Nozawa Onsen Ski Trip by HOUYHNHNM Ski Club♡.

HOUYHNHNM's Ski Club♡ is an annual winter tradition. This year we visited Nozawa Onsen ski resort, the envy of all ski lovers. It takes about 2.5 hours from Tokyo Station by the new Hokuriku Shinkansen line , getting off at Iiyama Station and heading for the slopes by car.

The three members of this year's group are as shown. On the left is Hideaki Makino, who works at the BEAMS Online Shop and is also a well-known leader of the BEAMS Run Club. He recently became a certified running advisor and is expanding his activities as a runner.

Next, in the center is Mayumi Yamase, the red star of the group. While working as a writer and editor for various media, she is also an artist in her own right. She creates a variety of works, including drawings, paintings, and felt sculptures. . Incidentally, he is also in charge of writing the manuscript for this project.

. The last one is Mr. Hiroshi Yamamoto, the founder of HOUYHNHNM's Ski Club ♡ and a member of HOUYHNHNM's editorial board. . Like Mr. Makino, he seems to be a runner these days. This spring, he completed the 169-kilometer "Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji" race in 45 hours. As someone who does not run at all, he is stepping into an area that makes no sense to me at all.

This time, we have a special opportunity to experience the newest model in the " XDR " series. The XDR is a versatile machine that can be used in all kinds of snow conditions. It is a versatile machine that can be used in a variety of situations on the slopes, such as in compacted snow, powder, and bumps.

Actor Koji Tamura, who served as our instructor this time. He is active in TV, movies, and stage performances, and has also won competitions in the world of skiing, a sport he has enjoyed since childhood, making him the "No. 1 skier in the entertainment industry," a title he certainly deserves.

After choosing the right board for their size under Mr. Tamura's guidance, they boarded the gondola and headed for the slopes! As the elevation rises, the powdery snow gradually begins to flicker, and in the perfect conditions, we will check the performance of the XDR series boards.

. First, we skied a soft gentle slope with powder snow. Although I was nervous about skiing for the first time in a long time, the start of the slope was smooth. Even though I am not good enough to talk about the performance of the gear, I could feel the stability of the skis.

The XDR is wide, stable, and lightweight. The center of gravity moves smoothly across the board, which is also appealing," said Yamamoto. Makino, an expert skier, said, "Even on hard snow, the edge works comfortably, and I can enjoy natural and smooth skiing.

The stability makes it easy for beginners like me, intermediate skiers will feel a new way to ski, and even advanced skiers will be satisfied. The XDR series, which can be enjoyed in all kinds of conditions, seems to be a gear that I can recommend to all levels of skiers.

The last photo was taken at the famous signboard of the slope! As you can see, there is 100% natural snow. Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort is the best place to ski down the slopes.

One of the best things about Nozawa Onsen is that it offers a full range of après-ski activities. You can visit the many natural hot springs, indulge in homemade jams, or eat oyaki made with Nozawana, a specialty of Shinshu. You can heal your body while enjoying the elegant streets of the hot spring resort.

Oyu" is the symbol of the hot spring resort. The building of the bathhouse from the Edo period (1603-1867) remains intact. The water temperature is high, so be careful when entering!

The highly popular House San Anton Jam Factory is a very popular souvenir. Everything is made without additives, and the contents are unique, such as passion fruit, apple & cherry, etc. .

Oyaki is a must in Onsen town , and the steam from the oven is appetizing. Is it because it is in a hot spring resort that this steamy atmosphere is so appetizing?

If you're in Nozawa , you should check out Nozawana as well.

Although this is a ski trip, travel and running go hand in hand. It didn't matter if the scenery was snowy or not! Yamamoto-san and Makino-san changed into their running clothes early in the morning the next day, forced their cameraman, who was cold, to go running in the Nozawa Onsen district.

The 5-kilometer course goes to Nozawa Onsen Olympic Sports Park, which will be the base for "The 4100D Mountain Trail in Nozawa Onsen," a trail running race held in the summer, then around the hot spring town, stopping at Asagama, and back to the inn.

They both said it was fun, but they honestly couldn't understand why they had to ride in conditions where the road surface was covered with snow and icy in places (laugh). (Laughs.) "It's interesting to see a city you don't know at the speed you are going," Yamamoto said. I see, I see.

After running, have breakfast at SHICHIROHEI COFFEE. The omelette with a thick slice of bacon was served on a griddle. In fact, we had dinner here last night, so we enjoyed the omelet with a sense of elation.

Only at SHICHIROHEI COFFEE can you drink authentic coffee in the morning. The excellent food and delicious coffee with a view of the snowy landscape , is enough to make you happy.

The day after enjoying the performance of the XDR series at Nozawa Onsen, we will drive to Lotte Alai Resort, the hottest slope that just reopened last season! We will get our gear together at the Salomon Station and get a quick taste of the superb snow quality in Myoko, Niigata Prefecture, which is famous for being one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan.

The slopes are composed of a large area with a wide variety of courses, from beginner-friendly areas with gentle slopes and pressured snow to powder snow in non-pressured areas that will satisfy intermediate and advanced skiers, offering a wide range of skiing.

In addition, Lotte Alai Resort offers a wide variety of non-skiing activities, such as Asia's longest zip line that traverses above the slopes, and rock climbing facilities that are ideal for developing one's mood.

Lotte Alai Resort from Nozawa Onsen. , a new option for your ski trip this season.