Snowboard, Onsen, and Groumet Trip in Minakami!!
(Feb 11,2005)
PART1 : SNOWBOARD IN WHITE VALLEY
Major storm attacked Japan Sea side of Japan inclucding Minakami area last week!!
Lift chair was out of service due to too much snow!!
and..YES!! It's a three day weekend!!
So, ZZ-san, Memento and I decided to go to Minakami for snowboarding!!
We arrived at Memento's little lodge in Minakami at 7:00a.m.
Our plan was to get the 1st track at White Valley Ski Area
and then go to Tenjindaira when thier upper lift service starts.
Yes! we get the first lift chair of the day in White Valley at 8:00a.m., as we planned...
BUT the upper lift starts at 8:40....
So, We decided to hike up until the upper lift service starts.
It took us about 20min. to get to the top of the hill.
ZZ-san, Memento, then I dropped in to the virgin white powder bowl!!
Hee-ha!! it was fun!!
Powder snow was about 20cm deep and hits the icy bottom sometimes....
It took us few seconds to get to the bottom!! too short!!
We waited for the upper lift service to start.
and we also get the 1st lift chair again and we marked the 1st,2nd,and the 3rd track of the day!!
It would be better if the snow was deeper,
BUT we made 5 runs and we are all quite happy about powder ride!!
Still snowing in Minakami!!
Oh No!! Not again!! Lift chair was not in service!!
But the virgin powder snow was waiting in front of us!!
We decided to hike up to the top!!
PART2 : Yummy Udon at Tanigawadake Ropeway Station...
After the fun in White Valley, we came up to the Tenjidaira Ski Area!!
BUT... sad information was up on the bulletin board....
Half of the course was closed!! including the longest Tajirizawa course!!
Oh No!! We bought lift tickets...but we decided not to go up.
We got refound and decided to go to Houdaigi...
Oh...We wanted to do something in Tanigawa Ropeway staion.
because it took us nearly one hour to get here..
So, Memento and I had Tempura Udon at the ropeway base station....
It was very good for 480yen!!
This udon worth one hour of drinving to get here, only for one Tempura udon!!!!
We just arrived at the Tanigawa Ropeway station!!
Oh No!! the long course under the ropeway was closed...
They sais it will not open whole day.... beacuse of avalanche alert...
Memento just couldn't stand that the course was colsed...
So, he started to ride in the parking lot...
It was also a long drive from Tanigawadake...
We drove into deep mountain area...
It was my first time at Houdaijyu Ski Area!!
It is big and many families......
We enjoyed 4runs and we decided to have some yummy ramen!!
The time was little past noon....
I guess we can have lots of fun!!
Sorry No Picture!!
PART4 : Yummy Ramen at Hotaka Ramen Shop!!
I guess this is the best ramen shop around this area!!
BUT We pland to have Yummy Yakiniku(Korean BBQ) for dinner...
So, We wondered if we should have a ramen or not...
C'est la vie...
We cannot resist our strong apetite or greed for good food!!
Anyway I orderd Stamina Ramen which topped with Fried pork, Japanese leek, and garlic!!
Oh it was yummy!!!
I Guess we need to snow shoveling before dinner!!
This is my favorite "Stamina" Ramen!!
Wow Fried pork, Japanese leek and garlic gives you the endless power!?
Memento and ZZ-san!!
Yummy!!
Memento in front of Hotaka Ramen Restaurant!!
PART5 : Relax in Kawafuru Onsen(Spa)
After having yummy ramen, we came back to Minakami and went to Kawafuru Onsen to relax!!
Quality of hot springs here is one of the best!!
BUT......
When we are relaxing in out side spa(Roten-Onsen),
a old guy started to smoke!! in a spa!!
And he dropped ash into the spa!!
What a punk!!!
Memento got mad and yelled at him to get out......but he stayed in the spa...
.........
Nice out door spa in Kawafuru-Onsen!!
PART6 : Snow Shoveling.....
We are all full and relax...
BUT we needed to be hungry by Yakiniku Dinner!!
When we returned at Memento's little lodge, it was covered by tremendous amount of snow...
We tried to shovel and remove those tremendous amount of snow to move our body and get hungry!!
Man!! It was a tough job!!
We did it for nearly one hour and removed quite few amount of snow...
Imagine if we were living in snowing area....we had to do this every day in winter....
Oh No....
Anyway our main purpose was achived...we were all hungry and ready for Yakiniku dinner!!
BUT before dinner...we were all swet....
Let's go to Minakami Onsnen before yakiniku dinner!!
Memento was snow shoveling....Tough job!!
PART7 : Minakami Onsen.....
Oh we love this place!!
It is nice onsen and quiet and feel so good!!
Too bad that this place is getting popular...
So we need to make reservations before come....
It was very nice as usual!!
Certification of Great Hot Spa!!
PART8 : Main Event of the Day!! Yakiniku Dinner!! (MEAT CLUB)
Oh we love this place!!
The quality of meat was even better than before!!
Watch Out Lee(CH)!! lots of sesami!!
Do you want to see more? Click this picture!!!