Ski-in/out resort
Feb 3, 2019, 10:42 pm
#121
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Rusutsu
Going to Rusutsu shortly, and I'd like to know the following.
Which are some of the easier Red (intermediate) runs, and some of the easier Diamond (advanced) runs?
The former would be for my family, the latter for myself.
We're mainly interested in Isola and East Mtns, since staying at Westin.
Which are some of the easier Red (intermediate) runs, and some of the easier Diamond (advanced) runs?
The former would be for my family, the latter for myself.
We're mainly interested in Isola and East Mtns, since staying at Westin.
Feb 4, 2019, 4:22 am
#122
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
All reds on Isola and East Mountain are great, Isola Grand is rather crowded and therefore conditions can be strenuous, same goes for the lower part of Steamboat A. Heavenly view and ridge a my favorites. The black ridge is suitable for advanced skiiers as it is groomed - and a lot of fun for speed junkies.
Diamonds: heavenly canyon depends on snow conditions, isola a and super east are on the seriously difficult side.
Don't overlook west mountain. All runs are very nice albeit short, particularly in the morning when you are one of the first skiiers (elite!) . Giant is good for high speed runs.
Diamonds: heavenly canyon depends on snow conditions, isola a and super east are on the seriously difficult side.
Don't overlook west mountain. All runs are very nice albeit short, particularly in the morning when you are one of the first skiiers (elite!) . Giant is good for high speed runs.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:55 pm
#123
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
@evergrn
- Yes, kanko and onsen are joined seamlessly at 3 or 4 points or small side trails. Super easy to get from one to the other. Joint lift ticket is ¥15000 for 3 days.
- Yes there is a shuttle bus that runs between the different ski areas. Unfortunately I didn't visit any of them cos I took group ski lessons every day, and so we just stuck to kanko and onsen. I did notice that the 9am bus from akakura tended to be really crowded though, and that too on a weekday.
- I stayed in a ryokan around 5mins walk from ski shuttle, 10mins walk from kanko base lift. Wasn't too bad not having ski in ski out this time cos myoko snowsports let's you store skis at the base lift so you just need to carry boots to and from the hotel, and just strap up at the base lift. Kanko Hotel was waaaaay too expensive for my tastes lol.
- Yes most (all?) lifts were running. Other than Friday when it seems all the Japanese high schoolers from nearby came out for snowboard lessons, pistes pretty deserted and no lift lines.
- Regarding the 1 or 2 days thing, I guess it depends how many times you are OK to repeat runs. Certainly for me, doing the same 4 or 5 runs (the champion B run is an easy black) over and over got boring by day 3.
- Yes, kanko and onsen are joined seamlessly at 3 or 4 points or small side trails. Super easy to get from one to the other. Joint lift ticket is ¥15000 for 3 days.
- Yes there is a shuttle bus that runs between the different ski areas. Unfortunately I didn't visit any of them cos I took group ski lessons every day, and so we just stuck to kanko and onsen. I did notice that the 9am bus from akakura tended to be really crowded though, and that too on a weekday.
- I stayed in a ryokan around 5mins walk from ski shuttle, 10mins walk from kanko base lift. Wasn't too bad not having ski in ski out this time cos myoko snowsports let's you store skis at the base lift so you just need to carry boots to and from the hotel, and just strap up at the base lift. Kanko Hotel was waaaaay too expensive for my tastes lol.
- Yes most (all?) lifts were running. Other than Friday when it seems all the Japanese high schoolers from nearby came out for snowboard lessons, pistes pretty deserted and no lift lines.
- Regarding the 1 or 2 days thing, I guess it depends how many times you are OK to repeat runs. Certainly for me, doing the same 4 or 5 runs (the champion B run is an easy black) over and over got boring by day 3.
Last edited by shuigao; Feb 4, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Feb 4, 2019, 7:23 pm
#124
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
@evergrn
- Yes, kanko and onsen are joined seamlessly at 3 or 4 points or small side trails. Super easy to get from one to the other. Joint lift ticket is ¥15000 for 3 days.
- Yes there is a shuttle bus that runs between the different ski areas. Unfortunately I didn't visit any of them cos I took group ski lessons every day, and so we just stuck to kanko and onsen. I did notice that the 9am bus from akakura tended to be really crowded though, and that too on a weekday.
- I stayed in a ryokan around 5mins walk from ski shuttle, 10mins walk from kanko base lift. Wasn't too bad not having ski in ski out this time cos myoko snowsports let's you store skis at the base lift so you just need to carry boots to and from the hotel, and just strap up at the base lift. Kanko Hotel was waaaaay too expensive for my tastes lol.
- Yes most (all?) lifts were running. Other than Friday when it seems all the Japanese high schoolers from nearby came out for snowboard lessons, pistes pretty deserted and no lift lines.
- Regarding the 1 or 2 days thing, I guess it depends how many times you are OK to repeat runs. Certainly for me, doing the same 4 or 5 runs (the champion B run is an easy black) over and over got boring by day 3.
- Yes, kanko and onsen are joined seamlessly at 3 or 4 points or small side trails. Super easy to get from one to the other. Joint lift ticket is ¥15000 for 3 days.
- Yes there is a shuttle bus that runs between the different ski areas. Unfortunately I didn't visit any of them cos I took group ski lessons every day, and so we just stuck to kanko and onsen. I did notice that the 9am bus from akakura tended to be really crowded though, and that too on a weekday.
- I stayed in a ryokan around 5mins walk from ski shuttle, 10mins walk from kanko base lift. Wasn't too bad not having ski in ski out this time cos myoko snowsports let's you store skis at the base lift so you just need to carry boots to and from the hotel, and just strap up at the base lift. Kanko Hotel was waaaaay too expensive for my tastes lol.
- Yes most (all?) lifts were running. Other than Friday when it seems all the Japanese high schoolers from nearby came out for snowboard lessons, pistes pretty deserted and no lift lines.
- Regarding the 1 or 2 days thing, I guess it depends how many times you are OK to repeat runs. Certainly for me, doing the same 4 or 5 runs (the champion B run is an easy black) over and over got boring by day 3.
Akakura Kanko Hotel is way too expensive. Who would stay there, and who do they (hotel owners) think they are?!!
Are you done skiing for the season, or do you have another trip lined up?
Feb 4, 2019, 7:33 pm
#126
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
All reds on Isola and East Mountain are great, Isola Grand is rather crowded and therefore conditions can be strenuous, same goes for the lower part of Steamboat A. Heavenly view and ridge a my favorites. The black ridge is suitable for advanced skiiers as it is groomed - and a lot of fun for speed junkies.
Diamonds: heavenly canyon depends on snow conditions, isola a and super east are on the seriously difficult side.
Don't overlook west mountain. All runs are very nice albeit short, particularly in the morning when you are one of the first skiiers (elite!) . Giant is good for high speed runs.
Diamonds: heavenly canyon depends on snow conditions, isola a and super east are on the seriously difficult side.
Don't overlook west mountain. All runs are very nice albeit short, particularly in the morning when you are one of the first skiiers (elite!) . Giant is good for high speed runs.
Ok I will consider trying out the West Mtn side. We're staying at Westin (only 2 nights) and I'm not sure whether we're supposed to have our skis stored at the hotel or at the base of East Mtn (where I'm told the rental is at). It seems like the West is easy to get to from the East base, but not so easy from Westin (slow monorail which apparently goes to Rusutsu Resort Hotel rather than the slopes?).
Any impression as to which are the easier red courses and easier black courses?
Feb 5, 2019, 12:13 am
#127
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
Thanks for the info!
Ok I will consider trying out the West Mtn side. We're staying at Westin (only 2 nights) and I'm not sure whether we're supposed to have our skis stored at the hotel or at the base of East Mtn (where I'm told the rental is at). It seems like the West is easy to get to from the East base, but not so easy from Westin (slow monorail which apparently goes to Rusutsu Resort Hotel rather than the slopes?).
Any impression as to which are the easier red courses and easier black courses?
Ok I will consider trying out the West Mtn side. We're staying at Westin (only 2 nights) and I'm not sure whether we're supposed to have our skis stored at the hotel or at the base of East Mtn (where I'm told the rental is at). It seems like the West is easy to get to from the East base, but not so easy from Westin (slow monorail which apparently goes to Rusutsu Resort Hotel rather than the slopes?).
Any impression as to which are the easier red courses and easier black courses?
Easier red:
Heavenly view
Heavenly ridge B
Bambi
Eva
all others aren't that difficult either, however, they see a lot of skiiers so conditions may deteriorate over the day
Easier black:
Heavenly ridge A
Giant
Elite
Dynamic
Across B
Feb 5, 2019, 8:07 pm
#128
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
@Chinatrvl
Thanks a lot! This is very helpful.
Thanks a lot! This is very helpful.
Feb 8, 2019, 3:11 am
#129
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
Yeah, I think I found out quite early on that skiis react REALLY differently in the ungroomed stuff in between the trees (especially when you're trying to shed speed or turn). The trees I was in seemed quite safe though, cos they were right next to a beginner run (and had the same shallow gradient), so I never really picked up enough speed to feel like I'd lose control and slam into a tree.
Last edited by shuigao; Feb 8, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Feb 8, 2019, 4:39 pm
#130
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Feb 12, 2019, 1:48 pm
#133
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Feb 15, 2019, 4:22 am
#134
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,961
Just a really short video on akakura onsen/kanko.
Didn't take vids of most of the actual runs, sorry bout that (was taking lessons this time and I didn't really want to have to fiddle around with cameras and stuff).
Didn't take vids of most of the actual runs, sorry bout that (was taking lessons this time and I didn't really want to have to fiddle around with cameras and stuff).
Feb 19, 2019, 6:21 am
#135
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Will file a more detailed report later.
You were spot on with above info.
Heavenly Ridge A (Diamond) should definitely be Intermediate, Heavenly View (Intermediate) should be beginner.
The only thing I would say is Across B was extremely difficult. I'm not very good, but I really struggled with its crazy gradient and nasty moguls.
Dynamic, Elite, Izola B are all fine. I love Giant, but there's almost no flat place to put skis on at top of West Gondola!