Canyons Japan

Tenjin Opens Tomorrow

2011-12-08T17:42:00.000-08:00

The winter is finally about to get underway in Minakami as of Saturday December 10th when Tenjin will open.

We've been watching the mountains gradually turn white over the recent weeks with great anticipation. There have been a couple of warmer spells which have pushed the opening date back a bit but as of tomorrow it is all back on again.

There's a base of 35cm up there at the moment and it is snowing right now so there may be some good lines to be had first thing tomorrow. It probably won't be the whole resort open tomorrow but will be as much as they can. The lift ticket will only be 2,500 yen too so get your gear ready and we will see you up there.

Early Season Skiing with JR Ski

2011-11-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

With some early season snow falling on the peaks recently our thoughts are turning to winter. The start of the season is a while off yet but plenty of time to plan and get excited.

JR have released their winter ski packages brochure which is an awesome resource if you are looking for a great value getaway in the snow.

The have some amazingly priced day return trips that include your bullet train tickets from Tokyo and back as well as the lift ticket (and often rental as well.)

There are also deals with train, lift tickets and accommodation if you fancy a longer break. There are offers for GALA Yuzawa, Kandatsu, Naeba, Maiko, Yuzawa Park, Joetsu Kokusai, Iwappara and Nakazato all of which are ideal for the family ski vacation.

We offer lessons in all the above resorts (as well as resorts in Minakami and Nozawa Onsen) so have you covered for quality English language ski and snowboard instruction.

We're playing the waiting game now to see when the snow arrives but it is a great idea to get that first lesson in early in the season to set you up for a long winter of enjoyment on the snow.

Nozawa Onsen Ski Lessons & Snowboard Lessons

2011-09-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite places to go and rip on a day off has always been Nozawa Onsen, just over the border in Nagano. It is an awesome little town with small, winding lanes, loads of amazing onsen tucked away and the ski resort itself has lots of great terrain.

Friends are always asking us if we are available to teach over there and happily, now the answer is yes. Starting December 2011 we will be offering our English language ski and snowboard instruction in Nozawa Onsen. If you haven't been yet it is well worth checking out and the Fire Festival in January is a must-see - truly one of the most bizarre little festivals you will ever set eyes on.

If you need more information or some pointers on great places to stay, drop us a line on the usual email.

Minakami Adventure Festival - October 1-2

2011-09-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

Not long to go until the Minakami Adventure Festival which was a stunning success last year, and looks like it will be even better this year. The basic idea is to showcase all the great stuff in Minakami. Tours are half price so there is no excuse not to have a crack at that activity you have been eyeing up for a while.

The Festival takes over the whole of Yubiso Park and this becomes the hot location in the town for the weekend. Loads going on with fun and games for kids and adults alike - bungy running, buggies, mountain bike trials, candle making workshops, hula & hip hop dancing among other attractions.

The other big draw to the weekend is the adventure race which this year is aimed at first timers. You don't need any equipment, just a team of 3 and a sense of adventure. The race itself will be fun 5 or so hours of multi-activities including rafting, swimming, canyoning, rappelling, and orienteering. Adventure racing is a great way to spend a day and you won't even notice the time pass.

There is live music during the day, and into the night. And for any of you keeping a close eye on the rugby, the games will be playing on the big screen at Canyons.

Pro Wrestling in Minakami

2011-08-13T23:55:00.000-07:00

This may look like our current crew photo but it is actually the promo poster for the upcoming Japan Pro Wrestling Event in Minakami.

Saturday 8th October is the date. We'll be there cheering for the half naked, oily one.

Upcoming Lodge Events: Yukata, Taiko & Skate Jam

2011-08-04T18:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and with many people on holidays it is getting busy. There are a few events coming up at the bar that you should know about if you are heading this way.

Saturday August 13th is Yukata and Taiko night. Get togged up in your summer Yukata and join in with the Taiko workshop as some local masters take you through the basics of this fun, traditional skill

Saturday August 20th is the Summer Skate Jam. The ramp is set up outside and everyone is welcome to strut their stuff.

Cheap bus to Minakami

2011-07-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

We've long lamented the lack of a cheap bus option to bring adventurers to Minakami but it seems as if a company have just stepped up to the plate.

Harvest Tours' new Onsen Liner service stops in Minakami on the way up to Yuzawa & Muikamachi.

Departures are from Shinjuku Station, Tokyo Station and Saitama Shintoshin Station. Prices start from 1900JPY per person one way on weekdays and 24ooJPY for peak times (Saturdays from Tokyo or Sunday and holidays from Minakami) and is running until the end of August. Bargain.

Special Tour Schedule 2011

2011-07-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have had an eye-opening experience on one of our canyoning tours it is time to step up and try one of the Special Tours.

Yamanashi Canyon is our big waterfall canyon - big drops with no ropework.

August 11 & 21, September 18 & 23

Crystal Canyon over in Niigata is for those who love the jumps.

September 3 & 4, September 25

Poison Canyon is one of the few warm water canyons in the world

September 24

Maple Canyon is better known as a half day tour but adding an extra section makes it an even more thrilling proposition.

September 10

Okutama Mononoke Canyon offers a bit of everything for the keen canyoneer.

August 2, 27 & 29

Buy Local.

2011-07-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Out of season perhaps, but a solid message from the boys and girls at BURTON.

We have cider! [And NZ cider at that.]

2011-07-14T00:35:00.000-07:00

All our Christmases have come at once. After years of demanding refreshing cider for our after tour tipple, someone has finally taken note. And we are spoilt for choice. We have bottled cider, draft cider and boysenberry cider courtesy of Nelson's Old Mout.

Good times are sure to follow. (Donations of cider gratefully received:)

New Look Website

2011-07-01T19:27:00.002-07:00

After much work behind the scenes by the tech folk, the new website is out on display, and looking pretty good we think.

We would like as many people to see it as possible and a bit of feedback from you would be nice as well. So, we have a bit of an offer going on. Post some news about our new website on some form of social media site and we will give you 500 yen next time you come up. Easy money, no? Let us know where you've posted, when you're coming and what you think on this form.

Remember Your Member's Card

2011-06-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Your wallet is probably stuffed with cards, but it is worth digging your Canyons card out from the back of the sock draw if you are heading up here. Each stamp you get has some nice swag attached to it.

Your first tour got you your first stamp and after that:

2nd - 500 yen cashback on a weekend or 1,000 yen on a weekday

3rd - Canyons T-shirt

4th - 500 yen cashback on a weekend or 1,000 yen on a weekday

5th - Coupon for 50% off a half day tour

6th - 500 yen cashback on a weekend or 1,000 yen on a weekday

7th - 500 yen cashback on a weekend or 1,000 yen on a weekday

8th - Coupon for free half day tour

The unpredictable weather at this time of year can cause havoc with your plans but canyoning and rafting only get better. If the weekend weather looks dodgy, head up here and pray for rain.

June Half Day Rafting Weekday Campaign

2011-06-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

Here's something worth shouting about...

For the rest of June on weekdays our half day rafting tour is just 5,000JPY per person. The water levels are still good and it is a great opportunity to enjoy the last few weeks of high water season before the full day canyoning tours kick off.

Fuji Rock '11

2011-05-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

Beautifully warm weather up here at the moment which has us eagerly anticipating summer and all the fun it entails. Just had a quick look at the Fuji Rock line-up for this year and there are some stand-out acts to check out. If you're heading up this way and want to get in the mood, or heading home and looking to wash off the grime of a 3 day festival, there is no better way than jumping in the river. (That's the voice of experience talking.)

We'll see you there.

Still Skiing

2011-05-03T01:08:00.000-07:00

There's masses to do around here over Golden Week with rafting, canyoning, mountain-biking, bungy, paragliding and canoe tours all full operational, but an often overlooked option is skiing and boarding. A couple of resorts are still open and spring means the jumps and park features get top billing. Tenjin have built a massive kicker right by the main lift and have plenty of other stuff to play on. (Those are 3 park crew you can just about see shaping that jump.) A day pass is a bargain 1,500yen, so a cheap day out.

The snow might be a bit dirty, but there is plenty of it up there. The marker is around 160cm at the moment. That's all going to melt at some point and add to the whitewater madness in the river.

Tenjin will be open until 15th May so plenty of time to get some turns in and pray for an early start to next winter.

Golden Week Starts Tomorrow...

2011-04-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

....the river is HIGH and the cherry blossoms are out.

We're doing pick-ups from Jomokogen bullet train station this year (as well as the usual ones from Minakami) to make it even easier to make the quick trip up here.

Don't waste your Golden Week - do something exhilarating!

Perspective on the current situation

2011-04-21T01:22:00.000-07:00

There’s been plenty of conflicting information and many alarmist reports on the effects of the tsunami and the Fukushima meltdown over the last month. In our secluded valleys, we are enjoying the same pristine environment that has always existed. Our aim is to offer reassurance of the safety of Minakami as a tourist destination and our commitment to continue providing exhilarating, refreshing adventures.

Earthquakes

Historically Minakami has never suffered from large earthquakes. This is thanks largely to its location at the base of the mountains and the hard rock base on which it stands. This was one of the reasons that it was chosen as a safe location for the dams that were built upriver.

The recent quakes and aftershocks have been tremors here in Minakami. Historically the largest earthquake has registered as a 4. Earthquakes or aftershocks do not affect canyoning or rafting tours in any way. (Caving is on hold for the moment.)

Radiation

Environmental

Background radiation naturally occurs everywhere and despite the current events, radiation levels at present are lower in Tokyo than in Hong Kong and Singapore. Minakami has been relatively unaffected and all measurements are at normal background levels at this time. Hourly measurements are being made at the nearby city of Maebashi.

20011/04/15 Maebashi 0.040 µSv/h http://atmc.jp/

20011/04/15 Tokyo 0.079 µSv/h http://atmc.jp/

20011/04/15 Singapore 0.090 µSv/h http://app2.nea.gov.sg/index.aspx

20011/04/15 Hong Kong 0.100 µSv/h (http://www.hko.gov.hk/radiation/ermp/rmn/applet/map/rmn_hourly_e.htm)

Water

The Tone River runs right through the heart of Minakami and is key to its tourism. As a precautionary measure the local government has been monitoring the condition of the river and have given it a clean bill of health. (no traces of radiation)

Food

We have always believed in supporting local producers and this is paying dividends at the moment as food from Gunma is perfectly safe and healthy. Added to that we have also checked with our suppliers to find out where they source their supplies, in order to ensure the quality and reliability of our food.

Refresh and contribute

The tourism industry in Minakami have been helping in many ways with the relief effort; sending people as volunteers, providing needed goods and accommodating refugees. To continue these efforts, Minakami now NEEDS YOUR HELP to stop the secondary disaster of a possible recession.

Accommodations, activity providers, restaurants and other tourism related businesses have all been hit hard over the last month with cancellations, in some cases nearly losing 100% of business.

The best way everyone can help is to go out , HAVE FUN, SPEND MONEY and REFRESH YOURSELF! This not only reinvigorates you, but is a major contribution to the tourism industry in Minakami, which in turn contributes to Japan's economy and eventually those affected in Tohoku.

So get a day away from the daily drag, refresh with a shot of adventure, enjoy the clean and safe natural environment and do your bit for the economy at the same time.

www.canyons.jp

Canyons help with the disaster releif

2011-04-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Many of the Canyons crew have been helping out in the Tohoku areas in a number of different capacities over the last few weeks. We have been working with many different agencies but the main one was the Minakami Rescue and Support team, made up of staff from all the outdoor companies in Minakami. The team (to date) has done a total of 16 runs to some of the worst hit areas in the Miyagi and Iwate regions, carrying supplies and offering manpower.

Beau (Bungy Japan) also headed up a number of missions to various ares in Iwate delivering much needed supplies.

Below are some pics from one of the missions we did delivering items to HOPE internationals heliport in Miyagi Pref.

Loading the Heli to do food and water drops on one of the Higasji Matsushima Islands that had been cutoff from the land when the road bridge collapsed.

There was a fleet of 4 heli's shuttling goods, 5-7 trips a day each carrying around 250Kg. The pilots were all volunteers from the Japan Helicopter Club. Great work guys!

Sometime we hooked up with other NPO's to get supplies to people that were in desperate need. This is one of the warehouses in Sendai.

SHH at Canyons on the long weekend.

2011-03-08T23:06:00.000-08:00

There's a long weekend coming up from 19th-21st March, and knowing how much we hate to waste one, we've lined up a great live act to get the bar pumping on the night of 20th. It promises to be great out on the slopes, there is the Snow Festival on in this area and the band + supporting DJs are going to be the icing on the cake.

What else are you going to do with those precious days off?

Check out the SHH website for a taster (http://www.myspace.com/shhsounds)
or the Japonicus site for more details (http://www.japonicus.com/jap/shh/index.html)

The Winter Ticket

2011-02-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

In our quest for outstanding value we have launched a limited run of winter discount tickets. Imaginatively named "The Winter Ticket" (it's been a busy season!), they are available in sheets of ten for the bargain price of 34,000 yen.

Tickets can be exchanged for stays at the Alpine Lodge or for tours. One ticket gets you a night at the lodge or a half day snowshoe tour, and two tickets get you a backcountry tour or a full day snowshoe tour.

Some quick mental arithmatic, or in my case, some time prodding a calculator, and you discover that this offers you some fantastic savings. Get in on the action - we only printed 100 sheets of these and the tickets are valid until the end of March.

Ski and snowboard lessons upgraded for 2011

2011-01-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

Our ski and snowboard instructors for this year are a mix of some old faces and a few fresh ones from all over the world. All of them of course have their New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance certificationand are passionate about snowsports.

If you have ever had dreams of becoming a instructor, Canyons is running an official NZSIA ski certification course on Jan 15-18th. Let us know if you are interested and we will send more details.

In 2011 we have upgraded our lessons to include a high definition video option that is FREE with every lesson. Just let us know when you book and our instructors will take video of you during the lesson which can be used for technique analysis or just bragging rights with mates!
See lesson details here:
http://www.canyons.jp/lessons.html

Other news:
Snowshoe tours have now started to Ichinokura and Ooyu ice cave:
http://www.canyons.jp/snowshoe.html

Backcountry tour to Kagura has now started.

http://www.canyons.jp/backcountry.html

Welcome Back Winter Party.

2010-12-10T21:31:00.000-08:00

Snow forecast for this week. Resorts planning to open this weekend. Do we need any other reason to have a party?

Our Welcome Back Winter Party will kick off Friday night at 8pm in the Alpine Cafe. For the first 2 hours beer, cocktails and bar snacks will be 100 yen. They'll also be a session on the mini-ramp and DJs playing until midnight.

Weather-willing, it'll be off to the snow in the morning. Either that or lazing around in bed....

Come join us!

Who needs snow...

2010-11-30T22:31:00.000-08:00

When you have GRASS SKIS!

Video of (possible career-ending) test session to follow.

New Poster #2 - Ski/SB Lessons

2010-11-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

The instructors are starting to drift back into town so lessons are good to go as soon as the resorts are open. The lesson poster has had an overhaul for this season aswell.

All levels are catered for in both our ski instruction and snowboard lessons in English. The instructors are great with kids and make sure that they develop a love for the snow. We can also provide instruction in telemark or cross country if you are looking to try something new for the winter.

For the first time, this season we have an adaptive instructor for anyone with special requirements and will hopefully be working with the adaptive programmes in the areas that we teach.

Park and pipe are always growing in popularity so if you want to learn the basics or perfect a new trick we have freestyle lessons available. There are some great parks scattered around these areas.

We've also been known to head off and teach in other resorts outside of Yuzawa and Minakami, so if are struggling to find English ski or snowboard instructions where you are headed, feel free to give us a shout and we will see what we can do. We've taken clients to Nozawa Onsen, Kijimadaira, Shiga Kogen and even further afield when our schedules allow.

New Poster #1

2010-11-26T23:49:00.000-08:00

As we await the arrival of the snow, we're using the time to do a few updates. The tour poster is first out of the blocks.

We've been looking at some new courses for snowshoe, coming up with some ideas for some special trips and working on some delicious lunch options to make that trip out into the mountains even more memorable.
The backcountry guides have some new routes scouted and are looking at running more expeditions for the more advanced riders among you. First-timer or hardened powder pro, there's a trip ready for you.

Now we just need the snow...

How difficult can it be to buy a drink in a ski resort before the snow comes?

2010-11-22T21:57:00.001-08:00

Very!

Scare bear

2010-11-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

An interesting addition to the neighbourhood this year were the (very high tech) bear bells. Been plenty of bear action all over Japan this year and after one of our guys had a close encounter last summer better to be safe. Hopefully they'll all be off to sleep for the winter soon.

Temperature drop yesterday and a dusting of snow up high. A taste of things to come?

Changing of the Leaves

2010-10-31T22:40:00.000-07:00

It's one of those great times of year when the scenery up here is just breathtaking. The photos don't do it justice, but surrounded by mountains which are covered in trees, even a trip out for lunch has an amazing backdrop. With the colours changing daily it is a great time of year to be here.

And knowing the snow isn't far away is another reason to get excited.

First Snow

2010-10-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

So it's been a long, hot summer but thankfully we've had the river there when we need to cool off, and it's been a life-saver. The cooler weather recently has been a pleasant relief though the jackets and beanies have started coming out in the last few days. This morning we woke to the first dusting of the season.

The long range forecast is looking reasonably promising with December slightly colder than average with plenty of precipitation. So here's hoping that means an early start to the 2010-11 season. Fingers crossed.

Yamanashi Canyon Japan

2010-08-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

YAMANASHI SEASON IS ON!

The Yamanashi canyoning trip is the biggest sliding course in Japan. If you are after BIG water, BIG slides and BIG fun then this one is for you! The guides at Canyons love this trip and there is often a heated discussion about who gets to go every time there is a trip. It`s a long day but its well worth the effort.

Above: The approach is along well established hiking trail which takes approx 90min.

Above: After arriving at the top the crew take a short rest before getting suited up!

Above: Looking down the first few warm up slides, always gets the crew excited.

Above: The fourth slide is about 10m into a deep pool

Above: One of the crew decides to hit to jump on the fourth slide for some extra fun.

Above: Looking up the canyon at the fourth and fifth slides. The fifth slide is not for the faint hearted. When sitting at the top you are looking down into a narrow shoot not much wider than your body!　With no possible way to see the landing spot in the pool at the bottom its quite intimidating for even the more experienced canyoner! If your into big thrills and even bigger spills then this slide is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Above: You can see the scale of this awsome waterfall when someone is sitting at the top.

20m + of pure thrills.

Above: Taking a break to refuel for some more slides

Above: One of smoothest slides on the trip, great for headfirst sliding superman style

Above: One of the bigger slides near the bottom of the course, short slide - big free fall.

Above: Close up of the same slide, hold your breath as your sure to go deep!

Above: The last slide of the day! A bit of a corkscrew slide but with a smooth landing

Above: The hike out takes around 30min and leads us straight back to the car for a cold drink and the drive home.

Although the trip requires no rope work in normal conditions its not to be mistaken for a easy day in the park. The water in the pools is often quite strong and large part of the day is spent in the water swimming, sliding, climbing around and jumping. The course is over 2.7kms long and has over 30 waterfalls in total, so be ready for a physical day of adventure.

(If your looking for more info on the Yamanashi tour or tour dates please visit the Canyons website at - http://www.canyons.jp/Canyoning_F.html )

Crystal Canyon 2010

2010-07-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

After the heat of the past few weeks we decided it was time to head over to Niigata and check out one of our favorite canyons before the first tours start later this month.

(For more detail on tour times check out - http://www.canyons.jp/Canyoning_F.html)

The large blocks of snow that normally sit in the sides of the canyons had all melted and the water temp was a warm 17.5 degrees. perfect conditions for the Crystal course.

( above: views up the canyon as we hiked in on the hiking trail. The waterfall looks small from here.....)

(above: Sam showing his jumping style on one of the first jumping areas)

(above: Mike in one of the narrows of the upper section)

From the get in point the canyon is split into two section, upper and lower. The upper section can be visited by swimming and climbing up the canyon to the top waterfall where the canyon starts. The upper section contains some of the narrowest parts of the canyon along with some great jumps in crystal clear water. The lower section open out as you go down with larger waterfalls and incredible panoramic views down the valley as you near the end.

(Above: The group bridges (steming as the Americans say) up the top section where the water flow is strong to swim)

（Above: Dave heads down the 18m drop to check it out for the others to follow. This is a picture taken from above the waterfall in the first picture. It looks a bit bigger from on top!)

One of the bigger waterfalls in Crystal canyon is a 18m drop into a beautiful pool. Its normally a great jump but we always send someone down first to check for hidden nasties (logs etc).

After Dave checked the pool below and gave us the all clear the rest of the group followed by jumping. Although not a jump for all its a great way to find out if your the jumping type!

(Above: Mike launching off the chock stone at the top of the 18m jump)

(Above: Sam exiting the pool below the 18m jump)

(Above: The final 30m abseil of Crystal Canyon)

As most of the staff at canyons know now Sam isnt to shy about getting his gear off. As a result has started a tradition of getting a few butt shots at every new canyon he visits.

This is Sam giving a final salute goodbye to Crystal.

To see just how beautiful crystal canyon is check out this short video below.

Yamanashi Canyon

2010-06-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend saw the first crew of adventurers challenge the mighty Yamanashi Canyon. Conditions were (nearly) perfect, with a blue sky day and flows at optimal level. (a little bit chilly in the water...). Check the video above for a glimpse of this awesome course.

This was the first of the special full day canyoning tours. Every weekend a different full day canyoning course will be available from our selection of 12 courses. So you can pick a canyon that is suitable for your groups level.

Golden Week Rafting Video

2010-05-06T00:23:00.000-07:00

Because sometimes words and pictures just don't do it justice.

What a (Golden) Week!

2010-05-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

Golden Week is normally a great time to be in Minakami and out on the river but this year was even better than most. We've been blessed with temperatures more like July than May for the whole of the holiday period.

The river has been in good condition for a few weeks now but the higher temperatures have helped with the melt which have taken it up another notch. Momijikyo is the only Grade 4 section of river on the mainland and as a result is pretty well known. It was certainly living up to its reputation as a world class section this week.

Happy customers, high thrills, warm weather, bbqs and parties - all the things we love at Canyons. High water season will continue into June so plenty of time to get a taste for some of the best rafting in Japan.

High Water, High Thrills

2010-04-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

It's Spring here which means high water season on the river and conditions are awesome right now.

We're sending two trips out every day from today and with Canyoning tours starting from 29th April, it's almost business as usual here.

It's lunchtime right now and I can smell BBQ - you've got to love Green Season.

Tenjin Park

2010-04-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

The park at Tenjin is at its Spring best. A good range of features from beginner to advanced with 5 jumps, 7 different rails and boxes and all a quick lap from the middle chair.

It makes for good viewing as well, as all features are visible from the main lift. Of course, this means both your hits (and big) misses are laid out for all to admire (as we often were), but it's all part of the learning process.

Tenjin should go through to the end of Golden Week and the snow is staying in good condition up there at the moment so plenty more days in the park to come.

Momiji Course Check

2010-04-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

Rafting season kicks off a week tomorrow and as the water levels have been rising recently everyone was really keen to have a pre-season run. This is mainly to check the conditions and to make sure that no unexpected debris has appeared over the winter. Still leaves plenty of time to mess about and have a bit of fun.

The river is at its best at this time of year with the snow melt flooding the river and making the rapids all the more exciting.

High water season goes into May (and sometimes early June if the conditions are right) so if you are planning a spring trip this is the very best time of year to be rafting.

Snowboard Level One Exam

2010-03-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Snowboard Instructors of New Zealand Level One exam finished on Tuesday. We had 8 candidates up for it and all had a great time on the course. Matt Phare came down from Hokkaido to exam for the SBINZ and provide top class training.

Weather was a bit mixed with some really hot days (that called for ice cream breaks) as well as one day with 30cms of fresh snow.

There was lots to learn and improve but in the end everyone got through with a pass, so ice creams all round on Tuesday.

That was the final exam for the winter, and we owe a big thank you to the NZSIA for helping us get it organised. We finished up with 100% success rate so smile all around. Hopeful more exams and training opportunities next year.

Not your usual Friday afternoon

2010-03-11T23:14:00.000-08:00

We spent the morning finishing off what was left of yesterday's fresh snow up at Tenjin. Some great runs down but some scary debris lying around.

Then this afternoon we went to put our time in helping prepare for the Yubiso Yuki Matsuri. Most of the hardwork was already done with giant snow sculptures of popular TV characters all over the place.

Recognizing our artistic talent we were kept well away from the good stuff and put to work smoothing out the surface of the little airplane. It's now the smoothest airplane snow sculpture there and sure to be the delight of everyone who visits. Another job well done.

Yeah - the snow is back.

2010-03-09T00:15:00.000-08:00

It was snowing lightly this morning and has been coming down consistently since lunch time. A quick check up at Okutone found a decent layer of snow sitting on top of soft base that was pretty fun to ride.

Looks like winter again and set to continue for a bit longer.

Naked Man Festival

2010-03-03T22:12:00.000-08:00

Much to Rei's disappointment, this turned out to be more of a "Scantily Clad Man Festival" but was still a great night out. Semi-naked men, partially covered in hot wax, jumping into an icy pond to purify themselves before fighting the crowds to have the honour of entering the inner sanctum of the temple. At least, that's what we thought was going on.

And a street full of festival food. Haven't seen the staff so happy for a long time, dazzled as they were with the choice of more than five things.

Staff trip to Nozawa Onsen

2010-03-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

Busy Feb so, with that out of the way time to chill a bit. We headed over to Nozawa Onsen to hook up with Taka, one of the crew from last winter, who is working Patrol over there. An early start, a hop over the hill from Niigata to Nagano and beautiful blue skies (for the morning at least.)

A seriously fun resort and great to get out as a team and rip around. Some wicked transportation options over there if you like your cars.

Airboarding

2010-03-03T21:12:00.000-08:00

The nice folk at Kappa Club were offering some airboard intro sessions today up at Tenjin. If you haven't seen them bombing around the local slopes, then think boogie boarding on snow. Visibility wasn't the best today but never ones to be deterred by less than perfect conditions and shunning the idea of cruising around the groomers, it was straight to the park...

Airboarding on boxes is exactly what it says on the packaging.

And jumps were fun too. Though landings may need more practice.

Well worth a trip out on these - a guaranteed good time.

Spring Snowshoe in Minakami

2010-02-22T20:52:00.000-08:00

With the weather warming up around Japan and the sun showing itself more often, it is the perfect time to get out on a Minakami snowshoe tour and experience the amazing mountains of Japan.

Yesterday Igor and I took a group of 8 customers up to Ichinokura, the glacier course in Minakami. We were both keen to check out one of the new GIANT slides that I had found.

The day started out with low cloud, which means no panoramic mountain views but still enjoyable, as we made our way up the very scenic Yubiso Valley.

We got in a few small 5-8m slides to practice for some of the giant slides that we would be tackling in the afternoon.

After a short snack at Machigasawa we cracked the whip and managed to make it to Ichinokura by midday.

As we dug our snow table and set up for lunch the clouds slowly started to lift. The group all worked together to serve up the gourmet lunch... katsu-curry.

Not a bad view for a lunch spot eh! The entire lunch time was silent; a mixture of everyone's hunger and awe from looking at the mountains above. (Japan's largest slab rock face)

After lunch it we had a small warm up walk to get closer to the mountain (but a safe distance from avalanches) before gearing up for the afternoon. The first slide of the afternoon was a beauty. 30m @ 30deg. (bit hard to tell from this photo).

The second slide was another 30m with a couple of nice jumps along the way.

When we reached the valley floor the clouds cleared off all the mountains and we got awesome 360 deg. views of the peaks around us. The return walk was breathtaking! We chucked in a few headfirst and backwards slides for good measure for those that were up for it and by the time we got back to the van, everyone was happy to sit down, relax and reflect on the amazing day in the mountains.

Snowsplash-ed 2010

2010-01-30T22:42:00.000-08:00

An epic night (we vaguely recall.)

Great live music.

Some awesome entertainers.
And lots of new friends.

Congratulations

2010-01-28T17:53:00.000-08:00

So the NZSIA Level One Ski Exam finished yesterday and everybody passed. It was a four day course and exam that is the first step on the New Zealand Snowsports Instructor Alliance system. It's internationally recognised so the guys that took it are now free to work their way across the world if they fancy.

The is also the snowboard equivalent, the SBINZ Level One being held in Minakami for four days from March 20th if anyone out there is thinking of taking their hobby to the next level.

Nozawa Fire Festival

2010-01-18T20:44:00.000-08:00

So on Friday night we made our annual trip over to Nozawa Onsen for their Fire Festival. The snow was coming down all day, heavily enough to stop the local trains.

We've been over a few times but our explanation may be a bit off. It might have something to do with all the free sake that is being dished out. Anyway, here is what we think is going on:

The 45 year old males from the village sit atop this giant bonfire structure having consumed their own body weight in sake.

The 20 year olds from the village stand at the bottom and try to defend it with pine branches as everyone else tries to set it alight. They too are a little worse for wear.

Cue absolute bedlam for an hour or so which Sam and Neil are delighted with.

Oh, and there were some drums and fireworks, but as no one during this bit got hit in the face with a flaming torch it gets relegated to the bottom of the post.

Apparently the whole thing is supposed to get rid of bad luck in unlucky numbered years, though I guess if you survive this..... A great night out and well worth a visit.

Also spotted by David Davies is this cracking "his and hers" combo. The ponchos are garish enough but what monstrosity is it masking - look at those hoods and let your imagination run wild. Almost matching, old school skis are a nice touch, as is the clip from collar to baseball cap to stop it making a bid for freedom. Quality.

Keep them coming.

Meet the Instructors: Craig

2010-01-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

First up our Welsh ambassador who's most likely to be seen in brightly coloured beanies or spending his free time in the park. He's NZ qualified, a boarder at heart but spends a lot of his time on skis, and is really popular with the little ones. A great guy to ride with but I wish he wouldn't eat natto next to my desk.

So, Craig - what have you been up to over the summer?

Been down to NZ for the season, bro. Snow was really good and picked up a few more qualifications - freestyle, avalanche and children's certifications.

What's your best Japan story?

This season - Brendan and I dropping in on a steep run at Houdaigi and the snow being up to my chest. So much snow I couldn't breathe. Then remembering Brendan is a lot shorter than me. Ha ha!

Best thing about working at Canyons?

We work at any of the 30 mountains in the area, so I get to ride a lot of different places which is fun.

Tell us a secret.

My real name is Gareth, and Brendan is under 5ft. So that's 2 secrets.

What's next?

Straight from Canyons to Austria, then home to Wales for a few weeks to recharge and get myself ready for another season in NZ. Then probably back here for more Japanese snow.

And I'd like to thank Canyons, Helly Hansen, Bridgend, all me boys at Pontypool Dryslope and Salomon.

It's dumping again; look out the window.

Suit of the Day: II (The Revenge)

2010-01-11T21:14:00.000-08:00

Being a National Holiday last weekend, there was fierce competition for Suit of the Day with many great combinations getting their yearly airing. We laughed long and hard trying to decide on a winner and actually had to have a couple of categories to fit in all the entrants.

The individual category was taken by this great fluoro one-piece. The quality of the photo is not due to anything other than the camera's inability to deal with such viciously bright colours. Anyone without eye protection found themselves momentarily blinded with retina burn if they looked straight at this one.

And bizarrely enough we have a winner in the team category. The initial sighting of this green one-piece brought collective Ahhs of admiration from the jury seated on the chair lift, quickly replaced by disbelief as a twin shortly followed and sheer amazement as the third member followed hot on their heels. The question "But why?" still remains unanswered.

Seeing this even now makes me shiver with memories of 80s European ski school hell. (Thanks Graeme for the photo.)

Jan 7th Snowshoe Tour in Minakami

2010-01-07T01:50:00.000-08:00

The snow was deep today! Over 80cm of fresh snow on the ground with the snow continuing to pelt down all day. This made for challenging snowshoeing conditions as each step is an effort to stomp down the wall of 60cm+ powder in front of you.

Luckily Emma and Scott (the 2 clients ) were champions at taking turns cutting trail. We didn't quite make it to the ice cave but we did manage to get in a couple of slides and have some fun in the bottomless powder. All in all, it was a great day out in the mountains of Minakami.

Check out the video from the days action below.

Minakami Snowshoe Tour details
みなかみ　スノーシューツアー

Still snowing

2010-01-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

It keeps coming down. We've had one day off with blue skies but apart from that nothing but snow since before New Year. There is no better way of being woken up than by a big "whump" as the fresh snow comes sliding off the roof. It's the signal to grab the gear and be at Okutone for first runs at 7am.

It even gets 2 thumbs from Craig - it must be good.

Tenjin Update

2010-01-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

With all this snow we had to check Tenjin out and see how it is shaping up. There was some great skiing up there with all the creeks filled in with the recent dumps. Still a bit bushy in places so it needs some more before it will be a its best, but still a cracking day out.

If you're heading up there don't forget your discount ticket for 500yen off, and pop into the bar on the way back. It's a 3 day weekend coming up so sure to be a party on.

And goes on...

2009-12-31T14:51:00.000-08:00

Quick snap from 7.30am this morning. Snow all night and now masses around. To the mountains we go, if we can get up there...

Big Snow Begun

2009-12-30T21:24:00.000-08:00

The forecasters promised it, and it came. It was cold and overcast this morning with nothing on the ground in our car park. The snow began lightly at 7am and tried on and off to get going for a couple of hours before the heavens opened and the snow came hammering down.

We've shovelled the stairs a couple of times in the last four hours but it's now ankle deep in most places.

Tomorrow is going to be a beauty on the hill but so too is the party tonight in the bar. Decisions, decisions...

Suit of the Day

2009-12-29T14:04:00.000-08:00

One of the beauties of holiday periods at any ski resort around the world is that the choice suits get their yearly airing. Spotting and recording these sitings is a pet hobby of ours and we love to share our discoveries. There was some stiff competition yesterday but we managed to narrow it down to one winner.

This particular ensemble won it for the garish mix of flouros as well as the great use of accessories. Bonus points were awarded for the use of a bum bag/fanny pack, retro race gloves and blade-like short skis - attention to detail is important in this category.

Fluoro is no longer the shoe-in it once was. It's been decidedly back in fashion over the last two seasons so the old retro combos don't stand out as much as they used to - something to bear in mind if you are intending on making our Top Ten for this winter.

If you see a contender this season send us a snapshot and we'll add it to the gallery.

You cannot be serious?

2009-12-26T21:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if this is an elaborate joke or a piece of art, but outside our lunch restaurant today someone had gone to the trouble of chaining up their snowblades.

If there is a blade klepto on the loose I really think we should take pity on the lunatic.

Boxing Day at Houdaigi

2009-12-25T23:35:00.001-08:00

Beautiful day up the mountain today and hardly anyone around. Surprising given the fact it is a Saturday, but we're not complaining.

The groomed slopes are in good condition at the moment so we spent the day just blasting around.

The perfect way to recover from Christmas Day.

Dude, Where's My Car?

2009-12-21T20:13:00.000-08:00

Blue skies today after the incessant snow of the last few days. A welcome break for some, as they get to start on the chore that is snow clearing. Something about snow on cars that really makes you realise how much has fallen. Some of the instructors up in Yuzawa snapped some good ones this morning.

That's quite a bit of extra weight on top and it's not uncommon in a big snow year to see cars that have been left for the season to have burst tyres and collapsed roofs.

Snow is dumping in Minakami!

2009-12-21T00:30:00.001-08:00

The snow started falling in Minakami last Friday and has not relented! Last night we received another 60cm+ at the valley level (outside Canyons) and it is still snowing now.

The crew at Canyons have been in the bulldozer twice a day to keep the car park clear.....almost no time to make it up the mountain (there's always time ;)

The local ski resorts are all now working around the clock to keep up with the onslaught of the white gold. After some rigorous sampling of the resorts early season powder, the Canyons staff verdict is unanimous.....bi powder smiles all round!

The boyz have been out testing the new demo skis that are available to rent this season. As results are inconclusive so far, we are going to have to do a lot more testing, especially on the big powder days. It looks like we will also have some Surge powder boards from around xmas onwards. Reports to come....

If you want to keep up with the snow conditions in Minakami, check out the snow reports and weather page.

Daily pics also being uploded to the Canyons Facebook site.

The Snow Has Arrived - In Style

2009-12-18T00:26:00.000-08:00

The forecast was spot on - snow, and plenty of it. We were over the other side of the hill for most of the day where the snow was falling too.

Apparently it started snowing at about 11 o'clock in Minakami and by 1 there was already 10cm. By the time we got back to base there was 30cms lying around - a very welcome sight.

Just in time for the resorts too who were all hoping to open this weekend.

Tenjin is probably the pick of the bunch, but both Houdaigi and Norn have limited openings on Saturday. Okutone have postponed their Saturday opening and are now aiming to be up and running by Sunday.

It looks as if there will be a bit more snow over the next couple of days too. We always like it when the season starts with a big one. It's arrived about a week early than last year, so we're taking that as a good sign.

Retro Uniform?

2009-12-15T20:21:00.000-08:00

Seems I'm the only one excited about our new Teton Bros uniform. Craig and Brendan were only back a day before they had to head down to the second hand shop to see what treasures could be salvaged. It's an absolute goldmine of retro ski wear mistakes and they both managed to find some new gear to augment their already impressive collections of one-pieces.

Words fail me but it keeps them happy....

Demo Skis Arrive

2009-12-08T17:33:00.000-08:00

Any day that the delivery guy turns up with ski-sized boxes is a good day for us. The demo gear arrived today having been sitting in the warehouse for the last few weeks waiting for the extra-wide brakes to arrive.

Plenty of cooing and ahhing at the unboxing, and I can guarantee that there are going to be some underhand tactics involved as everyone vies for the honour of being the first to ride these.

We have a pair of 168cm Atomic Snoop Daddy, a pair of 190cm Volkl Gotamas, and a pair of 184cm Amplid Cholesterone. You're going to want to be on one of these when the powder is dumping.

The Amplids have everyone here the most excited.

With a massive 126mm underfoot the graphics on the base say it all.

Bring on the first powder day!

Venison and the Psycho Chef

2009-12-06T23:23:00.000-08:00

The 'phone rang this morning with an offer from one of the local hunters - were we interested in taking a deer off his hands that he'd bagged over the weekend? Never being ones to turn down a free feed we were happy to oblige. The kei truck was dispatched and came back with dinner.

Our deep freeze has been home to various kinds of Minakami wildlife over the years with bear, boar and deer all putting in an appearance. Anyone who was at the Minakami Reggae Snowsplash last year probably remembers the delicious venison curry that was being served.

Dex had some issues to work out and channeled it into tenderizing the meat. It's good to see someone enjoying their work but slightly disturbing when they enjoy it this much.

The sight of a manically grinning Dex armed with a bloody hacksaw is truly terrifying. The finished product after the butchering will hang for a while and then find its way into the pot.

Poor Bambi.

It's Snowing

2009-12-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

It's snowing and has been all morning.

Tenjin has opened a lift up again having received 20cms of snow over the last few days and even Houdaigi has received a decent dusting. They're supposed to open on Saturday so the race is on. Check out their flash new webcams to see how they're doing - Houdaigi Webcams

Wii in the Bar

2009-12-04T20:56:00.001-08:00

Continuing on with our "things to do when you're not on the slopes" series, a couple of weeks back we got a Nintendo Wii for the bar. Since then there has been pretty fierce competition over the sports game, and a definite drop in productivity. Nintendo 1 - Canyons 0.

One of our favourite features is to design your own character to use in the games. It's a lot more satisfying to have this personal touch, and there is definitely something to be said for conflict resolution when you get to pound your workmates' faces during the boxing game (and strut around triumphantly gloating afterwards.) Relationships have never been smoother with this pressure valve.

Any ideas who this is?

Rental Department sorted - now just need the snow.

2009-12-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

It's currently hammering down with rain here. Can only hope that it is snow higher up as we're really looking forward to getting out on snow again. You can keep up-to-date with the weather in Minakami by checking our Snow Reports.

At least the lack of new snow has given us time to sort out all the rental gear that we've got for this season. It's all safely stashed in its new home and waiting the opening of the resorts so it can fulfill its raison d'etre.

There sure was a lot of it. It's pretty difficult to figure out how much of each size to stock to keep a lodge full of guests of varying sizes kitted out, but with some complex mathematical modelling applications and the power of the computers available these days.... we took a stab in dark and got 3 of everything.

The Big Christmas Feed

2009-11-25T17:43:00.001-08:00

Personally I think November is a little early for Christmas news but at least this way you get plenty of warning. After the success of the Orphans' Christmas last winter, the kitchen have decided to lay on another big feast, but this time it will be over a few nights, so grab a bunch of friends and get some quality festive over-eating in. Over to our chef, Dex:

What's the plan?

OK, so... for Christmas this year, from December 19th until 27th you can book in for our Christmas feast. 2 of you or 60 of you - no worries.

And on the menu this year?

As always a great spread. Starters are bruschetta, spring rolls with chilli and lime dip, and deep fried camembert. The mains are roast chicken and gravy and roast pork, with steamed winter veges, oven roast rosemary potatoes, tomato Doria, spinach mikan salad and garlic bread. If you've still got room after all that we're finishing off with individual apple crumbles with ice cream. Sound good?

Awesome.

All that for just 3,000 yen per person and you get a free cocktail or soft drink too.

And Pat as you are such a great guy you'll get yours for free every night.*

Thanks, Dex. You're the best.

[*I may have imagined Dex's last line but you can but hope... With a bit of luck he might just think he did promise this.]

Doai Station

2009-11-24T18:04:00.000-08:00

Mount Tanigawa stands between us here in Yubiso and Yuzawa over on the other side. Any of you who have driven up the expressway to Yuzawa will have been through the 13km tunnel that connect the two. The local train also runs under the mountain and if you're heading that way you might have to use Doai Station. The northbound platform has a massive 462 steps down to the tracks - not somewhere you want to be running to catch a train.

The sign that greets you at the top lets you know you've climbed 462 stairs but still have another 143 metres and 24 steps to go.

It also doubles as our training venue in between seasons as we make sure the guides and instructors are in shape for the mountains this winter. So if you find yourself there and come across a bunch of people puffing up and down the stairs, you'll know who they are.

24th Nov - 1st Ski of the Season

2009-11-23T20:21:00.000-08:00

Tenjin didn't manage to open on the weekend but decided to run one of the lifts from 9.30 this morning. As soon as we heard it was a quick change, grab the skis and off to check it out. Haven't skied since mid-October so keen to get back out there.

Apparently there is warm weather on the way so they are not sure if they will keep running so took the chance to ski while we could. Definitely more hikers around than snow enthusiasts and got plenty of funny looks as we walked around with skis and boards.

Only the centre pair lift was open and a total of five people were using it (3 boarders, 1 telemarker and 1 skier) with pedestrians more of an obstacle than each other.

It'll be a while before all our favourite stashes are open for business but it was nice to get a quick slide in.

We also got our point card which is a new system they are trying this year. Collect five stamps and you get next lift ticket for free - shouldn't be too hard.

:(

2009-11-20T16:56:00.000-08:00

Tenjin didn't manage to open today so no skiing for me. We just spoke to them and it is snowing up at the top (but rain down here.) Now have to decide whether to shoot over the other side of the hill and have a slide this afternoon at GALA. Maybe even catch a glimpse of their new mascot - a slightly bemused giant skiing rabbit of all things.

Resort Openings on the weekend

2009-11-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

It sounds as if Tenjin have decided to open up on Saturday, so the skis will see some action a lot earlier than last year. There's been a bit of snow recently as you can see from their webcams.

http://www.tanigawadake-rw.com/

Over the other side of the hill, Kagura have decided to postpone their first day which was also due to be Saturday but GALA Yuzawa, with their new artificial matting will be opening their doors for business.

New 2010 Winter Uniform

2009-11-18T18:49:00.001-08:00

Our North Face uniforms had done a couple of seasons by the end of last winter so it was time for a new outfit; a big decision around here which caused lots of discussion (/argument).

We spend a lot of hours outside over the winter so this is a very important issue for us and we need great kit. Also it really gets put through its paces by the different departments - the snowshoe and backcountry guides need something robust that will stand up to nature and the instructors need something cool to swan around the bar in. It's a big ask for any jacket but the good people at Teton Bros. have provided us with just the thing.

It's quality gear and we can't wait to get into the mountains in it. They're with the printer right now but keep an eye for the folk in blue from this weekend.

Check out their whole range of gear at http://www.teton-bros.com/

Trying hard to snow right now.

2009-11-17T23:05:00.001-08:00

The snowman picture on my weather forecast appeared for today and for a change it was spot on. There was a light dusting of snow visible up high this morning and all day it's been alternating between drizzle and light snow at lodge level. With resorts over the other side of the hill supposed to be opening this weekend it is pretty good timing.

We're a way off full ski season yet but just to get our daily fix of snow, a couple of photos from last year I discovered while getting the instructor 'phones ready.

Snowman making taken to extremes.

What we woke to on Boxing Day last season.

Yoga Retreat in Minakami - Dec 5th & 6th

2009-11-16T19:08:00.000-08:00

News of the upcoming yoga retreat here in Minakami in a couple of weekends time.

We're very lucky to have Babeeta, a very experienced yoga practitioner leading the sessions. There are going to be workshops in Sri Sri Yoga which focuses on specialised techniques for breathing, posture and meditation. Expect enhanced endurance, strength and flexibility as welcome side effects but most of all, de-stressing is the goal.

Throw in some dance yoga, some workshops on healthy eating and vegetarian cuisine, some quality onsen time and an evening of live Indo-Jazz fusion and Bollywood grooves and you have the makings of a fantastic relaxing getaway. Flyer below.

http://artofliving.jp/minakami/yogaRetreatMinakamiDec09EN.html

I'll be the one with my foot behind my head (I've been practising.)

Rental Gear

2009-11-15T23:36:00.001-08:00

So our rental equipment for the season arrived this afternoon. No more queuing at the resort on Saturday morning wasting precious snow time. Pick your gear up at the lodge and then it's straight out onto the slopes.

We've got a good selection of skis and boards, especially in the larger sizes that can sometimes be difficult to find in some places. The boots too are available in bigger sizes, going up to 31cm and with a bit of notice, we can get hold of larger sizes too.

There is one more delivery to be made and that is the one we're looking forward to - the demo gear. We've got a bunch of fat powder skis on order and because we care, we'll be taking them out for a test run as soon as the snow arrives! Having taken 50 sets of equipment down two flights of stairs I think we deserve it.

Last Bungy of the Season

2009-11-15T18:48:00.000-08:00

This weekend the party was down at the bungy bridge. It was the last weekend of their busy summer season and they had a full complement of jumpers wanting to hurl themselves off the bridge. Plenty of fancy dress jumpers from Santas, DragonBall characters, maids, convicts, Elvises and even one guy jumping with a raw fish (no idea why.)

Even not jumping it was great to hang out there and watch how different people deal with the fear and excitement.

They'll be back again next May so, you can throw yourself off a bridge before then but we would recommend waiting.

More Off-snow Entertainment

2009-11-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

Seems to be a bit of a theme here but until we get hit by the snow most of the news is likely to be lodge-related. Another toy to add to the collection in the bar. Any of you who have spent seasons in the French Alps have surely wasted hours smacking a minature football around a table. Super-fun for all.

Challenges from all-comers welcome this winter but be warned - we're in pre-season training already and my wrists have never been this quick and supple.

Ramp finished and riding well

2009-11-09T17:20:00.000-08:00

The mini-ramp has been finished for a few days now and looks great as well as riding well. It's a popular distraction as we wait for the temperature to drop.

Trying to get some video footage of people axing themselves but everyone proving to be annoyingly talented at the moment.

Patience.....

The Return of the Mini-Ramp

2009-10-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day out here with everyone just in T-shirts and the trip who are out in the canyon at the moment must be loving the warmer temperature. Those who drew the short straw though are back at the lodge working hard.

Last winter season Gordy knocked up a mini-ramp undercover out on the deck which turned into one of the big winners for those winter evenings. So successful in fact that it was literally skated to death. People would drift in after a day on the slopes, grab a bite in the cafe and then session the half pipe. There's some really talented local skaters around and lots of lodge guests managed to put in a decent show (demonstrating mis-spent childhoods perhaps?)

So we're resurrecting the mini-ramp to keep you entertained again this winter.

A couple of the summer rafting guides have really strong backgrounds in skating and snowboarding so volunteered to put their experience to good use.

It's looking really good at the moment and everyone's itching to test it. It's going up ahead of schedule with plenty of willing hands, so who knows, maybe a few extra features for the Canyons skatepark on the deck?

And for those of you that can't skate, wrap up and spend your après ski with drink in hand and watch what a bit of Dutch courage does to someone that hasn't skated for 20 years. Hours of fun. (Or take a lesson with the soon to be formed Canyons Skate School!)

Weekend Caving

2009-10-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

The caving guides were busy on the weekend with trips heading out on both days. November is our caving month so the guides are going to be spending a lot of time underground in the coming weeks.

Once at the entrance to the cave you're issued your gear for the day. Overalls, shoes, helmet, gloves, harness and most importantly of all, the headlamp. It really is pitch dark once you get a short way into the cave system. It's quite creepy if everyone turns their lamps off when you're underground. You can't even see your hand in front of your face.

Every twist and turn in the cave presents a different challenge and as you explore deeper into the system you have to use a bunch of different climbing skills to continue. There are ascents, descents, narrow squeezes and rappels. The guides are with you but you have to work as a team to get through some of the tricker sections.

It's a really rewarding sport and when you emerge back into the sunlight again there is a great sense of achievement. There's something very peaceful about being underground and cut off from the familiar sounds of everyday life. You can only see what your headlamp illuminates whether it's a sleeping bat or the grinning face of a companion.

As the weather starts to get a little wetter, caving offers a full day of adventure even when other activities may be washed out.

Give it a go. It's a fantastic experience.

End of another NZ Winter

2009-10-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when our winter crew start to drift back from their Southern Hemisphere winters. As soon as the snow melted here last spring, skis and boards where packed up and our full-time instructors headed south to start work for the June opening of the New Zealand resorts With reports coming back of decent early snowfalls before most of them left here everyone was expectant. Conditions were awesome from opening day and were to stay great for most of the season with regular top-ups of new snow.

Most of our instructors head to Queenstown down in the South Island. If you haven't been, it is a stunning part of the world and the view from the ski slopes down to the bottom of the valley are worth the trip in themselves.

With two main ski areas around Queenstown and a few more within an hour's drive, as well as the heli-skiing otptions, there is plenty of skiing to be had, and especially in a good snow year like this was, it's a great place to ski.

The majority of our instructors are qualified with the NZ ski and snowboarding bodies so while working down there it is a good chance to get some extra training in and pick up a few more qualifications.

What with the abundance of snow this year the park crew had plenty to work with so there were some fantastic features in all of the parks to keep the jibbers entertained.

Those members of our snow sports school that aren't back yet are really excited to be returning to Japan and everyone is hoping that this season is going to be a particularly snowy one. The backcountry and snowshoe guides are also keen for heavy snow and hopefully early too. They've spent some time this summer checking out some new routes and are looking forward to getting out there and testing them.

Monday 28th October 2009 / Caving

2009-09-27T21:52:00.001-07:00

Monday 28th Oct, 2009 / Caving

As the caving season fast approaches we have been busy behind the scenes checking out new locations and routes in the caves. (Canyons caving season this year will be for the month of November only! )

The cave systems we use are still being explored. Every time we head to the caves we find something new; an unexplored passage, other connecting routes or a flock of bats! This feeling of exploration and discovery is one of the big thrills of caving. When you're the first person to squeeze through a hole and find a room the size of a house of the other size its a real sense adventure.

Below: One of our team rappelling down a drop into the Changara Cave.

Exploring underground involves a range of techniques; abseiling, climbing, crawling through tunnels, ascending ropes and a whole host of other skills are used. Even though the temperature remains at 14 deg C year round, a full day in the caves is quite a workout so get ready to sweat!

Below: A long section of passage that leads to a tight squeeze.

Below: The team meet in one of the large chambers for a lunch break.

Below: Climbing down one of the chimneys (A chimney is a caving term used to describe a narrow drop wide enough to climb down using your body to brace between the two walls)

If you are seeking a new adventure caving is something you must try!
Caving tour video here .
Caving page here.

Minakami Adventure Festival Oct 3rd & 4th 2009

2009-09-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

MINAKAMI ADVENTURE FESTIVAL OCT 3RD/4TH 2009

The Minakami Adventure Festival is a big two-day adventure celebration where you can try out many outdoor activities such as canyoning and rafting as well as bungee jumping, paragliding, hot air ballooning, canoeing, rappelling, mountainbiking and horseback riding from as little as 3,000yen. Last year attracted around 2000 people to the event to take part in adventure activities, listen to music, taste local food and beer or take part in one of the many games that are played throughout the day at the main stage.
If 30 hours of non-stop adventure is your style then there is also a two-day adventure race aimed at beginners-intermediate racers. Last year’s course required scrambling through mountains, navigation, single-track mountain biking, inflatable canoeing, rafting, cliff jumping and canyoning. The course is set by the head of the Japoanese adventure racing team, Tanaka Masato.
This year on Sunday there is a rafting race open to all, starting at 2pm teams of 4-6 people 　will race for a range of great prizes so why not get a team together? (2,000yen p/p entry fee) The dam has promised to release water for the event, so conditions should be perfect.

Air New Zealand have also come to the party offering a return flight to Queenstoｗn, the adventure capital of New Zealand (the world).　Enrty is open to all people who participate on activities at the adventure festival.

ＣHECK OUT FURTHER DETAILS AT-http://www.adventurefest.com/2009/index.html
(JAPANESE ONLY)
LODGING AVAILABLE AT - http://www.lodge.canyons.jp/

For canyoning and rafting and other tour information please visit - http://canyons.jp/index_E.html

Canyons will also be hosting the night event. A music party with 3 live bands and over 6 DJ's spinning an exotic blend of South American Mestizo Fiesta style music. The perfect end to a day of adventuring!

Hangi!

2009-09-07T18:14:00.001-07:00

After a busy August we decided to throw on an "otsukare" (thanks for the hard work) party for all the staff. As we have a lot of Kiwi(New Zealander) staff, (Keeps a high level of professionalism (and sarcasm)) we decided to show the rest of the Canyons crew some of our Kiwi culture by putting down a Hangi.

A Hāngi is a traditional NZ method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven.
It involves digging a pit in the ground, heating stones in the pit with a large fire, placing wire baskets of food on top of the stones, and covering everything with earth for several hours before uncovering.(Thanks to Wikipedia for the nice definition)

Above: The Hangi pit

Below: Some of the staff preparing the hot rocks in the fire.

Below: Raana, the Hangi master, keeping a eye on things

Below: Preparing the two very large baskets of meat and vegies (Raana on food prep, Ben on quality control for the beer)

Once its all covered up all that left to do know is wait for 4-6 hours! The recommended way to spend this time is;
drink beer
play touch rugby
drink more beer
swim at the river
drink more beer

A bit of touch rugby for young and old...

After about 6 hours underground the feed was pulled out....cooked to perfection! A feast to feed 60 people!

The later stages of the evening are still a little bit fuzy, but it involved everyone having turns at making shots, djing and then everyone swimming at the river under the light of the full moon.

Another great night in Minakami!

Poison Canyon

2009-09-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

Onsen (Hot Spring) Canyoning in Kusatsu

Last week a couple of us new comers (been away from Minakami for 5 years) headed over the Kusatsu on our day off to check out Poison Canyon for the first time. This very unique canyon holds many surprises, even for experienced canyoners.

The course starts of slow and easy with several climb down sections but its not long before you start to see the onsen water seeping out of the walls and bubbling up from the bottom of the river. The temperature of the water varies from cold spots of 10 deg C to hot spots of 30 deg C+. After never having experienced hot water in a canyon before, it was quite a bizarre sensation as we waded through sections of warm water.

Below: One of the first climb down sections

As we continued down the canyon things gradually started to become a little bigger, descended a few 3-8m waterfalls. As the grip was extremely good most of these could be climbed down without the use of a rope. As it wasn't the sunniest day, the mix of warm water and mist in the air made it both warm and mysterious.

Below: Looking back at the first few waterfalls through the mist

When we reached the third waterfall it was our first chance to pull out the rope. The 15m waterfall was a good warm up for the grand finale of the course.... a 50m vertical rappel.

Below: Rappelling down the 3rd waterfall.

After a little work setting up ropes we soon found ourselves rappelling down a 50m onsen waterfall. What a feeling! This very well may be the only onsen canyoning trip in the world!

Above: Looking back up at the last 50m waterfall.

If you are looking for something very different then I highly recommend checking out Poison Canyon.

Check out the Canyons website for more info or to book a trip to this extraordinary canyon.
http://www.canyons.jp/Canyoning_F.html

Note: The course takes its name from the fact that there are no fish or insects that can live in the water because of the high concentration of sulfur.(onsen water)

Yamanashi Full Day Tour

2009-08-31T00:54:00.000-07:00

Out of the 16 courses that Canyons run, Yamanashi ranks No1. for thrills. Simply said, it is BIG! BIG waterfalls, BIG slides, BIG jumps and a BIG walk in! Definately not a course suites to everyone, but for BIG thrill seekers it is paradise!

The last weekend of August saw a crew of 7 adrenaline junkies put their courage to the test on this amazing course. With the river running at the best level and the weather playing along, the scene was set for a perfect day in the canyon.

(team picture at the start of the day)

The day starts with a stunning walk in. The path meanders along the course so you can check out all the waterfalls you are due to face on the way down.

The start point for the Canyoning is about an hour and a half walk in. When you reach the top, a series of pools and a stunning section of five consecutive waterfalls all with perfect sliders is awaiting. A dream start to a canyoning course.

(the 4th waterfall- 12m)

The falls get progressively bigger with the fifth one being a huge 20 meter drop. As you sit at the top of the drop you can't see the bottom of the waterfall or where you are going to land, but can definitely hear the water pounding down into the pool below you. The first 10m of the waterfall form a narrow chute closely followed by a natural kicker which throws you in the air to freefall the last 10m. This is one of the biggest adrenaline rushes of the day and those that are keen can climb back up for a second helping!

(top of the 20m waterfall)

After the morning warm up the guides share out the gourmet sandwiches and soup for lunch, followed by some drinks. The team takes a 15 minute rest to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the sounds of the forest, before suiting up again and back into the water

(group taking a lunch break)

The afternoon session is a series of over 30 waterfalls spread over 2.5 kms varying in size and shape; head first angle sliders, verticle slides, jumps, swims.....

We don't want to give away too much. If your up for it you'll just have to get out to Yamanashi and try it yourself. Those that have done this canyon will remember it for life!

Yamanashi Course info

Monday 24th August 2009

2009-08-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

THE GUIDES CHECK OUT CRYSTAL CANYON

After earlier trips this month were canceled due to excess rain so with the next Crystal canyoning tour of the season coming up this weekend, the guides headed up to Niigata last week to check the course.
It's a stunning walk in, with a path that heads up the side of the canyon providing short glimpses of what you will encounter on the way down through the Canyon.

[looks small but this waterfall is 18m]

The start point is about 90 minutes walk in, when you reach the water, there is a beautiful section of canyon with Crystal clear water, great for a few jumps to warm up.

As you start to decend the canyon there are a series of small jumps before you get the the main falls in the middle section of the canyon. This waterfall jump below is one of the biggest thrills in Crystal with approx 18m of vertical and a large volume of water pounding around you. To add to the thrill, you can't see the landing from the start of the jump!

Further down the Canyon you find yourself standing at the top of a 35m waterfall looking down the valley. This is a great spot for chill out and enjoy the amazing scenery before decending the last waterfall of the day.

This is a great day out in one very special place. If your feeling fit and up for the challenge then this is a trip you won't forget in a hurry. Although its a long day it well worth the effort.

See full day canyoning schedule

Monday 27th July - family trips

2009-07-26T23:50:00.000-07:00

SUMMER FUN FOR FAMILIES

After a weekend of big thrills and high water levels, today the pace changed just a little in Minakami to cater for several families in the lower sections of Nosehair Canyon.

A short hike through some picturesque native bush will bring you to the base of "Nosehair Falls", an impressive 40m waterfall. Below the falls is the start of the natural water park that is Nosehair Canyon. Explore behind small waterfalls and slide down naturally carved chutes, swim in the crystal clear water and float through deep pools. A refreshing half day in an incredibly beautiful canyon.

(Above; a narrow slide that provides plenty of excitement for the younger ones)

(Below; the families posing for a group photo in a hanging pool)

Nosehair Canyon is our most popular half day canyoning tour for families and for a good reason. It has a little bit of everything that makes canyoning great; jumps, slides and swims. It is a great first time canyon for families of varying abilities and thrill levels. Those who want to take it easy can be given easier options (mums and younger kids?) with plenty of flexibility to crank the thrills up a notch (older kids and dads?).

(Below; getting ready to do one of the smaller jumps.)

(Below; make sure you have a decent breakfast becuase youll need all the energy you can get!)

Check out our website and book a tour for some Family Canyoning Fun.

Ages: 6 or above (at least 110cm tall)
Tours available: July - September Weekdays only
Swimming is not essential but water confidence is a must. (must be able to put head under the water)

Maple 1 day Canyon Minakami

2009-07-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

MAPLE CANYON ONE DAY,　MINAKAMI SAT 11TH JULY

Once again the past weekend provided us with beautiful weather in Minakami, and with the recent weekday rain the scene was set for some great outdoor adventures.

On Saturday we had a group of super repeaters who took on the challenge of the Maple Canyon 1 day trip.

Maple Canyon is set high in the mountains above Minakami, in a native forest. We started running the full day course at Maple Canyon last year. The main attractions are the many slides that it offers, but it also has it fair share of larger waterfalls for rappelling and jumping.

Because of the altitude the water is very "refreshing" (a euphemism for bloody cold) and can be drunk directly out of the river. The many frogs and other water based wildlife are a testament to the waters purity. [see below]

Starting off with a spectacular 20m waterfall the group descended into the canyon using ropes and abseiling equipment. Once in the canyon they had a series of challenges to navigate including plenty of slides and jumps.

The first jump once in the canyon gets the heart pumping as you jump into a narrow section of the canyon with lots of water gushing down on top of you from the waterfall above. For those that are not up to a jump you can be lowered by rope.

A short swim out from the bottom gets you to the safety of the riverbank.

After the first waterfall section there is a bit of a river walking section until the slider section starts. Time to enjoy the surroundings of this pristine area and warm up before the next dousing!

Sliders! The sliders start reasonably melow, with only small drops and slight inclines. This is a good warm up for the BIG sliders that the group will face in the afternoon session.

At approx 1pm the group decided upon a nice spot on the side of the river to have lunch. The guides shared out the gourmet sandwiches and soup, followed up by cake for dessert! The crew took a 10 minute kip (sleep) to let lunch settle and enjoy the sounds of the forest, before suiting up again and back into the action.

The afternoon section is mainly slides and jumps, in all shapes and sizes. Below is a selection of pics from the lower section.

[Below: One of the many sliders in Maple Canyon. As you can see by the look on her face, this trip provides excitement plus!]

[More sliders in the lower section of Maple canyon]

By approx 3.30pm the group had reached the end of the Canyon. The whole group looked pretty tuckered out (tired), so all took a slow walk back through the forest to the cars and headed back to base for a few beers and a bit of a yarn. (Yarn; Kiwi slang for having a discussion)

Although Maple Canyon a pretty big day, its well worth the effort. One of the good things about this full day course is that first time canyoners can also participate. So if you have a group with a mix of experience, thrill and fitness levels but want to try a full day canyon then Maple is a good choice.

Maple Canyon info

Full Day Canyoning Schedule

2009-07-06T20:21:00.000-07:00

Deer Canyon Full Day Report
Sun July 5th, 2009

10 excited canyoners took on the awesome Deer Canyon Full day course last weekend with perfect conditions. The water was a little on the high side after recent rains but the sun was shining and the temps were high. The group comprised of nine women and just one man! [Above - the group saying a quick prayer at the quaint shrine above the entrance to the Canyon]

The first waterfall, Satsuzen no Taki (Murder Falls) was descended using a special rope technique called a guided rappel. This technique is often used at high water to (mostly) avoid being pummeled by the force of the water and provides a spectacular view of thew waterfall as you fly along on the rope from 35m up!

The group takes a rest in one of the crystal clear pools, enjoying the incredible terrain of the canyon and trying to make out the sky through the overhanging forest canopy.

{Above - small jump]
[Below - big jump]

The second waterfall section (Ido Falls) is a double waterfall, the first of which is usually jumped. There is a high jump (10m) and low jump(4m) option, as you see in the videos. Customers can choose between the two heights. This day there were only 2 takers for the high jump.

The photo to the right is the taken from the bottom of the third waterfall. LUNCH TIME!. The sun shines through a large whole in the canopy providing warmth. Time to relax and enjoy the delicious lunch that is provided with the tour.

The first waterfall after lunch (fourth waterfall 7m of the tour) is the first chance to try rappelling in a waterfall. It is not as easy at it looks, with the water pressure trying to take your feet out from under you at every step. The guide is actually below holding the rope for safety, so even if you let go, you will not fall. If you don't have the confidence to rappel you can also be lowered down slowly. This day everyone challenged the rappel. On ya girls!

Directly below the rappel is a great waterfall slide into a huge pool. This can be done multiple times with a short climb around the slide back to the top.

In the afternoon section, the canyon starts to widen out a bit providing incredible views towards Mt Shirane and plenty of large pools, slides and jump spots.

The lady to the right is about to do a small jump into the pool above the impressive double waterfall, Datta no Taki (30m).

Below is a video of one of the slides down the first drop on Datta no Taki. You can choose the height you want to be dropped!

This lady below is negotiating her way down the second waterfall in Datta no Taki.

The picture below shows the groups at the bottom of the last waterfall. A 35m rappel. Smiling faces (looks of relief?) all around.

Saturday 27 / Sunday 28th

2009-06-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

Deer Canyon

Well what a cracker weekend! With temps over 30 degrees both days last weekend, conditions for canyoning were perfect.

A large number excited canyoners made the most of the conditions at our Kusatsu/Kuni-mura base, enjoying the spectacular Deer Canyon for the first time.

Deer Canyon is one of our best courses, with lots of BIG waterfalls, jumps and technical ropework. The scenery and native bush is amazing with incredible views of Mt Shirane (Volcano) as you descend the Canyon. If you like em big, then Deer Canyon is a MUST!

The other BIG attraction with our Kusatsu/Kuni-mura base is the huge selecton of hot springs in the area. Just 5 mins from the goal point of the full day course is Shiriyaki Onsen (Burning Bum). A natural hot spring which permeates into a cool river to produce the perfect temperature (contradictory to the name)

[Above - An excited customer learning the correct rappelling technique]

[Below- Looking down from the top of the first 35m waterfall (Murder Falls) in Deer Canyon, Kusatsu. This is a unique waterfall with the water hitting a bump halfway down creating an impressive "rooster tail" to rappell under.]

[Below - Half way down Awadachi Taki (Foaming Falls)]

[Below - At the top of one of the larger slides in Deer Canyon]

Deer Canyon has both half day and full day options with over 7 large waterfalls descended on the full day.

The full day offers more challenges; rappelling by yourself (safety backup in place) down some BIG waterfalls (35m+), BIG slides (15m+) and BIG jumps (10m+).
Kusatsu full day canyoning

For those with not enough time to spare the half day offers ample adrenaline with 4 waterfalls varying from 7m - 30m, slides, jumps and some nice swim sections. If you are not so good with heights or have someone in your group that wants to take it easy, then the half day can be customized to make each option easier. Instead of rappelling yourself, you can be lowered down slowly, instead of jumping you can be lowered down slowly.....you get the jist.

Kustatsu 1/2 day canyoning

2009-06-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday 20th / Sunday 21st June

CANYONING SEASON IS HERE!

After a few days of rain late last week the water level in the canyons were perfect for canyoning over the weekend.

A combination of sun and great water made for plenty of huge smiles over the weekend, as our guides made the most of the conditions.

FOX CANYON
Fox Canyon was pumping on the weekend! Big water and Big smiles everywhere.

Fox is our most popular half day canyoning tour and with good reason. It has a little bit of everything that makes canyoning great. Jumps, slides, swims, rope-work.... It is a great fist time canyon for groups of varying abilities and thrill levels. Those that want to push it harder have some more difficult options. Those who want to take it easy can be given easier options.

Full Day Canyoning
Recently we have seen a increase in people seeking a full day of adventure. Canyons offers a large range of different full day options, with 2 new courses added for the 2009 season. Info on these options can be found here on the web page.
Last week was a chance for the guides to visit one of the newer courses in Kusatsu and see what all the talk was about. Azur Canyon, named after the colour of the water, is a beautiful canyon with plenty of rope work and its was a great day out that we all enjoyed.

For more information on the new courses see the Fullday Canyoning page

Azure Canyons Pics

A series of different rope-work techniques are required to descend the Canyon.

Rafting continues...
Although canyoning season has hit, the rafting is still popular. Water levels were still good over last weekend with plenty of action on the river to keep our guides on their toes!

Hope to see you on the river soon!

Momiji Canyon

2009-06-06T01:05:00.000-07:00

The water for rafting has dropped slightly in the 2 last weeks, allowing us to now run the infamous Momiji (Maple) Canyon. This is one of the best whitewater rafting sections in Japan. Continuous grade 3-4 rapids in a picturesque canyon that can only be accessed by raft.

All the guides are always phyched when all of the conditions fall into place to make for the ultimate tour. These photos were taken last weekend capture one such tour. The sun was shining and the water was the perfect level (3.1m). 7 boats loads of excited customers letting out screams of excitement as they negotiated the 3 main canyon sections of the Tone River.

Check out Minakami Rafting on the Canyons website.

The following sequence was shot at "Dynamite Rapid", the first of the big rapid section in Momiji Canyon.

If you haven't yet made it up for a Spring raft trip then get in quick as the water is likely to drop around late June. No worries if June isn't possible, as the canyoning season is really starting to crank up now with nearly all of our 16 courses up and running.
Half day Canyoning

The Guides in Yamanashi

2009-06-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

So with the first Yamanashi Canyoning Tour of the season coming up this weekend, the guides headed down there yesterday to run the course and make sure it still lives up to its hype. It's a stunning walk in, with a path that meanders along the course so you can check out all the features you are due to face.

The start point is about an hour and a half in, when you reach the top pools, a stunning section of five waterfalls, all with perfect sliders. A dream start to a canyoning course. The falls get progressively bigger with the fifth one being a huge 20 metre drop.

Below is the fourth waterfall and slider which is at the bottom of the picture above. You get swept down the face and over a smooth lip that launches you out into the pool.

After that you come to the big one. As you sit atop this one you can't see the bottom of the waterfall but can definitely hear the water pounding down into the pool below you. You slip in to a natural chute, straight into the main flow which fires you out into the pool, and after a decent dunking, washes you out to the safety of the far bank. When you're sitting at the top you'll be wondering what you have let yourself in for and why you're doing this. By the time you are washed up at the bottom, you'll fully understand.

That is a guide's foot in mid-plummet in the picture above.

This is only the first few minutes of the tour. There is plenty more river to run after this with loads more jumps, waterfalls and sliders. We don't want to give away too much. You'll just have to give it a go yourself. Definitely big thrills and a full-on canyoning experience guaranteed.

The Weekend and Hijimagari

2009-05-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

This is pretty much the favourite picture of the weekend. Just about captures the feeling of being on top of what is known as The Abyss in Fox Canyon. The only thing stopping your plunge down into the foaming waters below is a guide in a glam-rock wetsuit. The second he lets you go, it's straight down into the abyss. You'll be tossed around by the water, whipped away by the current and pop up a little further down stream with a huge grin on your face. It's awesome.

Hijimagari Canyon in Kusatsu - new this year but some photos from the guides running it last year for the first time.

We've got many tried and tested Canyons that are a staple part of our adventures but we're always looking for new challenges. Last summer we found Hijimagari canyon over in Kusatsu, now renamed Azul, for the colour of the water in its pools.

Plenty of waterfalls, sliders and natural features with a few extra challenges designed by the guides for those of you that like a little extra thrill with your tours.

This is a fantastic canyon that this season is debuting as one of our special full day weekend tours. It's only available on set dates throughout the season, so if you are interested in adding its scalp to your collection, let us know.

Not for the Faint-hearted

2009-05-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

It's almost Full Day Canyoning season. We're still enjoying the high water on the river for the rafting but soon it is the turn of canyoning to take centre stage.

If you've enjoyed a taster of this great sport on one of the half day tours then the full day option is definitely for you. As you would expect though, it offers more in every sense: more vertical, more adrenaline and more features.

With some of these canyons soon to open their doors for the season, we had to send some of the guides in to have a look.

First off, Deer Canyon in Kusatsu which opens up on the weekend of 30/31st May.

Deer Canyon is one of the most beautiful courses that we run. It has some really big waterfalls, 8 in all and also a couple of very fast sliders. It's technical, with lots of vertical and some stunning views.
If you are not familiar with Kusatsu, it is well worth a visit and has some terrific onsen for afterwards too (although the guides said it was pretty warm when they were over there.)

Next up, Yamanashi Canyon, over in (you guessed it) Yamanashi Prefecture. This is one that we don't advertise but is open to anyone who has been out on a canyoning tour with us before. We head over there once a month with a select group of just 10 customers. This river was made for canyoning, or vice versa, and is big. The waterfalls, the drops, the jumps - everything is huge.

There's one fantastic section where you get spat out of waterfall, plummetting into a pool far below you, that feels alot like plunging into the spin cycle of the washing machine. You will be scared at the top, but whooping with exhilaration at the bottom. This is full-on canyoning at it's very best. It's not on the website but if you think you can handle it, drop us a line. The next Yamanashi Canyon tour is the weekend of 6/7 June.

2009-05-08T23:50:00.000-07:00

Glorious Weekend Weather.

Well, the forecasters were spot on with their "blue skies and sun" prediction. It's been a very warm 26 degrees today and a definite taste of the summer weather ahead of us.

The animal kingdom is well aware of the benefits of cooling off in the river during hot temperatures and some sensible people are catching on as well. Plenty of people rocked up here bright and early to get out on the river.

Conditions for rafting are so good at the moment that we can run really long courses. It's still highwater season and when conditions are this good, it is possible to put in right by our base.

A quick paddle from there and you are straight into the churning rapids. On a day as warm as today, that first wave breaking over you is welcome refreshment.

Canyoning is a cooler option with more time spent in the water and as usual, people out strolling, enjoying the weather, were treated to the site of wet-suited lunatics hurling themselves off cliffs and waterfalls.

Today saw the opening of the new Flying Fox feature at Fox Canyon. The initiated, who have already managed to make it down this twenty metre monster waterfall, now have another rush (in every sense of the word) to experience.

Golden Week Adventures

2009-05-04T22:43:00.001-07:00

Golden week has provided some incredible conditions for rafting and canyoning, with high flows and plenty of sunshine. The guides have been making the most of it by doing super long courses.
(above) Rowan with an excited crew coming down through the Dragon Rapid, on the half day rafting tour. This is one of the grade 3 sections on the Tone River and one of the longest rapids in Minakami.
(photo: May 2nd)

Minakami Rafting Tour Information

CLICK ON IMAGE TO SEE FULL SIZE

Fox Canyon, Minakami canyoning most popular course has started for the year. (above)Here's a keen crew just starting into the canyon, practicing sliding, swimming and hand signals before the real fun begins..... just around the next bend is Inaritaki (Inari waterfall)!

(photo: May 4th)

(above)A virgin canyoner can't wipe the smile of her face as she prepares to slide Inari Waterfall. If you look carefully (click on image to enlarge) you can see another customer at the bottom of the falls. It's a long way down!

(photo: May 4th)

Minakami Canyoning tour info