It had been quite a few years since I had travelled to Japan. We travelled around for about a week prior to arriving in Myoko on a Sunday and leaving on a Saturday.
I planned and booked a return travel with my younger brother Michael. He can ski and snowboard.
Our usual accommodation had been bought by international developers and wasn’t available to be booked. We stayed at Taiko. It was more expensive but also more accessible. It had a step-free entrance and elevators. It was spacious, breakfast was included, had a coin laundry and a games room with table tennis table and claw machines. The push up the hill each day and return downhill from the ski resorts was quite scary when it was icy. It was safer to put the wheel blades onto my front wheels and push on the snow.
Myoko Snowsports had the equipment I needed after leaving it behind when I last visited. I hired a helmet as hitting your head hurts.
I would be skiing with Lou and then Greg. Both have skied at Falls Creek. I knew that Charlie and Nikki, who I have skied with previously and know well, would have given them a few tips on what it’s like to ski with me and that my lips turn blue when I get cold.
The first three days were with Lou and Michael tagged along on skis. Chairlift chats and while skiing allowed us to get to know a little more about each other. Lou, an Aussie, likes to hum and sing while skiing as he is having so much fun. We had fun on the groomed runs skiing under a bluebird sky.
I had originally planned to ski the following day and then have a day off but Charlie advised me to swap the days as it was snowing with poor visibility and I wouldn’t enjoy it or last long in the cold. We instead explored Myoko, enjoyed good food and played with the claw machines (a hidden skill that I can win prizes due to my determination).
I met Greg, an Englishman, on my last day. Michael decided not to join us. I made the decision to ski for part of the day as it was snowing and I knew that I couldn’t last too long out in the cold. We were driven to Kurohime. I hadn’t been to this resort before. All I knew from Myoko Snowsports staff was that it has a dog run with actual dogs who have a kids lift pass. Greg and I saw many well-behaved dogs with their owners taking the chairlift up and running down beside their owners. This was a powder day with continuous snowfall. It was so light as we floated up and down with each turn. I had advised Greg to not count down when he was letting go. He instead called the turns down each run with left, middle, right. It was so much fun as it continued to snow. We were picked up mid-afternoon feeling cold and met up shortly after for hot chocolates at Panorama.
I have fun and would like to return again.
Kate Swain 