Black Diamond Freeski Shop, Kagura

Yuzawa is a popular ski destination but it is lacking a good gear shop. Granted, many visitors bring their own equipment and there is an abundance of rental shops, but if you are in the mood to spend some money, it can be hard to find a good ski/snowboard shop. There is Xraeb in Muikamachi, and the Majestic shop in the main street in Yuzawa, though apart from those, there is not much else around. Unless you find yourself at Kagura/Mitsumata.

Right in the middle of the Mitsumata car park is the Black Diamond Free-ski Pro Shop. It is an awesome little ski shop with a really good range of quality equipment. You can buy anything that you may have forgotten - with sunglasses, goggles, socks, belts, hats, gloves, jackets, base layers all on display. For the more adventurous there are also climbing skins, beacons, probes and shovels. [The shop is run by the same people who run backcountry tours up at Kagura so they know what they are doing.)

They also have a good range of rental equipment though it is maily aimed at their backcountry clientele. The skis are all of the big, fat powder variety to keep you afloat in the deep Kagura snow, and most of them have touring or telemark bindings on. If you are just looking for normal rental skis the rental shop by the ticket counter is a better bet. Other rental items are touring boots, telemark boots, beacons, shovels, skins, stocks, backpacks and snowshoes.

There are normally a couple of sale racks of last season's wear at a decent discount at the front of the store, so it can be a good idea to drop in after your day on the slopes and see if there are any bargains that takes your fancy. All the brands they carry are well known and highly regarded. Ski gear, especially top of the range, is pricey stuff these days so if you can find something you like on the sale racks it is a good excuse to splurge. You can also get a good deal on skis, both new and used, and especially towards the end of the season in spring, there are some great bargains to be had.