on Sunday

Yakebitai on a beautiful Sunday

Happy people on a Snowy Sunday at Yakebitaiyama yesterday.

New powder snow + some friends + new places to discover = lots of fun!!!

Ready to go!

About 20 cm of snow fall registered this weekend!!!

Everybody happy and ready to have fun!

Sunday, 10:00 A. M.

Hotaru Onsen, Shiga Kogen, Nagano, Japan.

Indoor: increase the temperature!

Everybody happy to know outside it was snowing... and Sunday morning will be perfect to snowboard and ski.

So, nothing better than have fun and know people from everywhere...

Kind of a International Party in Shiga Kogen...

Guests from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan and New Zealand on a hotel pub last Saturday, in Shiga Kogen.

Outdoor: Snow and cold

Dip in temperature, 10 cm snow fall registered during the night...

Shiga Kogen looks like Shiga Kogen in the winter again!

Outdoor, temperatures dip during the day, which is very good news for all ski and snowboard lovers!

Hotaru Onsen Area, Saturday,

7:00 A. M.

Jan 31, 2009.

melting Friday

Just a few snow could be seen here on Friday... The day started with some light rain, but a nice snow fall was expected during the weekend.



Yakebitaiyama, Jan 30, 2009.
Friday, 8:20 A. M.

Sculptured by Nature

This beautiful natural sculpture was found in front of Biwaike Hotel, in Sunvalley Area.

Some people saw a Chinese Dragon between these icy formation.