many medium-sized and smaller resorts are downsizing Owani Onsen Ski Resort is one of these places that View from the top of the first lift looking towards the second lift Owani Onsen Ski Resort has seen many iterations and improvements through to 1990 The current lodge is decorated with black-and-white photos and stories chronicling Japan’s skiing history and its connection to Owani Onsen Expansion continued with a gondola and additional terrain in preparation for the 45th National Winter Games After years of declining visitors and reduced snowfall Owani Onsen has become a story of compromise and a shadow of its former self Undated aerial photo edited to show the unused area (shaded) and current lifts (green) at Owani Onsen Ski Resort Avalanches have become a risk for many areas and the groomed courses are the resort’s foundation Top of Takinosawa Slope which has been closed for safety Hakkoda to the east are fantastic for deep snow and great hiking opportunities but often experience harsh conditions is often sheltered from the strongest winds When high winds shut down lifts at the larger resorts 2024/2025 Owani Onsen Ski Resort course guide The beginner areas are neatly organized within two zones The first lift from the ski center leads to the second lift and provides access to a beginner trail This is a popular spot for new skiers and local kids who create small courses through the trees The second lift is the most popular as it grants access to the best powder areas It also has a midway unloading point for beginners providing access to the race hill and a beginner trail that doubles as a summer road but the trees are not thinned out as it is not classified as a tree run Getting to the top requires multiple lifts meaning more time sitting and less time skiing The total vertical drop from the three lifts is 609m Part way down the Amaike International Course The 2024/2025 season has blessed Owani Onsen with plenty of snow avalanche risks have led to the closure of ungroomed areas the second lift offers access to the most popular powder zones where three trails provide a sustained pitch Looking up Maehira Bahn from the second lift there are opportunities for hiking to the old gondola and exploring its former trails The hike is relatively easy and popular with those new to backcountry skiing It provides a controlled environment for uphill travel and great terrain on the way down This is a common testing ground and gear check before bigger mountains like Mt It is also the only way to reach the highest point on the mountain Hiking up unused trails at Owani Onsen Ski Area “While popular ski resorts boast luxury amenities smaller places like this are the backbone of skiing culture Owani Onsen Ski Resort isn’t going to be the first pick for most skiers It serves more as a backup plan when foul weather shuts down better resorts It is a reliable place to get in some turns and experience a different ski area But visiting Owani Onsen is also a humbling experience While popular ski resorts boast luxury amenities A surge of customers as surrounding resorts were put on wind hold This resort is a reminder that while Japan’s well-known ski destinations attract crowds and investment many smaller ski areas offer a basic but unique experience taking a significant part of skiing history and culture with them Japan’s skiing history is directly tied to this resort making its decline all the more heartbreaking KAI Tsugaru is a refined getaway operated by Hoshino Resorts Co This ryokan blends relaxation with cultural experiences offering live Tsugaru shamisen performances and hands-on traditional crafts It is a perfect way to unwind after skiing while immersing yourself in local history and artistry Semi-private dining area available at KAI Tsugaru Guests can enjoy both indoor and outdoor onsens where the natural hot spring water soothes tired muscles the snowy surroundings create a peaceful atmosphere The kaiseki-style cuisine is another highlight featuring locally sourced ingredients prepared with meticulous detail Dining options include general seating or semi-private rooms KAI Tsugaru provides an unforgettable stay Stairs leading to the onsens at Lamp Inn Aoni Onsen Located an hour east of Owani Onsen Ski Resort Lamp Inn Aoni Onsen offers a unique luxury escape the entire inn is illuminated only by lamps Single tatami-style room at Lamp Inn Aoni Onsen This secluded onsen ryokan features multiple hot spring baths Guests can soak in the open-air bath beside the Aoni Stream all while surrounded by nature’s tranquility which highlight seasonal Japanese countryside cuisine With its peaceful ambiance and connection to nature Lamp Inn Aoni Onsen is a unique retreat for those seeking an immersive and memorable experience Take the Ou Main Line to Owani Onsen Station then a five-minute taxi ride to the resort Owani Onsen Ski Resort is not the first place to visit on a perfect bluebird day it is a great safety net when harsh weather limits skiing elsewhere The powder access from the second lift is better than many other small Japanese resorts offer But for those wanting longer runs with good pitch and terrain variety Panels outlining the history of Owani Onsen Ski Area This resort represents the intersection of Japan’s skiing history and the decline of smaller ski areas unused trails serve as a stark reminder of the challenges these places face as larger ski resorts draw more visitors year after year A visit to Owani Onsen provides a glimpse into skiing’s past in Japan and a connection to a disappearing side of the sport The local character “Ajaran” posing out front it makes an excellent home base to visit all of Tohoku The onsen water quality is really fantastic and the local people friendly Late January spent a day there with my wife for the reason mentioned…Ani gondola was closed due to winds Tiny place but always fun to try something new Some basic information like lift ticket prices snow fall and cost of accommodation would have been useful Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Ski Asia’s bi-monthly newsletter with the latest news Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Aomori Prefecture--The Owani Line operated by Konan Railway Co is famed for its route through a landscape dotted with apple orchards where the fruit at this time of year is ripe for picking going beyond the expectations of passengers Konan Railway is operating a special two-car train whose interior is  decked out with around 300 apple-shaped “neputa” lanterns until November The Owani Line connecting Owani and Chuo-Hirosaki stations is affectionately known as the “Apple Orchard Train” for obvious reasons According to the company based in Hirakawa one of the three trains running on the line is operated as the Apple Neputa Train Made with Japanese traditional “washi” paper the lanterns are 15 centimeters in diameter They were handmade by neputa artisans in the region which is famous for festivals featuring gigantic neputa floats The interior is lit up only with the lanterns from the evening on weekends and holidays Konan Railway started the special service in 2022 with an eye to making the Owani Line a tourism resource The company also offers a Spring Apple Neputa Train to coincide with the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival as well as the Kingyo Neputa Train decorated with “kingyo” goldfish-shaped lanterns from July through August “We want to attract tourists from home and abroad with the Neputa Train,” said Masashi Nakata chief of the operation department at the company Pink Art Train splashes color through Aomori countryside ‘Bento full of fish’ from Tsugaru wins best boxed meal Sightseeing train remodeled like a traditional hunter’s cabin Milky Way and wind chime trains reach end of line in Shikoku Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent AOMORI — A train decorated with goldfish crafts that look like a miniature version of neputa floats has commenced operation on Konan Railway’s Owani Line in Aomori Prefecture The railway operator has installed the decorations in the interior of the train for the summer tourist season Some goldfish with built-in lights have been hung on the handrails to entertain passengers Large kokeshi lanterns have also been put up at stations some trains will have their lights turned off so the interior will be illuminated only by the decorations These special services will run in evenings between Friday and Sunday The train will operate between Chuo Hirosaki and Owani stations through Aug Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun which runs through Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture features a unique train decorated with around 350 goldfish lanterns known as kingyo neputa The train will run until the end of August the train operates at night with only the lanterns' lights illuminating the interior creating a calm and refreshing ambiance during the hot summer days The tradition of kingyo neputa dates back to the Edo period (1603–1868) Since commoners could not afford to keep goldfish as pets they crafted these decorations from bamboo and Japanese paper as a substitute The lanterns on the Konan Railway train are approximately 15 centimeters (about 6 inches) in size the LED lights inside make the red Japanese paper glow casting a magical ambiance throughout the two-car train A high school student from Sapporo traveling with their family remarked but I've never been on such an atmospheric train ride before The train travels between Chuo Hirosaki Station and Owani Station covering a distance of 13.9 kilometers (8.6 miles) in about 35 minutes There are no additional fees to board this special train (Read the article in Japanese.)Author: The Sankei Shimbun You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party announced on Thursday morning that its candidate for Omoro County by-election The party said Owani’s whereabouts were unknown ahead of his nomination today FDC Party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat said Owani was on his way back to Omoro from a Rupiny radio talk show in Gulu at 8:30pm when this happened “We highly suspect this to be the handwork of the usual suspect fearing the strength of FDC in this particular by-election I advise the rest of our colleagues NUP and ANT to closely guard their candidates.” He added: “Last night he was violently attacked bag with documents stolen and subjected to physical tortured I am on my way to Gulu and later Omoro to deal with this crisis Our supporters are advised to remain calm as we manage the situation.” “Reports from FDC foot soldier in Acholi indicate that our flag bearer Davis Dick Owani is on his way to Gulu from Kamdini Police station where (he) reported at 1 am for his own safety after yesterday’s kidnap ordeal.” Aswa Regional Police said it was investigating alleged Kidnap of Owani the FDC Candidate in the upcoming Omoro by-election The candidate told police that he was abducted by occupants in an unknown vehicle who were trailing him Owani claims they kidnapped him at Adida village in Omoro District but later abandoned him at Corner Kamdini in Oyam District “We do take matters of threats to life including abductions seriously Our regional teams in Aswa and North Kyoga have opened up general inquiries to help prove or disprove the allegations,” said ASP Ongom David Mudong PRO Aswa-River He added: “We urge the complainant in the alleged incident to cooperate with police and provide us with all the necessary information We further wish to inform the public that the complainant in this alleged incident is out of danger and has gone for nomination.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment SoftPower News is a subsidiary of SoftPower Communications LLC Keep posted of the latest from Uganda and East Africa This news site is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) © SoftPower News © SoftPower News Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Dick Denis Owani the flag bearer for the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC Party in Omoro District has failed to turn up for his nomination in Omoro Town Council This comes amidst reports of his abduction along Bobi-Aboke road in Adyeda village in Bobi Sub-county  Owani was allegedly later dumped by his abductors in Kamdini Town Council in Oyam District The 56-year-old was among four Parliamentary candidates who had booked to be nominated for the Parliamentary race by the Electoral Commission in Omoro District Council hall on the first day Four candidates of the eleven who picked up the nomination forms for the Parliamentary seat have so far been nominated and Jimmy Walter Onen all independent candidates Alliance for National Transformation-ANT flag bearer the Electoral Commission Returning Officer for Omoro district however noted that the nomination of candidates will be closed on Friday at 5 pm He urged those who picked the nomination forms to return within the stipulated timeframe or miss out on the by-election According to reports recorded at Kamdini Police Station Owani alleged that his abductors robbed him of two bags containing documents meant for his nomination Other items that were stolen according to Owani included a mobile phone The North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema in a press statement says they will review and analyze CCTV footage at Kamdini Town council to get details of the vehicle Owani alleged his abductors used for further investigation Okema notes that the matter will be referred to Omoro Central Police Station since the incident happened in Omoro District The incident was registered at Kamdini Police Station under SD ref 02/12/05/2022 Justin Odong Obiya says their candidate will be nominated on Friday and dismissed allegations that he made a stunt to drop out of the race He says Owani lost his academic papers to his abductors and noted that he spent part of the day to find other certified copies “Those who kidnapped him took away his document so he is still looking for certified copies where he kept them so tomorrow we shall be set for nomination,” he said Simon Toolit Akecha says he will focus on maternal health and improvement of the road network in Omoro District He says he has already purchased an ambulance for helping expectant mothers access health facilities for delivery free of charge Terrence Odonga on the other hand says he will work with the people of Omoro for better representation and stressed that he will ensure the road networks are in better condition Tags This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page an Arnos Vale man who was riding in the front passenger seat of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) died over the weekend when the vehicle collided with a parked car 13-year-old PJ Castello and another man who ran away from the scene of the accident left the gas station located on the Fountain main road/Vigie Highway SURVIVOR Elton Andrews was sitting behind Owani Haynes who died as a result of a tragic car crash The five never made it to their destination in Roseau where they were planning to return the rental vehicle owned by Hailie “Hot Sip” Anciant who SEARCHLIGHT caught up with at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) on Monday they were heading to Roseau via the Vigie Highway when Brereton (the driver) swerved to avoid a vehicle that had turned from the right lane onto the left side of the road to enter a gap Andrews said Brereton was unable to stop the SUV hit a hole after which he (Andrews) hit his head and was knocked unconscious Owanie shouldn’t have died that way,” Haynes said after the driver swerved to avoid the vehicle that had turned into the gap he lost control of the SUV and it struck a yellow parked Mazda car The SUV overturned and persons on the scene managed to get it back on its four wheels after which they observed the injured Haynes the number of road fatalities here for 2019 Andrews told SEARCHLIGHT that he was awaiting the results of an x-ray but was expected to be released from the hospital yesterday He said he suffered blunt force trauma to several areas of his body and he was hoping that he has no long-term injuries Andrews was sitting behind Haynes during the crash some persons have alleged that the brakes may have been faulty and that the vehicle itself may have been in a state of disrepair is said to be the father of seven children The first road fatality for 2019 happened on January 12 when 23-year-old Luke Browne fell from a truck in the Villa Owani confirmed to Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Thursday that he was indeed abducted but decline to divulge more details “I can confirm to you that I was abducted from a place called Adyeda on Bobi-Aboke road,” he said Police say the aspirant claimed his abductors drove and dumped him some 40 kilometers away in Kamdini Town Council in Oyam District This came a few hours to Owani’s nomination later today by the Electoral Commission the Aswa River Region Police Commander notes that they are investigating the incident to ascertain whether the kidnap indeed took place or was stage-managed to gain political attention She says once the allegations are found to be factual they won’t hesitate to apprehend the culprits behind the act She notes that they prepared to ensure the by-election processes go smoothly arguing that they have enough security personnel on the ground Four aspirants including Owani are expected to be nominated today by the Electoral Commission at Omoro District Council hall The aspirants are Terrence Odonga and Onen Jimmy Walter the National Unity Platform (NUP) party candidate the electoral Commission Returning Officer Omoro District says that the nomination of the parliamentary candidates kicked off smoothly Jimmy Walter Onen has been successfully nominated Others to be nominated are the district woman councillor for Lalogi/Lakwaya and the male councillor representing older persons in Acet Town council At least 11 aspirants picked nomination forms to contest in the Omoro County Parliamentary by-election the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Flagbearer The seat fell vacant following the death of the former legislator and Speaker of parliament The Electoral Commission has scheduled May 26 as the polling date for parliamentary candidates in Omoro County Tags the Uganda People’s Congress- UPC candidate for the Kole LC V Chairperson’s seat has withdrawn from the race Alagu says he has opted to step down to give way for peace and harmony since there is a lot of political intrigue and hatred among the leaders in the district He claims that he has received several threats from security personnel whom he declined to name asking him to step down or face their brutality I could not withstand the amount of political intrigue and hatred I have decided to withdraw from the race to restore sanity love and peace in Kole,” he said in an interview Alagu’s withdrawal now leaves the battle among the four candidates vying for Kole LCV seat Boniface Okello Alele all independent candidates and Moris Awany says he didn’t receive any complaints from Alagu or any other candidate over security threats Alagu’s withdrawal from Kole LCV race has disappointed the UPC leadership in Lango the UPC Regional Vice Chairman for Lango described the withdrawal of Alagu from the race as a surprise and betrayal Ongom observed that the decision was taken at the time when they could not make a replacement and they were very hopeful that Alagu would win the elections due to the massive support Ongom is however optimistic that the UPC party will win massively the local council elections in Lango scheduled for today Wednesday Tags Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Opposition is mooting plans to nominate a joint candidate to contest with the National Resistance Movement party candidate in the Omoro county parliamentary by-election This comes a day after President Museveni picked 32-year-old Andrew Ojok Oulanyah the eldest son of the former legislator and Speaker of Parliament Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah to hold the NRM flag in Omoro County The President made the decision after meeting five other NRM aspirants at his country home in Rwakitura on Tuesday At least four opposition aspirants have expressed interest to vie for the Omoro parliamentary seat They are Terrence Odonga and Dick Denis Owani all from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party Godwin Okello from the Democratic Party (DP) and Oscar Kizza of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) the FDC coordinator in Acholi sub-region however says whereas they have strong candidates they are looking at the possibility of fronting a joint candidate against NRM Oyat notes that fronting a single candidate in Omoro County will help the opposition defeat the NRM He however says the candidates selected from each of the opposition political camps will undergo vetting before a winner is declared to hold the joint opposition flag the spokesperson of ANT in the Acholi sub-region says the proposal is a welcome move that will help the opposition garner victory in Omoro district He however says the choice of the joint candidate must be conducted in a free and fair manner the spokesperson of DP in Gulu City says the party hasn’t yet made a decision of supporting a joint candidate He however says the idea is a good move for the opposition party in ensuring a win against the NRM the National Unity Platform (NUP) Northern Regional Spokesperson in an earlier interview noted that they were yet to hold discussions to come out with their candidate or support another candidate Omoro County Parliamentary seat fell vacant in March this year following the death of Oulanyah from Seattle in the United States of America (USA) The nomination of candidates in the Omoro County Parliamentary race will take place from May 12th to May 13 at Omoro District Council Hall while campaigns will take place from May 16th-24th 2022 according to the Electoral commission road map Tags Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Dick Denis Owani is the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party candidate for the Omoro county parliamentary by-election The party leaders say Owani was endorsed following a consensus reached between him and another aspirant Terrence Odonga The Chua West Member of Parliament Philip Okin Ojara and the FDC coordinator for Northern Uganda the Omoro district FDC chairperson told Uganda Radio Network in an interview on Monday that the two negotiated before they gave Owani the flag to represent the party Odong says the process was fairly conducted adding that Odonga didn’t complain about the party decision He says they are optimistic that Owani will secure victory for the party in the coming by-election But Odonga told URN in an interview that he isn’t contented with the resolution arguing that the process undertaken to endorse his rival was unfair Odonga alleges that prior to the meeting with his counterpart the party leadership in Kampala had already resolved the matter He says that he will contest as an independent candidate if the party rejects his appeal for the primary elections “If they have made up their mind on their flag bearer I will go as an independent and crash their candidate Owani says that his focus is to revamp the agricultural sector in Omoro district from peasantry to commercial and mechanized agriculture He says the district is already thriving in soya beans and sunflower farming but farmers still face challenges of pricing The National Resistance Movement-NRM party last week endorsed Oulanyah’s eldest son Andrew Ojok Oulanyah for the Omoro by-election The Electoral Commission has commenced the display of voter registers and issuance of voter location slips at polling stations in Omoro county the Omoro District Electoral Commission Registrar says that the exercise has kicked off smoothly at the polling stations they visited He however says there is a slightly low turn up of people being the first day of the exercise The electoral commission has set May 26 as the date for the election in Omoro County which was represented by the former Speaker of Parliament Jacob L’Okori Oulanyah who died on March 20 in the United States of America Tags Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Forum For Democratic Change-FDC party has fronted a new candidate for the Omoro County Parliamentary by-election just a day after the first one went missing the FDC chairperson in Omoro district was unveiled today afternoon to replace Dick Denis Owani who was allegedly abducted by unknown persons shortly before his nomination Owani had been lined up for nomination on Thursday we officially unveil Odong Justine as our Parliamentary candidate for Omoro county He’s our district Chairman&Former LC3 Chairperson Koro SC Tochi county Omoro district 2016-2021 pic.twitter.com/beeS0LSIZx — FDC (@FDCOfficial1) May 13, 2022 the FDC party mobilizer in Acholi sub-region told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that Owani lost his academic credentials and couldn’t be nominated Komakech says Obiya is their official candidate for now and will be given all the necessary support to secure victory for the party Chua West Member of Parliament Philip Polly Okin and FDC envoy in charge of special operations in FDC told URN in an interview earlier that there was an attempt to bribe Owani out of the race by his abductors Okin however didn’t disclose how much the alleged abductors had offered but noted that their candidate rejected the money and hinted at continuing with the contest The new candidate fronted is expected to be nominated by the Electoral Commission Returning officer Moses Kagona the National Resistance Movement party flag bearer Andrew Ojok Oulanyah has so far been nominated on the second day of nomination at Omoro District Council hall in Omoro district The search is to replace a seat that fell vacant with the death of Jacob Oulanyah L’okori the former speaker of Parliament who succumbed to cancer early this year Tags