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From the ski resort there are spectacular views of Lake Tazawa - Japan's deepest lake.
The most popular item in Kumomori Lounge - the wild garlic meat sausage which is boiled in a broth. Accompanied by an Ajiwai Tenya Dunkel brewed in Tazawako.
Lounge Kuromori was the best place to relax when waiting for one of Tazawako's storms to subside. The lounge has a no shoes policy, so you have to take your boots off and there are hangers and cubicles for you to store your gear. They serve European food and local craft beer. Spacious and empty compared to the restaurant next door.
Souvenir shop at the Lela centre has a variety of local products. They even have a section devoted to Akita sake.
You can test drive the latest skis from Ogasaka from the rental station. Costs about 1500 Yen for 2 hours.
Local resorts have the best food. This is my yokote yakisoba from the Shirakaba restaurant. It's an Akita style yakisoba where the noodles are topped with a fried egg and Fukujinzuke pickled vegetables. Break the egg yolk and let it mix with the noodles.
You can get a hot wax for 2000 Yen at the Tazawako Ski Rental counter. Cheapest I have seen in Japan.
Kobushi restaurant has a sake tasting set with 3 sakes from the Kikunotsukasa brewery in Morioka. Very generous pours.
The Kobushi dining room is the classier Japanese / French restaurant at the hotel. You can have a choice of 2 set menus which culminate in this Maesawa and Iwate Beef course. Both of which were delicious. Just wish there was a bit more.
Quick pit stop at Ramen Anneko at the gondola station. The house special miso ramen was pretty good.
They serve all 3 of Morioka's great noodles at the Prince buffet. Wanko soba, Reimen and Jya Jya men. You can have your own wanko soba challenge here.
Onigiris are available at the shop but they go quickly. Spam and egg especially.
Happy hour runs from 4-5:30pm and 8-11pm at the Lounge. Not really a bar just discounted drinks from the shop. Nice view of the slopes.
There is a Salomon Station at the Prince hotel where you can rent skis, snowboards and outerwear. They have a large range and you can pay a bit more for premiium goods. They also do hot machine waxing for 3000 Yen and will have your board ready by 8am.
The shop at the Prince Shizukuishi was well stocked with a large selection of drinks, desserts, cup noodles and nibbles. There is even microwave rice, canned food and curries for meals. I do like how Prince hotels charge normal and not "resort prices".
Restaurant Alyeska at the Summit station has a few menu items I haven't seen at other resorts. This is the hamburger omelette rice with 2 sauces demiglace and cream. Its very tasty and sizable enough to make one contemplate taking the ropeway down to the hotel room for a food induced nap.
The Shizukuishi Powder Cat Tour brings you to the top of the gondola station at Kotakakura yama, a now closed part of the ski resort. Our group lucked out with the weather, arriving at the top with clear skies and a few days accumulation of pristine powder. Snowboarding through untracked powder was pure bliss and the 3km ride was over too quickly.
2 days at Shizukuishi. Got to try the Sunrise Powder Cat Ski Tour.
