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When you are in a rush, pick up your liquid wax and wax cleaners from the Anytime Wax vending machine at Xraeb. Each product is rated for temperature suitability, glide performance, durability and ease of use.

Xraeb's performance turning centre looks pretty serious. You can get your ski boots professionally fitted here by one of the expert staff.

Whole section devoted to powder skis from Armada, Line, Vector Glide, Salomon, Atomic, Kastle and Fischer.

Great range of powder snowboards at Xraeb from international and Japanese brands like Jones, Burton, Vector Glide, Salomon HPS.

Shop Naspa has a whole section dedicated to Kasumi Echigo Yuzawa. the local Onsen Musume. These are characters promoting onsens to the younger generation.

There is a Moment Skis pop up store on Ekimae dori near the Echigo Yuzawa station

The view from the junior suite. Definitely the biggest room I have stayed in, in Japan. Shame they don't let you fit a family in here as there is more than enough space.

The shop has a small section of helmets, goggles, gloves, socks and face masks.

The beer, wine and sake fridge at Shop Naspa. Reasonale selection and prices.

Ishiuchi is the end of the line for the Blue and Orange shuttle buses which take you to local resorts around Yuzawa.

The shrimp curry which is a favourite of the President of the Iwate Kogen Ski Association. Though tasty I reckon it needs a couple more shrimp to make it a meal.

Iwate Kogen's slick modern gondolas are one of the longest in Tohoku, taking you rapidly up 2.6 km to the top of the mountain. Passengers sit facing outwards so you can enjoy the breath-taking views of the mountain ranges and Morioka city.

You can catch the free shuttle bus to Iwate Kogen Snowpark from the Morioka station bus terminal. Journey takes about 50mins and you need to book a slot the day before. Its a small bus so all gear needs to be carried on board.

The recommended beef stewed in dark beer. You get a choice of 2 types of beef. I chose the Iwate shorthorn cattle, a local breed whose meat is leaner and harder to find on menus. This was cooked to perfection.

There is a selection of beer tasting menus. I went for the 3 dark beers which included the award winning Schwarz, milk coffee stout and coffee stout.

Baeren's main restaurant is located on the basement level and has a full selection of their brews on tap and a gourmet menu.

Iwate Kogen's beginner courses are ideally suited for beginners. The St Moritz course is wide and open, super mellow with different trails to keep things interesting. Kids can't get lost here. The chair lift is so low even the little ones could get on it without a problem.

There is a large walk up sledding zone to keep kids entertained just outside the resort center.