Messages from our guests

 

From Netherlands

 

I had one shot at getting in a solid day of skiing in Japan, and SkiNagano made it an unforgettable day of skiing.  Thanks to Kaz of SkiNagano, my one day felt like three days, covering the large Shiga Kogen expanse, with all the needless wandering, guessing, repeats of the same run, misses, etc. replaced by hidden stashes of untracked powder, breathtaking views, local history, smiles, laughs, a good lunch, and head shaking (the disbelief kind).

 

As I searched for a guide, I was hoping to find an experienced, local Japanese guide who happens to speak English.  Well, Kaz is a Nagano native, passionate about the local community, who happens to have lived in Colorado and speaks fluent English, and who happens to be an ex-racer, ex-instructor, and obviously an all-mountain skier.

 

On top of his unique mix of background and skills, Kaz is just a great guy, considerate and thoughtful.  While I did race in my younger days (mediocre), my legs are decades older and I no longer ski as often as I want to.  Kaz gauged my ability and stamina throughout the day, and paced me through a memorable mix of exhilarating powder runs and long, wide cruisers.  While I now know that he has guided the best-of-the-best of skiers, I saw that he finds joy in sharing Nagano to skiers of all levels.

 

I’m still playing back the amazing Jpow experience with Kaz in my head.

 

I highly recommend booking SkiNagano, and I’m looking forward to returning with my friends.  And when I do return with my friends, I may tap into his “concierge” services to help out with the practicalities.  And then there’s Nagano’s “green” (non-winter) season…

 

Thanks SkiNagano!

 

From a former U.S. East-coast skier living in Amsterdam, Netherlands

From Arizona, USA
I had the privilege of experiencing SkiNagano's personalized service, thoughtfully planned out day trips and exceptional on-mountain guidance last spring. From hitting the slopes at world renowned Shiga Kogen, to soaking in an Onsen hot spring after some hard boarding at Nozawa Onsen, to delicious meals including duck soup and hot sake, my time snowboarding in Japan was outstanding.
Kaz is a phenomenal guide. With impeccable English and a fantastic sense of humor, he led me around the mountains (I boarded at Shiga and Nozawa) with confidence, energy and an obvious passion for not only skiing and snowboarding, but his country and culture, too. From the peaks of Nozawa and Shiga I was able to take in breathtaking views, only to head down the mountain on runs that were perfectly matched to my interests and skill level. With Kaz's guidance, I didn't have to worry about arranging lift tickets or selecting runs. He took the care to plan our days on the mountain, in addition to getting me to and from the slopes quickly and conveniently. 
During our time on the chairlifts, at meals, or in the car going to and from the slopes, Kaz shared information about Japan's culture and history. He explained to me some of the agricultural products that come from Nagano, what Japan has been like as a country since the time of the Samurai, and many of the Japanese traditions that involve mealtimes and celebrations, to name a few of the topics we discussed. Thanks to SkiNagano, I was able to explore the ski town of Nozawa Onsen, including the shops and Onsen hot spring bath houses.
I highly recommend SkiNagano, and attest that there is no better way to get to know the remarkable skiing and boarding that Japan has to offer than to get out and about with one of it's friendliest, most knowledgeable and most personal locals. I had such a wonderful time, in fact, that I am currently planning a trip back to Japan with my parents and sister to ski again with Kaz next spring. 
From Arizona, thank you again for everything, SkiNagano!
 

 

From Colorado, USA

 

A friend of mine, Kaz Sekiya is not only a very strong skier himself but also a very personal "Good Japanese" kind a guy. 
Kaz has spent winter seasons in Breckenridge, Colorado USA as well, so he speaks English fluently.

You will have an opportunity skiing nice powder snow in Japan & will experience unique Japanese culture with Kaz.

A guide Kaz who is born & raised at Nagano, Japan will be your first choice Local-guide if you plan skiing in that Nagano-the Deep powder zone- region!!

Jimi Omori - PSIA, Professional Ski Instructors of America - Rocky Mountain division examiner

 

 

From NYC, USA

In February 2012 Kaz led me on a ski adventure across Japan. We started in Hokkaido at Niesko and finished near Nagano at Nozawaonsen. We spent two weeks skiing some of the best powder and the best trees I've ever skied. Kaz knew not only where to find the deepest snow, best drops and steepest piste, he knew the best onsens to visit at the end of the day.

I often talk about my Japanese ski adventure and can't wait to go back. Kaz is easy going, friendly and the type of person that's great to be around whether on the side of a mountain or lifting a beer at the end of a perfect day.

 

From HK

I am an intermediate skier and snowboarder. Having used a ski guide previously in Niseko and Chamonix I thought I try Kaz's service.

My boyfriend and I spent a day with Kaz at Nozawa Onsen. Not a big resort by international standards and there are no official 'off piste' skiing. Kaz was good at judging our abilities and taking us on slopes with least traffic and most untouched powder.

We spent a day with Kaz at Shiga Kogen. The snow condition that day was awesome but it was snowing hard with limited visibility. Shiga covers a large terrain and Kaz found us the best slopes with the most sheltered conditions. I cannot imagine trying to read a piste map in those windy conditions whilst trying to link my way through the interconnected mountains and covering maximum terrain in one day. Kaz also took us away from the school groups. We skied the fabulous Olympic run (used for the slalom in the Nagano winter Olympics).

Kaz KNOWS the best spots and makes life a lot easier on the slopes.

 

Name- Patricia Shuen

Origin- Hong Kong

Date-December 2013

 

From Italy

"I was so lucky to learn about SkiNagano! On my first day in Nozawa Onsen I was by myself on a spectacular powder day and I completely trashed it because I didn't know where to go, getting lost and finding it very hard to hit some untracked lines (not to mention that I had to hike quite a bit in waist deep pow to get out of a gully). Everything changed after booking my first day with SkiNagano. All day bombing fresh untracked lines of any kind, wide open steep faces and super fun tree lines with the best company you can find. Perfect English and deep passion and knowledge for the local culture, SkiNagano offers the perfect services for anyone looking for an amazing experience in the Nagano Japow area. Whether you are like me for the first time in the Nagano area by yourself, or a with group of friends in search for the best snow, or a film crew in search for the best lines to shoot your riders, SkiNagano is the way to go!"
Carlo Salmini, Shred Optics and Slytech Protection Co-Founder


From Switzerland

 

Our group of 4 arranged a one day ski guide with Kaz and it was one of the best parts of our entire trip to Japan. Kaz ordered up a lucky late march powder day and was flexible enough to move our date to experience Japow in all its glory. He scouted out some nice ski rentals and the conditions the day before, picked us up in his large comfortable van from our Shibu Onsen ryokan, and drove us about thirty minutes to get our powder ski rentals (much nicer skis than we found elsewhere for rent in Shiga Kogen). Once we were geared up, it seemed like we were the only people on the mountain as we skied fresh tracks on every run through the trees and bounced from resort to resort in Shiga Kogen. We even saw  a tribe of snow monkeys on the side piste hanging out in the trees. Kaz took care of transportation, rental location and fresh track hunting, all we had to do was enjoy the ride.

 

Kaz was able to navigate us like the local that he is, while speaking perfect English from the years he spent in Colorado. We enjoyed his insights into the area and Japan in general and had some great lift conversations adding to a fantastic day of the Japanese powder tree skiing we were looking for.