to nozawa!

Ran outta work early to pack, even though I didn't have much to pack as I already sent my snowboard and gear. Got hungry and figured I wouldn't have time to eat later so hit Doraichi and got some ramen. They've also started selling gyoza so got a plate of those, ate too much too fast, and then got in a cab to battle Friday night traffic to Tokyo Station.
Made it to the station and got on the train in time (unlike Alex, who managed to miss the train by one minute.) Went to Nagano Station and switched to a local train to Nozawa-Onsen, then took a bus taxi to the bottom of the slopes. The Schnyder Pension folks met us with a snow mobile and a light truck outfitted with snow tracks. I (foolishly) chose to wagon on the back of the snow mobile, and was clinging for my life as we rocketed up the dark-of-night lower ski slope, fish-tailing madly as the snow mobile driver struggled to to control both the snow mobile and the alcohol in his veins. After a facefull of icy spray and a harrowing 10 minutes, we arrived.