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Yuzawa
Fuji Rock Festival '08 -July 25(Fri), 26(Sat), 27(Sun) -
'Fuji Rock Festival 2008', Japan's premier
music-fest event kicks-off festivities July
25-27, Friday through Sunday at Naeba,
Yuzawa Town, in Niigata Prefecture with an
eclectic offering of popular rock, pop, dance,
jazz and 'indie' groups and individual artists.
As well as the huge Green Stage with an
audience capacity of 30,000, fans will have
the choice of six other stages set amidst
remarkable scenery
from which to choose
their favorite performers
among the 100 or
more Japanese and
international acts
staging their own
brand of musical entertainment. This year, on
Saturday, the Green Stage will feature topnotch
Japanese and English acts to acknowledge
and celebrate 150 years of diplomatic
relations between the two countries.
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'Fuji Rock' refers to the very first and only
event held near Japan's iconic
mountain in 1997, although
retaining the name, the superb
'Naeba Prince Hotel' ski resort
has since been the welcoming
home to the festival. This year's
acts have not yet been
announced but such mega-stars as Hot Chili
Peppers, Oasis, The Pixies, Bjork, Coldplay,
Eminem, and the best of British 'indie'
(independent, off the main stream performers)
Franz Ferdinand and The Automatic, plus
festival favorites Scissor Sisters and Happy
Mondays entertained adoring fans in past
years and this 12th festival line-up will be no
less great.
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Set amidst a spectacular
mountainous setting, the
festival organizers, 'Smash
Japan', take great pride in
managing and preserving
an ecologically friendly
environment in this beautiful natural area.
This year's apt mantra for this week-end is
"Respect for Nature" and nowhere else in the
world of such festivals is it more happily
adhered to than here by
conscientious festival goers.
The grounds are kept litterfree
with fans and volunteers
picking up, sorting and
recycling all and any trash. 'Fuji
Rock' supports a number of
environmental funds such as 'Global Cool'
and it promotes 'soft energy' to combat
global warming and tree-planting on site is a
popular activity.
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The festival is conveniently located a
little over an hour by 'Shinkansen'
(Bullet Train) from Tokyo with free
shuttle bus service to the site for
ticket holders. Pre-festival
activities include the ever
popular 'Bon Odori'
(traditional Japanese
dancing) speed-eating
contests, lucky draws and
fireworks. Local residents
are gracious hosts and it's a great
opportunity to make new friends.
The camping site is equipped with
showers and washrooms, restaurants
and the resort's ski course are
available; it's a super musical weekend
with plenty of fun activities for
everyone!
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| information |
Date: July 25(Fri), 26(Sat), 27(Sun) 2008
Place: Naeba Ski Resort, Yuzawa Town
Tickets (Entrance ticket):
3-day tickets: ¥ 39,800, 1-day tickets: ¥ 16,800 (limited to 10,000/day)
www.fujirockfestival.com
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| Naeba Independence Board Walk |
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Serene and bucolic, tree-lined
and easily accessible, Naeba
Independence Boardwalk
is at last a dream come
true for Japan's nature
lovers limited to wheelchair
transportation.
'Naeba Independence Boardwalk' is enthusiastically, creatively, ecologically friendly with no
bulldozers or chemicals used, taking on the task to remedy a long neglected situation in Japan
by creating a barrier-free trail for nature-lovers severely restricted in mobility. In just a few
years thousands of community-spirited volunteers and Naeba's local residents have collaborated
in the planning and development of an easy to access route through a lovely natural
environment for wheelchair users. Donors purchase a wooden board for 1000 JY (approx. 10
US$) and it's added to an already impressive and still growing 1.4 kilometers of impediment free,
easy to navigate trail through the wooded areas of a beautiful and peaceful site.
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| Sightseeing Spots |
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Thrill to a splendid alpine view!
(Dragondola World's longest) | Ropeway |
The world's longest gondola
ride is a remarkable 5,481 meters long
(almost 3.5 miles!) that carries up to
eight passengers on a sky-hopping ride
without equal elsewhere on the planet.
In 15 thrilling minutes 'Doragondola'
connects Naeba and Tashiro areas while
amazing sightseers
with
mountains and
valley vistas that at
times feature
vertiginous, up to
34 degrees in slope
angle.
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Japan's largest ropeway gondola accommodates up to 166 people. Skyward up to 'Yuzawa Kogen' highland, thrilled passengers peer down on the town and valley floor receding far below and reaching the summit there's the popular 'Alp no sato' (Alpine Flower Garden) as well as more grandiose vistas. Within easy walking distance of Echigo Yuzawa rail station, don't miss this amazing ride!
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| Alp no sato | Hot Springs |
Astride the 'Yuzawa Highlands', since 1980 lies the
beautiful 'Alp no Sato' (Alpine Flower Garden). This
splendid botanical garden on the north versant of
Mt. Omine (1,172 m) reached via the world's
largest ropeway gondola features a 'Ayamega-ike'
wetlands garden (hygrophyte) and
'Gorone-no-hara' play-land. The massive rocks used
to create this opulent garden site were excavated
from the innards of the mountain during the
construction of the 'Jouetsu Shinkansen Oshimizu'
tunnel. Visitors may serenely stroll about admiring
an unequalled panoramic alpine vista while eyeing
the harmonious display of hundreds of varieties of
seasonal flowers. The thrill seeker will discover an
awesome mountain slope toboggan run dropping
a vertiginous 706 meters and exciting mountain
go-carting. Alternatively, a soul-soothing walk
along a resplendent green mountain trail while
wild birds serenade from the beech forest beckons
the nature lover. Finally, a day's multiple activities
can best be ended with a relaxing stint in
'Komakusa-no-yu' natural hotspring.
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Harking back an impressive 8 centuries,
'Yuzawa' hot spring is equally known
throughout Japan as 'Yukiguni', the title name
for a novel written by Japan's Nobel Literature
laureate, Yasunari Kawabata. The thermal
water, a weak, simple alkaline, is reputed to
possess great healing qualities, especially for
relief from aches and pains. Many of the 'onsen'
can be found just west of Echigo Yuzawa train
station. Hot springs are found in practically
each of the 'ryokan' (Japanese-style inn) as well
as easily available in public hot spring baths.
Healthy, enjoyable bathing in Yuzawa is
conveniently located for all visitors.
Ashiyu Kannakkuri:
Foot 'onsen' available free of charge; visitors
or skiers can simply remove shoes and
socks, have a dip, sit back, and relax.
Great for soothing tired feet after a long,
exciting day on the slopes!
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| Uonogawa River | Ponshukan |
Fly-fishing for 'Ayu' (brook trout) on the Uonogawa
River is reputed throughout Japan for
guaranteeing a great fishing experience and the
'Ayu' season attracts throngs of avid anglers to
Yuzawa Town. The river is a tributary of Japan's
longest river, the 'Shinanogawa', flowing
northward through scenic 'Uonuma' region. 'Uo' translates as 'fish' and it accurately
reflects the abundance of finned denizens in its waters and fishermen setting up the
'Yana' (a special fish trap for 'Ayu') is a sight to see. Melting alpine snows provide the river
with water so pure it is prized for sake brewing and quality rice. The Uonuma region is
known for producing delicious 'Koshihikari', one of Japan's best brands.
 
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The grand mountain range that envelops
Yuzawa is the source of cool and clear
spring water; furthermore, a unique
regional climate allows the production of
delicious rice. Not
surprisingly, Yuzawa
is famed as one of
the best 'sake'
producing areas in
Japan and easily
explains, "The best
sake is found by the best water source."
Located within the JR Echigo-Yuzawa
station, 'Ponshu-kan' is a museum
displaying many varieties of local sake,
sake based sweets and sake drinking cups.
The 'Kikizake' tasting section offers for a
small sum (¥ 500) a choice of five brands
from the 99 sake wineries found in Niigata.
Enjoy bathing in 'saka buro', a public bath
that includes Japanese sake, reputed
effective for beauty and relaxation.
Remember the
savor of
smooth, fresh,
superior brands
of local sake.
 
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Access to Yuzawa
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For More Information
Yuzawa Town Tourist Association: http://www.e-yuzawa.gr.jp/
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