`Joyful Snow Country` of Ski and Hot Spring Resorts

Nagano Prefecture, located in the Central Japan, is surrounded by steep, high mountains, which are close to 3,000 meter above the sea level. Situated in the center of the `L` shaped Honshu Island along with its another name of the `heart of Japan`, the location, conditions, facilities and the scenery of the ski resorts in Nagano are among the world`s best, thus live up to its history of holding a Winter Olympics.

The Happone Ski Resort of Hakuba in which the Winter Olympic was held and Shigagogen (21 ski resorts) are the Japan`s representative ski resorts. Three resorts of Happone, Shigagogen alsong with Noza and Hot Springs are all in the Nagano Prefecture which are the members of the `Mount 6`, a union of Japan`s best six ski resorts.

This Nagano Prefecture is a convenient travel course from Korea thus there has been a lot of Korean ski lovers traveling to the Prefecture. In the case of Hakuba, it takes about 2 hour driving from the Toyama International Airport after getting to the airport by the Asiana Air (takes 1 hour and 40 minutes). Centering the Hakuba, the ski resorts, lining up along the deep valleys of the other Alps such as Otari and Omachi, have their ski seasons open until the beginning of May. Therefore, these are the best locations to enjoy the Spring Ski.

Among these three ski resorts, Omachi is located in the deepest part of the valley and is a new location not yet known to Korea. It is a mountain city that can be reached after passing through three lakes one by one for about 24 kilometers from Hakuba. Asiana Air recently has introduced various spring ski packages of lodging at the Teteyama Prince Hotel (www.tateyamaprince.co.jp) and enjoying ski at the near by Kashimayari (www.kashimayari.net).

Two deep mountain streams of Dateyama set a border between Doyamawa Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture. Kashimayari Ski Resort stands on the hillside of Kashymayarike, 2,890m above the sea level.

Its largest trail runs as far as 5km. Snow and wind are as good as in Hakuba. It boasts a board park well outfit with a jumping board, a table, a free-riding course and a rail bank box arch.

This ski package offers much longer hours of ski learning course than the Hakuba counterpart.

You are supposed to check in at 3:00 p.m. and enjoy nighttime skiing. Still, it is cheaper than Hakuba package. You can also enjoy Japanese culture at nearby open spas and restaurants. The only disadvantage is that the ski resort is relatively small.

Shuttle bus service between Doyama Airport and the hotel, then the hotel and the ski resort. It does not matter if you can`t speak Japanese. For four people or more. Flight to Doyama Airport on Monday and Saturday and to Nagoya Airport on Wednesday and Friday. For further inquiries, visit Let`s Go Japan at its Web site www.letsgojapan.co.kr or call 02-720-0331.

summer@donga.com