Merry Christmas from the Itoigawa Global Geopark! I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas with family and friends as we draw ever closer the New Year!

Over the weekend we’ve received more snow and ice. During this season many of the park’s geosites become inaccessible, but that does not mean there’s nothing left to do here in Itoigawa!

This past Saturday (Dec 22), local ski resort Itoigawa Seaside Valley opened its slopes for the 2013 skiing season. Many visitors, beginners and seasoned veterans alike, made use of the recent three-day weekend to hit the slopes at this charming resort tucked away in Itoigawa’s Nechi Valley. As the name suggests, the view of the Sea of Japan from this resort’s slopes is one not to miss!

Whether you prefer skiing or snowboarding or even just relaxing in the hot spring bath at Hotel White Cliff after a nice meal, if you plan to visit Itoigawa this winter, be sure to include Itoigawa Seaside Valley in your itinerary!

–Ishikoro

Photograph of Seaside Valley Slope (taken during previous season)

http://www.seasidevalley.com/　(Japanese-only)