The Skiers & Snowboarders Thread

[Stealthflyer]

Have nothing booked yet so we will have to be flexible! Most accom in Nozawa looks to be gone already. I think we'll do a few days in Madarao then go somewhere a little more authentic / less western.

We booked our accommodation in Nozawa back in May

 

[k_sheep]

Managed to get 4 nights at Nozawa Happy with that.

 

[Seat0B]

Managed to get 4 nights at Nozawa Happy with that.

Have you been there before? It’s a great little town and I have some suggestions of places to eat, things to do etc if you’d like them.

 

[k_sheep]

Nope first time! We've been the typical Niseko bogans previously. Gratefully accept any advice.

 

[elogic]

Have you been there before? It’s a great little town and I have some suggestions of places to eat, things to do etc if you’d like them.

For food , try Genki burger if you are after a burger , Cant beat The Coner Steakhouse for a wagyu steak or Winterland Taproom & Gyoza bar

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[Seat0B]

You can get a combined lift and lunch ticket for a discount using this link

Special & Discount Tickets | Lift ticket | NOZAWAONSEN PORTAL

Special & Discount Tickets | Lift ticket | NOZAWAONSEN PORTAL

en.nozawaski.com

Scroll down until you find lift + ¥1000 lunch ticket. It’s an immediate saving of ¥500 on the combination. You do need to hand over a printed voucher for each day, so I suggest printing a bunch and taking them with you. You can use the lunch ticket at any of the on-mountain restaurants. If your chosen meal is more than ¥1000, you just pay the difference in cash.

We particularly like Hakugin restaurant up on the flat area just on the right below the exit from main gondola (about a 2-3 min ski) for typically Japanese menu, nice view and family owned and operated. There is also a decent cafeteria in the top of the gondola building and a fast food (eg pizza etc) in the entry/exit area of the top station of main gondola (Nagasaka Gondola).
There are also other good choices scattered on the mountain and at the base area of the Nagasaka gondola. Basically, the combined ticket covers all the key restaurants on the mountain so it’s a pretty good deal.

At the base of this Gondola, you can get a good cheap hot wax at Ski Thanks for about ¥1000 (a real rarity in Japan). Also they have rental boots and skis suited to Western sizes.
I’ll look for some photos and post soon.

 

[Seat0B]

Here is me outside Hakugin Nozawa on a snowy day.



And the view looking out from Hakugin on a sunny day... You can sit by the window and eat your lovely Japanese lunch and look at the amazing view while you do it. From memory, my tonkatsu bowl was 1300 yen (in January 2024). Also, very clean toilets. We used the lift +lunch ticket every day. There is a curry house next door to Hakugin, called Panorama House Buna that was also very popular with my family. It also has a spectacular view.



And the snow trees at the top of Yamabiko are just beautiful.

 

[Quickstatus]

It also has a spectacular view.

It's not fair

 

[Seat0B]

For off mountain food, I agree with @elogic about Genki burger. The burgers are delicious, generous and well priced. It was started by a couple of Aussie lads a number of years back, and is a firm favourite with both Aussie visitors and Japanese visitors too.



In the township itself, also try the Oyaki (a regional specialty). It's a soft steamed bun, filled with delicious sweet flavours (think red bean paste, sweetened spiced pumpkin, apple and cinnamon) or savoury flavours (pork, nozawana - a local green vegetable, I think it may be burdock, and other vegetable choices). The traditional place to buy these is on the main street corner outside Haus St Anton, where they sell thousands of these every day from a traditional steaming cart. Cost is 250-350 yen per bun. Don't worry if there is a long line, they serve fast, so be sure you know what you want before you get in line. In the past few years, a few alternative places selling oyaki have opened up along the main street, a bit cheaper and just as tasty, so have a good look around and give them a go - you won't be disappointed.

You can also get nice Aussie style coffee at Haus St Anton and now also several other places are also selling to the increasingly large number of Aussie guests. Spoiled for choice! Have a good look at bakery items too, as these are delicious! Haus St Anton, Akari Swiss Bakery and lots of others to choose from in the main street and little side streets just off it.

A short walk out of town, one of our favourite restaurants is the local izakaya Tonkitchi. It specialises in amazing okonomiyaki. You will need to make a reservatiotion to eat here. Your hotel can help.