[Page 2] 10 to 13 Jan 2011 - Snow boarding in Shiga Kogen 志賀高原
10 Jan - Nagano to Shiga Kogen 志賀高原A local bus from the ryokan to JR Nagano Station. From Nagano Station, we took the Nagaden Bus Shiga Kogen Express bus 急行志贺高原线 (¥1600 per pax). In winter, the buses depart about once an hour from Platform 4 of the Nagano Station East Exit 長野駅東口. We managed to catch the 10:10am bus. Luggage was not a problem as the bus had a dedicated trunk for luggage and ski gears.
After an hour's ride on snowy roads winding up the mountains, we alighted at bus stop in Hasu-ike 蓮池.
Shiga Kogen, home to the 1998 Nagano winter Olympics.
Our hotel's location was fantastic, or would I say the bus stop is basically at the door step (1 minute walk)
志賀高原 ホテル白樺荘 SHIGA KOGEN HOTEL SHIRAKABASO
長野県下高井郡山ノ内町志賀高原蓮池（平穏7148番地)
〒381-0401
Phone Number :+81-269-34-3311
Arrived at 10 Jan 11:30am way before the check-in time of 1400hrs. Luckily the rooms (412,413) were available and they made special arrangements for us to check-in early. In the meantime, the hotel also help us with the snowboard gear rental and also help us make reservations for snowboarding lessons at 1400hrs the same afternoon.
A quick lunch of ramen and curry rice at the hotel cafe and off we go for our first snowboard ride !
The instructor was Ms Ritsuko from IPSS. I would say that she is very good ... being able to get us from zero snowboard expereince, assessing our master leg, drills and guided us down 3 different slopes in the maruike ski lift area ... all within 2 hours.
She has an average command of English but the drills and tips were really quite useful in getting us to stay on our feet after 2 hours.
The hotel had free wireless internet, so after dinner, we were able to search youtube for more snowboarding tips before we knockout from a day's workout.
Snowboarding got better today, was able to stay on the board with majority of the time.
Biggest challenge was getting of the Ski Lift gracefully ... or not falling face down at the ski lift and they had to stop the ski lift and drag you out of the way !
In the afternoon, we took parents to the highest view point in that area. Think that is the highest possible point for non-skiers.
Walking from our Hotel to the Hasuike Ropeway Station
From Hasuike Ropeway station to Hoppo Onsen ( 1600m )
The ropeway ends at Hoppo Onsen, its a 15 mins walk to the Higashidate-yama 東館山 Gondola station. The 2 stations do not have well connected walking paths. Basically it's walking on car roads and down a short section of a ski slope to reach the Gondola station.
Guess that is the only way to take in all the scenic views along the way :>
At the Higashidate-yama 東館山 Gondola Base Station ...
At the top of the Gondola line is the 東館山 Higashi-date-yama view point ... we had great luck with the weather providing superb visibility.
Arrgh ... got to climb back up the ski slope to get to the bus stop that is midway between the hoppo onsen and the gondola base station.
Hotpot seafood felt nice after a full day out in the cold. Grilled miso trout was also very fresh and full of flavour.
We hit the slopes as early as we could at about 0900hrs ... after the leg muscles gave up at about 1300hrs, had lunch at the maruike hotel restaurant near the ski lift.
Everyone had fun in the snow with the free sleds provided by our hotel ...
Equipment room in the Hotel
13 Jan - Goodbye Shiga Kogen ...
At the hotel, takkyubin our larger luggages to the tokyo hotel, proceeded to the bus terminal which was right behind the hotel to catch a bus to Shibu Onsen. ( ¥680 per pax)
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