JAPAN

Shiga Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba, Furano, Niseko, Fuji Tenjinyama, Iwanei-SKIING IN JAPAN: LICE, ORYMPICS, AND FLEE LIDE-Japan is the only country to host two winter Olympic games between 1970 and 2000. This is well deserved, since many of Japan’s resorts receive enormous amounts of snowfall. Our visit begins in Nozawa Onsen, a hot-springs resort that peaks out at about 1700 meters, is at the latitude of Morocco, and averages close to fifteen meters of snowfall per season! (Most of it very light) From there we go on to Shiga Kogen, Japan’s largest resort, where wild apes enjoy the hot springs right by the pistes, and Hakuba, site of the downhill and super G competitions at the Nagano Olympics, and Japan’s best off-piste area. On the northern island of Hokkaido, we visit Furano, Niseko, a picturesque resort next to the volcano, Mt. Yotei, and a small resort with a view of the Sea of Japan. All this still leaves us time for a baseball game in Tokyo, a visit to Mt. Fuji, and a few moments to enjoy the famous cherry blossom season in this beautiful land. Needless to say, this article goes beyond skiing to describe the fascinating cultural experience that can hardly be avoided on a trip of this nature.

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