2024-03-01 Shiga Kōgen and Ōsaka

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin in the Auckland departure lounge

Photo: Simon

Adrian and Kevin at Narita airport
Photo: Simon

Us all at Narita airport
Photo: Simon

Kevin and Jim at dinner
Photo: Adrian

First breakfast at the Prince Hotel

Photo: Jim

West Wing Dining room at breakfast
Photo: Jim

Adrian and Kevin at breakfast Prince Hotel East Wing
Photo: Simon

Entrance to Shiga Kōgen Prince Hotel East Wing
Photo: Simon

Prince Hotel East room entrance
Photo: Jim

Kevin and Simon outside Prince Hotel East Wing
Photo: Jim

Jim ready to start skiing at Yakebitaiyama
Photo: Simon

Keving ready to start skiing at Yakebitaiyama
Photo: Simon

Kevin, Adrian, and Simon outside Prince Hotel East Wing
Photo: Jim

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin on Yakebitaiyama E2 course
Photo: Simon

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin at the top of Yakebitaiyama Gondola Number 1
Photo: Simon

Kevin, Simon, and Adrian on Yakebitaiyama B2 course
Photo: Jim

A fine day for skiing - Adrian, Jim, and Kevin outside the Prince Hotel East

Photo: Simon

Simon, Adrian, and Kevin on A1 course
Photo: Jim

Jim at the top of Yakebitaiyama Gondola number 1
Photo: Simon

Jim, Kevin, and Adrian in front of Okushiga Kōgen Gondola
Photo: Simon

Okushiga Kōgen Gondola
Photo: Simon

Simon at the top of Course Expert Okushiga Kōgen
Photo: Adrian

Adrian, Kevin, and Jim at the top of Course Forest
Photo: Simon

Adrian, Kevin, and Adrian in Gate 2 from Course Downhill
Photo: Simon

Kevin and Adrian off Piste through Gate 2
Photo: Simon

Leaving Okushiga Gondola bottom station
Photo: Jim

Restaurant St Christoph
Photo: Jim

View up the Okushiga Kōgen Gondola
Photo: Simon

Kevin on Ichinose Diamond

Photo: Simon

Top station Shiga Kōgen Terakoya
Photo: Simon

Simon taking a picture of Shiga Kōgen Terakoya
Photo: Jim

On the Terakoya Quad, usually not blue skies
Photo: Jim

Adrian at the top of Central Course 29
Photo: Simon

Kevin, Jim, and Adrian at the top of Central Course 29
Photo: Simon

Adrian at the top of Takamagahara
Photo: Simon

Adrian and Kevin at the top of Terakoya
Photo: Simon

Kevin, with Adrian and Simon ahead, leaving Terakoya on the First Pair lift
Photo: Jim

Kevin, with Adrian and Simon ahead, leaving Terakoya on the First Pair lift
Photo: Jim

Adrian, Kevin, and Simon looking down to Giant and Yamanoeki access gondola
Photo: Jim

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin at the entrance to the Higashitateyama Gondola
Photo: Simon

View from Yakebitaiyama A1 across to Ichinose and Takamagahara

Photo: Simon

View from track between A6 and A1 courses
Photo: Adrian

Adrian and view from Yakebitaiyama A1 over Gondola number 1
Photo: Simon

Kevin on Course Kuma-Otoshi
Photo: Simon

Adrian loading in the Okushiga Kōgen gondola
Photo: Jim

View from the Okushiga Gondola
Photo: Adrian

View up the Okushiga Gondola
Photo: Adrian

View from the Okushiga Gondola
Photo: Adrian

Simon and Kevin arriving at the Okushiga Gondola Station
Photo: Adrian

Simon and Kevin taking skis off at the Okushiga Gondola Station
Photo: Adrian

Adrian and Kevin at Okushiga Kōgen Gondola Base Station
Photo: Simon

Yakebitayama Chairlift 2
Photo: Simon

View Out My Window

Photo: Simon

Kevin and Adrian getting off the Yamanoeki access gondola
Photo: Simon

Jim getting off the Yamanoeki access gondola
Photo: Simon

Hotel Alpenburg room
Photo: Jim

Hotel Alpenburg room
Photo: Jim

Adrian and Kevin at the Chrystal Terrace and Snow Monkey bus stop
Photo: Simon

Stream crossing the Snow Monkey track
Photo: Adrian

View down to Yokoyu river from Snow Monkey path
Photo: Adrian

Snow Monkey Onsen and Yokoyu river
Photo: Adrian

Snow Monkey Onsen
Photo: Adrian

Snow Monkey and Yokoyu river
Photo: Adrian

Accommodation at Giant ski area
Photo: Simon

Jim, Adrian and Kevin breakfasting at Hotel Alpenburg

Photo: Simon

A fine day outside the Hotel Alpenburg
Photo: Simon

Kevin, Adrian, and Jim at the top of the Nishidateyama quad
Photo: Simon

Adrian and Kevin on the Nishidate 2nd triple, Takamagahara behind
Photo: Simon

Simon, Jim, Adrian, and Kevin on the Nishidate 2nd triple, Takamagahara behind
Photo: Simon

Snow Monkeys one the track to the Higashitake Gondola
Photo: Adrian

Adrian and Kevin on Maruike 1st Triple
Photo: Simon

Lunch at Green Cafe
Photo: Simon

Lunch at Green Cafe
Photo: Simon

Looking down Yamanoeki access gondola to Alpenburg
Photo: Jim

Dinner at Hotel Alpenburg
Photo: Adrian

Kevin, Simon and Jim at Alpenburg dinner
Photo: Adrian

Simon at the top of Yokoteyama 3rd sky lift

Photo: Adrian

View from the top of Yokoteyama 3rd sky lift
Photo: Adrian

View from top gondola station 4th Sky Lift
Photo: Adrian

View from top gondola station 4th Sky Lift
Photo: Adrian

Mt Yokote 2,307m sign
Photo: Adrian

Mt Yokote
Photo: Adrian

Mt Yokote
Photo: Adrian

Mt Yokote
Photo: Adrian

Sick days are tough, Kevin at Yokoteyama 3rd Sky Lift top station
Photo: Jim

Simon near the top of the Shibutoge 1st Pair Lift
Photo: Adrian

Side country off the Shibutoge 1st Pair Lift
Photo: Adrian

Simon skiing Second Skiing slope road
Photo: Adrian

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin putting skiis on outside the Alpenburg

Photo: Simon

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin outside the Alpenburg
Photo: Simon

Jim and Kevin on Takamagahara
Photo: Simon

Kevin and Adrian outside Hotel Hkuls
Photo: Simon

Kevin, Jim and Adrian at the top of Takamagahara
Photo: Simon

Jim and Adrian outside Khuls Cafe
Photo: Simon

Simon and Adrian at Terakoya looking across to Yakebitai
Photo: Jim

View down Ichinose Expert Forest course
Photo: Simon

Sking down Higashidateyama Olympic course
Photo: Simon

View down Hoppo-Bunadaira ski area to Giant ski area
Photo: Jim

Dinner at the Alpenburg
Photo: Adrian

Dinner setting at the Alpenburg
Photo: Adrian

On the Yamanoeke gondola

Photo: Adrian

Kevin and Adrian in the Yamanoeki Resort pulse gondola
Photo: Simon

Kevin, Jim, and Adrian at the top of Kumanoyu 1st pair lift
Photo: Simon

Adrian and Jim skiing Kumanoyu course 2 A
Photo: Simon

View of Kumanoyu from halfway station on Second Pair lift
Photo: Adrian

View of Kumanoyu from halfway station on Second Pair lift
Photo: Adrian

Kevin at the halfway station on Kumanoyu Second Pair lift
Photo: Adrian

Simon and view down Kumanoyu 2nd pair lift
Photo: Adrian

Kumanoyu course 3 A
Photo: Simon

View down Yokoteyama 2nd skiing slope
Photo: Simon

Simon and view down the Giant
Photo: Adrian

View from our Alpenburg room
Photo: Simon

Simon at set breakfast when only seven guests

Photo: Jim

Giant village early morning bluebird day
Photo: Simon

View down from the top of the Hauike Triple Lift back to Nishitateyama
Photo: Adrian

Kevin and Jim at the top of Hasuike Triple Lift
Photo: Simon

Adrian and Kevin at the top of Maruike 2nd Pair Lift
Photo: Simon

Adrian on Sun Valley A+ Polar Bear course
Photo: Simon

Shiga Kōgen Pulse lift
Photo: Simon

Snow monkey outside Hotel Itakura, Giant
Photo: Adrian

View from the top of Shiga Kōgen Terakoya
Photo: Adrian

View from Higashitateyama Gondola top station
Photo: Adrian

View from Higashitateyama Gondola top station
Photo: Adrian

Simon and Adrian at the Higashitateyama gondola station top lookout
Photo: Jim

Kevin and Adrian at Bunadaira top station

Photo: Simon

Jim and Adrian on Terakoya Philosophy course
Photo: Simon

Adrian, Kevin, and Jim at the Yakebitaiyama Nr 1 Gondole top station
Photo: Simon

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin at the Okushiga Gobdola top station
Photo: Simon

Kevin and Simon at top of Okushiga High Speed Pair Nr 3
Photo: Adrian

Kevin at the top of Okushiga Kōgen Course Export
Photo: Jim

Jim outside the Hotel Grand Phenix
Photo: Simon

Kevin and Simon enjoying the Hotel Grand Phenix
Photo: Simon

Adrian and Jim enjoying the Hotel Grand Phenix
Photo: Simon

Simon and Adrian at the top of Ichinose forest runs
Photo: Jim

Adrian on Nishidateyama
Photo: Simon

Last view snowy last evening out Alpenburg room
Photo: Jim

View Of Blizzard From Our Window

Photo: Simon

Adrian outside Alpenburg Hotel
Photo: Simon

Simon outside Hotel Alpenburg in the blizzard
Photo: Adrian

Jim, Simon, and Kevin at Nagano
Photo: Adrian

View from Shinkansen of Sai River
Photo: Adrian

View from Shinkansen in Sai Valley
Photo: Adrian

View from Chuo line Shinkansen Narai Valley
Photo: Adrian

View from Chuo line Shinkansen Narai Valley
Photo: Adrian

View from Chuo line Shinkansen Narai Valley
Photo: Adrian

View from Chuo West line Shinkansen Kios Valley
Photo: Adrian

View from Chuo West line Shinkansen Kios Valley
Photo: Adrian

View from Chuo West line Shinkansen Kios Valley
Photo: Adrian

Approach to Tsūtenkaku Tower

Photo: Simon

Jim and Adrian waiting for breakfast in a local eatery
Photo: Simon

Kevin exiting the Tsūtenkaku tower slide
Photo: Adrian

Tsūtenkaku Tower from Abeno Harukas
Photo: Adrian

Abeno Harukas Beno icecream
Photo: Adrian

Adrian, Kevin, and Jim at Tennōji Station
Photo: Simon

Sika Deer at Nara Park
Photo: Adrian

Adrian in front of Todai-ji Namdaimon
Photo: Adrian

Jim and Kevin walking towards Tōdai-ji
Photo: Adrian

Simon in front of Tōdai-ji
Photo: Adrian

Simon in front of Tamonten, a guardian of Buddhist teachings
Photo: Adrian

Tōdai-ji
Photo: Simon

Kuromon Ichiba food market

Photo: Jim

Jim and Adrian in Kurormon Market
Photo: Simon

Jim, Adrian, and Kevin outside the Ōsaka Castle Otemon Gate
Photo: Simon

Ōsaka Castle
Photo: Jim

Ōsaka Castle
Photo: Jim

View from Ōsaka Castle
Photo: Adrian

Ōsaka Castle rooves
Photo: Simon

Ōsaka Castle wall
Photo: Jim

Ōsaka Castle wall
Photo: Jim

Adrian on Bluebirds Rooftop Terrace
Photo: Simon

Lower ranks sit on thin mats
Photo: Jim

In Dotonburi
Photo: Adrian

Jim and Adrian in Namba Centre

Photo: Simon

Jim in JR Kyōto Station
Photo: Simon

Kyoto Station
Photo: Jim

Kyoto Station from the top of the stairs
Photo: Jim

Kyoto from Kyoto Tower
Photo: Jim

Kyoto from Kyoto Tower
Photo: Jim

Simon and Adrian at Higashi Hongan-ji Temple
Photo: Jim

Adrian and Higashi Hongan-ji
Photo: Simon

Jim at Fushimi Inari Taisha
Photo: Simon

Lots of Torii gates on the Senbon Torii path
Photo: Jim

Panorama from our highest point back over Kyoto
Photo: Jim

Leaving Ōsaka - Citidines in background
Photo: Jim