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text: carolyn strauss photography: joel rogers SKIING/SNOWBOARDING IN NAGANO DOWNHILL SKIING BY BULLET TRAIN M M M Gala Yuzawa Ski resort is easily accessible from 10kyo. The resort has a direct bullet train link with Tokyo or Ueno stations (takes just one hour, 15 minutes). It arrives at the base complex of the resort, so skiers can lit erally step straight out onto the slo es. Call 01 1-81-257-85-6423. RIVER CLIMBING AT MITSUKAMA FALLS Gear up, go knee-to-neck deep and climb your way up the falls toward Mount Otake in the heart of Okutama. Or just lunch at the edge of the falls and watch others suited-up with ropes and packs hoisting themselves up the rocks. Take the rapid-service train from Shinjuku to Okutama. For more information on Okutama, check out Gary Walters' book, Day Walks Near Tokyo (Kodansha International Ltd., 1992). t okyo PREFECTURE The site of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Nagano Prefecture is surrounded by the Japanese Al ps, which reach heights in excess of 9,000 feet. Central Nagano has a variety of ski sites, not all of which allow snowboarding. Try Hakuba Goryu Toomi Ski Area to brave the super steep and rugged "Champion Course" (unfortunately, snow boards are not allowed here). Not far away is Hakuba Happoone (Happol. an enormous ski area full of steep runs. It boasts the infamous "rabbit" mogul course (apparently known to skiers throughout Japan). Just up the road from Happo is Hakuba Iwatake where one gondola lift takes you straight to the top and from there you can ski down the back of the mountain. Take the bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano City (takes 100 min utes). The best info on Nagano ski areas can be found at www.avisnet.or.jp/-anpie/skiguide.htm For more information about any of the above, contact the Japan National Tourist Organization in Tokyo (011-81-3-3 503-4400).