Free Japanese sake tasting

WeLoveSnow is based in Yuzawa - apart from ski resorts and huge snowfall, this town is also famous for

its 'onsen' hot springs, and the best quality quality rice in Japan is grown here.

The rice is so good here due to the quality of the water. And because the rice and water are so good, this makes for one of the best places in Japan to make sake.

Shirataki Brewery makes 'Jozen', one of the most famous sake brands in Japan. We have been helping Shirataki brewery to make their new English website. Feel free to take a look.

Apart from a wealth of information on the sake-brewing process and Shirataki's products, the best part of the site is the offer of free sake and a sake glass when you take a tasting tour at the brewery - the tour is also free of charge, and is open to everyone over 20 years of age (the legal age for drinking alcohol in Japan).

The brewery is only a 5 minute walk from Echigo-Yuzawa train station. For more information, see this sake tasting tours page.

Getting chilly: forecast -2 degrees !

We've been adding a view features to the site - the first page of our ski resort spotlight pages now have an info box giving various useful info, including links to weather reports.

Clicking the 'top of mountain' weather link on our Kagura page, the temperature is forecast to go down to -2 degrees overnight on Saturday... bring on the winter weather!

Kagura New Lifts and Runs

Well the new season is on the door step and Kagura have been busy re working their courses and lifts. Found out today that they have removed 3 old lifts from the main Kagura piste and built a brand new high speed lift promising faster and quicker trips up the hill. On the Gondola course they have ot rid of the middle flat part so there is no way you have to un strap anymore. On the Tashiro lake course they have built a new course direct back to the ropeway lift making it real quick to get back home. Other alterations involve a new entrance to the Kagura restaurant so more slipping down the ice to get the curry in a hurry.

First snow of 2007/08 season

Whippie whippie, just watched the evening news and it is official, snow is forecast for the mountains tomorrow night. 3cm bring it right on! and just getting whispered in my ear that it has already sprinkled some down on the top of Fuji. There we go this season is going to be massive in Yuzawa, it is going to be early, big, fantastic and just POWDER. Nothing more to add to the blog except for I Love Snow, You Love Snow WELOVESNOW.

WeLoveSnow hoodie winner (with her pet Elands)

In the rush of excitement after making up our WLS Hoodies, we ran a competition to give one away. This was ages ago - it took us a fair while to get the hoodie posted off. The winner was Carol, an expat Brit (I think) living in Kenya. Carol sent us a mail with some pictures showing off her prize;



Carol writes: "thought I would send across some piccies with me in my We Love Snow hoodie!!!! This is taken in my garden yesterday – I live in a Wildlife Sanctuary so thought they were quite unique pictures for you to show me in my We Love Snow hoodie feeding my two pet Elands!!!!"



Many thanks to Carol for sending in these pictures...before today I had no idea what an Eland was.

Countdown to the ski season

At the time of writing, there are 69 days, 18 hours, 17min and 47 seconds to go until our ski season begins, at 8am on Nov 17 at Naeba ski resort. The reason why I can say this with such precision is that I have just added a countdown script into the news section of our home page

Weather permitting, on this first day we'll be treated to a 300m run and a 150m run on man-made snow - although on some years there is a covering of natural snow over this base. Whilst this isn't ideal, its always a great feeling to get the gear back on and get strapped in & clicked onto boards and skis. The first day always feels like a bit of a fashion show - lots of people trying out new gear that they have bought for the season. Its also the little details that I love, such as once again hearing the familiar dulcet tones of the announcements telling you to raise the chairlift safety bar before you get off.

The first day always has a little bit of spice. Having boarders and skiers on the same slope always gives potential for some fun, especially when its generally experienced boarders & skiers who sometimes try popping the moves that they last tried 6 months ago.

So whilst the first day never provides the best snow of the season, its just great to get back on the slopes, in the knowledge that the conditions are going to get better and better....

Fall-line skiing

Much excitement in WeLoveSnow towers last night, when we received a sneak preview of a 6 page article on skiing in Yuzawa from Fall-Line Skiing magazine in the UK. The article will appear in the October issue of the magazine, in the shops on September 21: for readers in the UK, check it out!