Thank you KGV!

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

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

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

New Activity for Minakami

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

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

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

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

Pro Wrestling in Minakami

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.

SHH at Canyons on the long weekend.

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)

New Poster #2 - Ski/SB Lessons

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

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...

What a (Golden) Week!

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.

New 2010 Winter Uniform

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.

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

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.)

Last Bungy of the Season

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

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.

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!

Not for the Faint-hearted

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.

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

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

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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