NORIKURA TIMES (Winter with a Sense of Spring, Part 2)

Hello! Thank you very much to everyone who visited Norikura Kogen, especially during the three-day weekend starting on Saturday, February 22nd. Due to the highest volume of visitors of the season, the parking lots at the ski resort and Norikura Kogen Tourist Center were full, and it was so busy that we had to provide special shuttle buses. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers, but we are happy to see the vitality returning to Norikura.

Well, the ski resort will be open for just one month.We were scheduled to be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in March, but we are now open every day!(*The Yamaboshi lift is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Only the Sanroku, Yumenodaira and Kamoshika lifts are in operation.) As temperatures are forecast to rise from March, there is a possibility that the lift may close early. Please come early.

When you visit a ski resort with your family, you may find yourself in need of a rest area due to the cold or fatigue. Here we will provide you with useful information on rest areas for such occasions.

●Yamaboshi Rest House
We sell a wide variety of curries, noodles, desserts, and more, and there is also a rental shop in the basement.

Number of seats: 150
Business hours: 8:30-15:30 (dinner 10:00-14:30)

●Sanbontaki Rest House
This shop is staffed only on Saturdays and Sundays. This season, it is not operating as a restaurant, but instead sells cup noodles, frozen pasta, bento boxes, and other foods, but it also sells a wide variety of food. They also sell instant coffee, cafe lattes, and sweets.
We have also opened the Sanbontaki Kids Space Kamoshika using funds raised through crowdfunding! Please feel free to use it.

Seats: 259
Opening hours: 9:00-15:00

▼About the newly established kids' space▼
https://camp-fire.jp/projects/796807/view/activities/675441?utm_campaign=796807&utm_content=shortened&utm_medium=stepmail&utm_source=report#main

●Free rest area at Yamaboshi parking lot
This rest area was also renovated this season as part of the reorganization of the ski resort.
There is no food for sale, but there are restrooms, changing rooms, a rest area, and lockers.
There are vending machines outside, so you can buy a drink and relax inside. Eating and drinking is permitted, but please be considerate of others.

●Restaurant Norikura
This restaurant is located next to the mountain lift. We recommend the homemade keema curry! It is a place of relaxation for the locals, who often come for lunch.
Seating capacity: 250 seats
Business hours: (Weekdays) 9:00-14:30, (Saturdays and Sundays) 8:30-15:30

▼Season ticket information▼
https://www.brnorikura.jp/news/78/

▼Lift ticket prices and holiday information▼
https://www.brnorikura.jp/news/90/

[Nagano Prefectural Citizens PLUS]
Nagano residents are eligible for a discount on lift tickets.
Eligible: People who live or work in Nagano Prefecture, Takayama City, Fujisawa City, or Himeji City, or university students nationwide
(Photo ID is required)

▼Events scheduled for March▼
March 1st (Sat) Exciting Raffle (Raffle using lift ticket numbers)
March 2nd (Sun) Slope Treasure Hunt
March 8th (Sat) Exciting Raffle
March 9th (Sun) Sanzokukku Day (Cosplay tickets are half price)
March 15th (Sat) Exciting Raffle
March 16th (Sunday) Children's Ski Day (Free snowmobile test ride)

▼Half-price rental campaign for university students▼
Period: March 1st (Saturday) - until the ski resort closes (scheduled for March 30th)
Target: University students, including junior college and vocational school students
Conditions: Student ID required
*Gloves, goggles, hats and other small items are not included. They are available for purchase.

When you come to the ski resortSanbontaki Frozen WaterfallWhy not enjoy this? It can be accessed by walking a little down the slope on the right side of the Sanbontaki Rest House in front of you. The one-way trip takes about 30 minutes and you can see the mysterious frozen waterfall made up of three water sources. Along the way, you can enjoy an adventurous walk through a forest where coniferous and broadleaf trees mix, and cross snow-covered bridges along the stream.

If you're lucky, you may find footprints of rabbits or monkeys, and feel like you're visiting the animals' habitat. However, the scenery is different from summer, and the path may not be clear, soIf you are a first timer, we recommend taking a guided tour.Also, as the snow melts in March, please be sure to check the safety of the snowy roads before approaching the basin of the waterfall.

▼Snowshoe rental▼
At Norikura Kogen, you can rent snowshoes and participate in snowshoe tours.
Please see below for rental and tour companies.

・"Hot Spring Inn Raicho"
https://ghraicho.com/

・"Little Peaks"
https://www.littlepeaks.jp/rental/

・"NORTHSTAR"
https://ridenorthstar.com/activities/

*If you wish to rent equipment, please contact the respective company in advance.

● Norikura Plateau Hanabirium
Norikura Kogen Hanabi Rium will be held again this year on Saturday, May 24th.
Why not enjoy the thrill of an experience never before seen at Norikura Plateau, surrounded by mountains?

Advance sales (accommodation plans) began on January 25, 2025.
For more information, please see below.

▼For more information on Norikura Kogen Hanabiryumu, click here▼
https://norikura.gr.jp/content/20250117/

● Norikura Hill Climb schedule decided
The entry start date and event date for Norikura Hill Climb 2025 have been decided.

◇Pre-registration: Saturday, August 30th
◇ Competition date: Sunday, August 31st
◇Entry period: Friday, March 7th, 10:00 AM to Sunday, March 23rd, 6:00 PM
◇ Simultaneous entry for "Tour de Utsukushigahara and Norikura Hill Climb" begins: February 1st (Sat) 10:00

▼For more information on Norikura Hill Climb 2025, click here▼
https://norikura-hc.com/info250130.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Rl9bTw3QtrRlG6ARNa8ECoad30tOOAoqdC_sgWxZMfUir_8LYy0KA8JU_aem_IgcWvsyBJZGI76YlpsIsTw

Thanks to your support, the ski resort has overcome business difficulties and is continuing to make improvements to become a beloved ski resort for everyone, such as improving the kids' park and building a new rest area. We hope you will continue to support Mt. Norikura Ski Resort and enjoy the changes it undergoes.
We look forward to seeing you!

NORIKURA TIMES is updated once every two weeks by the Norikura Tourism Association Publicity Department's blog team. Members of the team, who love Norikura, take turns writing the articles and provide seasonal information about Norikura Kogen as recommended by the members. Nishioka was in charge this time.
Please look forward to the next issue!