I took a run up to Iwappara for the first time on Saturday, it was also my first snowboard outing for 2009 …. and i loved it.
Iwappara Ski Resort is about 90 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo, an easy journey out and back.
It was a pretty average day, a bit overcast and rainy at times.
That didn’t stop a heap of punters heading up for the day.
It’s a pretty basic mountain with only about 10 runs of differing degrees of difficulty.
After a good 1/2 runs it was time for lunch.
No shortage of options, the usual Ramen, Curry an Pasta to chose from.
I went the Spaghetti Bolognaise and a big arse bottle of Asahi,
Back out after lunch to take on the mountain once more.
Snowboarding is big amongst the young in Japan, especially popular with the girls.
It’s quite a view when you reach the highest point.
I’d almost forgot it was Valentines Day except for these characters at the station on the way home.
The station is well kitted out with local drinks and foods for the obligatory omiyage.
I bought some spicey crab cakes.
Time to hit the Shinkansen for the 90 minute ride home, everyone tuckered out.
Bring on next weekend where i’ll once again enjoy the pleasures of carving, best said in a French accent. Visit the Iwappara website for all the logistics of getting there.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah, now that brings back a lot of memories. Iwappara is great for starting out, once you get the hang of it, Kagura probably has the best terrain Yuzawa has to offer. Though it is a short bus ride from the station. Also, not sure if he is still there or not. I haven’t heard from him in a long while and can’t find his website. Not a good sign. But there is (maybe) a New Zealander named Paul who runs a bar/restaurant/hotel call Backcountry Oasis on route 17.
Cheers for the tip. I’ve been boarding for about 7 yrs now and am pretty handy ….. i guess Iwappara is a lazy mans choice which is why we went there. Hoping to get a bit further afield this season. A fella from work has been going to Kagura … will look into it for sure.
loved the pic of the sake with the drunk salaryman manequins!
anywhere else alcholism would be a problem, in japan they celebrate it!
i love japan!
hm the hills aren’t that steep :/ i like em nice and high so you can ride for about 20 mins to the bottom… like this: http://www.cerklje.si/fileadmin/cerklje__user_global/galerija/krvavec/krvavec2.jpg it aint called Blood Mount for nothing
Yeh, it’s pretty tame this mountain …. but it’s so easy to get to for a cheeky day trip it’s hard to go past. Need to get to Hokkaido and further up North in general for the better mountains.
Do they have a pipe? any good drops? over 30 feet? i can’t wait to start boarding there. I dont have a car in Manhattan so it makes it a little hard to go snowboarding. There’s no trains going directly to the mountains. The place that does have a bus isnt that good and isnt worth going. I have to go visit my friend and have him drop me off. Love watching female boarders..
Not at Iwappara, need to go a bit further a field from Tokyo for all that stuff.
The pleasures of carving… I miss it Neil san. Looks a little Bullerish to me. have to love the 90 minute run though. Turramudeska hai chockto.
Yeh, its pretty shit by way of mountains mate …. but it’s cheap and close for daytrippers.