Christmas at GALA

Blue skies for Christmas Day at GALA this morning. Stunning views of the valley and the surrounding mountains. The clouds are gathering in the distance so there is still the chance of a White Christmas. It snowed all yesterday so great conditions out on the hill.

Some festive folk hitting the slopes today.

GALA Yuzawa preparations

GALA Yuzawa are put the finishing touches on the resort and getting ready to open their doors on Saturday 22nd December for another long season that should see them open until Golden Week - weather permitting.

We'll be there this year offering group and private lessons in English.

The desk is just opposite the main ticket counters so should be pretty easy to find. (It's also opposite the crepe shop which could turn into an expensive addiction!) Swing on by and say hi if you're there. I'll be the one with chocolate sauce and cream round my mouth.

White stuff falling from the sky...

November 19th

Wet, cold weekend but that means snow up high....

White appearing on the mountains around the lodge and things looking good up at Tenjin.

Hopefully can ride Kagura from Friday...

Pre-season ski training

The snow is falling and we're getting excited. Bit early to be dusting off the gear yet but we are getting some dry land practice in. We're currently playing around with the Sweetspot Ski Trainer. It is a balance trainer that slips on over your ski boots and promises to help you find that elusive centered balance that is so important on skis.

It's challenging though really good fun, and we can definitely see that mastering this would pay dividends when we are out on the slopes. Wearing ski boots in the office is a bit weird though.

Can't help but think that geta, the Japanese traditional footwear, were just waiting for the invention of skiing...

If you want to get a head start on your form this season we'd definitely recommend jumping on a pair of these. Head on over to the Sweetspot Ski Trainer site for more info (and there is also an awesome free ebook on ski technique if you are look for some pre-snow reading.

+ Ariticle in the UK Telegraph

Snow down low

We've had a few dustings up high recently and last night we even had a bit of snow outside the lodge. A good few centimetres up at Tenjin and Houdaigi too.

Houdaigi is still aiming for a December 15th start to the season and Tenjin are saying mid December as well.

The Alpine Lodge opens on Friday 14th December this winter and we'll be ready to get those turns in early - care to join us?

JR Kanto Area Pass

Most people know about the great value of a JR East Pass which lets you travel on the trains and bullet trains around eastern Japan as much as you like for your chosen period. There is a lesser known sibling to this pass that lets you get up to this area as well as several other great tourist destinations - the JR Kanto Area Pass

The adult ticket is 8,000 yen for three days unlimited travel within the area. You can also pay a supplement if you plan to head further afield (e.g. up to Yuzawa costs an extra 1,000 yen). Usually the trip for the airport to Jomo-kogen one way costs more than this ticket, so it is great value, especially if you are trying to take see a lot in a short time.

If you are planning to come up here for a showshoe tour or a quick winter break, this might just be a good option.

Nozawa Onsen planning to open Dec 1st

It is all eyes to the skies at the moment as everyone waits for the snow. Nozawa Onsen are planning to open their slopes for the season on the first of December.

Our instructors will be available for ski lessons and snowboard lessons from day one, so drop us a line and get your booking in.

It is an awesome resort with some great slopes for beginners and plenty of terrain to challenge other levels, a good park and a half pipe. The town itself is really unique with lots of narrow, winding streets, some super-hot, free onsen and a very cool feel to it. We can put you in touch with some great accommodation options over there if you are interested.

Autumn Colors

As we get deeper into autumn the temperatures are getting cooler and the snow keeps dusting the local peaks. The autumn colors are getting really spectacular.

There are gangs of hikers roaming the trails and a steady stream of buses heading up to Tanigawadake Ropeway. Stunning time to be up in the mountains (though if you are agoraphobic caving might be more your thing.)

Snow up high

We woke this morning to a dusting of snow up on the local peaks again. Cold temperatures this week, especially over night and the snow is coming down to about 1000 meters. Far to early to get excited yet but even a little dusting of snow is good news.

We're still waiting for Tenjin to announce their opening date so at the moment Kagura is looking like the best bet for some early season turns when it opens on Friday 23rd November (which just happens to be the start of a 3 day weekend.)

Winter 2012/13

Summer Season over and winter just around the corner. Pretty cold over here right now so fingers crossed for some early snow.

Alpine Lodge will be open from Friday December 14th. It is starting to get busy for Christmas and New Year so get your bookings in soon to avoid disappointment.

The resorts are starting to put their projected opening dates up...

Houdaigi - December 15th
Norn - December 20th
Minakami Kogen - December 22nd

Still no word from Okutone or Tenjin.

Sure to be some good early season deals on for the first turns of the season. Ski & Snowboard Lessons will be good to go as soon as the snow is on the ground.

Goodbye Green Season

Summer season 2012 comes to a close - the end of 6 months of fun on the river. Thanks to everyone who made it up to Minakami this summer and we hope to see you all again this winter or next year for plenty more fun. It'll probably look much like this year with the river adventures kicking off late April and running through until the end of October.

In the meantime if you are looking to get out and about, the autumn colors in Minakami are nearing their best and we are running caving tours until the snow comes. If you enjoyed the rope work in the canyon then caving offers plenty more challenges.

Winter is just around the corner. The Alpine Lodge will be open from mid-December for the whole winter. The first backcountry dates have been announced - the basic tour takes you to some great terrain and will teach you how to safely make your way out into the backcountry. Snowshoe tours will operate on the weekends (and at other times too if you have a group) and with courses in Minakami and Yuzawa there is plenty of exploring to do.

The instructors are good to go for ski and snowboard lessons. As soon as the snow falls and the resorts open we'll be out there. We regularly go to all resorts in Minakami and all resorts in Yuzawa, as well as Nozawa Onsen. We'll also head further afield if you need an English speaking instructor - we've worked with clients in Shiga Kogen, Kijimadaira and even up in Niseko. Just drop us a line to let us know how we can help.

Backcountry Tours 2012/13

With the first snows of the season dusting the tops of the local peaks this week, our thoughts are turning to winter.

The backcountry guides have put their heads together and come up with the initial schedule for the 2012/13 season. If snow and weather conditions allow the main trips are set for

January 13th - Kagura
February 2nd - Hotaka
February 23rd - Hotaka
March 16th - Kagura

The guides are available for group bookings or for private guiding too, so if those dates don't work, drop us a line and we can see what we can work out. As always there is lots of interest from advanced riders and pro-teams in the steeps at Tenjindaira which is always high up on many hit lists.

Fired up for the Hangi

After tour today we're having a big end-of-season hangi. The stones are heating up in the fire, the pit has been dug and there are baskets of meat and vegetables ready to cook. It's going to be a real feast and there are plenty of folk here hanging out for a good feed... Swing by if you are in the area.

There's some local Minakami boar under all those vegetables

Thank you KGV!

Last week we packed KGV International School from Hong Kong back to the airport after an action-packed, fun-filled week of adventure. It was great to have the students back in Japan and we look forward to seeing them again next year for another autumn school trip in Minakami.

The schedule was packed with hiking, rafting, canyoning, canoeing, a trip to the artisan craft village and plenty of other activities besides.

Great memories, great experiences and the chance to make new friends from all over the world. For a multi-activity, residential school trip Minakami is a fantastic destination.

Winter 2012/13 Openings - GALA Yuzawa

Gala have just finished their Summer Season and right on time have put up their new 2012/13 winter website.

They kick off their winter on Saturday December 22nd

GALA is the easiest place to go for a day on the snow with a bullet train link straight from Tokyo or Ueno into the base building. You can rock up in the clothes you are standing in and rent everything you need for a day in the mountains, enjoy the snow, have an onsen and then hop back on the train home.

It is also a long season with the resort due to be open until Golden Week.

For the Freestylers there is a great terrain park there and on weekends and national holidays from early April they roll out the air bag at the base of a big kicker so you can really fine tune those moves or try that big, new trick you've been thinking over all season.

We'll be running lessons there all season from first lift to last lift. Don't forget the awesome deals that you can get from the View Plaza Travel Agent in the main stations - great packages on bullet train tickets, lift tickets and rentals for a fraction of the normal cost.

Canyoning in Nara - Oct 6, 7 & 8

It's moving into autumn which is when we get to head out to some special locations for some truly amazing canyoning experiences. Places we can't go to all the time but are high on our list of high thrills Japanese adventures.

For the long weekend in October we are heading to Nara to hit up a very special course.

It is a one day tour on any of the days of the long weekend in October (6-8). 25,000JPY per person with lunch and a recovery onsen included. Spaces are limited so get your names in early.

Canyoning Work Experience Weekend

Ever thought you might fancy a career in outdoor adventures? Our Canyoning Guide Work Experience Weekend is a great way to find out.

It's a 2 days course that will give you a great overview of the role, and if you like it, the next step would be our training course in April 2013. It's a fun weekend and its free, and who knows, it could be the start of your new life?

Full details.

Long Weekend In Yamanashi?

It's a long weekend this weekend and we have spaces on the special Yamanashi Tour. What better way to fully enjoy your time off?

Big thrills and loads of waterfalls...

It's one of the very best courses we run and gets nothing but rave reviews.

Pies!

An order of pies arrived the other day and you would have thought it was Christmas from the smiling faces.

Loads of different flavors but the favorites turned out to be the butter chicken and the steak and cheese varieties. With some self-proclaimed pie experts on staff it was always going to be a tough test. But these pies are the real deal and a true taste of home.

If you are missing your pie fix then get your order in.

Sunday Roast

Miss a good roast on a Sunday? Then our "Beat the Traffic" campaign could be right up your street.

Head out on the 1430 Rafting tour on a Sunday (either as a half day tour or as part of a combo) and you get a roast dinner thrown in for good measure. After an awesome feed, set out for home after the worst of the weekend traffic has already passed. The perfect end to the perfect day (and no dirty dishes!)

Grab the offer on our Facebook page

If you are in the area there are normally a few extra dinners available....

Minakami Adventure Fest 2012 - 29/30 Sept

Minakami Adventure Fest is coming up at the end of September and would you believe it is the 10th anniversary?

It's an awesome weekend - a chance to try loads of activities at a bargain price, top brand outdoor wear at huge discounts and lots of tasty food.

If you are looking for more of a challenge there is a trail run, a raft race and an adventure race.

It's one of the best weekends of the year up here so head up and enjoy the fun - Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September 2012.

New Onsen Partner

The perfect way to relax after a day of adventure, no matter what the season, is a soak in a natural hot spring bath. We have discount tickets to some of the best onsen in the area and we have just added another one to our onsen partners.

Shimeikan (紫明館）has an awesome onsen - both inside and out, and we now have special 500 yen entry tickets available at Canyons. Another great reason to relax in their baths is that it is a five minute walk from our base, so perfect for those of you who come by train.

Refresh and relax....

Winter Ski Internship

30 degrees today so thinking ahead to the deep, cold, winter snow is quite welcome. And it is never too early to get excited about winter.

Just a quick heads up to let you know we'll be working with Educating Adventures for their Winter Ski Instructor Internship.

They offer an awesome program that really stands out from other instructor training courses. You get full training on all aspects of instructor life and then, when you pass your qualification exam, there is a job waiting for you. For those looking to get into the industry it is an amazing first step leading to an internationally recognized instructor qualification and valuable hours of on-snow teaching experience.

Get in touch with EA for all the details.

Cooling off...

31 degrees in Minakami today. 18 degrees in the water.

I know where I'd rather be.

Finding out the new purchasing manager might be colorblind

Rasta Party - July 21st

The series of Saturday night events in the Alpine Cafe continues tonight with the DJ Jam - 7 DJs battling it out into the early hours.

Next week (Saturday July 21st) is another of the popular theme nights with Rasta Night. Come in fancy dress and get a free drink. The highlight of the night is going to be the live music with an 8 piece dub band (3000 Worlds) coming up from Tokyo and a couple of great DJs keeping things moving.

See you there.

JR Gunma Campaign

From now until the end of September JR are running a poster campaign pushing Gunma as a travel destination. Expect to see posters for the prefecture popping up in stations near you focusing on cuisine, history, onsen, culture and ADVENTURE. Of course the natural choice for summer adventure had to be.....

Look familiar? You can see the original here.

Even JR wants you to come canyoning this summer.

New Activity for Minakami

Minakami has you pretty well covered for all your adventure needs  - rafting, canyoning, bungy jumping, mountain biking, canoeing and paragliding - several weekends of fun in amongst all of those.

This summer there is another activity to add to the portfolio - lake sailing.

Aqua Ventures are running lake sailing trips at the foot of Naramata Dam. Even if you have no previous experience it is very easy to pick up, as the craft have been selected for their ease of use. Up to two people per boat and help is at hand in the shape of a motorized dinghy if you need it.

Stunning scenery all around and a great introduction to sailing if you haven't tried before. If the wind is blowing you can really pick up some speed in these things, and if not a relaxing clip around the lake is a great way to spend some time off.

Beer For Books Event - July 7-8

Here's a win/win opportunity - drink beer and raise money for childhood literacy. What's not to like?

Beer for Books are having an event at Canyons on July 7th/8th. For every beer you put away, money is donated to this great cause. There's a bus trip coming up from Tokyo courtesy of the Nippon Adventurers Club, there's a BBQ by the river, live music and optional rafting/canyoning trips.

We're hoping for loads of support for this Beer for Books event and personally I'm looking to donate the best part of a library on my own!

Maple Course Check

Twin Pack tours kick off next week - two half day tours in one day with lunch back at the base. The guides have been out and about checking that all the courses are in good shape for a busy summer of canyoning. Maple was next on the list - remote, lush and lots of sliders.

It was cool and refreshing up there on a warm summer's day so the guides made sure to check every possible sliding position. Another tough day at work....

Yoga at Canyons

The guides keep pretty fit but the first of the summer yoga workshops had most of them sweating and groaning.

This is a regular workshop so if you fancy a stretch and a great workout July 9th is the date you need to pencil into your diary.

Beach Party was a winner...

Great night had by all. Thanks to all those who came, especially those who came in their beach wear.

This weekend it is Minakami Extreme with a local band rocking out in the bar. Expect lots of thirsty rafting teams slaking their thirst after a competitive day on the river.

Poison Canyon Course Check

No rest for the wicked. After a busy weekend of trips the guides had to head out and check out Poison Canyon in Kusatsu which is just about to open up for the season.

 It's a unique course with hot spring water coming out of the rocks at different parts of the course - one of only two courses in the world that has hot spring water running through it (though we are hard at work looking for other ones.)

Poison is good to go for the 2012 canyoning season and a great day out if you are looking for a challenging, unusual canyon.