Hi all,

I have been researching about Kusatsu that makes me so excited about it although the trip is still a month away....8km long runs and onsens...scenaries don't look like Japanese one (visit their website!). There are several snowshoe trails if anyone is interested. Nice onsen is in a hotel next to our hostel to be and we can walk to village to try free public onsens that local villagers voluntary maintain and open to visitors. It's said that each onsen has unique quality and the effect is different one by one. Kusatsu seems to be popular not only for its powder and long runs but also for things to do after riding. Whether you have decided to come or not,it's to add some more details on the info I put on the last email. URL of ski place and hostel, train schedule, and cancellation. Sign up form is around the end of the message.

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When: 10th (Wed) to 14th (Sun) 5DAYS! Or 12th (Fri) to 14th (Sat) 3 DAYS

Place: 草津国際スキー場(Kusatsu International Ski Site) http://www.kusatsu-kokusai.com/winter/index.html

Plan:

★5Days trip group

10th(wed): Meet at Ueno station and Leave Tokyo at 8 PM by Express train. Dinner on the train. Maybe small party if we bring some drink and snacks. Get to Kusatsu Onsenguchi station at 22:59. Go to hostel by pick up service. Check in between 11pm to 12am and sleep soundly.

11th to 14th: Pick up rental equipment and then we hit the slopes! Snowboard, ski or snowshoe! Lift opens from 8:30 to 16:30. Meet up at hostel around 5pm and have dinner together and then head to onsen. We can stroll onsen town with onsen-manju in hand. (on 12th, meet 3days trip ppl in the midnight--- if you are awake)

14th: Leave Kusatsu around 5pm or 6pm and back in Tokyo by 9pm.

★3days trip group

12th (Fri): Leave Tokyo at 8pm by Express train. Hostel staff will pick you up soon after arrival. Meet 5days trip ppl at hostel if any of them stayed up. Check in and sleep.

13th to 14th: Pick up rentals and have fun.

14th: Leave Kusatsu around 5pm or 6pm and back in Tokyo by 9pm.

Note that the pick up service from hostel is only available for ppl arriving by the last express which leaves Ueno at 8pm. If you choose to come by other train, you need to take public bus or taxi. It takes around 30mins.

Train Schedule

To Kusatsu (JR Express and local train. Cost 4240 yen)

The train schedule is the same on 10th and 14th.

19:45 Meet up at Ueno Sta. platform 16

20:00 JR Express Akagi#7 Bound to Takasaki

21:26 Arrive at Takasaki 21:39

Change to Agatsuma line JR Local train to Naganohara kusatsu guchi

22:59 Arrive at Naganohara kusatsu guchi

Note: Myself will be leaving on 10th, so 3day trip ppl needs to find each other at the station or in the train. Choosing car number to meet up would make the matter easier.

Return trip on 14th (JR local train only. Cost: 2940 yen)

16ish leave village to station

17:35 Take agatsuma line bound to Takasaki

18:55 Arrive at Takasaki. Switch train

19:04 Take Shonan shinjuku line bound to Kozu change train at any station that would convenient for you. Will be back in Tokyo around 9pm.

Attention!: You can take express train or even shinkansen if you want to get back to Tokyo earlier. Costs will be plus 1500 yen to 2800 yen and save 30 minutes to 1hour. Price: Transportation:9,000 yen (Round Trip JR Express)

Prices:

Transportation: 7000 yen to 9000yen for round trip (see train schedule for details)

Accommodation: 草津Youth Hostel* http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~kusatsu/

YH members: 13,440 yen (4nights), 6720yen(2nights)

Non YH members: 15,840 yen (4nights), 7,920yen(2nights)

*Dorm style room. Girls/Boys separated. NO Meals included. 7mins walk from hostel to the lift!!!!

Lift Pass: 12,700yen(4days), 6,600 yen(2Days)

Meals, Snack Drinks: Depends how much you eat and drink...bringing your drink and snack will save some money, though.

Organizers Fee: 2,000 Yen

Rental: Snowboard/Ski with Boots (and stock for Ski):1,800yen to 2,000yen per day.

8,000 yen (4days), 2,000 yen (2days)

Wear (Pants and Jacket):around 1,500yen to 2,000yen per day

Snowshoe 1500 yen per day

Onsen fee 500yen to 1,000yen per time. Public ones are by donation

Insurance for Rental Depends on the store...

Insurance for yourself: Better to get one. Arranging this is your responsibility!

Cancellation: Cancel after 28th till 5th Feb will cost you cancellation fee up to 30% of your accommodation charges. The charges will be 40% or more if you revoke after 6th Feb.

Sign up: Send me following info via email (Do NOT use comment system on the event calender!)

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Option:5Days or 3Days?

Name:

Sex: F/M

Cellphone No.:

Rental: Y/N

If Yes, Ski, snowboard, or snowshoe?

Do you need wear,too? Y/N

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Thanks,

Yuki