Playing in the Snow Around Lake Suwa - Take Me to Blanche Takayama

It was an abnormal situation.
I started skiing at 18, and I had been on the slopes every winter for a loooong time.

And yet

I couldn't go for two whole seasons... ugh.

This season, finally, I'm skiing again after a long time!
And, it's my first time in Suwa in two years,
I've come to drink and eat! Haha.

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Welcome! Thank you for joining the Nagunagu Tourist (Nagu-Tour) tour. Starting with this post, we have a new series: a trip around Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture. Even though it's spring in the real world, I'll be guiding you on a midwinter journey! (^^♪

This is sudden, but!

"Take Me to the Ski Slopes"

Do you know it?

Those of you in your 50s and 60s know it, right?

Yes, I'm Nagunagu, from the generation heavily influenced by this movie.

If you don't know it, please watch the 1-minute 30-second trailer! (The title font is so Showa-era, haha.)

Every time I watch this movie, I want to imitate the same skiing style (and fall over), and I want to speed down snowy roads in my car (I haven't grown up at all)...

You can really feel the era in the scenes where people are smoking like chimneys at work and in restaurants, but it's a movie from the bubble era when everyone was dancing like crazy. Believe it or not, it's even being released on Blu-ray in 2022! It's still as popular as ever.

Enter R-kun

Since we live in the countryside, a car is essential for our family. And, just like the Koji family, we've given ours a name.

Last summer, we bought a new car.
And we named it "R-kun." I'm going to go to many places with this guy and walk all over the place.

Though, a car is meant for driving.

If that's the case, just like in the movie

Yeah!! Let's blast off!

I'm not really at that age anymore, but my heart races at the sight of a snowy road after so long.

I feel like imitating those movie lines (Takako Harada, Hitomi Takahashi).
I park the car

It's frozen, isn't it!?

Driving on a snowy road with no one else around is exhilarating, isn't it?

It makes me want to listen to Yuming

Blanche Takayama

Let me explain our destination this time.
We are aiming for Blanche Takayama Ski Resort. It is a ski resort where snowboarding is prohibited.

Many people come from the Tokyo direction on the right (Suwa-Minami IC - Venus Line), so the route via the Shin-Wada Tunnel on the left has fewer cars and is comfortable. (However, the snow is deep...)

Skiing's popularity is also in a slump.
If you think the parking lot will be empty even if you take your time, you are greatly mistaken.

Full stomach

When I was in my 20s, I would wait for the lifts to start running, ski until evening, return to the lodge for dinner (and beer), and then go out for night skiing again!

And then, a party (with sake) until late at night.

And then, the next morning, I'd be waiting for the lifts again from early in the morning. That was the kind of life I lived.

I was such a fool, haha.

In my 50s, the morning is the main event.

Taking breaks, looking up at the sky.

Admiring the trees, too.

Last one!

I give up! My legs are shaking like a baby deer, I've had my fill.

For this trip, our accommodation is...

Not near the ski resort, but staying in Suwa city.

The reason is,

Because I want to go to a different restaurant every night!

Well then, let's meet again for a night in Suwa!
See you there!


( To be continued... )