Hakuba
I came to Hakuba again.
It was raining in the city of Nagano,
but as soon as I passed through the tunnel,
I was met with driving snow.
This photo was taken from the window of my hotel in Hakuba.
Happo-One Ski Resort.
This is the Sakka slope. This is the boarding area for the Kita-One Quad Lift. Almost everyone here is a foreigner, and almost everyone is wearing a helmet. In the distance, you can see the Olympic Course (Tatekko), the expert-level Omusubi, and at the far end, the Usagidaira Terrace. Despite the heavy snow forecast, there are patches of clear sky?such is mountain weather.
The 19th was super powder.
A cold wave was expected, and it seems to have snowed overnight.
In the morning, on the Skyline course?
Fresh snow, deep powder!
Floating, floating?gliding as if on clouds.
Screaming and cheering, everyone was overjoyed!
Happo-One Ski Resort.
Finally, 650 cm!
The Grat Course at the top has too much snow, and snow removal can't keep up. It has been closed for a long time.
Ski Friends
We are friends from the Happo-One Ski Resort season ticket lounge. Although the lounge is gone, we all still love skiing.
We want to keep skiing and stay healthy forever.
Kinasano-Yu
Okususobana Onsen, located along National Route 406, which connects Hakuba and Nagano. You travel on an old, winding, narrow road to get there. It’s a truly remote, publicly managed hot spring hotel deep in the mountains. A new, spacious, and beautiful inn. The dinner is delicious, and the rice is exceptional.
They serve Nagano-grown Koshihikari rice, said to be enhanced by the region’s pure water. Mineral water even flows straight from the tap.
Hakuba 47 Ski Resort.
On the middle day of the three-day weekend, the crowds were incredible. We almost became parking refugees.
Happo-One and Iwatake were full, and the roads were congested.
In the end, we skied at Hakuba 47 Ski Resort.
At the base, Asahi Dry Zero was being distributed for free.
Don Quijote in Nagano.
Tonight, I'm staying at Sotetsu Fresa Inn in front of Nagano Station. There was a Don Quijote store downstairs.
On a recent TV show, Satapula Ranking, Don Quijote’s spicy cod roe rice ball ranked 5th.
Surprisingly, it was half-price!
It was delicious.
The buried Grat Lift.
I went to see the snow conditions at the top of Happo-One Ski Resort for myself.
Since it’s a clear day today, my curiosity got the better of me.
It’s incredible. Even more incredible is that there are people climbing up just to ski there. ( ̄∇ ̄;) Hahaha.
"Ohyokkuri" is a hot pot dish that was traditionally enjoyed around the irori (hearth) in the Happo area.
Today was the last day of its limited-time sale at the shop on the first floor of Sun Terrace Panorama, so I had it.
It was full of ingredients and absolutely delicious.
Eri-chan, thank you for the wonderful meal!
Happo-One Ski Resort.
During the holidays, it’s a hellish congestion as Japanese people flock in.
After the holidays, it turns into a paradise where Australians enjoy themselves.
Wendy's.
Finally, a Wendy's has opened in Nagano.
I heard there was a long line today.
With Burger King opening in January, we now have everything.
But having to wait in line to buy one is...
2月27日:ガスト:
期間限定のメニューです。
3品選択出来てスープ・ドリンク付きで990円。
Gusto
This is a limited-time menu.
You can choose three items, and it comes with soup and a drink for 990 yen.
Weekend in Nagano.
For the past three days, I stayed at Hotel Mercure near Nagano IC.
Hotels in Hakuba are crowded and expensive.
In Nagano City, you can find all kinds of food.
Peking duck and Taiwanese fried chicken are both affordable and delicious.
Second Half of the Season
March has begun.
Since it's raining in Hakuba today, I'm spending time in the city of Nagano.
Taking a break from skiing for the first time in a while.
At Sports Depot, the final sale on ski and snowboard gear is underway.
Breakfast.
At Hotel Mercure Matsushiro, the breakfast buffet offers a variety of options.
You can make your own pho.
First, warm up the noodles and add chicken soup.
There are many toppings to choose from, so you can add whatever you like.
I top mine with green onions and plenty of cilantro.
It's light, refined, and very delicious.
Tax Return.
A little extra spending money came in.
Or rather, it’s just my own money coming back to me.
Oh well, that’s fine. I can still have fun in Hakuba for a while!
The Grat Course at Happo-One Ski Resort has opened.
The Grat Quad Lift, which had been buried under heavy snow for a long time, has finally been cleared.
The lift is located lower than the slopes, meaning the snow accumulation on the slopes is incredibly deep.
Hakuba 47 Ski Resort.
On weekends, finding parking can be a challenge.
But Hakuba 47 has a huge parking lot, which is great.
Today, everything is frozen solid.
It’s a monochrome world.
"47" stands for "4 Seasons, 7 Days,"
meaning you can enjoy it all year round.
Togakushi Ski Resort.
I was invited by a fellow long-term visitor to participate in the Togakushi Ski Resort Senior Club's ski competition.
It was nostalgic to see Togakushi Ski Resort and Mount Togakushi again.
Everyone was able to receive a prize.
I’m looking forward to enjoying this Togakushi soba and coffee.
A long-awaited clear sky.
The Northern Alps and the Togakushi mountain range, which I skied on yesterday, showed their best appearance.
This is why I can never give up skiing.
The pasta is delicious.
This refers to pasta from family restaurants and convenience stores.
Both types of pasta use fresh pasta.
They have a chewy texture and taste great.
They have truly become delicious.
Today's weather is sunny, but there are strong winds at the top of the ski resort.
Due to the suspension of the upper lift, I came down early.
At the base, on the Sakka slope, a small stream is flowing.
Soon, it will be impossible to cross here.
Spring is here.
Lunchbox.
Last year, a regular rice bento cost 298 yen.
This year, it's 398 yen.
But this udon with toppings is still 298 yen.
I actually bought it thinking it was the same as last year, only to find udon underneath the toppings.
This udon was delicious.
Good choice, good choice.
Usagidaira's mogul slope.
The famous moguls of Usagidaira have deepened in the spring snow.
But it feels absolutely amazing.
The best part is that there are few people around.
Ski Heil, Happo-One!
Weekday Lunch at Gusto
Even with rising prices, Gusto's lunch is holding strong.
The rice is delicious too.
All this for just a little over 600 yen, tax included.
Oh, and seniors get a 5% discount!
Big Boy in Nagano
As usual, I spent the weekend in Nagano.
This time, I stayed at JAL CITY.
At Big Boy, you get a 15% discount during your birthday month.
I visited for the first time in years.
The soup, curry, salad, and dessert have all become more delicious.
Rice is all-you-can-eat. ( ̄∇ ̄;) Haha.
Milk Bread.
This is Nagano's specialty, milk bread.
It has apparently been sold throughout various parts of Nagano Prefecture for quite some time.
It seems it's not an imitation of Maritozzo.
I felt it would be better with a bit more of the Obuse milk flavor.
Hakuba has returned to winter.
It's a snowstorm.
A considerable amount of fresh snow has accumulated.
The snow is a bit wet, and visibility is poor.
The slopes are dangerous.
I'm heading down the mountain.
Convenience Store Lunch
My favorite Lawson products.
I can get them for free because I have lots of points.
I play a lot and enjoy different meals every day.
I want to enjoy the moment. I'm happy.
Amazing Snow Quality.
This is the Skyline Ridge Course.
Since it’s an ungroomed slope, it offers a natural terrain.
The heavy fresh snow makes for quite a challenging ride.
Yesterday, poor visibility made it very dangerous.
Today, the weather is perfect, and I’m feeling great?I somehow managed to make it down.
The only skier who came from behind was a friend from the lounge.
Lunch at Gusto.
The extremely tough snow conditions wore me out.
Skyline Ridge, Usagidaira moguls, and the Olympic Tatekko course?
I challenged all ungroomed runs.
Now, taking it easy and relaxing at Gusto.
Soba Comparison.
My stay in Hakuba has come to an end.
There is still plenty of snow, but due to various reasons, I have returned home.
The soba in the photo was brought back to enjoy at home.
The taste of soba can really vary.
Since I used to make soba myself, I am quite particular about it.