10th March 2002

Our antique snowblower left our place. A lot of rememberance with it, good or bad. Whenever it snowed hard, we always needed its help. But it got impossible to get some parts to repair because of the oldness (it seems almost 30 years old ). In this January when it snowed really hard, the auger (the lower part in the pic with which this snowblower can swallow up snow) got not to be able to go up and down. We asked the factory to which we always ask to check this snowblower to repair it and they did it but it got broken soon again. We also learned it's impossible to purchase a new snowblower in winter if all sold out in autumn. We had hard time to remove snow with this broken snowblower and sometimes we needed to shovel a lot then needed to bring it out. Sometimes we asked neighbors to borrow their snowblowers because it's really hard job to shovel. But anyway we still survive. It was kinda shock for us that the factory staffs said that we needed to scrap it. But we felt if it were possible, we wanted to avoid it because we have survived winter and winter with its help. Exactly it's just a machine, but .... hard to explain this thought. But " The world is as kind as it is cruel" . When we had hard time, someone who stayed in our inn seemed to be interested in this snowblower and started asking about it like how old it was, how it worked etc when he came here to stay for the first time in this January. When he came next time, he asked us to sell it because he was an antique collector. He seemed to get addicted to this antique snowblower because we needed to operate it all by hands (Newer snowblowers nowadays can be operated by oil pressure to change auger height, shooter direction etc ). We didn't need any money for it if it could survive. So we agreed to present the snowblower to him. Now the time had come. We had to say good-bye to this antique snowblower. Thanks for your long help. Take care of yourself, we never forget you!! to be continued.....

8th March 2002

Snow falls again here in Hakuba though in some warmer places in other part of Japan cherry blossoms seem to start in bloom. Ski slopes still have enough snow to hit, so if you have never tried to hit any yet in this season, you should try it, it's worth trying!!

26th February 2002

Because of the heavy snowfalling since last December, we have had hard time to remove snow and been lazy to update this........ Now look at the pic left. This is the lower slope of Hakuba Goryu named softcream course. This course is usually quiet and calm. So good for beginners.

21th December 2001

Again we got tons of snowfall here in Hakuba. Snow on the roof of our inn dropped at once, so it was really busy to remove snow today.

	Finally a set of traffic signals started working at the crossing where you have to turn on the route 148 to our inn.
	A sign board described only in alphabet.
	Limited express train Super-Azusa bounds from Shinjuku keeps running in snow in Hakuba.
	Trains must keep running in snow, hard to see even rails.

16th December 2001

Finally whole Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba 47 ski pistes got in business.

14th December 2001

	A snow removing locomotive was at work on the JR Ooito line.
	Lower ski pistes also got snow, just compare this pic with the one taken on 8th this month below.
	Toomi slope. The Toomi 1st lift is also available.

8th December 2001

	It has been covered with clouds at the upper side, now they say snow depth there is 35cm, not enough but Hakuba Goryu got in business today.
	Hakuba Goryu Gondola "Telecabin"
	Base center Escal Plaza. Weather forcast tells that it will be supposed to be snow for some days, hopefully this bottom area also will get in business soon.

15th November 2001

	It was really cold last night as well. Winter is coming. Snow depth is not enough to hit ski pistes yet though. Hakuba Goryu Alps-daira slope.
	Hakuba Goryu.
	Symbolic Hakuba 3 mountains.

14th November 2001

Finally snow got at the ski pistes. It has been really cold since yesterday evening, so some snow supposed to fall.

25th October 2001

Red and yellow leaves come down to the bottom of mountains here in Hakuba. We have already set some table hearters in our room. It sounds like as if the life for bears before getting winter sleep.

1st September 2001

It had been too hot in entire July and at the top of August this summer. Maybe becase the rainy season was over ealier than useual? .... not sure. But getting cooler after mid August. I could not sleep without a blanket and what we call Futon (bed clothe/s) last night.

4th July 2001

It has changed rainy and sunny regularly nowadays. There was an International Mountainbike race in Hakuba. Click here for the pictures, enjoy!

15th June 2001

Rainy season has come. Sometimes it keeps raining for a couple of days or so. Not humid at all here, but it still goes cold.
I tried kayak the other day, click here for pics for that time.

8th May 2001

Hakuba Goryu &47 ski slopes got closed on 6th May 2001. Thanks for all of you to visit our place Hakuba. Now outdoor activities available, you can enjoy them. Just check outdoor sports and some sports events.

25th April 2001

Finally cherry blossoms have gotten in bloom in this area, too. Time to feel spring has come. Other flowers - adonis, skunk cabbeges, dog tooth violets are also getting in bloom. Looks as if they competite to be in bloom.

17th April 2001

Though they say that it has been real warmer in Tokyo at this time of the year, cherry blossoms here have not been in bloom yet. Busy to transplant pangies into flower bed, this is what we do every spring after snow gone away from flower bed.

9th April 2001

	It's getting warmer recently here , too. Pic of Hakuba Goryu Grandprix course. Some people still enjoy hitting slopes. At the bottom, some plants are going to germinate. Feels as if both winter and spring stay along.

2nd April 2001

It had been a real cold again for this several days here, but is getting warmer and warmer repeting to have cold days and warm days in turns. Hakuba Goryu pic taken 2/April/2001