To all our readers and winter sports enthusiasts,

It's been a spectacular snow season this year and we hope you all are making the most of it. However, we've recently been informed by the management at ARAI MOUNTAIN & SPA (www.araimntspa.com) that they've been having trouble with guests (both Japanese and foreign) skiing out of bounds in dangerous areas of the ski resort. They are understandably concerned an accident will happen if the behavior persists and have asked us to help spread the word to our readers of the dangers involved in going outside the boundaries at the resort.

ARAI has been a great supporter of Outdoor Japan for many years now and we'd like to let people know that this area where people are going outside the boundaries is avalanche prone and quite dangerous. People have actually died there in the past. ARAI is a very safe resort with interesting, varied terrain and ropes that clearly mark the out-of-bounds areas. Although we believe Outdoor Japan readers follow the rules, those who ignore them not only endanger themselves, they also risk those who may follow their tracks into danger zones.

So have a great time out there this winter, but respect the rules and respect the mountain.

All the best,

From all of us at Outdoor Japan

Looks like you got to pick your spots to hit the trees, maybe Arai isn't the place to do it, eh.

Yeah, but I remember reading about the snowboarders that died up there quite a few years back. I think there is one area up there that is problem, so people need to stay out of there. The upper bowls are cool though when they are open. (they close them a lot when the weather is bad)

Ski to ski another day