Minakami Houdaigi
Kawaba
GUNMA
Okutone Snow Park Tenjindaira Tanigawadake
Oze Iwakura
Norn Minakami Manza Onsen
W
Kusatsu Kokusai
hile neighboring Niigata gets most of the attention, Gunma quietly has some great snow resorts of its own. Located in northeast
Gunma near the border with Niigata, Minakami has 10 ski resorts and is just 90 minutes from Tokyo. Oze Katashina is another quality area that flies under the radar. Katashina Town lies in the shadows of mighty Mt. Hotaka and Mt. Shirane and features nearby resorts such the popular Oze Iwakura, Hotaka Bokujo, a boarder’s park, and Oguna Hotaka, a nice midsized resort. Manza, to the east of Katashina, the popular ski and onsen areas of Manza and Kusatsu Resort & Spa are great places to relax before or after a good day on the mountain.
MINAKAMI HOUDAIGI
Minakami, Gunma
(0278) 75-2557 www.hodaigi.jp Dec. 14 - Apr. 6 8:00 - 16:30 (17:00 - 21:00 Jan.only)
OKUTONE SNOW PARK (0278) 72-8101 www.okutone.jp Dec. 20 - Mar. 30 8:00 - 22:00 (17:00 - 22:00)
Minakami, Gunma (weekends & holidays 6:00 - 24:00)
1 DAY Adults ¥4,000 TICKET Kids ¥2,500
1 DAY Adults ¥4,000 TICKET Kids Free for children <12
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Minakami Houdaigi ski resort is the largest in the Minakami area. The resort, due to the higher elevation, also gets good quality snow. Although there are many beginner and intermediate runs, there are a few advanced courses as well, including a killer 40-degree slope and a 2,600-meter cruiser. Parents can let their kids have fun safely on tubes and airboards in the “Kids Land,” and older kids can enjoy the “Action Land” with tabletops, waves and banks. Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
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If rails, pipes and jumps are your thing, Beginner Intermediate Advanced Beginner Intermediate Advanced Okutone ski area is the place to go in courses courses Lifts Lifts Gondola Minakami. The park staff takes good care of guests who come to perfect their style at the 30% 30% resort’s park. The night sessions are popular, since they keep 40% 40% 30% 30% the lights on until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights 1 2 5 5 1 and before national holidays. The north-facing courses have nice snow quality, and you can enjoy some turns on the 3,000-meter long course. Okutone is just two hours from Longest Course: 2,600m Longest Course: 3,000m making it super convenient. They offer free tickets to 16 Top Elevation: 1,400m Tokyo, 10 Top Elevation: 1,083m Intermediate Advanced kids under 12 and free coffee if you Beginner come before 10 a.m. on courses Base Elevation: 830m courses Base Elevation: 550m weekdays.
ACCESS By Train and Bus: Shinkansen to Jomo Kogen (75 minutes) then bus to Houdaigi (70 minutes)
NORN MINAKAMI
Minakami, Gunma
(0278) 72-6688 www.norn.co.jp Mid Dec. - Mar. 30 8:00 - 16:30 (16:30 - 22:00 / 24:00)
ACCESS By Train and Bus: Shinkansen to Jomo Kogen (75 minutes) then bus to Okutone (40 minutes)
TENJINDAIRA TANIGAWADAKE
Minakami, Gunma
(0278) 72-3575 www.tanigawadake-rw.com End of Nov. - Late May 8:00 -16:30 1 DAY Adults ¥4,200 TICKET Kids ¥3,400
1 DAY Adults ¥3,500 TICKET Kids ¥2,000
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Although Tenjindaira is better known to Situated just three kilometers from the Beginner Intermediate Advanced most for trekking in summer, when the tram is Beginner Intermediate Advanced Minakami Interchange, Norn Minakami is the courses courses Lifts Gondola Lifts packed with hikers, the resort is a popular stop most convenient of the Minakami Resorts if on the backcountry trail. The resort itself is you are coming by car. The resort is great for 40% 30% 30% 30% relatively small, but lift lines are usually short and the snow 20% 50% families. They’ve created “family zones” where the average quality can be excellent if it’s not too windy up top. However, slope is just 13 degrees and a Day Care Center where parents 1 4 2 2 the secret to “Tenjin” is off the main trails. Those who like can drop off the little ones and enjoy some time on the their riding steep and deep head for the backcountry. This mountain themselves. Norn is open from 7 a.m. to midnight is “enter at your own risk” territory and not a place to go on weekends, so you can enjoy a long day on the slopes and, Longest Course: 4,000m Longest Course: 2,000m avalanche gear (and the knowledge how to use it). like all Minakami resorts, it is not far from some great hot 10 Top Elevation: 1,500m 5 Top Elevation: 1,220m without Beginner local Intermediate Beginner Intermediate Advanced Better yet, hire one of the knowledgeable guides andAdvanced courses springs. courses Base Elevation: 820m Base Elevation: 750m enjoy some "Japow!" ACCESS By Train: 150 minutes from Tokyo Station to Minakami Station, then free shuttle. By Car: 90 minutes from Tokyo (Nerima IC) via Kanetsu Expressway
ACCESS By Train and Bus: Shinkansen to Takasaki Station, then change to the Joetsu Line to Minakami Station, then 20 minutes by bus to Tenjindaira
For more Gunma information visit OJ Online (www.outdoorjapan.com) WINTER 2014
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