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The journey from Tokyo through Nagoya and on to Kyoto and Osaka is well known as Japan’s Golden Route. A side trip off the Golden Route will provide you with an enormously enriching cultural experience. Indulge in historic ambience in Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa or travel to the south of Osaka to seek spiritual enlightenment at Ise-Shima, Koyasan,and along the ancient Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes. …Where to go next? The Kisoji, an ancient trade route running through the Kiso Valley, is part of the Nakasendo (‘path through the mountains’) and is surrounded by steep mountains and retains the scenery and atmosphere of the old days.

日本

Second Golden Route

JAPAN

Calling all Japan fans in Australia...

Welcome to the seventh edition of G’Day Japan! Once again, it would not have been possible without the generous support of our Australian readers, the unwavering commitment of our advertisers, and the wonderful content provided by our local government and tourism authority partners. We are truly indebted to you all, and extend our deepest gratitude.

Special thanks are due in particular to the people of Australia, who have shown continued support for Japanese ski resorts by visiting in numbers again this season, despite the unprecedented catastrophe caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.

Australians have also maintained their loyalty to Japanese brands after the disaster. I have been delighted to receive reports from Japanese manufacturers that the economic repercussions for them in the Australian market were minimal, sending a clear message of hope and encouragement to the disaster-stricken people of Japan.

From late March 2011, in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, I embarked on a business trip across the regions of Japan to meet with our partners and clients. One of their greatest concerns was how the disaster would affect visitor numbers from Australia, and their allegiance to Japanese brands.

In response, I assured them that Australians were more likely than anyone to be the first to return to Japan, and that they would remain a loyal market as long as safety could be guaranteed in the wake of the disaster. I had faith that the affinity for Japan in the Australian community would hold strong. Encouraging our partners to brush off their concerns, and keep working together on promoting Japan became the most significant task of my 2011 business trip.

The cause for alarm had subsided by the time I returned between March and April 2012, to receive reports from our partners that everything had come true as I assured them it would. Visitor numbers from Australia hardly skipped a beat, and the same applied to their consumption of Japanese products.

In the seventh issue of G’Day Japan!, we extend our gaze beyond the ski fields of Japan to Okinawa, the nation’s top resort destination, and the Kii Peninsula, Japan's spiritual heart. In addition, we take an in-depth look at Japanese food and sake, two hallmarks of Japanese culture.

Our inspiration in drawing together this assortment of features on Japan’s snow country, southern subtropics, religious power spots, cuisine, sake and technology is drawn from the way in which they embody the charms of Japan as a whole.

However, they are only the tip of the iceberg. To truly discover the diverse, captivating beauty of Japan, you must seek it out for yourself by visiting the country, and intimately experiencing its food, products and other charms. I am certain that you will be enchanted by their allure, and sincerely hope that you maintain a connection with them from Australia.

There is no greater happiness for us than to act as a catalyst for your trip to Japan, or the enrichment of your diet and lifestyle with its charms. In publishing this seventh edition of G'Day Japan!, we feel extremely fortunate to be serving Japan fans in Australia, and would have no greater joy than to see them increasing in even greater numbers. Please enjoy reading, and we wish you all the very best!

Ryuichi Kitamura Director G'Day Japan!

Sydney, June 2012

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Mizkan Reader Giveaway ™

20 lucky G’Day Japan! readers have the chance to win a free copy of “FUN with Sushi”, a step by step DVD on how to make your own sushi. Access our reader survey online at the G’Day Japan! website http://gdayjapan.com.au/ and complete it to go into the draw!

Survey Questions 1. Nationality (Australians please include your State) 2. Gender (M/F) 3. Age (Below 20/20-29/30-39/Above 40) 4. Have you used Mizkan™ Sushi Seasoning in the past six months? (Y/N) 5. Have you used any other types of Sushi Seasoning in the past six months? (Y/N) 6. Other than sushi, what kind of dishes do you think Sushi Seasoning is suited to?

(More than one answer welcome – please list freely) If you answered yes to question four and/or five, please continue below.

• What type of dishes have you used sushi vinegar in? Please choose one.

(Sushi/Salad/Other). If Other, please describe.

• Please list the names of as many dishes as you can think of.

Respondent Details 1. Name: 2. Phone: 3. Email: Winners will be notified by email, so please be sure to include your email address.

How to Enter Ac c e s s the G’ Day Japan! we b site at http://gdayjapan.com.au/, and respond to the reader survey.

Entry Requirements The sur vey is open to respondents residing in Sydney during September 2012.

Application Deadline Friday August 31, 2012 Announcement of Winners Winners will be notified by email.

Claiming your Prize Please visit JAMS.TV directly to claim your prize.

Prizes will be ready for collection during September 2012.

Good luck, we look forward to your response!!

CONTENTS

©Y.Shimizu/©JNTO

G'Day Japan! is proudly produced by JAMS.TV Pty Ltd (Japan Australia Media Services) Date of Issue / June, 2011 (Issue 07) Published annually by JAMS.TV Pty Ltd ABN 85 115 815 551 Suite 3704, Level 37, Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW 2000 Phone (02) 9252 6307 Fax (02) 9252 6308 Email info@jams.tv Printed in Australia www.gdayjapan.com.au Copyright©JAMS.TV Pty Ltd 2012 All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Sales & Marketing Director Ryuichi Kitamura

Cover Images Japan's fabulous powder snow ©JNTO Ishigaki Island ©Okinawa Index

Editor in Chief Masanori Chiba Editors Michael Montague, Mai Iwaya Art Director Koetsu 'SAW' Moriya Advertising Coordinator Yushiro Mizukoshi Advertising Sales Kayo Okamura JAMS.TV Pty Ltd Chairman Takashi Asai Managing Director Hiroshi Washiashi

JTB Australia offers a range of travel services to suit your travel needs Our Products and Services include • Japan Package Tours • Fully Escorted Tours • Group Tours • Japan Stopover Packages • Japan Rail Pass • Hotel & Ryokan Accommodations • Cultural Experience Tours • Tokyo Disney Tickets • Educational Tours • Japan Ski Packages For further enquiries call

1300jtbtravel.com.au 739 330

or visit www. www.facebook.com/jtb.travel

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DISCOVER OKINAWA, JAPAN’S OCEAN KINGDOM 12 DESTINATION OKINAWA 14 OKINAWA ISLAND REGION 16 OKINAWA’S UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES 18 OKINAWA OUTER ISLANDS 20 PEOPLE 22 LIFESTYLE 24 CULTURE

27 MONKS, PILGRIMS, NINJAS AND NATURE The Kii Peninsula, Japan’s Spiritual Heart

WELCOME TO THE POWDER ZONE 36 NISEKO 52 FURANO 60 TOKACHIDAKE 64 ASAHIDAKE 66 KAMUI 67 TOMAMU 70 HAKUBA

91 96 99 100 102 104 107

NOZAWA ONSEN YUDANAKA ONSEN SHIGA KOGEN MT NAEBA MYOKO MATSUMOTO TOHOKU

117 STRICTLY SAKE

The changing face of sake in Japan and Australia

127 THE WORLD OF JAPANESE CUISINE

JAPAN FOR ME 136 Elizabeth Masamune 138 Chris Glenn

140 SO COOL, SO JAPAN!

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JAPAN Land of beauty and living traditions

Japan is a must-see destination rich in unique tradition and historical ambience. Experience the deeper, spiritual aspects of the country while absorbing the culture, such as dancing with the locals at festivals and stimulate the taste-buds with mouth-watering culinary delights at distinguished Michelin rated restaurants or traditional local bars. From traditional to contemporary culture and fashion, through its fascinating harmony between the old and the new, Japan will satisfy your curiosity.

Summer: Playtime in the land of nature When summer arrives, Japan's landscapes are enveloped in bright light. Beaches, rivers and other waterside areas bustle with people seeking cooler places. Create your own adventure whether it is rafting or sunset canoeing in Okinawa; trekking in the Japan Alps, or enjoying a drink with the locals at one of the many beer gardens around the country.

Summer festivals (matsuri) throughout Japan are a must see attraction for visitors. For example, the Tohoku region boasts four of the most popular festivals in Japan. Festivals are colourful, lively and a fun away to experience the true Japanese spirit and interact with the locals.

AOMORI NEBUTA FESTIVAL (August) The greatest attractions of the Aomori Nebuta Festival are the gorgeous and colorful three-dimensional nebuta designed after warrior dolls and the very cheerful dances performed by participants called 'haneto'. Anyone is welcome to join the dancers!

AKITA KANTO FESTIVAL (August) An energetic festival created with the purpose of praying for abundant harvest, involves skilled performers balancing a 'kanto', a bamboo pole eight meters high with a number of cross poles on their heads and shoulders. Attached to the bamboo, 46 paper lanterns lit up the event.

SENDAI TANABATA FESTIVAL (August) Boasting a 400-year old tradition, gorgeous decorations made

from bamboo and Japanese paper are put up in the arcades in front of Sendai Station and in all other parts of the city.

Praying for good health and harvest, people write wishes on the paper strips called 'tanzaku', which are strung together.

Enjoy strolling around the colorful city at this time of year.

YAMAGATA HANAGASA FESTIVAL (August) A performance of 10,000 dancers holding 'hanagasa', a hat decorated with artificial flowers, parade through the main street of Yamagata City. The parade is led by gorgeously decorated festival floats and the jovial beat of the hanagasadaiko drums enhance the cheerful mood of the festival.

Fukuoka Hakata Dontaku Karatsu Kunchi

Discover your own journey. Japan awaits you!

Autumn: Tinted leaves and Culinary delights

the abundant harvest. Autumn is another wonderful time of the year to experience the uniqueness of each region.

The cool crisp days of autumn bring swirls of changing leaves in vivid hues of crismon and gold, that paint the hills and mountainsides.Autumn's pleasant climate is best suited for outdoor leisure activities and many festivals, sports days and cultural events take place at this time of the year. Enjoy a leisurely trip through the countryside and experience the legendary Japanese hospitality.

TAKAYAMA FESTIVAL (October) Considered as one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan, Takayama festival is held in spring and in autumn.

The yatai floats are lined up before dusk, and once the town becomes veiled in the evening darkness, as many as 100 chochin lanterns are lit on each of the f loats. The unique ornaments of the yatai floats look splendid in the darkness of the night.

Autumn brings the harvest with many fresh local ingredients.

Japanese cuisine delighting the palate, ranges from elegant kai seki (tr ad itiona l f u l l cou r se d i n ner s at upper- cla ss restaurants) to the hearty basics of ramen noodles, sushi and tempura. Each region has developed its own local delicacies.

Indulge yourself in genuine Japanese food in its very own home and discover the world of kaleidoscopic diversity of Japanese cuisine!

KARATSU KUNCHI FESTIVAL (November) Karatsu Kunchi, one of the most famous festivals in Kyushu, is a spectacular parade with 14 floats, some 6.8m tall weighing 3 tons, designed with images of lions, R isso's dolphins, samurai helmets, sea bream, and flying dragons. Strolling around the city along floats parading to the unique shouts and the accompaniment of flutes and drums, is an uplifting and memorable experience.

Many of the Autumn festivals are held to thank the Gods for

Aomori Nebuta Akita Kanto

Yamagata Hanagasa

Hiroshima Miyajima Fireworks Tokushima Awaodori Kochi Yosakoi Matsuri

Takayama Takayama Matsuri Kyoto Gion Matsuri Nagoya Osaka Kishiwada Danjiri

Sendai Tanabata

Tokyo Sanja/Sanno/Kanda Festivals

http://www.facebook.com/VisitJapanDownUnder For further information please visit JNTO online at www.jnto.org.au, or speak to your local travel agent.

©Yasufumi Nishi-©JNTO

Japan Outdoor Adventures Blessed with soaring mountains and valleys, lush forests, majestic volcanoes, sparkling-clear rivers, lakes and oceans, few countries offer such a rich diversity in natural beauty as Japan does and there is no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy throughout the seasons. Hiking is a great way to enjoy the changing seasons of Japan. Kamikochi in Nagano presents breathtaking views of the Japan Alps and Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes are relaxing and spiritually enlightening. Kayaking and rafting the waters of Hokkaido provides a completely different perspective of the countryside.

The Yoshino River in Tokushima has some of the biggest rapids in Japan and is an ideal place for the fun and excitement of rafting. Various water activities, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing and much more await you at Okinawa, the southern islands of Japan. And not to forget the incredible skiing and endless winter activities. Discover your adventurous side in Japan!

日本

©Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau-©JNTO

©JNTO

©JNTO

JAPAN

Japan’s

finest

beer NSW: 02 8209 3747 VIC: 03 8682 9766 QLD: 07 3139 1725 orIoNbeer.Com.au

ProuDLy ImPorteD from okINaWa, JaPaN

Pristine subtropical beaches, stunning c o ral a n d d e n s e j u n g l e , h o m e t o a colour ful variet y of marine and wildlife, along with World Heritage Listed castles and other historic sites are just waiting to be discovered on the islands of Okinawa, Japan’s premier resort destination. As the locals say, ‘Okinawa e mensore’ – welcome to Okinawa!

Discover O k i n a w a , Japan’s Ocean Kingdom

Images: Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau/Okinawa Index Okinawa

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Destination Okinawa Despite being tossed about dramatically on the currents of political change, the islanders of Okinawa have held steadfastly to their relaxed take on life, and an open, welcoming spirit. The Ryukyu Islands, as Okinawa has been known traditionally, underwent a transformation from a benign 12th century farming settlement, to a powerful 15th century trade hub of East Asia. The Japanese gatecrashed the party in 1609 and annexed the islands, which then fell under the crosshairs of US bombers much later during World War II. Miraculously, Okinawa has retained historic monuments to its characteristic blend of Japanese, Chinese and Southeast Asian culture which are now World Heritage listed, complementing a beautiful natural environment that has made it one of Japan’s premier resort destinations.

Ikema Is.

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Irabu Is.10 8 Miyako Is.

Yaeyama Islands 7 Yonaguni Is.

11 Tarama Is.

4 Kohama Is.

3 Iriomote Is.

1 Ishigaki Is. 2 Taketomi Is.

6 Hateruma Is.

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Okinawa

5 Kuro Is.

Miyako Islands

Cape Maeda, Onna Village

Katsuren Castle, Uruma

Okinawa Is. 150 min.drive to northern area 90 min. drive to central resort area

15 Kume Is.

Shuri Castle, Naha

13 Zamami Is.

30 min. drive to central area

Tomari Port Naha Airport

14 Aka Is. 12 Tokashiki Is.

Kerama Islands

Okinawa Main Island

Travel Tips Naha Airport, in the prefectural capital of Naha, is Okinawa’s major international and domestic airport. Jetstar Japan and Peach have recently intensified a price war with Skymark Airlines in Japan’s domestic airline market, and there are additional savings to be made on domestic flights with a Star Alliance Airpass, or a Japan Airlines oneworld Yokoso/Visit Japan Fare.

Ferry services also run between mainland Japan, Naha, and the outer islands of Okinawa. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the weather during the typhoon season of July, August and September, to make sure your trip runs smoothly.

Access from Mainland Japan Tokyo (Haneda, Narita)

Osaka (Itami, Kansai)

2h 15min

1h 50min

Naha 35min 2h 30min Kume Is.

50 min

1h

Miyako Is.

Ishigaki Is. *Times are approximate

Okinawa

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Okinawa Island Region Okinawa Island North

Kayak, hike and canyon your way through the semi tropical old growth forest of Yanbaru to encounter rare wildlife and the beautiful Hiji Falls, or go for a dive on coral reefs teeming with colourful fish on the Onna Coast. If you prefer staying dry, be dwarfed by the three whale sharks, tiger sharks, and their friends in the stupendous Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium on the Motobu Peninsula. The north is also home to Nakajin Castle, part of Okinawa’s World Heritage trail and the biggest of the island’s ancient castles standing today.

Yanbarukuina

Hiji Falls, Kunigami

Okinawa Island Central Okinawa Island Central is the heartland of the islanders’ chanpuru culture, a melting pot with a hefty side of US Marines from nearby military bases, and young hipsters on top. Experience the wall-towall live music scene in Koza, which is also a stronghold of traditional Okinawan Eisa dancing and drumming groups. When it’s all too much, retreat to the artistic community of Yomitan for a pottery workshop on Tsuboya Yachimun Street, a barbie on the beach, or a spectacular sunset over the ocean at Cape Zampa.

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Okinawa

Bios on the Hill, Uruma

Head north from the urban hub of Naha on Okinawa Island, and the population density decreases exponentially until you reach the rugged beauty of its northern tip. In between is a neat kaleidoscope of all the bounty that Okinawa Prefecture has to offer...

Okinawa Island South

Kokusai Street, Naha

Shuri Castle, Naha

Admire Shuri Castle, Shikinaen Garden, and other World Heritage sites clustered around Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. Its Shuri district holds a variety of beautiful handicraft workshops, including Bingata cloth and lacquerware, while foodies and shopaholics alike will lose track of time on Kokusai Street. Reflect deeply at nearby Sefa-utaki, Okinawa’s most sacred site, and the underground headquarters of the Japanese navy, used during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.

Valley of Gangala, Nanjyo

Okinawa Island Surrounds

Pristine Coastline, Kerama Islands

Brilliant coral, turtles, sharks, and whales are just some of the highlights of visiting the Kerama Islands, 30km to the west of Naha. Okinawa’s main island is also linked to Henza Island by scenic drive over the 4.7km Kaichu Doro, a massive bridge crossing the ocean. Alternatively, opt for two wheels and go bike camping around Iheya, a secluded island of about 20 km�, and experience its centuries-old Unjami Fisherman’s Festival, or the beauty of the Nento Hiramatsu, a giant umbrellashaped pine tree.

Okinawa

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O k i n a w a ’ s U N E S C O Wo r l d H e r i t a g e S i t es Six castles, sacred sites, and a palace garden all dating back to the days of Okinawa’s monarc hy were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000, and form an impressive visual chronicle of its cultural history.

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3 4 5 9

1 6 7 8

1 Shuri Castle The seat of power in the Ryukyu Kingdom from the 15th century onwards, present-day Shuri Castle is a magnificent reconstruction of the original, a fusion of Japanese and Chinese architecture, reflecting the influence of these cultures in the kingdom.

2 Nak ajin Castle Nakajin Castle is situated atop a high vantage point in the north of Okinawa Island, overlooking a river, cliffs, and a deep valley. Limestone ramparts surround eight enclosures on the inside, and the castle sits adjacent to an utaki sacred site.

4 K atsuren Castle Katsuren Castle sits high up on Yokatsu Peninsula in the east of Okinawa’s m ai n i sl a n d , a n d has excellent views in all dire c tio n s .

Lord Amawari, its ruler during the first part of the 15th century, famously developed international trade and exchange.

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Okinawa

3 Zakimi Castle Lord Gosamaru, a famous 15th century castle architect, is credited with the unique wedge shaped stone design set into the arched gate of Zakimi Castle, which has two terraces and occupies a 7,385 km� site overlooking Okinawa’s west coast.

5 Nak agusuku Castle Construction on Nakagusuku Castle began towards the e n d o f t h e 14 t h centur y, and it is a p ri m e e x a m p le of advanced R y u k y u a n fortification techniques.

Overlooking Nakagusuku Bay, the castle walls contain the distinct styles of Aikata and Nunozumi masonry.

6 Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate King Sho Shin erected Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate in 1519, on the edge of a sacred forest beside Shuri Castle.

The masonry on the gate contains detailed flame carvings, and the king offered prayers for a safe passage there every time he left the castle in these ancient times.

8 Shikina-en Gardens Shikina-en Gardens were completed i n 17 9 9 i n t h e surrounds of Udun Palace, the Ryukyu royal family ’s second residence near Shuri Castle in Naha. They form a beautiful example of Ryukyuan culture, garnished with Chinese and Japanese influences.

7 Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum Two imposing stone lion-dog statues stand watch over the remains of the Ryukyu Royal Family in the inner chambers of Ta m a u d u n R o y a l Mausoleum, carved into limestone bedrock in the surrounds of Shuri Castle. Elaborate royal motifs decorate the interior.

9 Sefa-utaki The natural stone t u n nel to S a n g ui A l t a r, t h e m o s t holy of the ancient Ryukyuan religion, is a centrepiece of the shrines and prayer sites at Sefa-utaki. Dense f o re s t s u r r o u n d s the area, and it is said to have been created by the Ryukyuan god Amamikyo.

Okinawa

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Okinawa Outer Islands Yaeyama Islands

Being Japan’s southernmost point, at 450km from Okinawa Island is just the first of the Yaeyama region’s extremities, which also include extremely mysterious rock formations resembling a lost Atlantis at Yonaguni, extremely well preserved traditional housing and cultural tradition on Taketomi and Ishigaki, and extremely dense jungle on Iriomote.

Paddlers and trekkers will especially enjoy Iriomote, a paradise for rare wildlife, including the Iriomote wildcat, mangrove forests, and waterfalls.

Mariudo, Iriomote Island

Yonaguni Underwater Ruins

Ishigaki Island

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Okinawa

Taketomi Island

Step through the looking glass to the outer islands of Okinawa, Japan’s southern frontier.

The locals live naturally with the rhythm of the seasons here, beside vast tracts of subtropical jungle, an amazing marine environment, and what some call a lost underwater city…

Kume Island

Hate-no-Hama, Kume Island

Dive, snorkel, or windsurf your way around the picturesque Kume Island region, a 30-minute flight away from Naha. Kume is home to some dazzling beaches, headed by the 2km white strip of Eef Beach, also a gathering point for the local marine sports enthusiasts. Get right away from mankind altogether on Tonaki Island nearby, an uninhabited 3.5km� bastion of Prefectural National Park. It’s all enough to make you feel like a few nips of Kumejima-no-Kumesen, the famous local awamori spirit.

Miyako Islands

Cape Higashi Henna, Miyako Island

Some head to the alluring beaches of the Miyako region in full stride during its famous triathlon, but more choose to saunter, quite possibly after a morning already spent diving on lush coral reefs like Yabiji in the north of Ikema Island. There’s also Toriike pond on Shimoji Island, which appears as a double on the surface, but is actually one interconnecting stream between fresh and saltwater, full of interesting discoveries only surpassed by a towering Marksburg Castle at Ueno German Culture Village.

Sunayama, Miyako Island

Okinawa

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PEOPLE

Carl Bastian Carl Bastian had his sights set on a career in Japan after spending his high school years in Sydney studying the language, and experiencing life there as an exchange student. He has since graduated from the corporate worlds of Osaka and Tokyo and was scouted to inspire the opening project management team of Kafuu Resort Fuchaku CONDO·HOTEL, a condominium style resort on Okinawa’s main island, and shares why he has opted for a sea change in Okinawa, settling down with his family in the picturesque Yomitan Village…

‘The waters surrounding Okinawa provide 365 days of adventure, and I know people who do just that, heading out every day to discover a new war wreck or animal species…’

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Okinawa

The people on Okinawa are as warm and welcoming as the climate, and it neatly ties together the things I love about Japan, with my favourite parts of Australia.

It was pleasant surprise to discover the natural beauty of the islands and meet their friendly inhabitants when I first visited back in 2000 on a business trip. Their passion for life and pride in their rich heritage became apparent, and I knew I would return some day – but I never imagined putting down roots here.

I haven’t moved since arriving in Yomitan Village two and a half years ago, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen either! On my days off, I only have to drive for ten minutes and I can be found at any number of awesome beaches, cliffs, jungle, and world-class resorts. Kafuu Resort is the newest luxury condominium style resort on the west coast of Okinawa designed with westerners’ needs in mind, with an average room size of a whopping 80m�. Each has a massive ocean front balcony, huge beds and over 200 items that you can borrow for free like WII games, telescopes, beauty products and baby goods! The idea is to visit empty handed, and let the resort take care of the rest.

The waters surrounding Okinawa provide 365 days of adventure, and I know people who do just that, heading out every day to discover a new war wreck or animal species. I’m trying to teach my kids to surf, and they’ve already mastered snorkelling.

Finding nemo, dory and other amazing creatures swimming through coral literally meters from the shoreline is such a thrill for them. The day usually winds down with a sunset from the top of the Zampa Lighthouse in Yomitan, complemented by a nice cold tinnie of Orion Beer.

The Okinawan people love to celebrate their culture with events like Eisa dancing, the Naha Tug of War (the world’s biggest!), and dragon boat races, welcoming visitors and sharing the happy island spirit whether you understand them or not. Koza music town in Okinawa City also shares the celebratory island vibe, spread throughout several blocks of back-alley music bars, live houses and clubs where you can end up seeing a dozen bands playing on any given night, of any given genre. Koza is close to some of the US military bases on Okinawa, and is a real success story of how western and local cultures can coexist and flourish.

PEOPLE

Kihachiro Aratake Inspired to introduce people to the beautiful environment and wildlife of Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost point close to Taiwan in the East China Sea, local Kihachiro Aratake founded his diving, charter fishing and cruise business Sou-Wes Yonaguni during the 1980s. In the process, he stumbled upon underwater ruins off the coast, a mystery that has brought the island into the international limelight…

‘We like taking people out to enjoy the amazing marine environment all over Yonaguni, and introducing them to our unique local culture…’

I was out looking for potential dive sites while starting up Sou-Wes Yonaguni in 1986, when I came across the giant underwater structure off Arakawa-bana Point that is now famous as Yonaguni Kaitei Iseki, or the Yonaguni Underwater Ruins. At the time, I had no inkling that what I had just discovered would cause such a sensation!

The structure has been the focus of scientific studies by academics like Emeritus Professor Masaaki Kimura, a marine geologist from University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, and after open debate on the findings at a number of symposiums, the majority has ruled that the ruins are man-made. The original structure appears to have been built utilising an existing landscape feature, similar to the way in which the Sphinx was carved from a rocky outcrop on the Giza Plateau in Egypt.

Today, the ruins span roughly 300 metres across from east to west, and depending on the tide, are visible from the water at their highest point, from a foundation 20 metres underwater.

We take people out to see them on our boat with a two-metre underwater observation deck, which gives a really clear view of all the different structural features.

The ruins face towards the south, a prescribed tradition among other ancient religious monuments in East Asia. A long staircase carved into the rock leads to a main terrace at the top, with interesting highlights including a large turtle carved into the eastern side. I’ve also discovered stones and other objects at the site with etchings in them, and detailed reliefs depicting animals.

Even new divers can come out with us and see the ruins for themselves on calm days.

After the academic studies were published, the ruins became the subject of documentaries which aired everywhere from the inflight entertainment on All Japan Airways, to the BBC, and they started gathering global attention.

As well as the ruins, we like taking people out to enjoy the amazing marine environment all over Yonaguni, and introducing them to our unique local culture. Yonaguni is home to one of the six different dialects used across the 49 inhabited islands of Okinawa, which are similarly varied in their local customs. The Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.ocvb.or.jp/en is a good place to find out more, but the best way is just to come and experience it for yourself!

Okinawa

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Okinawans are some of Japan’s most long-lived citizens. Eating plenty of healthy food, keeping fit, maintaining a relaxed worldview, and cultivating one’s spirituality have been part and parcel of life on the islands for generations, and this traditional wisdom has also been validated by medical research conducted in the ongoing Okinawa Centenarian Study, by Drs Makoto Suzuki, Bradley Wilcox, and Craig Wilcox.

Built to L as t Okinawan women currently enjoy an average life expectancy of 86 years, reported by the prefectural government in September 2011 as Japan’s highest. With men also living for an average of 78 years, Okinawans are in for the long haul. The prefecture has one of the highest densities of centenarians in the world, last counted by its government in September 2011 at 66 people per 100,000 citizens. This figure is more than three times Australia’s 18 centenarians per 100,000 people in 2011, a calculation based on demographic figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The older generation of Okinawans maintain remarkably active lifestyles, and a healthy traditional diet with generous amounts of fresh vegetables. This has equated to an up to 80% lower risk of coronary heart disease, according to research by the Okinawa Centenarian Study, an assessment of over 900 Okinawan centenarians. Its findings have also revealed that this generation of Okinawans has significantly lower cholesterol levels, and far healthier arteries than the norm among western societies.

On the other hand, research by Japan’s Ministry

of Health, Labor and Welfare carried out from 2006 to 2010 indicates that 45.2% of Okinawan men aged between 20 and 69 are obese, one of the highest rates in Japan. No single factor has been isolated as to why, but many consider their increasingly westernised diet, and decreased exercise levels to be a major influence. These findings affirm the role of diet and lifestyle in the health and longevity of Okinawa’s seniors, and illustrate some of the issues facing younger generations of Okinawans today.

The Key to Good Health The Okinawa Program is a hands-on guide to applying the framework of a traditional Okinawan lifest yle, and enjoying the health and longevity it can bring to your own. Over 80 recipes, eating plans, tips on Tai Chi and meditation, as well as conclusive scientific commentary fill this 496-page testament to the authority of Okinawan wisdom, first commenced as the Okinawa Centenarian Study in 1976

by Dr Makoto Suzuki. Working under

22

Okinawa

the auspices of the Japanese Ministr y of Health, he was joined in 1994 by Drs Bradley and Craig Wilcox. Their combined effort was published in 2002, and has now become a New York Times Bestseller.

Trademark s of the Traditional Okinawan Diet Ever heard of goya before? It’s the Okinawan codename for bitter melon, a knobbly, cucumber-shaped gourd vegetable native to tropical and subtropical climates. An integral part of traditional Asian remedies, goya has also been found by modern scientists to contain cucurbitacin, a compound which destroys cancer cells.

The production of cucurbitacin by the goya vine is thought to provide a defence against grazing wildlife with a bitter flavour, but the Okinawans have circumvented this with the use of a frypan.

Stir-fried with egg, tofu, salt, pepper, and anything else that happens to be nearby, it becomes goya champuru, an Okinawan classic.

Ucchin, or turmeric in English, is another healthy, flavoursome favourite among Okinawans. A native to the forest climates of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, turmeric is used in Ayurveda, and other medical traditions to provide increased resistance

against disease, and relieve a variety of ailments including indigestion, and arthritis. It has also been found to contain curcumin, an antioxidant, and as well as being added to food, it is often enjoyed by the Okinawans as a tea. Goya and ucchin are just two traditional Okinawan foods that encapsulate their cooking philosophy of “nuchi gusui” – food is medicine.

Cultural Celebrations and Communit y Spirit Part of the reason behind the Okinawans’ longevity is thought to be the prevalence of spiritual and community values among the older generation, which also act as a key driver for their active physical lives. Establishing a connection with nature through the simple pleasure of gardening is one of their common pastimes, along with the relaxing Chinese martial art of Tai Chi. Practicing karate is the point at which these senior citizens obliterate all stereotypes surrounding their age, carrying on

the legacy of a martial art which first originated in Okinawa during ancient times.

Okinawans actively celebrate their culture together, and one of the best places to see this is at an Eisa dance performance, essentially an Okinawan take on the South American carnival.

The brightly coloured costumes and thunderous drumming of Eisa can be experienced in its full glory at the All-Okinawa Eisa Festival, in Okinawa City every August.

Okinawa

23

C

u

l

t

u

r

e

Okinawan culture contains an interesting blend of elements from surrounding cultures, and others which are quintessentially its own. Here are just a few you might encounter on your travels‌

Traditional Handicraf t Pottery

Lacquerware

Arayaki is a practical, unglazed pottery style that has played a prominent role in Okinawan life since ancient times, being used to age awamori, and store food. Joyaki is a more decorative glazed style of pottery, used on presentation pieces. Tsuboya in Naha, or Yomitan Village in central Okinawa Island are great places to find out more about Okinawan pottery, and make some of your own.

Brilliant vermilion pieces, decorated with intricate seashell inlays are a signature of Ryukyu lacquerware, which started developing on the islands from the 14th century. Excellent displays can be found in the Lacquerware Hall of Urasoe Art Museum, Shuri Castle and the Okinawa Prefectural Museum.

Ryukyu Lacquerware in Itoman provides visitors with the opportunity to try a workshop.

Pottery is known as 'yachimun' in Okinawa

Glassware

Bingata Cloth

Glassblowing in Okinawa prior to the Second World War was limited to basic items like medicine bottles. In the tough times that followed, locals started cutting the tops off soft drink bottles discarded

by American GIs to make cups, and recast them as tableware with a raw, natural look. It caught the eye of the GIs, and Ryukyu glassware has been a famous local handicraft ever since.

A single bingata kimono can be a full month’s work, using a single stencil to decorate the cloth with plant dyes. The technique is thought to have arrived in Okinawa during the 14th century from Southeast Asia.

Bingata kimono are used in traditional Okinawan performing arts, and you can take a closer look at Shuri Ryusen, a Bingata workshop close to Shuri Castle in Naha.

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Okinawa

Ryukyu Glass reflecting the hues of the ocean

Unique methods are used to make Ryukyu Lacquerware

Brightly coloured motifs on Bingata Cloth

Drink s

Seasonings and Sweet s

Orion Beer

Brown Sugar

Orion Beer is produced in Nago, a relaxed coastal city in the central west of Okinawa Island. The brewery taps directly into an adjacent mountain spring for its water source, while premium malt and hops are imported from Germany and the Czech Republic. The result is up to 72 kilolitres annually of Orion Draft, Southern Star, Orion Special, Mugi Shokunin, Orion Rich, and the non-alcoholic Zero Life.

Okinawan brown sugar, which is also known as kokuto, or kurozato, is unrefined and contains healthy quantities of vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Locals enjoy it in their tea and coffee, or as a tasty energy booster.

Try some for yourself, and see how it’s made at the Okinawa Kokuto, a factory near Yomitan on Okinawa Island.

Awamori

Chilli Oil

Awamori is Japan’s strongest spirit, and can kick any party into gear just as rapidly as it can bring down the final curtain. It’s distilled from long grain rice and black koji mould, using techniques that arrived in Okinawa from Thailand during medieval times. More than 40 breweries produce it around the islands, of which you can visit a nice selection in the Shuri area of Naha.

Okinawan chilli oil is a compound of sesame, vegetable, or other oils infused with chilli, garlic, and a variety of other flavours. Originally from China, it’s known locally as rayu, and partners exceptionally well with dishes like gyoza dumplings, and bowls of ramen noodles. Ishigaki Rayu, from Okinawa’s remote Yaeyama Islands, is an especially sought after local export.

Habu-shu

Chinsuko

Habu-shu has been used as a medicinal tonic in Okinawa for centuries, harnessing the extraordinary libido and vitality of the habu snake, a venomous species of pit viper. Awamori forms the base of the brew, which is left to mature with the snake inside for anywhere from six months to several years. Catching an angry habu, and getting it into a container is not a job for the faint-hearted!

Chinsuko biscuits were a delicacy reserved for nobility when they were first consumed in Okinawa over 400 years ago, during the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Similar in texture to shortbread, chinsuko are produced in goya, sweet potato, and a variety of other interesting flavours.

Arakaki Chinsuko is one of the most famous chinsuko makers in Okinawa, and offers tours of their factory at Tamagusuku.

Okinawa

25

Kansai Wakayama Pass

See Wakayama and save!

Perfect for visiting Wakayama’s World Heritage sites!

Mt Koya

Unlimited travel on the private rail and bus network between Wakayama’s most popular attractions Valid from Kansai International Airpor t and Namba Station in Osaka The perfect companion to a Japan Rail Pass, or a Kansai WIDE Area Pass Includes special advantages at restaurants, accommodation and more

Ancient Buddhist monastic community in beautiful countryside

Visiting the World Heritage sites, hot springs and many other attractions of Wakayama Prefecture is easy and convenient with a Kansai Wakayama Pass, or a W-Pass for short, which allows unlimited use of the private rail and bus network in these areas.

The more you see, the more you save, and the W-Pass can be combined with a Japan Rail Pass or a Kansai Wide Area Pass, for a seamless transition to the Japan Rail network.

2 DAY PASS 3 DAY PASS

¥3,500 ¥5,500

Hongu/Tanabe The Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route, passing through Kawayu Onsen and Yunomine Onsen, and arriving at Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine

Valid for travel on Nankai Electric Railway, Wakayama Electric Railway, Wakayama Bus, Nankai Rinkan Bus, Ryujin Bus, Meiko Bus, Kumano Kotsu, and Nara Kotsu

In Person Ticketing offices are located in Namba Station and Kansai International Airport in Osaka, and throughout Wakayama Pr e f e c t ur e. Fur t h er d e t ail s a r e availa bl e a t w w w.

Purchasing wakayama-kanko.or.jp/world/english/new/new05.htm.

Online a W-Pass Visit Tanabe Cit y Kumano Tourism Bureau at w w w. kumano-travel.com/index /en/action_ContentsDetail_ Detail/id176, to purchase a voucher for exchange at a ticketing office.

For more information, see www.wakayama-kanko.or.jp/world/english/index.html.

Kansai WIDE Area Pass Unlimited travel on the Japan Rail West Network in Wakayama, Kansai, Kinosaki Onsen and Okayama Includes non - reser ved seating on the Sanyo Shinkansen (bullet train), limited express, express and local trains

4 DAY PASS

Adults: ¥7,000 Children (6-11): ¥3,500

The Kansai WIDE Area Pass is valid for 4 consecutive days, and can be purchased at the major JR-West stations. See www.jr-odekake.net/en/jwrp/kansai_wide.html for more.

Nachi-Katsuura Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine, t h e s t u n n i n g 13 3 m N a c h i Falls and coastal hot springs

Monks, Pilgrims, Ninjas and Nature •Nagoya

Chubu Centrair Osaka International Airport International Airport •Tsu •Osaka •Matsusaka Kansai International Airport

Mie

•Wakayama

Wakayama

The Kii Peninsula, Japan’s Spiritual Heart The Kii Peninsula lies within trekking distance of Kyoto and Nara, the ancient capitals of Japan.

For over 1,000 years, pilgrims have navigated their way through its deep mountain forests to purify themselves in hot springs, and pay their respects at some of the nation’s most holy shrines. These shrines are scattered throughout an area shared between Wakayama Prefecture in the southwest, and Mie Prefecture in the east, designated as t he Wor ld Her ita g e l isted ‘ Sac red Sites a nd Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.’

Also containing Iga, an important centre of ninja heritage, and Ise Grand Shrine, Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, the K ii Peninsula is a profound natural and cu ltural jour ney through Japan’s spiritual heart.

Travel Tips Wakayama Prefecture www.wakayama-kanko.or.jp/world/english/ index.html Wakayama, the Prefectural capital is 35 minutes by train from Kansai International Airport, using either Japan Railways (JR), or Nankai Elec tric Railways. The journey by limousine bus takes only an extra five minutes, and you’ll also receive added space to store your luggage. Alternatively, Wakayama Station is 65 minutes by JR from ShinOsaka Station, and 90 minutes from Kyoto Station.

Mie Prefecture http://tourismmiejapan.com/travel/access.html Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 45 minute ferry ride across Ise Bay from Tsu, the capital of Mie Prefecture, or about 70 minutes from Matsusaka, a little further south via Tsu. If you’re coming from Kansai International Airport, the journey to Tsu can be completed in around 2 hours and 15 minutes on either JR or Nankai Electric Railways.

The Kii Peninsula

27

The Kii Peninsula, Japan’s Spiritual Heart

Wakayama Prefecture

Purify mind and body on a pilgrimage to sacred Buddhist shrines, and experience temple life…

Mount Koya

•Wakayama 1Koyasan (Mt Koya) Ryujin Onsen Yunomine Onsen •Kumano Hongu Taisha Kumano Hayatama Taisha Tanabe• • Shirahama Onsen • Katsuura Onsen Kumano Nachi Taisha Nakahechi Pilgrimage Route

eng.shukubo.net/index.html Mt Koya is a secluded monastery community which was established about 1,200 years ago, full of beautiful temples, gardens, mountains and waterways. Kobo Daish i, its founder, and the father of Esoter ic Buddhism in Japan, along with other larger than life historical figures like warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, have been laid to rest in the surrounds, and it was World Heritage listed in 2004 as part of ‘Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.’

Life at one of Mt Koya's 52 shukubo, or temple lodgings includes the opportunity to experience shojin ryori, a vegetarian Buddhist cuisine, copying and chanting sutras, and meditation. Timing your stay to coincide with one of the many religious ceremonies held throughout the year is also great way to get a feel for the holiness and history of Mt Koya.

Nakahechi Pilgrimage Route, Kumano Kodo www.tb-kumano.jp/en Several hundred thousand people, including the Japanese imperial family, traversed the Kumano K odo pi l g r i ma g e routes i n t he K i i Mou nta i n Range every year in ancient Japan, and Nakahechi is still used to access Kumano Sanzan, the three magnif icent shrines of Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha. Nakahechi begins from the coastal city of Tanabe, and reservations at one of the lovely old inns along the way can be made at the Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau website above.

28

The Kii Peninsula

The Koya Fire Festival marks the coming of spring, and opens the climbing season on Mt Koya with the ceremonial burning of Buddhist cedar prayer sticks.

Hot Springs www.wakayama-kanko.or.jp/world/english/things/spa/index.html First discovered about 1,800 years ago, the World Heritage listed Tsuboyu at Yunomine Onsen is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, and is a highlight on the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes. Nearby is Ryujin Onsen, famous as the number one hot spring for beautiful skin in Japan. Head to Katsuura Onsen on the southeast coast, for outdoor baths with sweeping coastal views. Shirahama Onsen, set in another seaside town, is one of Japan’s three most famous baths, having been enjoyed by emperors and court nobles since ancient times.

The Kii Peninsula

29

The Kii Peninsula, Japan’s Spiritual Heart

Mie

Prefecture Visit Japan’s most sacred shrine, discover the way of the ninja, and enjoy a soothing hot spring…

Ise Grand Shrine www.isejingu.or.jp/shosai/english/index.htm Ise Grand Shrine is vast complex of 125 shrines interspersed with mountains, rivers, and forest, and enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and ancestor of Japan’s imperial family according to legend, mak ing it Japan’s most sacred site.

Jingu, as the Japanese refer to it, has been rebuilt ever y 20 years since 690, an occasion known as Shikinen Sengu, one of the shrine’s most important ceremonies. The next one is due in 2013. Pilgrims still arrive at Jingu on their way from the three sacred shrines of Kumano Sanzan via the Ise-ji pilgrimage route, a Wor ld Her ita g e l isted K u ma no K odo pilgrimage route. This is a religious experience in itself, crossing over ten arduous mountain passes, and picturesque coastal stretches on a pathway that has been preserved for centuries.

Iga-ryu Ninja Museum iganinja.jp/en/ Learn about the Iga-ryu ninja, a prominent ninja school that originated in the Iga region of Mie, at the Iga-r yu Ninja Museum. Disguised as local farmers, they gathered intelligence on the enemies of their lord using sophisticated f ire and magic techniques, and over 400 different gadgets which are all on display in the museum. Head to the Ninja Farmhouse for a guided tour of the maze used to protect their precious explosives technology from being stolen, or see live demonstrations of ninja in action at the Ninja Experience Plaza.

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The Kii Peninsula

Yunoyama Onsen Iga-ryu Ninja Museum•

•Tsu Sakakibara Onsen

•Ise Grand Shrine Isobe Watakano Onsen Ise-Shima Onsen Hamajima Onsen Ise-Shima National Park Ise-ji Pilgrimage Route To Kumano Sanzan

Autumn colours near the Naiku, the Inner Shrine at Ise Grand Shrine

Hot Springs tourismmiejapan.com/recommend/onsen.html Sakakibara Onsen has been famous since the 7th century as the final stop en route to Ise Grand Shrine for a purification ritual, known as yugori.

Another well known hot spring nearby is Yunoyama Onsen, first discovered in the 6th century when a wounded deer was seen there healing itself in a puddle of water. Hamajima, Ise Shima and Isobe Watakano hot springs are in the picturesque Ise-Shima National Park, and visitors enjoy fresh local lobster, abalone, oysters and other seafood at local inns and hotels.

Mie

Mie

K

Mie Mie Tourism and International Strategy Bureau of Mie Prefectural Government Narita International Airport

Mie

Narita International Airport Chubu International Airport

K

Chubu International Airport Kansai International Airport Kansai International Airport

The Kii NaritaPeninsula International Airport Chubu International Airport

31

Touch down on Hokkaido, and Good Sports will have you ready to hit the powder in no time!

White Liner Ski Shuttle Bus

Routes and timetables for the 2012-2013 season will be confirmed in late October 2012

We o p e r a t e W hi t e Lin e r s e r vi c e s fr o m N ew C hi to s e Airport, Sapporo City, Asahikawa Airport, and Tokachi Obihiro Airport, bound for the world famous powder of Niseko, Kiroro, Sapporo Kokusai, Furano, Sahoro, and Tomamu. Book online to receive a 10% discount one way, and 20% return, or call us instead to secure your ticket.

White Liner Niseko Ski Shuttle Bus

Good Sports Ski & Snowboard Rental Service q Available from Niseko, Sapporo CBD hotels, New Chitose Airport, and Furano q Flat rate on rentals at all locations q Return to different locations possible, a rarity among local rental services q Discount available for online bookings in advance

q Bypasses Rusutsu, a regular shuttle stop en route to Niseko, making it the fastest qThere when you need it, with 12 inbound and 7 outbound services from Niseko every day in the 2011-2012 season! q International airport terminal connections, to minimise fuss with heavy baggage q Special international connections for passengers arriving on KE765, CI, BR, and CX, which don’t depart until the flight has landed, and all passengers with a booking are aboard (excluding maximum flight delay times). Never miss the bus! q Save with a Special Bus Pack, available in single or multiple days, which includes a round-trip bus ticket and lift pass! q Discount available for online bookings in advance

Book a White Liner Check our website in November 2012 for updated timetables

www.goodsports.co.jp/white_eng/ski-bus/ 9

Organise your ski & snowboard rental www.goodsports.co.jp/white_eng/rental/

Bring this advertisement with you to Good Sports Niseko and receive a free gift!

We lcome to the powder z one Take a ride on the wild side, and experience the land of the falling powder! Japan enjoys some of the finest, driest snow on the planet, and with beautiful scenery, delectable cuisine and a hospitality culture second to none, it’s the perfect choice for your next ski destination!

©Niseko Photography/Niseko HANAZONO Resort

©jigokudani yaen-koen/©JNTO

©Furano Tourism Association/©JNTO

©Yamagata Prefecture/©JNTO

Snow depth Terrain Longest run Gondolas Chairlifts Half pipe Night skiing Resort Data Icons Snow depth, terrain, longest run, number of gondolas and lifts, half pipe and night skiing availability at ski resorts are displayed as icons for quick comparison. Snow depth figures are a guide only, and may fluctuate from season to season. Half pipe, gondola and night skiing icons are covered in grey in cases of resorts which do not provide them.

Ski

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©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

A ski holiday in a J

apan’s northeastern climes receive an almost daily barrage of heavy snowfall at the hands of Siberian weather fronts throughout a long winter season, which occurs between November and April. The steadily cascading stream of international skiers and snowboarders visiting destinations in the Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Shinetsu regions speaks volumes about the quality of the powder there, which is widely acclaimed as some of the best in the world.

©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/©JNTO

©JNTO

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G

etting to these areas from Japan’s capital Tokyo, or other major cities like Nagoya and Osaka takes just a few hours thanks to a comprehensive and convenient air, rail and bus network. Domestic airfares are cheaper than ever, with competition intensifying between an increased number of low cost carriers including Skymark Airlines, Jetstar Japan and Peach, and there are more savings to be made on rail travel with a Japan Rail Pass.

Ski

©JNTO

©Matsumoto city/©JNTO

class of its own...

Central Hokkaido Kamui••Asahikawa Asahikawa • Asahidake Furano• • Tokachidake •Sapporo •Tomamu New Chitose •Niseko

J

apanese hosts put the finishing touches on these powder perfect destinations with impeccable hospitality, divine hot spring baths and peerless cuisine, for an unforgettable experience all just ten hours north of Australia!

•Appi

Tohoku

•Zao

•Sendai

•Alts Bandai Shinetsu Myoko Kogen• • Nozawa Onsen • Hakuba• • Naeba•Katashina Shiga Kogen •Matsumoto

Tokyo•

Kobe•

•Kyoto •Osaka Kansai

•Nagoya Chubu Centrair

Narita Haneda Bullet Train (Shinkansen) Route Domestic Air Route

Ski

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NISEKO SKI AND SNOW The picturesque mountains of Niseko are layered with the finest powder snow every year, and there’s plenty of room for everyone to carve some tracks of their own...

www.nisekotourism.com

A white room may be an interior decorator’s worst nightmare, but it is what dreams are made of for powder hounds in Niseko. It is the result of serious Siberian cloud fronts colliding with warm currents from the Sea of Japan in winter, cracking open like a giant piñata over Japan’s eastern seaboard. Niseko receives a substantial share of the fallen treasure, being buried in up to 16 metres per season.

Niseko’s four main resorts, Niseko Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village and Annupuri, intersect at 1300 metres above sea level on the majestic Mount Niseko Annupuri. The range of off-piste and gladed runs, dropping to 300 metres, provide an even selection of entertainment for skiers of all abilities, and powder skiing at night is sensational. Mount Yotei provides a spectacular backdrop, and Ni s eko A nnup uri of fer s lo ng s tre tche s of powder cruising through white birch forests.

The best powder is to be found on the downhill courses from the top, and those still developing faith in their turning abilities will want to head to the tree-free slope of Niseko Village.

The Niseko All Mountain Pass is conveniently valid at any of the four resorts. All day passes

can also be used for night-skiing on the final day that the ticket is valid, and they are a bargain.

Specialist ski stores often give great discounts with a bus or mountain pass package.

The Hirafu area in par ticular of fers convenient, walking distance access to high quality restaurants specialising in traditional Japanese, creative modern and international cuisines. The bars are the centre of the after ski buzz in Niseko, and stopping for a drink is a great experience to meet people from all over the world. But not before soaking in one of the many hot springs of course!

Resort life is centred around the Hirafu Re sor t Village, which provide s acce s s and accommodation for those skiing Niseko Grand Hirafu. At the village there are many hotels, Japanese style pensions, lodges, condominiums and self-contained apartments, the majority of which are less than five minutes walk from the lifts. As well as linking the various facilities around the re s or t s in Nis eko, shu t tle bu s services also provide visitors with a convenient link to the restaurants and other amenities of nearby Kutchan.

Kutchan Tourism Association EPIC SNOW

AWESOME CULTURE

Mail info@niseko.co.jp See you in facebook!

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Niseko

Hokkaido Tracks celebrates 10 years in Niseko!

In 2003, three entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds came together to develop the f irst western style accommodation in Hirafu, Niseko.

These individuals were Matt Dening, Joasia Francki and Simon Robinson.

These intrepid pioneers , who shared a passion for skiing, a fascination with Niseko and powder snow, and a vision to introduce a hospitality and accommodation model based on ski resorts they had visited internationally, went on to develop a fur ther 8 condominiums, almos t 50 resor t houses and establish a successful management operation which today

remains the market leader in the area and has built a dependable brand based on a consistent product and service excellence.

T h e p assi o n th at insp ir e d th e s e three Australians has spread to the point where Niseko is now one of the fastest growing resorts in the wo r l d a n d co nti nu e s to g r ow i n p op ularit y am ongs t es t ab lishe d ski and snowboard markets from around the globe, as well as the fast emerging regional markets looking to invest in their own lifestyle or simply experience the abundant nature,

great food and clean air associated with Hokkaido. Having burst onto the scene as a result of the unique quality and quantity of snow, Niseko has attracted significant investment and is undoubtedly one of the most desirable winter destinations in the world today.

W ith 10 year s un d e r th eir b e lt s , H o k k a i d o Tr a c k s w i l l k e e p o n innovating and delivering exceptional experiences. Happy Birthday Hokkaido Tracks, and hope that your leadership and commitment continue to inspire!

Niseko

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Niseko Map

Playtime at Niseko Hanazono Resort

Kutchan-cho Machi-no-Eki Plat i Shiribetsu River Information Centre JR Kutchan Station Kutchan Jaga-Matsuri

Hanazono Kutchan Music Festival Ja g a t a - kun an d Ja g ako - chan , th e Ku tchan tow n mascots

Niseko Hanazono Resort Grand Hirafu Mt Niseko-Annupuri

Goshiki Onsen

Niseko Annupuri Mt Moiwa

Travel Times Shuttle Bus New Chitose Airport OR Niseko 2h 30min Japan Railways (JR) Sapporo OR Niseko 2h 30min New Chitose Airport OR Niseko 3h 30min Hakodate OR Niseko 3h

Yukichichibu Onsen

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Niseko

Konbu Onsen

Air Access to Niseko

NISEKO•

NEW CHITOSE AIRPORT

Kansai (Osaka) k New Chitose 1h 50min

Mt Iwaonupuri in full autumn splendour

Narita (Tokyo) k New Chitose 1h 40min Haneda (Tokyo) k New Chitose 1h 35min

Mt Yotei

JR Hirafu Station JR Hakodate Main Line

Mt Yotei, viewed from the slopes of Grand Hirafu Resort

Michi-no-Eki Niseko View Plaza

Niseko Village

i

Tourist Information

i

i

JR Niseko Station Niseko Town Information Centre

JR Niseko Station Tourist Information Centre 20136-44-2468 Hours: 7:10-17:10 Mon-Sun Machi-no-Eki Plat Information Centre (3min from JR Kutchan Station) 20136-23-0222 Hours: 10:00-19:00 Tue-Sun www.kutchan-town-st.com (Japanese) Michi-no-Eki Niseko View Plaza 77-10 Aza Motomachi, Niseko (Accessible by road only) 20136-43-2051 Hours: 9:00-18:00 Mon-Sun www.niseko-ta.jp/en

Niseko

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Rhythm Snowsports | Niseko’s Biggest and Most Progressive Store!

Conditions in Niseko are unlike anywhere else in the world. The resort has an average annual snowfall of 18 meters and most of that falls as perfect powder.

A ski holiday in Niseko is a unique experience so it’s important that you and your family or friends are equipped with the most suitable gear for the conditions. Rhythm Snowsports offers Niseko’s most comprehensive range of gear for rent so leave your regular skis or board at home and try something from their extensive, powder specific range from the best brands. The store’s computerized rental system has been a huge success over the years and

ensures your rental experience will be a quick and easy one. It’s cheaper to rent using the website so head to www.skihirejapan.com and make a booking!

Rhythm Snowsports is also the largest retailer in the area and stocks everything you need to explore the mountain and the village. From hand warmers and beanies to helmets, goggles, jackets and pants, Rhythm will have you covered. Expert staff will be on hand at all times to help you decide what gear to purchase or hire.

For your convenience Rhy thm Snowspor ts has two locations. The giant Berg Plaza store is located near the traffic lights in the Hirafu Village. The second store is 150m from the Hirafu gondola in the Landmark building.

A pick up / drop off service is also available within the Hirafu, Higashiyama, Annupuri and Moiwa areas.

You can simply call the shop on 0136 230 164 and the first available van will be at your doorstep!

Contact us for some great Early Bird discounts!

BOOK NOW www.skihirejapan.com

• •

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free pick up and drop off service • rentals • sales • tuning boot fitting • backcountry hire • equipment storage

Niseko

Grand Hirafu RESORT Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

275cm 335cm 445cm 420cm 350cm

Beg

Int

Adv

40%

37%

23%

5.6km

1

15

16:30-21:00

Grand Hirafu is world famous and one of the bigges t ski grounds in Japan, stretching over the summit of Mount Annupuri 9 4 0m down to the base. It commemorated its 50th anniversary, and the 100th anniversary of skiing in Niseko durin g 2011-2012 w i th an up gra d e d gondola lift, Mountain Centre, and more.

Accommodating up to eight passengers and traveling at six metres per second, the refurbished gondola gets more skiers out on the powder in less time. In addition to this, the Mountain Center makes resort even easier with a new ski school, ski shop and rentals, more ski restaurants, and an open-air café. To access the other shops, restaurants and hot springs s cat tered around Niseko and Kutchan jump on the Grand Hirafu Shuttle bus, which is never more than 1520 minutes away during the season from December to early April.

G r a n d Hir a f u' s s n o w b o a r d p a r k , grand-hirafu.jp

Make www.gdayjapan.com.au your first stop...

YUMMY’S Pizza or cheese fondue anyone? These are just some of our crowd-pleasers, served in a cosy log cabin in the heart of Hirafu.

170-175 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Hokkaido T: 0136-21-2239 Open daily 17:00-23:00 (Winter only)

Jam Cafe Bar @ Niseko

189-13 Yamada, Kutchan-cho Phone 81-136-23-0700 jam.cafebar.niseko/Facebook open 18:00 / close 26:00

See us for incision-free liposuction, which breaks up a n d r e m ove s f at c e lls by sucking skin , and applying a r olling massage! Tr e atments to b o ost met ab olism , so othe stiff shoulders and backaches, tone muscles, burn fat, and slim specific areas also available! We use aromatherapy oils.

Next to Plat Information Centre, Ekimae Dori, Kutchan T: 0136-55-5004

Cantik～チャンティ～ Health, beauty and relaxation 42

Niseko

Snow depth

Terrain

Longest run

Gondolas

Chairlifts

Half pipe

Night skiing

mogul slope, half pipe, and other jumps continue towards the next 100 years of Niseko tradition. to please, particularly at the annual Namara Ippatsu Competition, a one-jump contest that reaches soaring heights. The resort provides snowmobiling and snow rafting as additional op tion s to enjoy the p owder, and it s kid s park has received an upgrade as par t of the commemorative celebrations.

The skiing potential of the world-class powder snow at Grand Hirafu was first uncovered on April 15 1912, when Austro-Hungarian army Major Theodore von Lerch visited the slopes of nearby Mt. Yotei. He had introduced skiing to Japan in 1911, and 50 years later, in 1961, the first lifts were built at Hirafu in Niseko for the All-Japan Alpine Ski Championships. With another facility upgrade and consistent high quality snow, the future is looking bright for Grand Hirafu and winter sports lovers from around the world, as it continues

Tsubara Tsubara Rich, tasty, and spicy..

Come and experience our philosophy of curry for yourself in Hirafu!

Tel: 0136-23-1116 Open 11:30-15:00, 18:00-22:00

Izakaya Sakae Heartwarming Japanese home cuisine, served with love in Hirafu. Perfect for family dinners!

Tel: 0136-22-4198 Open 17:30-22:00

Izumikyo 2, 132-14 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho

Manpuku Tei Hearty Korean home cooking, now open for dinner in Hirafu!

Stone-roasted rib bibimbap anyone? Enjoy our completely refreshed menu, specially designed to satisfy!

Open 18:00 - 23:00 Closed occasionally Tel: 0136-55-8588

Barunba is Indonesian for good wave.

Drinks from 짜500, smoke as much as you want inside!

AI-CARUMBA

170-50 Aza Yamada, Kutchan T: +81-(0)90-3406-6504 Open 20:00-03:00 Niseko

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NISEKO Hanazono RESORT Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

210cm 300cm 350cm 350cm 310cm

Beg

Int

Adv

25%

63%

12%

3.3km

0

3

–

The incredible powder snow, on-piste and easy access back-country skiing and snowboarding that has made Niseko Hanazono famous are complemented by an ever- in crea sing ab un dan ce of a c t i v i t i e s , e v e n t s a n d p r o g ra m s f o r everyone in the family to enjoy.

The 2011-2012 season at Hanazono saw it hosting major events including the Junior Olympic Half Pipe Championships, Japan Slopestyle Open Games, and the Snowboard Japan Series at Hanazono, www.hanazononiseko.com

44

Niseko

Snow depth

Terrain

Longest run

Gondolas

Chairlifts

Half pipe

Night skiing

alongside its own Hanazono Freest yle Co mp e ti tio n. I t s half pip e i s the o nl y FI S approved model on Hokkaido, opening in late January to complement three nicely decked out terrain parks. Start out small with the rails and boxes in the Beginner’s Park, or step it up with longer, more challenging lines in the Hanazono Park, and the Jib Park. Hanazono even has Hokkaido’s only bag jump open from March 5, to help make the transition to bigger and better jumps with minimal punishment. The airborne rush extends even further on the amazing 200 metre zip line in the adventure park.

Fir s t track s with the Hanazono Powder Guides start from 7:30am, and life goes downhill from that point onwards, on wide, open runs dro p pin g 10 0 0 m f ro m th e p eak of M o unt Annupuri. Back on-piste, covered lif ts with almost no queues and a fast, comfortable ride are capped off with excellent rental and retail facilities. Niseko International Snowspor ts

School, Japan’s largest, is the place to head at Hanazono for private or group lessons. Or if you’re already ripping it up out there, the Hanazono Powder Guides will open the door to the area’s sensational backcountry runs.

Niseko Village Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

110cm 305cm 400cm 470cm 380cm

Beg

Int

Adv

32%

36%

32%

5km

2

6

16:30-20:00

Rails, spines, waves and hits in the terrain park, along with runs stretching up to 5km and dropping down over 890m ensure skiers of all levels will have something to enjoy at Niseko Village. The slopes are sparsely populated, allowing for maximum skiing freedom. Night grooming and off-piste options offer exciting side adventures for strong skiers, and First Tracks Cat Skiing runs guided tours to jump the lifts and enjoy the overnight powder build up. niseko-village.com/en

NISEKO Annupuri Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

180cm 300cm 390cm 420cm 380cm

Beg

Int

Adv

30%

40%

30%

4km

1

5

16:30-20:30

As well as rails, waves and a table-top jump setup, Annupuri has an enormous stretch of backcountry which provides endless hours of exhilarating skiing. Its longest run measures in at 4km, dropping 756m down the mountain. Annupuri also has a number of exciting ungroomed slopes, complemented by a stack of onsen, as well as barbecue and buffet restaurants waiting at the bottom - the ultimate way to wind down after an action packed day. annupuri.info/winter Niseko

45

Konbu Onsen Peace and tranquillity, tucked away in a quiet corner near Niseko…

A s it s p owder snow has risen to fame, the resort areas of Niseko have acquired an at times hectic buzz that can make it easy to forget you’re supposed to be on a holiday. Peace and quiet, fine dining and drinking, and rejuvenating hot springs are deceptively close though, in the village of Konbu Onsen. The lush forest of Niseko-Otaru-Shakotan Kaigan QuasiNational Park is just next door to the village, and it puts on an impressive colour display reflecting the changing seasons throughout the year. Squirrels flit in and out of the shrubbery during the green, blossom-filled months of May to August, and after the last reds and yellows of autumn have hit the turf, the village becomes a steaming

sanctuary from the heav y powder snow covering the forest in winter.

The nine dif ferent hot spring inns and hotels in Konbu Onsen are a 20 minute bus ride from Niseko Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line, and hotels operate free shuttle buses to the nearby ski areas of Annupuri (10 minutes), and Hirafu (20 minutes).

Moiwa Ski Resort is even closer at just 2-3 minutes away by car, with shuttle access from the village. It has a collection of six different courses, with the longest reaching 2.8km. Rafting, canoeing and other adventure tour operators also provide a set down and pick up service for guests at Konbu Onsen during the off season.

A Yu-meguri Pass is a great way to

experience a spread of the different hot springs in the village, at a discounted rate. For \1,400, the pass gives you three visits to one or more participating hot springs, and is valid for 180 days from the date of purchase.

During the of f-season from April 28 – October 31, free bikes are also available to enjoy the surrounds of Konbu Onsen as part of the Niseko Green Bike (NGB) project, on a first come f irst ser ved basis from the reception desk at Hotel Kanronomori.

NGB has a network of par tners throughout the Niseko region, and bikes can be returned to a different location. Don’t forget to bring along your ID to get things rolling.

www.konbuonsen.com (Japanese)

Hotel K anronomori

All the elegance of Japanese culture, with the style of a boutiq ue hotel Exceeding guest expectations is all in a day's work at Hotel Kanronomori. Part of a reputable Hokkaido boutique hotel group, we offer ten room types, including twin rooms, and suites with built-in hot spring baths.

Only the freshest in seasonal produce is on the menu, and our natural hot spring bathing experience with forest views is legendary!

415 Niseko, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido TEL +81-136-58-3800 FAX +81-136-58-3107 E-mail: reservation@kanronomori.com www.kanronomori.com

46

Niseko

NISEKO FOUR SEASONS Swap those skis for hiking boots, life jackets, or a bathing towel, and explore the Niseko region in the off-season!

The resor ts at Niseko get their name from Mt Niseko-Annupuri, the peak at the centre of the action, but the region is actually split administratively between the towns of Niseko and Kutchan. Once the powder snow bids farewell in May, it’s time to put away the skis, and enjoy the outdoor adventure destinations and great tasting produce, complemented as always with a nice hot spring bath!

Kutchan www.town.kutchan.hokkaido.jp Ex-farmer and local Mr Mishima puts his skills to fine use building beds of cherry, pink, red and white shibazakura, a colourful moss phlox, to form pleasing swirls and miniature landscape features across his property in Kutchan. When they hit full colour come late May to early June, it’s becoming part of the tradition for many visitors to stop in along the way at Niseko Shuzo, a local sake brewery that prides itself on top quality product, thanks to high-grade ingredient s from the pris tine surrounding environment.

Summer is all about cycling, and enthusiasts peddle their way through the July Nature Ride, and the annual Hill Climb, departing for the third time this year from the 50th Jaga Matsuri, a potato harvest festival in early August.

As autumn approaches, the birch and maple turn brilliant reds and yellows, and the sightseeing radar heats up around Mt Iwaonupuri down

Route 58. Just a stone’s throw away are the bubbling waters of Goshiki Onsen.

Niseko www.nisekotourism.com Head south, and you’ll find more welcoming vibes, beautiful scenery and tasty food, but this time of the Niseko variety. The surrounding mountains are especially majestic from the hot spring baths at Konbu Onsen nearby, and the whole experience can be topped off with an immaculate Kaiseki degustation meal in the fine dining restaurant at Hotel Kanronomori.

Excellent seafood fresh from fisheries on the Shakotan peninsula, as well as rockmelon, corn, and other farm produce make mealtime something to look forward to in Niseko. Much comes from environmentally friendly farms, many of which are open to visitors.

Heading outdoor s , many take the oppor tunity to have a game of golf at one of Niseko’s world - clas s re sor t s , which are competitively priced. A great way to see the area at your own pace is to hire a bike and go exploring. When you’re done, book yourself on a rafting trip to cool off in the river and have a great time.

J Tozanken

Just 3 minutes from the Grand Hirafu lifts! We organise discount tickets, and our family friendly services are in high demand!

J

Pension Berg

191 Aza-Yamada, Kutchan Tel: 0136-22-5115

Email: yukara@gaea.ocn.ne.jp big-hokkaido.com/berg

Next door to Yukara Niseko.

Tel: 0136-23-4549

big-hokkaido.com/berg/sistershop.htm

G Yukara Niseko Souvenirs of Niseko & Hokkaido 191-31 Aza-Yamada, Kutchan Tel: 0136-23-4546

Guests have privileges at Tozanken, a tasty Asahikawa Ramen restaurant, and Yukara Niseko, our souvenir shop both just moments away. Walking distance to the hot spring, Japanese pubs and bars.

Niseko

47

ć—ĽćœŹ

JAPAN

Listen to the sound of gently falling snow, and feel the vibes of summer festivals.

Smell the fresh spring blooms, and cherish the autumn colours.

Japan's defined seasons will delight your senses.

Lose yourself in another time on a journey to a land steeped in culture and tradition.

www.city.otaru.lg.jp

Otaru © Yasufumi Nishi/© JNTO

© Y. Shimizu

Rich history, German beer and delicious seafood all a short distance from Niseko…

Otaru is a historic por t town a shor t distance away from Sapporo and Niseko, per fec t for side adventures with its romantic olde-worlde Victorian lamp illumination in winter, fresh sushi and locally brewed German style beer.

The townsite is located in the Shiribetsu area of Hokkaido, with some excellent nature strips to enjoy including the Niseko-Shakotan- Otaru Beach QuasiN at i o n a l Pa r k . A s t h e p a r k ’s n a m e suggests, Niseko is close to Otaru at 90 minutes on the JR Hakodate Line, or 110 minutes on the Niseko-go special winter express bus. In addition, Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido and major transport hub is only 30 minutes to the south east

of Otaru on JR, or 60 minutes on the which are on for ten nights from 17:00 to 21:00 during February. The next YukiOtaru-go Express bus.

Akari-no-Michi illumination festival is One of the perfect times to visit Otaru coming up on February 8-17, 2013. i s d u r i n g i t s Yu k i - A k a r i - n o - M i c h i illumination festival in winter, when Excellent all year round is Otaru Beer, neat rows of Victorian lamps light up famously brewed to the letter of the i t s c a n a l , l i n e d w i t h s n o w cove r e d German Beer Purity Law by Braumeister stone and brick heritage warehouse Johannes Braun. His Soko No. 1 brewery buildings. The Victorian architectural in Otaru is right on the canal, where he styles around Otaru are particularly rare continues a tradition passed down in in Japan, and give a silent testimony to his family since their microbrewery was the early development of the Japanese founded in 1610 near Frankfurt. colony on Hokkaido during Japan’s rapid modernisation in the Meiji Period (1868- The journey can be completed with 1912). Presiding over cobbled streets, some of Otaru’s fresh seafood, straight they evoke a Dickensian atmosphere in off fishing boats in the port and onto the the pleasing yellow glow of the lamps, tables at delicious local sushi restaurants.

Just one minute on foot from Otaru Station, experience the good old traditions of Japan in harmony with our meticulously designed comforts for health and wellbeing…

OTARU

3-9-1 Inaho, Otaru City, Hokkaido Japan Tel: +81 0134-21-5489 Email: in-otaru@dormy-hotels.com

For reservations and inquiries:

dormyinn premium otaru Niseko

SERCH 49

Pristine powder, alpine hot springs, local culinary delights and the hospitality of friendly locals. A ski holiday based in Furano delivers the ultimate combination of snow and culture. Ski on Furano Resort or take a day trip to the other 3 nearby powder utopias of Kamui, Tomamu or the live volcano of Asahidake, and chase the deepest snow the area has to offer on the day. Après-ski, explore the myriad of local bars and restaurants, and experience fascinating Japanese culture at events and festivals. Go to bed with dreams of the lines you skied and the friends you made.

One holiday – 4 mountains

For more information see our website or contact us by e-mail. www.furanotourism.com / inquiry@furanotourism.com

Let s enjoy skiing in '

! o d i a k k o H l a r t n e C Central Hokkaido is wild and untamed, dominated by the 2,000m peaks of the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group. A backcountry ski trip is the only real way to gain a true appreciation for just how fine, light and dry the powder is in these mountains, and why experienced skiers rate it as some of the best in the world.

Equally as stunning are the hot spring inns, overlooking untamed wilderness away from the crowds in resort areas, and run by warm, friendly locals always ready to share their culture with visitors.

Asahikawa Kamui

Asahikawa Airport

1Asahidake Daisetsuzan National Park

1Tokachidake

Furano Furano Ski Resort

Sapporo

N 10km

Tomamu

Railway Main Road Expressway

Directions Narita Airport

Kansai Airport

1h 40min

Furano

+

1h 55min

Tokachidake

1h 35min Asahidake

Kansai Airport

1h 40min

2h Asahikawa Airport

1h

Narita Airport

1h 55min

New Chitose Airport 1h 20min Kamui

2h 10min Tomamu

*Times are approximate

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FURANO SKI AND SNOW Furano has plenty of glorious on-piste and backcountry powder burns, and a friendly atmosphere perfect for experiencing a taste of Japanese culture…

©Furano Tourism Association/©JNTO

Furano’s big drawcards say it all: authentic Japanese culture, world- class ski facilities, and a staggering nine meters of snow every year. Elite international snowboarders were in town for the 2007 World Cup, and a steadily growing stream of visitors has followed in their wake. Getting to Furano has never been

easier, with construction now completed on a new expressway to New Chitose Airpor t, Hokkaido’s main airport. In addition, low cost carrier Skymark Airlines operates daily flights from Kansai International Airport in Osaka, as well as Narita International Airport in Tokyo to Asahikawa Airport, just one hour from Furano

New Furano Prince Hotel Located on the slopes of Furano Ski Resort, Furano’s premier hotel offers true ski-in, ski-out access. With multiple dining options and top class facilities your choice of accommodation in Furano couldn’t be simpler. The affordability of this special combination of location and luxury will also surprise you.

2012-2013 Winter specials Pay 5 nights / Stay 7 nights Free adult lift passes Kids ski free Conditions apply. Please contact your local travel agent for details.

For further information contact Scott Tovey:

Email furano-scott@princehotels.co.jp

Enjoy peaceful times surrounded by the nature of Furanui - Room and breakfast package.

- A range of guest rooms from Western, Japanese or combined style to cottages are available to meet all kinds of requirements.

Hotel “Pension Furanui” Tel 0167 22 2480 13-15 Kitanomine-Cho, Furano E-mail furanui@furano.ne.jp

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Centr al Hokk aido

Please make bookings and enquiries by e-mail!

All rooms have a bath and toilet A g o o d l o c a t i o n o n l y 5 minutes by walk from the Kitanomine Ski Ground.

www.furanotourism.com

Station on the Lavender-go shuttle bus service.

The slopes at Furano are characterised by length and spectacular views, with many family friendly options. The snow is among the driest in the Hokkaido area, and the weather, with sunny, blue skies, is perfect for being outdoors.

Night skiing runs until 8:00pm on both sides of the Furano ski area. Fun backcountry day trips for powder-hungry skiers visiting the area include Kamui, Asahidake and Tokachidake, which are linked to the town by shuttle buses.

Transferable multi- day lif t passes are also available for use at Kamui and Tomamu.

F i v e m i n u t e s a w ay a r e t h e s h o p s a n d restaurants of Furano, which transform the fresh local produce into a variety of delicious dishes.

The Furano Tourism Association is very active in organising events to keep visitors entertained during winter, many of which are free to attend. Weekly cultural performances with live traditional music are held from mid January to February, the busiest part of the ski season.

Presented by the local traditional performing

arts association, the shows can feature anything from Japanese dancing to calligraphy, flower arranging, tea ceremony, and sword dancing.

The Furano Theatre Factory is another culture hotspot in town during this part of the season, performing productions by graduates from the famous Soh Kuramoto drama school.

Furano and its surrounding districts are well endowed with a total of more than 90 hotels, inns and lodges. Interconnected with the plethora of different ski slopes in Central Hokkaido through shuttle bus services provided by backcountry ski guides and resorts, the town is an excellent place to be based. Transport needs around Furano are also well catered for by the Lavender-go bus, which operates year-round and travels extensively between downtown Furano, ski areas, A sahikawa Airport, and Asahikawa Station. The Evening Resort Shuttle Bus also provides a handy service between the New Furano Prince Hotel, the Kitanomine Furano ski area, and downtown Furano from December 17 to March 10.

FURANO

Annexe for long term guests now open!

1-35 A s a h i - C h o, F u r a n o H o k k a i d o Phone: +81 167 22 1777 Fax: +81 167 23 1070 Email: info@natulux.com

www.natulux.com

24 hour hospital only 5 minutes walk.

Station is 1 minute on foot.

Free parking is available.

Woodlandfarm Fur ano Fur ano Guest House

Shochikubai & Fur ano Lodge 10

Fur ano Guest House is a compact, luxurious hotel w ith top cl a ss hospita lit y a nd a menities, tucked away in a quiet locale just 2 minutes from the sk i area. Non-guests are welcome for lunch at the restaur ant.

T

0167-39-1551

E

woodlandfarm@blue.ocn.ne.jp

Check in 3pm, Check out 10am

W

Tr eat yourself to a stay at one of these cl assy rental homes, in a quiet residential area close to the ski resort. Open, spacious rooms and well equipped facilities provide a comfortable base to enjoy your stay in Fur ano.

www.woodlandfarm.co.jp Centr al Hokk aido

53

FURANO MAP

©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

Rich hues of the Furano summer Deep carves and spectacular views

Furano Ski Resort Kitanomine Zone

Furano Ski Resort Furano Zone

The Furano Prince Hotel

New Furano Prince Hotel

©Furano Tourism Association/©JNTO

W ide op en farmland growing fre sh lo c al produce

Furano Cheese Factory Travel Times Lavender-go Shuttle Bus Asahikawa Airport OR Furano 1h Japan Railways (JR) Sapporo OR Furano 2h

54

Centr al Hokk aido

ŠYasufumi Nishi/ŠJNTO

The famous lavender of Furano

Highland Furano

Happy faces at the local Belly Button Festival

Biei-Shirogane Onsen Shirahige-no-taki Waterfall Tokachidake Onsen Kamifurano JR Furano Line JR Gakuden Station

JR Nemuro Main Line Furano Winery

Frontier Furanui Furano River Belly Button Festival

Sorachi River Furano Town Centre

Asahigaoka Park

i

Furano Tourism Association JR Furano Station

JR Nemuro Main Line

Furano Jam Garden Glass Forest Furano

Tourist Information

i

Furano Tourism Association 1-30, Hinode-machi, Furano 20167-23-3388 Hours: 9:00-18:00 Mon-Sun www.furanotourism.com/english/home.htm

Access to Furano is more convenient than ever, with low cost carrier Skymark Airlines operating daily services from Osaka and Tokyo to New Chitose Airport, which is connected to the town via a recently completed expressway.

Centr al Hokk aido

55

Furano Ski Resort Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

130cm 190cm 230cm 220cm 140cm

Beg

Int

Adv

40%

40%

20%

4.0km

2

8

17:00-20:00

Furano Ski Resort has ski in, ski out access to 24 courses, which receive a consistent average of nine metres of powder every season. It’s some of the lightest and driest powder in Japan, and the weather is marvellous, allowing for clear views across to the smoking peaks of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. All this has earned Furano a cult status among powder skiers, attested to by the 12 occasions it has hosted the FIS World Cup.

The mountain has an altitude differential of 964m, and diamond dust is a regular feature in the extreme January and Februar y temperatures of -30°C .

Access to the summit takes just a few minutes on the ropeway, which also has a www.furanotourism.com

THE BRIDGE

Furano’s Only Ski-front Luxury Apartments

Friendly smoke-free pub owned by an American English teacher who's been living in Furano for 12 years. Popular with English students, a great place to chat up some locals. Open late everyday, free billiards, electronic darts, free Wi-fi, 25 different beers, and more than 120 cocktails available.

Log Yukari Cosy log cottages in Furano

4-8 person cottages: ¥2500/person/night Extended booking discounts available Dormitory beds: ¥1200/night, incl. utilities

Just one minute walk to the Gondola

www.freshpowder.com

Transport provided between the station, ski area, and shopping centre

+ 81 167 23 4738

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Centr al Hokk aido

Email: furano_rokugou_self@yahoo.co.jp

Snow depth

Terrain

Longest run

Gondolas

Chairlifts

Half pipe

Night skiing

very large capacity, holding as many as 101 passengers.

Furano Ski Resort is comprised of two zones, the Kitanomine Zone, operating from mid December to late March, and the Furano Zone, open all the way from late November until early May. Between them, they cover 25km and offer a good selection of wide runs suited to skiers of all abilities. The lights are on for night skiing until 8:00pm.

If you’re new to Furano, one of the best ways to discover the mountain is with a friendly local English speaking volunteer, on the Furano Ski Host Programme. Visit the Furano Tourism Association office in the Kitanomine Zone by 10am to sign up for a guided tour of the slopes, or find out more at www.furanotourism.com.

Tsuru Apartments gs 10% discount on bookin2012 31, made before Aug ust

Only 5 minutes to the ski slope

P W

+81 167 23 1618

M

+81 90 2777 4620

www.tsuru-apartments.com/

Furano Alpine Travel We pride ourselves in our long-term presence in Furano and expert knowledge of the area.

We specialise in: • Outdoor activities including Hot Air Ballooning, Trekking, Rafting, Fishing and more • Transportation services around Furano and Hokkaido • Accommodation, from Backpackers to hot-spring Hotels

Tel: +81 167 22 1311 Email: furano@alpn.jp

www.alpn.jp

Centr al Hokk aido

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FURANO FOUR SEASONS Unearth the natural, cultural, and gastronomic riches of Furano...

Yama-no Doxon Boutique Brewery in Furano, with pilsner, wheat, and dark beers from 짜500!

20-29 Kitanomine-cho, Furano, Hokkaido Tel: 0167-22-5599 Web: http://doxon.jp Ski Rental Pro Shops

Sportpia rental shops have expanded to four convenient Furano Snow School's dedicated locations in the ski area. You can instructors provide ski lessons walk in empty handed and be in English. skiing in no time!

Furano Snow School

Make www.gdayjapan.com.au your first stop...

Bookings: Phone & Fax: +81 167 22 1935 Email: sp-topia-furano@voice.ocn.ne.jp www.sportpia.co.jp

Kumagera This intimate restaurant serves a variety of unique Japanese cuisine, including Sanzoku Nabe, duck and venison hot pot, tempura, and cheese tofu, just to name a few. Delicious Japanese sake and beers are also available.

Open 7 days 11:30-Midnight 3-22 Hinode, Furano, Hokkaido Phone +81 167 39 2345 www.furano.ne.jp/kumagera/

58

Centr al Hokk aido

www.furanotourism.com

Travellers make the pilgrimage to Furano during the ski off season to enjoy a dazzling display of lavender fields, and delicious local produce.

Daisetsuzan National Park, along with nearby rapids and canyons also brings in adventurers answering the call of the wild. No matter what their chosen sport is, visitors and locals alike are unanimous in their appreciation of the local hot springs.

The Furano Prince Hotel provides a good soak near town, with a spacious lounge and masseuse at the ready. For a bath with a view of Furano’s famous lavender fields, visit Highland Furano. It also overlooks majestic mountains and forests, providing a remarkable bathing experience in any season.

Furano is close to many small hot spring villages, which are well worth a day trip. Start with BieiShirogane, located a 60 minute drive away. Before you dive into the bath tr y one of the hiking trails, which pass the beautiful

Shirahige-no-taki waterfall. Tokachidake hot spring village is just a 30 minute drive from Furano. The town is also near Ryounkaku hot spring, which as the highest hot spring on the island of Hokkaido at 1,280m above sea level, has a panoramic view from the outdoor bath.

Tokachidake and Ryounkaku are particularly spectacular in autumn, when the trees turn into breathtaking shades of red and yellow.

T h e re a re p l e n t y of o t h e r a t t ra c tio n s in and around Furano, which can be visited conveniently on the Kururu- go shut tle bus service during summer. The route includes Furano's brilliant carpets of lavender and other assorted flowers, as well as the Fu ra n o C h e e s e Fa c to r y, a n d Furano Winery.

Summer in Furano is celebrated by a crowd of 5,000 with funny faces on their stomachs, dancing around in the main street for its unique Belly Button Festival in late July.

Furano ski holiday at the North Country Inn Make your holiday choice simple: powder snow skiing is what it's all about. With hundreds of restaurants in vibrant Furano, this is the Japanese ski experience you have been looking for. Enjoy a spectacular view of the snow whilst having breakfast or experience our new Western-style dinner menu, complemented by our delicious homemade wine!

Mention this ad to receive dinner free on your first night!

All enquiries to:

www.northcountryinnfurano.com

Fukuzushi is known for its gigantic sushi. Here you can enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine such as sashimi and tempura or Fukuzushi’s famous fried chicken and original ‘Potato Bowl’. This beautiful Japanese style restaurant is suitable for big parties.

Fukuzushi 1-24 Asahi, Furano, Hokkaido Japan Phone +81 167 23 2617 Open 11:00-21:30 (Last order 21:00) Closed Mon Centr al Hokk aido

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TOKACHIDAKE SKI AND SNOW Skiing down a live volcano sir? Just over there to your right‌

Tokachidake is a craggy, lava-encrusted volcano belching smoke from Daisetsuzan National Park, smack bang in the centre of Hokkaido. The surrounding area brims with raw, uncut nature at its finest, bursting from the very seams of the soil until a hefty package of snow hits in November, not being returned to its sender until the beginning of May. The contents are a Christmas present sent to the right address for powder skiers, and are received by Tokachidake with a satisfied looking plume of smoke from its crater. Falls of up to 30cm a night bury the

Fukiage Onsen

Hoyou Center Hakuginso Hakuginso’s 100% natural hot spring is the best reward you can give yourself. We cater for guests on day bathing trips, and our accommodation includes cooking facilities.

Hakuginso is equipped with a multi-purpose outdoor bath, surrounded by nature. Enjoy bathing both in the hot spring and the forest, energising your mind and body with the colours of each season.

T: +81-(0)167-45-4126 Tokachidake, Kamifurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido

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Centr al Hokk aido

Tokachidake backcountr y, and skiers glide through trackless powder all day until reaching a halt in one of the excellent hot springs, emerging once again for a fresh, satisfying dinner.

www.kamifurano.jp/english

Pensions and inns run by friendly locals lie in the nearby Tokachidake Onsen Village and surrounding Kamifurano district, and many have their own hot springs plus transport to the ski areas. Pensions are essentially Japanese style bed and breakfasts, and while they can be smaller than inns, the personalised level of service is terrific. Add some tasty home cooking with fresh local ingredients, and you have a winner! Some names to look out for in the hot spring and accommodation department are the Kamihoro Inn, Barden Kamifurano, Hakuginso, Ryounkaku, and Frontier Furanui.

Hakuginso for example, is a lodge situated directly in front of the trailhead to Tokachidake with a ver y p opular hot spring , naturally preheated to a steaming 42 and 48 degrees!

Strategically positioned boulders tastefully decorate the outdoor bath, which forms an oasis of warmth during the winter. The hot spring at Ryounkaku is also crawling distance from back country adventure, and has a grandstand view over the surroundings from 1,280m above sea level. Nothing beats the tranquil view of snowcapped mountains from a hot spring after a great day’s skiing.

Having such a good selection of accommodation immediate to backcountr y a r e a s , To k a c h i d a k e O n s e n V i l l a g e a n d Kamif uran o c an b e th e id eal b a s e fo r an ex tended stay on Hokkaido. The township of Kamifurano is located slightly to the south of A sahikawa Domestic Airpor t, in Central Hokkaido, from where it can be reached by bus in just 30 minutes. Many of the local accommodation operators provide shuttle buses

Kamihoro Inn

Gaze across a sea of clouds from our hot spring, 1200m above sea level. You can enjoy back country skiing just around the corner!

from the airport, or directly from Asahikawa.

W h i l e To k a c h i d a ke s t a n d s a t 2 ,141m , its climate is similar to that of the 3,776m Mount Fuji due to a far nor thern latitude.

Backcountry skiing there requires the services of a knowledgeable guide, and one of the go to people in the area is Mountain Guide Imai.

Imai has been wandering around the area since his childhood, and runs flexible ski trips to the best backcountry spots. After spending seasons working as a Canadian ski guide, English is no problem for Imai, who can be contacted at www7.plala.or.jp/MGI.

• Free coach pickup from Sapporo and Asahikawa on alternate days • Transport provided to Furano town centre and nearby ski slopes • Wi-fi, ski storage, drying and laundry facilities • Special discount on extended winter stays • Guests receive a complimentary glass of sake with dinner

Kamihoro Inn

Email: kamihoro@arata-group.com http://tokachidake.com/kamihoro/

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TOKACHIDAKE FOUR SEASONS Tokachidake offers colour and contrast all year round, and is a natural feast for the senses...

B a t hin g in a h o t s p r in g i s an e x p e r i e n c e undoubtedly enriched by sweeping mountain views, and they just get more colourful as the seasons pass in Tokachidake Onsen Village. The hiking trails are incredibly rewarding, as are the striped fields of lavender and plates of succulent farm produce.

This is also served in glasses as Hokkaido’s famous Sapporo Beer, produced with hops and barley from local growers in Kamifurano, the administrative district of Tokachidake Onsen Village. They raise crops of Furano Special, a distinct variety of hops known for its refreshing aroma and bitterness.

Fields of lavender also surge forth from the ground in Kamifurano every summer, creating a beautiful carpet of colour that attracts visitors from all over. Kamifurano became the birthplace of lavender in Japan, when farmers planted their first crop from France in 1937. Today it has

become a symbol of Hokkaido, and is enjoyed for its calming effect and therapeutic benefits for sleep, and visual splendour.

Kamifurano pork is a buzz word to the tastebuds of many a local meat lover. The particularly sought after sagari, a rare portion of the diaphragm amounting to just 200-300g per animal, is in plentiful supply. The pigs are raised in a low stress environment on a special feed mix which includes wood vinegar. This mysterious ingredient improves livestock health and subsequently meat quality, a point verified by the large numbers of visitors to Kamifurano meat restaurants!

Kamifurano is a shor t bus ride from the bathhouses and inns of Tokachidake Onsen Village. Each spring has a dif ferent mix of minerals and ions, and a great view of the seasonal landscapes. This adds to the fun of exploring them, and enjoying the dif ferent benefits they can have for your health.

The other popular place to explore is the Tokachidake mountain range itself. It lives up to its reputation as one of Japan’s 100 famous peaks with lush greenery, apocalyptic volcanoscapes, glaciers, birds and flowers.

To reach Tokachidake Onsen Village, take a Lavender-Go bus from Asahikawa Domestic Airpor t to Kamifurano (3 0 min), or Japan Railways to Kamifurano Station, from where the village is a further 30 minutes by local bus.

Tokachidake Onsen Yumoto Ryounkaku

Nature’s beauty is above the clouds. Ryounkaku is a hot spring inn, situated at an altitude of 1280 meters in the highest part of Hokkaido.

Enjoy the superb beauty and power unique to the mountains from the windows of all our rooms, which are surrounded by a magnificent 360°panorama.

www.ryounkaku.com T: (0167)39-4111 F: (0167)39-4112 Tokachidake Onsen, Kamifurano-cho, Sorachi-gun, Hokkaido 62

Centr al Hokk aido

www.kamifurano.jp/english

Central Hokkaido

Backcountry Chuck Olbery Director, Hokkaido Powder Guides © Takahiro Nakanishi

© Luke Hurford

Chuck Olbery is the owner of Hokkaido Powder Guides which is a ski guiding company based in Furano, Central Hokkaido. He looked at the different mountainous areas around Japan and settled here from which to base his business. He was initially attracted to the area because it has the highest mountains in Hokkaido, but found that the allure was much more than just the mountains.

known as the ‘Powder Factory.’ “On a good day, forget face-shots, the snow will be flying over your head! Seeing where you are going can be a challenge, so I instruct clients to stop, and scan the area for trees before skiing their lines.” Clear days are rare in winter, but if you are lucky to see Asahidake, it is a magical site. The volcano has multiple vents that send up playful plumes into the sky.

One of these he found is the snow. “The quality of the powder is fantastic thanks to the cold temperatures and low humidity.” In fact, it could be some of the lightest in the world for its consistency. He has guided clients from different parts of the world, and everyone seems to agree that the snow is the best that they have skied as well. The joy of riding powder is the feeling of being weightless. “The snow here feels like you are actually floating.”

For backcountry, there are the mountains of Daisetsuzan National Park across the valley from Furano. These are known as Kamui Mintara to the local Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido which means the ‘Playground of the Gods.’ This is one of the foremost backcountry destinations in Japan.

Another bonus to the area is the location. The township of Furano sits in the geographical centre of Hokkaido and serves as a good base to access the surrounding resorts. Central Hokkaido resorts can be very quiet during weekdays, and there are days when it almost feels deserted and you have the place to yourselves. In the north there is Kamui Ski Links and to the south there is Tomamu. Furano Ski Resort is only a five minute drive from the centre of Furano itself.

The differing micro-climates almost always mean good powder somewhere, even when there isn’t fresh snow in Furano.

One of these places is Asahidake. You will see more fat skis here per skier than anywhere else in Japan, for good reason. It is otherwise

One of the highlights is to ski a live volcano with smoke billowing out of the crater. You have to earn your turns, but they’re well worth the effort. A great way to finish is to celebrate the ski day in a thermal hot spring in the forest.

“When the water is hot we shovel snow in to bring the temperature down. Just make sure there are no locals already in the water.”

Staying at one of the local hot spring inns in the Park you have the opportunity to experience a traditional ryokan. Rooms are tatami, flooring that Japanese have used for centuries. You will find guests wearing yukata, a light kimono at dinner, fresh from taking a bath. Fresh fish, and other local delicacies are on the menu and the quantity is plentiful. Upon return to your room, you will find your futon has been rolled out neatly. Sleep comes easily, full from the good food, good turns, and dare I say it, good sake!

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ASAHIDAKE SKI AND SNOW Prepare to experience the best snow you’ve seen yet!

©Higashikawa Tourism Association

The debate over exactly where the best powder snow is to be found in Japan is a hotly contested one, but Asahidake weathers the argument with some sound scientific facts, neatly arranged next to superb backcountry credentials, and ropeway access.

Cold, dr y air masses from Siberia form into the Nor thwest Monsoon as they cross the warmer ocean currents towards Japan, generating giant zeppelins of powder snow that discharge in a blaze of glory over Hokkaido’s west coast. The best is saved until last, as freezing, parched air that caused the snowfall rushes through the Asahikawa Basin in Hokkaido’s centre, down the guts of the Daiset suzan Mountain Range and back up into the sky, being showered down again as exceptionally dry powder.

At 2,291m, Asahidake is the tallest peak in the range, and the entire island of Hokkaido. As temperatures on the mountain plummet below zero from November, white columns of smoke billow out of its ac tive volcanic fumaroles, creating a surreal landscape.

The first 1,600m of Asahidake can be climbed

via a ropeway from Asahidake Onsen, a hot spring village at the foot of the mountain. Current fare and timetable information can be found online at wakasaresort.com/eng/unkou_e.htm. The station at the top is called Sugatami, and is the starting point of four marked courses for intermediate to advanced skiers, that wind their way back to Sanroku Station in Asahidake Onsen.

S u g a t a mi St a tio n ha s a g r e a t v i ew of the fumaroles on Asahidake, and is also the portal to the amazing backcountry skiing that lies further towards the summit. As well as plent y of powder skiing experience under your belt, you’ll need a local guide to get you through safely. Hokkaido Powder Guides run backcountry ski trips on Asahidake and the rest of Central Hokkaido, and can be contacted at www.hokkaidopowderguides.com.

Back down in Asahidake Onsen, there are plenty of welcoming, comfortable inns where visitors enjoy nature’s blessing of hot springs and exquisite produce. The full journey to the village from Asahikawa, the Central Hokkaido transport hub, is about 1.5 hours by bus, and includes a stop en route at Asahikawa Airport.

Higashikawa

www.welcome-higashikawa.jp

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Welcome to Higashikawa Enjoy the bounty of Hokkaido throughout the four seasons Higashikawa is blessed with breathtaking vistas of Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan Mountain Range, and Asahi-dake, its tallest peak nearby, is the final destination of the local Sea to Summit triathlon, spanning 22km from the starting point of Lake Chubetsu. See the mountain in full splendour on a summer hike, or wait a little longer until it bursts into the red and gold colours of autumn. The exceptional winter powder makes for excellent skiing and snowboarding, and this is also prime time to view the volcanic blowholes, another natural wonder of this year-round destination.

W: http://www.welcome-higashikawa.jp Centr al Hokk aido

ASAHIDAKE FOUR SEASONS Stand tall on the roof of Hokkaido, and appreciate the volcanic landscape from its highest peak…

©Higashikawa Tourism Association

Asahidake is part of the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group, an alpine area in Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan National Park that dramatically shaped the gorges, rivers and other surrounding terrain in a cataclysmic series of eruptions about 30,000 years ago. The last venting of molten fury from its 2,291m peak, the highest in Hokkaido, was in 1739, and it can still be seen giving off smoke signals today. A journey to the summit and surrounding areas during spring, summer and autumn reveals terrain as dramatic as it is colourful, ranging between scarred, tormented rock and lava landscapes frozen in motion, to the lush vitality of deep forests, and sweeping plains of alpine flowers.

The township of Higashikawa is the place

to start off, heading from there to Asahidake Onsen, a hot spring village at the foot of the mountain. Sunday hikers can take the ropeway from this point to access a lovely promenade around the alpine meadows and volcanic craters adjacent to Sugatami Pond at 1,600m. The boardwalk is an easy 1.7km long, and seeing the landscape in full bloom during spring and summer, or enveloped in the red and yellow glow of autumn is just exhilarating.

The ascent to the summit of Asahidake from Sugatami takes about two hours one way, and is part of a loop hike which continues over the surrounding peaks of Mamiyadake (2,185m), and Kumagadake (2,210m). A local guide is a safety essential on this hike, as there is no English signage and only limited trail markings.

The entire loop takes an average of 7 hours, and is a breathtaking way to experience the environment around Asahidake.

Don’t feel embarrassed if you’re eclipsed by a stream of runners on their way to the to p of A s ahidake in June. T he s e are hardened competitors in the annual Sea to Summit, a 22km triathlon held every summer in Higashikawa. Af ter paddling their way across Lake Chubetsu, a substitute for the sea section, they peddle across picturesque fields to Asahidake, from where the final battle to the finish line begins. www.welcome-higashikawa.jp

La Vista Daisetsuzan

An opulent hotel set in the heart of Hokkaido’s powder Neverland, La Vista Daisetsuzan has been awarded with top accolades in the Michelin Guide. With a premium French and Japanese dinner menu, sweeping views of Asahi-dake, Hokkaido’s tallest peak, and superior hot spring facilities, it’s not hard to see why.

Asahidake Onsen, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido E-mail: la-daisetsuzan@dormy-hotels.com www.japan-ryokan.net/lavistadaisetsuzan/index.html

Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway

Welcome to Asahidake, on the highest peak of Hokkaido. Take some time out and revitalise yourself, here in the great outdoors.

T: 0166-68-9111 W: wakasaresort.com/asahidakeropeway Centr al Hokk aido

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Kamui Ski Links Dec

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60cm 160cm 190cm 220cm

3.5km

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Taking deep carves at speed down the 3km Gold Course, and weaving through unmarked tree runs are some of the highlights of a day on the slopes at Kamui Ski Links. There are 14 courses altogether, set between 751m and 150m on the 800m Mt Kamui-yama. Temperatures during the season from late November to early March drop within the vicinity of -20°C, and the powder falls thick and fast.

The policy on off-piste skiing at Kamui is free and easy, so don’t be shy to go exploring if you have enough control and experience under your belt. To start with, try the Panorama Course, the Bump Course, and the Ezo-matsu Course near the top of the mountain, the three designated black runs with terrain that can drop suddenly by as much as 40°, and some tight gaps to negotiate between the trees.

The FIS-approved Gold Course is rated intermediate, but has quite a steep decline conducive to excessive speed, followed by unexpected bumps that can launch you into the air without warning. At its widest this course measures a juicy 150m, and is just begging to be torn apart. If you’re starting out with basic skiing technique, head to the four mellow, compacted runs close to the foot of the mountain.

One gondola lift and seven chairlifts, as well as a wide range of ski equipment for hire, and some cosy restaurants complete a satisfying day’s skiing at Kamui. www.furanotourism.com

A Stone's Throw from Asahikawa Kamui Ski Links is just around the corner from Asahikawa in Central Hokkaido, home of the famous Asahikawa Zoo. The journey takes about 40 minutes by bus, which must be booked one week in advance through Hokkaido Access Network at www.access-n.jp. It's also an easy day trip from the Furano area. Get in touch with Hokkaido Powder Guides at www.hokkaidopowderguides.com, or Furano Alpine Travel at www.alpn.jp to arrange a visit.

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Snow depth

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Gondolas

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Half pipe

Night skiing

Hoshino Resort Tomamu Dec

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110cm 170cm 190cm 180cm 120cm

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30%

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4.5km

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16:00-19:00

H o s h i n o R e s o r t To m a m u p r o v i d e s opulence on and off the ski slopes, with extremely high-grade powder kept fresh in temperatures reaching -20 to -30°C , luxury hotels, fine dining restaurants and Minamina Beach Japan’s biggest indoor wave pool.

The mountain gets generous servings of powder on an almost daily basis, from the beginning of December to mid-April.

All skiers will find something to enjoy, whether it's that first lesson with the Tomamu Ski and Snowboard Academy, or a heli-ski tour to the exciting off-piste area beyond the resort. This is known officially as the Advanced Skier Liberation Area, and has been demarcated by the resort as part of its safety policy, which includes compulsor y headgear when skiing through especially challenging sections. Extra reserves of untracked powder can also be found just beyond the peak of Mt Tomamu, at a distance of 300m from the top of the ropeway.

H o s h i n o R e s o r t To m a m u h o s t e d the 30 th All Japan Snowboarding Championships in 2012, and the massive half pipe, rails, fun boxes and kickers were at the centre of the action.

Quality equipment can be hired at the resort’s Atomic Station rental shop, with a selection of the latest carving skis, and fat skis perfectly suited to the powder conditions. www.snowtomamu.jp

Easily Accessible in South Central Hokkaido Hoshino Resort Tomamu lies in the eastern part of Shimukappu Village, to the south of the mighty Daisetsuzan Mountain Range in Central Hokkaido. New Chitose Airport, Asahikawa Airport, and Obihiro Airport form a triangle around the area, and as well as direct shuttle bus services, the resort is serviced by trains to Tomamu Station on the JR Sekisho Line. Tomamu is another convenient day trip if you’re staying around Furano, and tours can be arranged through the providers on the facing page.

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長野 新潟

©Camilla Stoddart / www.camillastoddartphotography.com

THE POWDER IS WAITING...

OUT!!

S S I M T ' N O D PAN. C L A SSIC RESORTS JA

http://www.snowlove.net/japan/

Let s enjoy skiing in '

! u s t e n Shi

Nozawa Onsen

Myoko

Naeba

1Shiroumadake

Shiga Kogen

Hakuba

1Shigayama

1Goryudake

Nagano

1Mitsudake

N 20km

Main Road Railway Bullet Train (Shinkansen) Expressway

Matsumoto 1Utsukushigahara Shinshu Matsumoto Airport

The immense volume of excellent powder snow and impressive terrain in 1Azumayasan the Shinetsu region skyrocketed it to international popularity in 1998, after the Nagano Winter Olympics. Nagano is one of1Asamayama the predominantly alpine, rural prefectures in Shinetsu, crowded out by the rugged Japanese Alps, and ski resorts do a great job of making sure riders of all levels have something to enjoy on the slopes. They range in the vicinity of 2,000m and above, and the enthusiasm of local guides for the backcountry is infectious.

DIRECTIONS Narita Airport

Kansai Airport

50min

50min

Tokyo Station

Shin Osaka Station

1h 30min

2h 50min Nagano Station

50min Matsumoto 1h 30min Hakuba

40min Yudanaka Onsen

1h 15min

40min

30min Shiga Kogen

Nozawa Onsen

Myoko

*Times are approximate

Shinetsu

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HAKUBA SKI AND SNOW Jump on a bullet train to Hakuba, and find out why it’s one of Japan’s biggest winter sports destinations...

The rush s till hit s you on the 1998 Winter Olympics observation deck at Hakuba, looking dow n over the jump er s’ flight area. T he games are now frozen in time at the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium and the Winter Olympic Memorial Museum, but the powder is still as fine and plentiful as ever.

Hakuba is highly regarded as a world class destination, and is home to a cluster of ski resorts including Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47, Happo One, Iwatake, and Tsugaike Kogen.

Bet ween them, the resor ts account for an impressive 200 plus runs through the towering Japan Alps. Snowfall over the winter months checks in at more than 10 metres, and the vertical drop hits 1,180 metres. This means good times for all skiers!

The premium snow and spectacular scenery of Hakuba make it the perfect place to go one

Great Properties, Great Prices, Great Hospitality, Great Location. Book Direct Now...

www.hakubalodgecoop.com | THE MOST INFORMATIVE HAKUBA TRAVEL SITE! 70

Shinetsu

vill.hakuba.nagano.jp/english/index.html

step further, and head out on a backcountry ski tour beyond the resor ts. Tours run by dedicated, experienced and English speaking operators provide an opportunity for everybody, from complete novices to seasoned powder hounds, to experience the liberation of carving fresh tracks deep in the mountains. Back in the resorts, daredevil boarders and skiers alike will be pleased to see a solid selection of pipes, rails and fun boxes.

The bullet train puts Nagano, the prefectural capital within easy reach of Tokyo and Osaka, from where it is only a one hour drive to Hakuba. Buses also travel to Hakuba from Nagano station. Despite its reputation as a spectacular tourist destination, Hakuba remains a small, friendly town. Japanese people have long travelled to the area, and more and more foreign travellers are beginning to seek out its beauty as well.

Hakuba is complemented by accommodation to suit ever y taste, be it a luxur y five star hotel, budget backpacking hostel or a more authentic Japanese experience in one of the r yokan hotels, pensions, or minshuku inns.

Furthermore, a great range of quality Japanese

food, coupled with South American, European, and Chinese ensures excitement on the dinner plate. Soba noodles made with fresh water and buckwheat from Hakuba are a particular culinary highlight. The fresh mountain water of Hakuba also translates to some great tasting local sake, which visitors should not pass up the opportunity to try at a Japanese izakaya bar!

The Genki-go shuttle bus is the way to get to these places, and runs each day from late afternoon to late night in season. The bus also runs between the Happo One and Hakuba Goryu resorts to give visitors the best in night skiing, while also accessing the restaurants and bars in town. Tickets can be bought in advance from hotels or shops in the village. Visitors to Hakuba should also make use of the great value Hakuba All Mountain Pass, otherwise known as a Happy 7, which is valid for access to one of the seven resorts per day. A two day Happy 7 (Adult �8500, Child �4900) is valid for two out of three days, and a three day (Adult �12500, Child �7200) is good for three out of five. Guests staying in the resort receive a discount of �500.

Japan Holidays -Designing your Dream TEL: +61 7 33002396

E:INFO@JAPANHOLIDAYS.COM.AU

Travel Agent Lic No—3202461

WWW.JAPANHOLIDAYS.COM.AU

Japan Holidays are the best Japan Travel Search Engine you’ll ever find !

Our experienced staff have over 100 years of specialist travel in Japan, thus we can design your dream holiday.

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Shinetsu

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HAKUBA MAP

Mt Happo

Air time in Hakuba during the offseason

Happo-One Alps Daira Nature Trail

Hakuba 47 Winter Olympics Memorial Hall Hakuba Village Tourism Bureau i Hakuba Saegusa Museum

Hakuba Goryu Hakuba Katakuri Juro-no-yu Onsen

JR Oito Line Tenjin-no-yu Onsen Hakuba Highland Snow Park JR Iimori Station

JR Kamishiro Station Hakuba Ryujin Obuya Onsen Lake Aokiko

Travel Times Bus Nagano OR Hakuba 1h 5min Japan Railways (JR) Matsumoto OR Hakuba 2h Sunset viewing from the bath

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Tsugaike Nature Garden

Tsugaike Kogen ropeway

Tsugaike Kogen

Iwatake

Spectacular mountain vistas in summer

Mt Asama

Kurashita-no-yu Onsen

JR Hakuba Oike Station

Mimizuku-no-yu Onsen JR Hakuba Station

Natural colours around Hakuba are prolific

Say 'I love powder!'

Tourist Information

i

Hakuba Village Tourism Bureau 3476 Kitashiro, Hakuba Village 20261-72-7100 Hours: 8:30-17:30 Mon-Sun www.vill.hakuba.nagano.jp

Shinetsu

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Hakuba Goryu Dec

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The 23 courses at Hakuba Goryu offer something for all skiers. Those just starting out will be able to stay well within their comfort zones around the base, while the more confident should head up to 1676m on the lift for a bigger adrenalin shot down runs veering to as much as 40 degrees. The top of the lift is also a gateway to the vas t backcountr y of Hakuba, where seasoned guides are highly recommended – head to the Evergreen Outdoor Center, and you’ll be out there in no time. Passes for Hakuba Goryu are also valid at the adjacent Hakuba 47, and range from 2,500 yen for juniors, to 4,800 yen for adults all day until 17:00. Check the Hakuba Goryu website to time your visit and enjoy some of its great cultural events, all rounded off with fanfare and fireworks every March at the Hakuba Goryu Snow Festival.

The Hakuba Gor yu Stay Info Desk in JR Kamishiro St ation is your fir s t por t of call upon arrival, to book in at one of the 120-plus

5km

1

12

18:00-22:00

accommodation facilities scattered around the resort. Over 100 of these are a combination of Pensions and Minshuku, friendly bed and breakfasts run by local families. They can accommodate anywhere from 20 to 80 guests at once, and three of the Minshuku have the additional perk of hot spring baths. Three of the eight hotels also tap into the subterranean hot water below Hakuba Goryu, and are decked out to handle a maximum of 100 guests on average.

There are fourteen self-contained condominium style apartments in the area, within five minutes drive of a supermarket, ranging in amenities from economy to deluxe. The Hakuba Goryu Stay Info Desk is attended from 7:30-18:00, and can make same-day bookings. Just be sure to do it in advance during the busiest times of the year though, which fall predominantly on every Saturday during February, and the New Year holiday season from December 29 to January 5.

www.hakubagoryu.com/e

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e In In the the Japanese Japanese Alps Alps at at the the heart heart of of Japan Japan e 23 AMAZING RUNS for for all all levels levels of of skiing skiing e Extensive Extensive December December to to early early May May season season powder e WORLD-CLASS powder snow snow e Breathtaking, Breathtaking, 360-DEGREE

PANORAMAS

e Abundance Abundance of of hot hot springs springs

e 270 ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS (hotels, (hotels, pensions, pensions, B B& & Bs) Bs)

e

For information on the ski fields: Hakuba Goryuu Ski Fields www.hakubagoryu.com/ Hakuba47 Ski Field www.hakuba47.co.jp

e

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Hakuba 47 is a powder heaven from December to early May each year, the longest season in Hakuba Village. Its total of 23 courses, shared with Hakuba Goryu next door, are filled with plenty of fast, steep slopes, and some mellow sanctuaries for those just finding their snow legs. The longest run continues for a satisfying 3.8km, and all courses are set over a vertical drop of 794m. After a fresh powder fall, the angle on the R-2 and R-3 advanced courses becomes even more conducive to speed, and at 1,620 and 800 metres long respectively, they are a dream come true for powder believers. The R-3, which has a permanent mogul lane shaped into it, is actually one of Hakuba 47’s Double Black Diamond Club courses, a special program designed to promote backcountry powder skiing according to stringent safety standards. Candidates sign up at the Activity Center to take a lecture, and if they fulfil the requirements, will be allowed to

6.4km

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go forth and enjoy specific off-piste areas with the full blessing of the snow patrol. The Activity Center is also the place to make a booking for the First Tracks program, which gives you first crack at the powder from 7.30, with a guide and breakfast included.

In the freeriding department, Hakuba 47’s major draw card is the massive R-4 snow park.

There’s plenty of room for boarders and skiers to carve some nice lines over the fun boxes, rails and kickers, or the centrepiece, a 3.5m high, 16m wide, and 100m long half pipe. If you had any second thoughts about whether you could handle the steepest slopes out on the mountain, which can teeter over to 32°, this will set things straight in a matter of seconds. Beginners are well catered for at Hakuba 47 with several course options, the longest of which stretches to 3.6km, and can polish their technique with a lesson at the Activity Center.

www.hakuba47.co.jp

Make www.gdayjapan.com.au your first stop...

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Lion Adventure makes this tour as easy as pie, picking you up from your accommodation, providing all equipment necessary, and organising a hot lunch! Of course, if you’re already snug in your own ski or snowboard wear, with a pair of snowboard boots, or any other good, sturdy boots designed for snowy conditions, all the better.

Hakuba Snowmobiling Safaris

Don your regalia, saddle up, and meet your bright yellow SkiDoo! Accelerating and strategic body positioning are about the extent of the physical activity required to o p e r ate o n e o f th e s e machines, while you take the weight off your tired legs and tour the back country of Hakuba.

Feeling a little delicate out on the slopes in Hakuba? It might be time for a day off, and a Lion Adventure has just the answer!

After making sure everybody has completed some figures of eight at the bottom of the hill, the guides will step things up to a bog lap session on the mountain over groomed tracks. Never ridden a snowmobile before? Don’t worry, most beginners have a handle on the basics in no time, and are ready for step three: off-piste adventure!

Working up an appetite gliding across the powder on your SkiDoo, you’ll be glad to find a hot lunch waiting in Lion Adventure’s private lodge at the base of the ski area. After another rematch on the mountain, it’s time to visit Jigokudani Monkey Park and meet the famous snow monkeys! These cute little critters playing in their own hot spring bring out the photographer in everyone, and they even let you take close ups.

As an additional option, Lion also offers this tour without the Snow Monkeys, and offers snowmobiling in either Hakuba, or Shiga Kogen instead. So don’t get stuck indoors, and make the most of your day off out in the snow on this great tour!!

Snowmobiling & Snow Monkeys

Details for Lion Adventure Snowmobile and Snow Monkey Tour

<Pick up> Hakuba Lion Adventure office, or your accommodation in Hakuba <Departure> Approx. 8am from office <Return> Approx. 6pm to Hakuba <Cost> ¥20,000 per person (lunch included), min. 4 people required to run (individual bookings ok)

Hakuba Lion Adventure http://hakuba.lion-adventure.com

Hakuba Lion Adventure Office 3020-567 Echoland, Hakuba Vill, Phone +81 261 72 5061 E-mail hakuba@lion-adventure.com

17:00 -23:00 Occasionally closed Phone +81 261 75 1677

Dining Bar 17:00 -23:00 Occasionally closed Phone +81 261 85 0004

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Free pick up available for more than 2 people

Steak House Sanno Leave the ultimate meat lovers experience until the last minute at your own risk!

Amazing! Beautiful! Fantastic! ...these are just some of the reactions of guests after experiencing a delicious Yonezawa Beef steak at Sanno Steak House. Unfortunately for too many of them though, it happened to be their last night in Hakuba. They left regretting they hadn’t visited on the first night, and made the most of their opportunity to get their fill of premium grade Japanese Wagyu Beef. Don’t make the same mistake!

As a testament to the rigorous nature of this system,

Yonezawa Beef however, is one of these rare specimens certified with an A5 grading, and is exactly what diners from near and far visit Sanno Steak House to experience.

Many are in disbelief when they see the price, which multiplies by several times in the restaurants of Tokyo.

Sanno is limited to 30 servings per day of this quality product, and bookings fill fast. So meat lovers, make sure you don’t leave your opportunity to enjoy your share until the last minute!!

和牛

Yonezawa Beef, from Yamagata Prefecture, stands tall as one of Japan’s three top Wagyu brands, alongside Kobe Beef, and Matsuzaka Beef. All Wagyu Beef is subject to a meticulous grading assessment. Beginning from calfhood, breed, region, and other vital upbringing statistics are recorded, and used to apply a letter grading beginning with A, for the highest class, to C, for the lowest class. A number from 1, being the lowest, to 5, being the highest, is combined with this to signify the quality of four criteria: beef marbling, colour and brightness, firmness and texture, and the colour, lustre and quality of the fat.

the final number grading of Wagyu is only as high as its weakest score. So Wagyu with a 3 in one area, but a 5 in all others, will only achieve a 3. As such, Wagyu with the highest possible grade of A5, although in high demand, is extremely hard to find in a steady supply.

Steak your claim on the best beef Japan has to offer, at unbelievable prices!

Certified A5, the finest grade of Wagyu possible Highly sought after, rarely found All served in our gorgeous restaurant

3020-837 Hokujo Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun Nagano 399-9301 T: 0261-72-3120 F: 0261-72-3121

Japanese Premium Rump Steak! with Salad, Bread, Dessert 160g ¥3,200 Shinetsu

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The slopes of Happo-One hosted downhill and slalom races during the 1998 Winter Olympics, and are custom built for speed and excitement. All the ac tion takes place below the 1,831m high point, over a 1,071m drop to 760m. Taking up a large portion of this area is Japan’s biggest powder snow expanse above the tree line, and more than half of the terrain is for intermediate to advanced riders.

There is a great variet y to choose from among the 13 courses at HappoOne, including the Olympic Cour ses.

The 3km Riesen Slalom Course is home to the famous annual Riesen Slalom, a long running tradition get ting ready to celebrate its 67th year in 2013. The www.happo-one.jp/english

Ski Hakuba Special

Mominoki is the premier hotel in Hakuba, noted for its quality of the hot springs, luxuriousness and location, directly at the base of the Happo Ski Area. Relax around an open fire after an activity in the Japan Alps.

Treat yourself to exquisite dinning at the Shara Restaurant. Enjoy your aprèsski cocktails at The Pub. Mominoki offers its guests a very high standard of accommodation, with spacious, comfortable rooms.

Relax and Rejuvenate

Visit our website to check out our discount lift pass packages and high performance ski and snowboard rentals.

www.mominokihotel.com

4683-2 Wadano, Hakuba Nagano Japan Fax:0261-72-5520 Tel: 0261-72-5001

Black Bear Properties Self Catering - Self Contained Rental Accommodation in Hakuba

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Happo-One Skyline Course has a juic y 6km of downhill, inclining at times to 32째, and the longest run maxes out at an excellent 8km. The Panorama Course is a popular option for intermediate skiers and confident beginners, who have the security of a 10-15째 degree detour slope beside it to fall back on.

There are substantial savings to be made on a lift pass during off-peak times at Happo-One, with day passes for adults having dropped from 4,600 to 3,600 yen for adults, and 2,300 to 1,500 yen for children between March 17 and May 6 2012 for example. The Alpen Resort Ticket is the pass to get for additional variety, allowing access to the three mountains of Happo-One, Iwatake, and Tsugaike. Last season, prices on a two day pass started at 8,600 yen for adults, and 5,300 yen for children.

Happo-One unveiled its newly renovated

Happo Freestyle Park in 2012, and has included a range of fun features to challenge riders of all levels. The kids also have their own park to roam in, and are often joined by beginner skiers relieved to step onto the magic carpet, an automatic walkway. Happo-One is also complete with creche facilitie s , and friendly English Information Centre staff are on hand to point you in the right direction.

Village Box Sports

Right in front of the Happo-One gondola!

Ski equipment rental and sales, since 1982.

Great range of gear from Salomon and other qualit y brand s, in a cosy lit t le shop wit h excellent service. Just drop in and say hi!

4259 Happo, Hakuba-mura Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano 399-9301

Friendly English speaking staff. Come and experience authentic hospitality from our Japanese owner.

Restaurant WAGYU

KOBEYA HAKUBA WINDY LODGE

Get your fill of premium Wagyu Beef!

Just one minute away from the slopes!

www.windy-kobeya.com Wadano Area HAPPO-ONE SKI RESORT 82

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An impressive 360 degree panorama unfolds from the gondola station on the summit of Iwatake, amidst the towering peaks of Hakuba. Families and first timers will enjoy the resort’s variety of gently curving slopes, which still offer quality powder and scenery. The family friendliness also extends to a creche service. On the other hand, Iwatake is balanced with some very advanced slopes used for alpine skiing exams , which will tes t the met tle of seasoned riders. Watching snowboarders battle it out in the Februar y technical contest is one of the resort’s top events.

Tasty restaurants and a rest area, rounded of f with a hot spring make Iwatake a worthy contender on anyone’s ski itinerary. www.hakuba.jp/iwatake/en

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Tsugaike Kogen covers a sweeping 155 hectares, and has facilities that make it accessible to everyone. The ski school is a favoured port of call for beginners, who enjoy improving their skills in the gentle courses around the base of the resort. Those with more experience under their belt will be headed for the plentiful steeper sections, and if that’s not quite enough, a helicopter skiing adventure out into the backcountry will bring things to the next level. Otherwise, there are the twists and turns of the snowboarding park. The base of the resort has a child minding service, plenty of restaurants, and importantly hot springs to put the finishing touches on a great day of powder skiing. www.tsugaike-kogen.com

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Frozen Passion James Robb

General Manager/Guide, Evergreen Outdoor Center

I learned in chemistry that water can take many forms; ice, vapor or liquid. My favorite form, however, is in fact a combination of the three...

It is such a passion of mine, that I’ll postpone almost all important things in my life for it. It easily takes precedence over eating a proper breakfast and I'll drop anything to get a taste of it. I can honestly say it fills a large part of my thoughts year-round. And yet I am not alone, folks around the world are passionate about it too. The consistency, density and depth are all stuff of serious discussion and debate. To be honest, powder snow is downright awesome! Be it on a four-figure heli-ski tour or just a short pop into the woods in between runs, the feeling is universally magic. Ask a person to describe skiing

or riding in deep powder and invariably you will see a slight drifting of consciousness, a faraway look comes into their eyes, they begin to drool. It is actually kind of hard to encompass all that makes powder so freaking fun.

Here in Japan, when skiing first began just over 100 years ago, there was only powder skiing! The first skiers here had no lift access, no cleared runs, no grooming and so folks had to walk up the hills to get to areas they could ski. These were usually the sub-alpine areas where there were less big trees and more open snowfields to enjoy. Woolen ski wear, leather boots and long wooden skis with basic bindings were the tools to use, but the feeling of whooshing through fresh snow and making your own line has not changed. The same rush is felt by skiers and

©James Robb ©James Robb

©Bill Glude

©James Robb

The biggest & most famous shop in Hakuba, Nagano Spicy Rentals has been operating in the Hakuba Valley since 1982.

From expert to beginners and children, we stock a wide variety of quality equipment.

We carry the widest range of skis and snowboards for all levels of ability and experience.

✲Big sizes available ! ✲English speaking staff ✲Credit card payment

Our experienced and courteous staff will help you with any questions and give advice regarding the right equipment for you.

SPICY RENTALS 3020-752, Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano, Japan Phone +81-261-72-2858 Fax +81-261-72-6168 URL www.spicy.co.jp/english/ E-mail info@spicy.co.jp

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boarders today. The return to the forests and wild snowy mountains is somewhat a return to skiing's original roots. It is also fueled by the media, ski movies and a relatively new breed of backcountry touring enthusiasts in Japan.

©Simon Prosser

One can now be fully equipped with the right backcountry touring gear (fat skis, snowshoes or split-board), and with minimal effort, find some pretty gnarly terrain. Being outside the resort and blazing your own route is definitely a large part of the appeal, and for myself it is also about just being out in nature with friends. There is an old ski adage that says “there are no friends on a powder day.”

Well, when you head out into the backcountry your friends become your communication link, your camera crew, and most importantly your rescue team. In the event of an accident or avalanche they

will be first on the scene, and will be the deciding factor in whether you survive or not. Actually, you and your friends need to be knowledgeable in safe winter mountain travel in a fairly broad sense of the word. Reading weather, understanding snowpack stability, route-finding, having proper safety gear (beacon/probe/shovel) and training in using it, first-aid, rescue planning and communication gear are all critical to ensuring your epic day out remains epic.

I love my home in the Northern Alps of Japan, and my powder addiction is something I want to milk until my body physically can take no more. On this day, I hope I am a very very old man. Until then, let’s keep floating through it with a healthy dose of respect for all forms of water that surround us.

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HAKUBA FOUR SEASONS Discover what lies beneath the snow of Hakuba...

Hakuba is set in a basin 700m above sea level, and while summer temperatures still reach the early 30s like Japan’s urban areas, they are nicely balanced with cool evenings, and low humidity.

The surrounding Northern Japanese Alps cover an area of 150km from north to south, and 25km east to west, with ten 3,000m-plus peaks.

After the last powder tracks have been made in early May, the snow gradually recedes to reveal a different type of outdoor paradise, full of beautiful forests, flowers, alpine lakes, rivers and hot springs.

The 3.5km stretch inside Hakuba’s Daisekkei, or Big Snow Valley, is especially popular with hikers for colourful blooms of native Japanese flowers , and many continue exploring the Happo-One Nature Study Trail to Happo-Ike pond, at 2,060m. Botanists enjoy the treats of flowering Hellebore, Five Petalled Aven, and Japanese Scabiosa during July and August.

The Alps Daira Nature Trail, and the Hakuba 47 Kamoshika Trail are also well worth a look for some great natural landscapes. There’s more colour on the hike to Tsugaike Nature Garden , an ex pan sive highland s wamp at

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2,000m accessible by boardwalk from the end of the Tsugaike Kogen ropeway. Camping out to enjoy the views of the rising and setting sun in the Alps is a highlight of the warmer months in Hakuba, and tents and sleeping bags are available for hire from campsites in the area. Equally enjoyable are canoe trips to see the natural habitat of lake fireflies from Lake Aokiko. This can be organised through the Evergreen Outdoor Center, which also runs a great selection of canyoning, rafting, kayaking and hiking trips.

Paragliding is an amazing way to take in the sheer scale of the Northern Japanese Alps, and the Hakuba Valley has three paragliding schools, flying over Norikura Kogen, Cortina Kogen and Tsugaike Kogen. The view is also exceptional from the summit of Amazakariyama, encompassing both the Sea of Japan, and the Northern Alps.

Af ter returning somewhat closer to sea level, the first port of call for most is a hot spring. Outside of the hotels and traditional Japanese accommodation, Katakuri Juro-noyu hot spring has baths with a mild mineral

vill.hakuba.nagano.jp/english/index.html

content, including sodium chloride - great for toning your skin. The traditional Japanese Ryujin Onsen in the Gor yu area has indoor and outdoor baths, or try the muscle-soothing cleansing alkaline waters of Mimizuku-no yu. Spectacular views of the mountains from indoors are included! Kurashita-no -yu and Tenjin-no-yu hot springs are also well worth a look, as are the relaxing and free foot spas around town.

Once you’ve refreshed, proceed to Hakuba’s wide array of restaurants and bars. Don’t forget to try Hakuba Soba, the region's famous buckwheat noodle dish. Once the buckwheat has been har vested in autumn, the village holds a Soba Festival to celebrate. It’s a great opportunity to try some of the freshly produced fragrant and glossy noodles, which are of ten used in the local f a v o u r i t e s o f Te n p u r a

Soba, and Sansai (mountain vegetable) Soba.

Hakuba also has some picturesque temples, interesting museums, and colourful arts and crafts to discover. Hakuba Saegusa Museum houses over 100 works by famous Japanese painter s depic ting the Hakuba landscape, and the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics can be relived through the displays and memorabilia at the Olympic Village Memorial Hall.

Hakuba Yamatoya Top quality ski equipment sales, next to Hakuba Station. Big range including ski, cross country, and more, all in premier global brands, beginner to advanced.

T: +81-261-72-2200 Shinetsu

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Stake your claim to our premium powder!

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort has historically been at the forefront of skiing in Japan, turning out many of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olympic athletes. Skiers have as many as 36 courses to choose from, all heavily layered with powder snow throughout the long season from November to May. It is the perfect place for all types of ski trips, from an intense snowboarding session to a family day out.

Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort 7653 Toyosato, Nozawa Onsen Village Shimotakai-gun Nagano Prefecture 389-2502 Phone: +81-(0)269-85-3166 Email: info@nozawaski.com

The ultimate après-ski recharge awaits at Nozawa Onsen....

Nozawa Onsen is the place to visit in Nagano for the best in traditional Japanese hot spring inns, and public baths. The town has 13 public baths scattered throughout, which are all 100% pure natural hot spring water. Management of the baths is well organised, and they are kept meticulously clean for the locals and visitors to enjoy each day. Locals welcome visitors to Nozawa Onsen, and are always ready for a friendly chat!

Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association Please contact us 8:30-17:30 7 days Phone: +81-(0)269-85-3155 Email: tour@nozawakanko.jp

NOZAWA ONSEN There’s powder, powder, and more powder here at one of Japan’s most historically important ski destinations…

Nozawa Onsen is a quaint village nestled snugly in the Nor thern Japanese Alps of Nagano Prefecture, and has roots stretching back to the birth of skiing in Japan. Now a respected elder among Japanese ski resorts, it has kept ahead of the pack through the tireless efforts of the Nozawa Onsen Ski Club, and the Nozawa Onsen Village.

23 kimono-clad members held the ski club’s inaugural meeting in 1923, embarking on a grand vision to promote the newly introduced sport of skiing, and develop their village in the process. Their inspiration for this had arrived in Japan only a decade earlier, in the form of an Austro-Hungarian Army Major by the name of Theodore von Lerch.

On a visit to the Japanese Infantry in 1911 von Lerch happened to pack a pair of skis, and caused a major sensation by gliding down Mt Kanaya in Niigata Prefecture without burying him s e lf in t h e p ow d e r. H e b e c a m e a s k i instructor by popular demand, starting with the army in 1911, and then the general public from 1912. The youth of Nozawa Onsen picked it up

straight away after he visited them that same year, and it spread like wildfire as a means of freeing them from the shackles of enduring an icy winter indoors.

Powder snow falls on Nozawa Onsen in especially eyebrow-raising quantities, with drops in the village alone reaching as much as 77 centimetres in just 24 hours, last recorded as a freezing cold air mass of -36°C passed over the village on January 25-26, 2012. With burgeoning enthusiasm, the Nozawa Onsen Ski Club constructed their first ski hill in 1924, and held their first tournament the following year. The club has played a pivotal role in the development of skiing in Japan, hosting a variety of major national and international tournaments including the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998, and producing a host of Olympians like Takanori Kono, gold medalist in the Nordic Skiing knockout at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.

This stor y is preser ved along with a collec tion of ski memorabilia in the Japan Museum of Skiing at Nozawa Onsen. www.nozawaski.com Shinetsu

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The Nozawa Onsen Snow Resor t accounts for a 297 hectare portion of the spectacular Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in Nagano Prefe c ture, which is ea sily acce s sible from Tok yo via the bullet train. Within it are 36 courses running down from the 1,650m peak of Mt Kenashi in the east, towards the Chikuma River in the west, and the ski season lasts from December right through to early May. Powder burns from the top of the mountain are unbelievable, with overnight falls of a whole metre not uncommon in the Yamabiko area, perched up high bet ween 1,650 and 1,400m. The Grand Prix Course has a north-facing decline, which keeps the powder quality top notch during the day, and powder experts will also want to see if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re up to the challenge of the 39° wall. The longest run lasts exactly 10km, starting at the top of Mt Kenashi, and goes all the way down to Karasawa Slope at 565m, an altitude drop of 1,085m.

Uenotaira Snow Park at Nozawa has just had the addition of a spanking new half pipe in 2011, 3.5m tall, 110m long, and 4m wide, to complement a good selection of fun boxes, waves, rails and kickers for riders of all abilities. Diggers keep the park in mint condition every day and it is set out over a spacious area of 2km, between 1,410 and 1,220m up on the mountain.

Many skiers base themselves in the village of Nozawa Onsen, from where a free shuttle bus departs to the ski area daily during the season. The village is an abundant hot spring sanctuary steeped in the atmosphere of traditional Japan, a great cultural highlight in between powder playtime. www.nozawaski.com

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Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival Part wrestling match, and part religious ceremony, this rather loose festival will have you enraptured by the welcoming spirit of villagers in Nozawa Onsen!

The Dosojin Fire Festival, held in Nozawa Onsen on January 15 every year, is fanatical enough to award it the distinction of being one of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top three fire festivals, and an officially designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. All of the 42 year old village men are herded atop a giant pyre of beech wood, which the rest of the villagers subsequently do their best to set ablaze. The structure is a special shrine dedicated to Dosojin, Shinto gods believed to ward off disaster, and the festival is held to pray for peace, prosperity, a good harvest, and a good ski season in the coming year.

Dosojin are enshrined in stone carvings throughout the village, and an inscription on one of the more ancient statues suggests that the fire festival has been a major celebration since the latter stages of the 19th century. 100 villagers are collectively involved in sourcing wood from the mountains every October, and constructing the shrine well into the night on January 14.

Once the spirit of the Dosojin has been transferred to the shrine by the local priest and its occupants are all aboard the following evening, their only hope is the 25 year old men of the village, who form a ring of inebriated resistance around it.

25 and 42 are traditionally considered to be unlucky for men in Japan, which gains them their unenviable positions in the festival.

Villagers attack the shrine with torches from a bonfire lit nearby, and an intense struggle ensues. The 42 year olds usually come down from their perch af ter about an hour, and everybody proceeds to immolate the shrine as an offering to the Dosojin.

V ill a g e r s a n d v i s i to r s o n e a n d all a r e getting on like a house on fire by this point in proceedings, thanks to the services of the sake men, patrolling the festival and handing out complimentar y cups of the warm, delicious beverage. Just make sure you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wear your new down jacket, as sparks will be flying!

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Nozawa Onsen Nozawa Onsen has a proud heritage as one of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top hot spring destinations, and provides an unforgettable experience of traditional architecture and village atmosphereâ&#x20AC;Ś

A clou d of s team p e rp e tuall y han g s ove r Nozawa Onsen, a friendly hot spring village of about 5,000 people in the Northern Japanese Alps.

Legends surround the discover y of the springs at Nozawa, with one attributing it to Buddhist monk Gyoki, when he visited the area during the 8th century Nara Period. Others say ascetic mountain priests, known as Yamabushi, stumbled upon them on a journey of spiritual enlightenment, while others argue that they

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were found by a hunter on the trail of an injured bear.

Hot spring bathing at Nozawa really came into its own as an institution from the early 160 0 s, when Lord Matsudaira, ruler of the Iiyama Domain which encompassed Nozawa Onsen, established bathhouses and inn facilities in the village. In these days before hot spring bathing had become a widespread pastime in Japan, records show that the lord built a private retreat on the site of the O-yu hot spring, and

nozawakanko.jp/english

enjoyed its therapeutic benefits. Af ter he extended bathing rights to the common people, it is believed that many began visiting the hot springs at Nozawa for their health, including famers from across the region recovering during the off-season.

The O-yu still stands today in the centre of Nozawa Onsen, and is a well-maintained example of feudal Japanese architecture. It is one of thirteen public hot springs throughout the village known as Soto-yu, which have been managed meticulously by the local people for centuries under a volunteer stewardship system called Yu-Nakama. All are welcome to enjoy the Soto-yu for just a small donation upon entering, and they are a great place to rub shoulders with the villagers.

Number one on the list for many visitors is the O-yu, a sulphurous spring said to relieve

ga s trointe s tinal co mplaint s , r h euma ti s m , and diseases that af fec t ladies. Nearby is the Kawara-yu, a slightly more saline spring ef fe c tive again s t skin disease s . I t has an especially high temperature, and is popular for morning bathing during the summer months. The Taki-no-yu has waters of a similar composition, only coming straight out of the ground at an absolutely boiling 78째C! This spring is said to be especially good for those recovering from serious illnesses.

The Ogama spring is even hotter at 90째C, and instead of being open to the public as a Soto-yu, assumes the role of a kitchen. One of its popular products that can be sampled around the village is the onsen-tamago, an egg soft-boiled in a hot spring, something widely regarded as a delicacy in Japanese cooking.

The quickest major access point to Nozawa Onsen is Tokyo, from where the journey takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Take a bullet train to Nagano, change to a local train on the Iiyama line to Togari Nozawa Onsen Station, and transfer to a connecting bus bound for Nozawa Onsen. The Nozawa Onsen Tourism Association publishes a comprehensive English lis ting of the traditional inn s , hotels and other accommodation in the village online at nozawakanko.jp/english/hotel.

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Yudanaka Onsen

A charming attraction in its own right, the hot spring village of Yudanaka Onsen is also a stone’s throw from Jigokudani Monkey Park, where the locals do things in style with their own private hot spring.

Japanese macaques, as they are of ficially known, inhabit a diverse range of climates across three of Japan’s main islands, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. While these natives of Nagano Prefecture, encompassing t h e s n ow - c a p p e d J a p a n e s e A l p s on Honshu, are built to handle the harsh winter, the hot spring provides them with a welcome respite from temperatures dropping below 10°C. The volcanic peaks of the Japanese Alps supply the heat for this subterranean spa, punching a 41°C hole in the surrounding carpet of snow and producing a billowing cloud

Traditional Japanese hospitality, hot springs, and snow monkeys!

of steam, understating the park ’s within Nagano Prefecture, that they ominous name of Jigokudani, or Hell are fed to the region’s famous Shinshu Valley.

Beef, a premium Wagyu Beef brand.

As to whether this imparts a special With a string of immaculate ryokan, apple flavour into the meat, you will or traditional Japanese inns, and have to be the judge. Vegetarians are plenty more hot springs, Yudanaka by no means left out in the cold either, Onsen is the perfect base from which and English is a lingua franca among to see the snow monkeys, as they are the innkeepers. Some even employ affectionately known. The town’s first their own native English speakers, to thermal current was harnessed over cater for an increasingly international 1,300 years ago, and it enjoys cultural clientele. significance as a favourite retreat of Although a world away from the hustle ancient haiku poet Issa Kobayashi. and bustle of the city, Yudanaka Onsen Today, the ryokan of Yudanaka Onsen is in fact just 38 minutes by train from continue to welcome visitors with Nagano, the Prefectural Capital, from impeccable hospitality, enrobing them where a bullet train will get you to in yukata, or a light Japanese kimono, Tokyo at top speed in 1 hour and 25 and providing traditional tatami mat minutes. A bus or taxi will take you to rooms with modern amenities. On the the entrance of Jigokudani Monkey menu is a delicious selection of fresh, Park from Yudanak a Onsen, from healthy local fruit and vegetables. The where the monkeys are a further 30 apples in particular are in such bounty minutes by foot.

Yudanaka Hotsprings Experience the best in Japanese traditional inns and B&Bs at Yudanaka Onsen, on your visit to see the snow monkeys!

Biyu-no-yado Shimaya Bozanso Shimodaya Chojiya Suisenso Kamei-no-yu Yorozuya Marubun Yorozuya ANNEX (Yurakuan) Maruka Yudanaka Yumoto Matsu-midori Misaki-ya Misono Hotel (Go-En(Lucky))

W: www.yudanakastation.com 96

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RELAX IN LUXURY 100% natur al hot spring water from the source

Free shuttle to

the SNOW MONKEY PARK

RYOKAN BIYU YUDANAKA www.yudanakaview.co.jp biyunoyado@yudanakaview.co.jp +81- (0)269-33-4126

3 Experience 400 years of Japanese inn tradition 3 See the real Japan! Something you’ll never see at a 5 star Hotel or Back Packers!!

3 Free shuttle to all ski areas in Shiga Kogen 3 Stay with us for more information on activities in Yudanaka Village!

SHIGA KOGEN Extreme 360° 2300m panor ama Ultr a-long ski season from November to May SHIGA PALACE HOTEL www.shigapalace.co.jp +81- (0)269-34-2221 Palace@crocus.ocn.ne.jp

3 Views of Mt Fuji, the Northern Japanese Alps, and even the ocean on a fine day!

3 Huge combined network of 21 ski areas, accessible with one super pass 3 45km of unsurfaced & 70km of surfaced alpine roads & trails, accessible in winter or summer 3 Nature’s best snow in Shiga Kogen National Park 3 Rental skis, snowboards, and snowshoes available 3 Free shuttle to all ski areas in Shiga Kogen

SHIGA KOGEN Slice your way through the powder of this expansive institution...

Shiga Kogen comprises of 21 interconnected ski areas across altitudes of 1,400m to 2,300m, amidst the peaks of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in Nagano Prefecture. About 80 kilometres of groomed runs, stretching for up to 6 kilometres, make it Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest ski resort.

Seventy percent of these runs cross intermediate to advanced terrain, and featured in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Situated high above sea level close to the Japan Sea coast, Shiga Kogen is well exposed to heavy falls of powder snow from Siberian weather fronts, which pummel it from November to early May.

Access to the resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s network of 71 lifts,

gondolas, and ropeways is simplified with one pass, which is also valid on shuttle bus services.

Japanese Snow Monkeys bathing in natural hot springs are a short walk from parts of Shiga Kogen, which creates a perfect ski diversion.

Follow their lead, and try it yourself in the nearby hot spring villages of Shibu Onsen, and Yudanaka Onsen.

Nagano Station is the first stop on the journey to Shiga Kogen, which is accessible by bullet train, local train, or bus, depending on time and budget. A direct bus service to the resort departs from platforms 3 and 4 each day, and takes about an hour. www.shigakogen.gr.jp

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park 200 resident monkeys play together in the Jigokudani Valley outdoor hot spring all year round, and use it to shelter from an average winter temperature of -10°C. Locals provided immense relief to the monkeys when they built the bath in 1964, liberating them from having to huddle around fissures of steaming water to keep warm over winter.

The Snow Monkey Park is in Yamanouchi-machi, the base town

of Shiga Kogen, from which it is 30 minutes away by car. To visit from Nagano Station, take the Nagano Dentetsu Line to Yudanaka Station, and then a bus to Kanbayashi Onsen. The Park is another half an hour on foot.

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Naeba Ski Resort Mt.Naeba Dec

Jan

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40%

30%

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The Ultimate in Snow Leisure Mt Naeba and Kagura Ski Resor ts are one of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest snow enter tainment destinations.

Interconnec ted via the 5.5km Dragondola, Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longes t gondola, they are cus tom built to satisf y everybody from families to fanatical backcountry skiers.

The journey to the Naeba ski area from downtown Tokyo takes 3.5 hours on the Naeba Liner Shuttle Bus, or just 2 hours on the Joetsu Line Bullet Train to Echigo Yuzawa, and two connecting buses.

3

12

16:00-21:00

Naeba Ski Resort is a large powder snow empire in the Yuzawa district of Niigata Prefe c ture, built around the 1,78 9 m summit of Mt Takenoko -san nor th of To k y o . T h e a r e a b a t t e n s d o w n f o r upwards of 20-30cm of snow almost every day during winter, bringing skiers of all ages and abilities in droves to get their piece of the action.

W i t h 2 2 c o u r s e s , a t o t a l o f 13 gondolas and chairlif ts, and a deluxe Family Snowland, Naeba is well built to handle the influx. The Naeba Prince Hotel provides easy ski in, ski out access to the slopes, as well as an array of dining and drinking options, further supplemented by the hot spring facilities and local sake 50 minutes away in the village of Yuzawa.

www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/naeba

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89cm 282cm 343cm 350cm 317cm

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20%

Naeba Prince Hotel The Naeba Prince Hotel is a six-building, 1,242 room complex equipped to suit all tastes in style. Choose f ro m 21 r e s t au ra n t s w i t h Japanese, Chinese, French and more on the menu, followed by a visit to the plush Chatelaine Cocktail Lounge, or Windsor Main Bar. The hotel provides the latest equipment for hire, as well as an array of amenities including massage therapy, a hot spring, and a kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recreation area.

Prince Hotel Naeba Mikuni, Yuzawa-machi, Minami-Uonuma-gun, Niigata 2025-789-2211 www.princehotels.com/en/

6.0km

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20

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Kagura Ski Re s or t i s laid ou t over a whopping 172ha, connected to Naeba Ski Resort on the Dragondola via the Tashiro Area at 1,600m. This sec tion holds a collection of courses suited to beginners, while the domain of the intermediate to advanced is further up in the Kagura Area, around the 1,845m summit. There are plenty of black powder burns and tree runs to explore, and local guides are available for backcountr y skiing trips. The full set of courses at Kagura Ski Resort numbers 24, the longest of w hich is a s earing 6 km. For a de ep powder experience, spend a night in the Wadagoya, a log cabin perched at 1,380m in the middle of the slopes with a cosy fireplace inside.

www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/kagura

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MYOKO KOGEN Everything’s going downhill at one of Japan’s oldest resorts...

M y o ko Ko g e n i s a s k i r e s o r t a r e a a t t h e base of the 2 ,45 4 m Mt Myoko, in Niigat a Prefec ture on Japan’s mid east coast. The varied terrain, and deep powder of Akakura, Suginohara, Ikenotaira, Seki, Myoko Ski Park, and Kyukamura Myoko resorts make Myoko a worthy destination for riders of all styles and abilities. Seven hot springs await at the bottom of the slopes, with different mineral content, and colours ranging from black clay, to reddishbrown and milky white.

Akakura was the first ski resort to open at Myoko, in 1937. It was also one of the first to open in Japan, and enjoys 14 metres of snow on average every season. Mt Myoko, the main peak, is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan, and has views right out to the Japan Sea coast from the summit.

Today Akakura has become the twin resorts of Akakura Kanko, and Akakura Onsen. They are interconnected, and offer 32 courses suited to all levels.

Suginohara has an 8.5 kilometre run and

lovely views of nearby Lake Nojiri, as well as Mt Fuji in the distance on a clear day. In contrast to this mountainous section, the slopes at Myoko Ski Park, and Kyukamura Myoko range from just 7 to 16 degrees. They are the perfect place to take it easy, and lodges are situated a short distance away.

Boarders will want to check out the park at Ikenotaira, which is up there with the best in Japan. A local group of pros refine the jumps and slopestyle sections each year, making it a premium location to take flight.

Access to Myoko starts with a bullet or local train ride to Nagano City, in Nagano Prefecture.

From this point, either take the shuttle bus direc t from Nagano Station, or transfer to the Shinetsu Line to Myoko Kogen Station.

The trip takes about 40 minutes, and the ski areas are another 10 away. The shuttle bus is perfect if you have a lot of gear but requires a reservation, which can be made through www. myoko.tv.

www.myoko.tv

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Matsumoto Welcomes You! Home to the impressive Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure of Japan, Matsumoto is a culturally rich town nestled in the soaring mountains of Nagano Prefecture. An excellent base for exploring nearby hot spring villages, and fabulous natural at tractions like Utsukushigahara Kogen, a high altitude mountain plateau, Matsumoto is a vibrant destination just waiting to be discovered!

Matsumoto City Tourist Information Centers are open 7 days 9:00-17:45, and provide a range of local information in English.

Hakuba

Snow Monkey Park 1.0h

JR Matsumoto Station: 1.5h Takayama Nagano 2nd floor, in front of the ticket gate 2.5h Tel: 0263-32-2814 Email: ekimae-info@po.mcci.or.jp 1.0h Matsumoto Castle: Matsumoto Just before the castle 2.5h 2.0h Tel: 0263-39-7176 Email: oote-info@matsumoto-tca.or.jp Nagoya Matsumoto Tourism & Convention Association Tokyo Tel: 0263-34-3295 Email: yokoso@matsumoto-tca.or.jp Osaka1.0h

MATSUMOTO Rich history, and deep traditional heritage.

Matsumoto City is located in Nagano Prefecture on Honshu, in central Japan. This picturesque castle town is nestled between the Japan Alps and Utsukushigahara, a name which means beautiful plateau in Japanese. Matsumoto boasts a surprisingly metropolitan atmosphere, while maintaining historical sites and traditions.

Aside from Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, there are many cities in Japan with a long and rich history. Typically, these cities are castle towns. They were once the stronghold of a powerful family, and a centre of commerce and culture for a whole region. One of the most celebrated of these is Matsumoto.

Matsumoto is perfectly surrounded by natural beauty and filled with pure mountain air, situated at the southern end of a long valley between high mountain ranges. The peaks of the Japan Alps soaring 3,000 meters into the sky to the west of the city are a splendid sight. Matsumoto is also the gateway to Kamikochi, Norikura and other scenic areas in Chubu Sangaku National Park.

There is a great deal to do and see in Matsumoto.

Explore the castle, stroll around the old and new parts of the town, take a local bus to the charming villages on the city outskirts, or go up to the heights of Utsukushigahara for a panoramic view of the whole region.

This building is actually a second hand book store, carr y a wide range of used books, and some collections of antique postcards.

Why? How? Please visit and ask the owner!

Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle is one of four castles designated as National Treasures of Japan, and has the oldest remaining donjon in the country. Construction began in 1592 on this elegant black and white structure, with three turrets.

Inside the castle are steep stairs and low ceilings, leading past displays of armor and rifles from Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Warring States, or Sengoku Period, when the castle was built. The top floor of the main tower provides amazing views of the Japanese Alps, and Matsumoto City.

Access: 15-minute walk or 5-minute bus ride from JR Matsumoto Station Admission: ÂĽ600 for adults Hours: 8:30am - 5pm Closed: Dec 29 - Jan 3 Matsumoto Walking Guide eBrochure Matsumoto City publishes a 32 page walking guide to the sightseeing spots, museums, restaurants, accommodation and other interesting parts of Matsumoto. The guide is available online here: youkoso.cit y.matsumoto.nagano.jp/e -book / walking-guide/

Utsukushigahara Kogen (Plateau) On the eastern edge of Matsumoto Cit y lies Utsukushigahara Kogen. From here you can begin a short refreshing walk or a long adventure. Not far from the parking lot here is a peaceful meadow with grazing cows and lovely wild flowers, along with an old bell tower once used by those lost in the fog. On a clear day the 360 degree view is breathtaking and worth a few pictures. Utsukushigahara Kogen is an 80 minute bus ride from Matsumoto Bus Terminal, in front of JR Matsumoto Station.

Norikura Kogen (Plateau) & Mt Norikura Norikura Kogen is a sweeping plateau which sits at an altitude of 1,500m, to the east of Mt Norikura. Immerse yourself in the forest to enjoy hiking, 3 different waterfalls, and more. May to June is an excellent time to take a walk through towering snow walls on Mt Norikura. Its highest peak, Kengamine (3,026m), is a 2 hour walk from Tatamidaira at 2,700m, which is accessible by bus.

Kamikochi At 1, 50 0 m e te r s , Kamikochi is cool, s c e n i c - - a n d b u s y.

D urin g th e summ er months and into early autumn, the walking trails along the Azusa river offer spectacular scenery and fresh air. Kamikochi is your place for leisurely walks and also rigorous hikes.

The center of activity is at the Kappa Bridge, where you'll find a few restaurants and souvenir shops. It's a short walk from the Bus Terminal.

Natural Springwater Matsumoto is a town with an abundance of quality natural springs.

The water of Genchi Well has received special acclaim as the b e s t n at u r a l s p r i n g water in town and has been in use since the Edo Period for drinking and sake production. Draw some of this unique Japanese water from the spring yourself, to quench your thirst and refresh after hiking.

Downtown Matsumoto One of the best ways to experience Matsumoto is on foot. From wide boulevards to narrow alleys, the many contrasts of traditional and contemporar y Matsumoto can be enjoyed by strolling through its streets. The area around Nakamachi is a must for the itinerary, famous for rows of traditional buildings with a stylish latticed plaster, known as Namako-Kabe. Souvenir shops, traditional crafts, and a small museum are some of the highlights of this charming area. Nakamachi is 10 minutes on foot from JR Matsumoto station, and 5 minutes from Matsumoto Castle.

Complimentary Sightseeing Bikes Sui Sui Town complimentar y sightseeing bikes are available daily from 8:30am to 5pm at various locations throughout town, including the Town Hall on Nakamachi (5 mins from the station on foot), Matsumoto City Museum next to Matsumoto Castle, and The Former Kaichi School. They're convenient for visiting sights not accessible by the Sneaker Bus. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t win the Tour de France on one, but you can fit your souvenirs in the front basket! Details are available from the Matsumoto City Tourist Information Centers.

THE BEST SNOW HOLIDAYS IN JAPAN COME AND EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF TOHOKU'S SKI RESORTS

TOHOKU APPI-SHIZUKUISHI◆TAZAWAKO◆YAMAGATA ZAO-GASSAN MIYAGI ZAO-NARUKO◆INAWASHIRO◆HAKKODA◆YUZAWA

Hakkoda Tazawako

Easy access from Tokyo!

Shin Aomori Appi Morioka Tohoku Shinkansen

The Tohoku region of Northern Japan is home to a host of ski resorts including Appi, Alts Bandai and Zao which receive the same generous snow storms that Hokkaido, Japan is famous for.

Zao

Sendai

Inawashiro Koriyama

Yuzawa

A more traditional Japanese experience is on offer at Tohoku including an abundance of Onsen (natural volcanic springs).

→

Tokyo

Tokyo

We look forward to welcoming you!

http://en.tohokukanko.jp Nippon Travel Agency (Australia) Pty. Ltd. Sachi Tours www.sachitours.com.au Phone: 02 9275 9645

JTB Australia www.jtboi.com.au www.japanski.com.au Phone : 1300 739 330

FOR FURTHER INQUIRIES... travelplan SKI www.travelplan.com.au Phone : 1300 754 754

SkiJapan.com www.skijapan.com Phone : 1300-137-411

Travel Japan by H.I.S www.traveljapan.com.au Phone : 1800 802 552 Ski Japan Holidays www.japanspecialists.com Phone: 81 0261 72 6663 Saizen Tours www.saizen.com.au/ Phone: 07 5564 0133

Japan Package / PITT TRAVEL www.japanpackage.com.au Phone : 02 9264 7384 Deep Powder Tours www.deeppowdertours.com Phone : 1300 305 451

Asia Escape Holidays www.asiaescapeholidays.com.au Phone: 08 9481 7177 Experience Japan www.experiencejapan.com.au info@experiencejapan.com.au

Japan Holidays www.japanholidays.com.au Phone: 07 3300 2396 SKI MAX www.skimax.com.au Phone: 02 9267 1655

Let s enjoy skiing in '

! u k o h o T Some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan hits the Tohoku region in northeast of the main island, which is much closer to Tokyo than many realise. The bullet train puts major resorts like Appi and Zao within 200 minutes, and there are many discoveries waiting on their cultural activity programs. Tohoku Resorts pride themselves on superior powder quality and consistency, and a diverse range of slopes to suit everyone. To top it all off, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re never far from a hot spring, the perfect way to recharge apres-ski.

Aomori Appi

Morioka

Sendai

Yamagata Zao

N 50km

Alts Bandai

Main Road Bullet Train(Shinkansen) Expressway

Tokyo

DIRECTIONS Narita Airport

Kansai Airport 50min

50min

Shin Osaka Station 2h 30min Tokyo Station

1h 15min Koriyama Station 1h 50min Alts Bandai

2h 45min Yamagata Station

40min Morioka Station

40min Zao Hot Springs

50min Appi

*Times are approximate

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TOHOKU SKI AND SNOW Tohoku is the ideal place to experience a cross section of Japanese culture, along with hearty servings of fine powder…

T h e To h o k u R e g i o n o f f e r s a d e l i g h t f u l combination of consistent, high quality powder snow, a diver se varie t y of ski re sor t s and traditional Japanese culture, all easily accessible from Tokyo via the bullet train.

Tohoku is part of Japan’s Yukiguni, or snow country, and encompasses a 66,889km� area to the north of Tokyo dominated by rugged mountain ranges, and topped by the volcanic peak of Mt Hiuchi-ga-take (2,356m). Although it accounts for 18% of Japan’s total landmass, only 8% of the population lives there, in lowland areas between vast tracts of beautiful natural scenery and farmland.

Siberian weather systems propel the East Asian winter monsoon towards Japan’s northeast seaboard from November to April every year, and like i t s neighb our Hok kaido, Tohoku

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receives constant heavy falls of powder snow as a result. The Japan Meteorological Business Support Centre (JMBSC) recorded 103.8 days of snow during the 2011-2012 winter in Morioka, the capital of Iwate Prefec ture in nor thern Tohoku, and 90.6 days in Yamagata, the capital of Yamagata Prefecture to the south. Morioka is only about 125m above sea level, whereas the ski slopes of nearby resorts like Appi extend above 1,000m, and are bombarded with exponentially more snow for a longer stretch of the winter.

Appi is just one of the many different ski resor ts in Tohoku, and together they of fer a comprehensive variety of on and off-piste skiing, terrain parks, accommodation, dining and amenities that see skiers of all styles and dispositions returning year after year. The bullet train spearheads a handy transport network

bet ween the resor ts, making it possible to experience a selection all on one trip.

Part of the fun in mixing up your itinerary is not just getting to ski a wider variety of terrain – it’s also about taking the opportunity to experience the interesting local cultures and traditions of Tohoku, which have been passed on for generations.

Just ask at your ski resort about their organised activity programs, which make it easy to see rare cultural icons that would otherwise be hidden to the visitor like the Maiko, apprentice Geisha in the Yamagata area. Winter is also the height of the traditional sake production season in Japan, and it is the perfect time to visit one of Tohoku’s many breweries, which make use of the region’s

excellent water and rice. It goes without saying that the customary way to wind down and relax apres-ski, and around Tohoku in general is to visit a hot spring.

A c c e s s t o To h o k u f r o m To k y o i s v e r y convenient, with the region’s major centre of Sendai just 1 hour and 40 minutes away on the bullet train. Sendai is also 2 hours and 40 minutes from Seoul on Asiana Airlines, and the major Tohoku resorts of Appi and Zao are only 200 minutes from Tokyo on the bullet train and connecting buses. Make sure you apply for a Japan Rail (JR) Pass before visiting for huge savings on the bullet train network, which runs throughout the Tohoku region on the Tohoku, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen lines. en.tohokukanko.jp Tohoku

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Appi Dec â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

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Feb

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Apr

166cm 213cm 235cm 200cm

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30%

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30%

5.5km

2

15

16:00-20:00

Appi prides itself on a plentiful supply of fine, dry powder from December to May, and is just 3 hours and 20 minutes from Tokyo on a bullet train and connecting bus from Morioka. It is simple and easy to reach with a JR East Rail Pass, and is in fact closer to Tokyo than Hakuba, which is about 4 hours from Tokyo, including a bullet train ride, or Niseko, which lies about 4.5 hours from Tokyo, including a domestic flight.

Occupying 282 ha in the magnificent setting of Towada-Hachimantai National Park near the tip of Honshu, Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main island, Appi has www.appi.co.jp

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Snow depth

Terrain

Longest run

Gondolas

Chairlifts

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Night skiing

21 different courses averaging over 2km long.

Even beginners can handle the Yamabato run, which at 5.5km is the longest of many generous, curving routes down two different mountains, designed to satisfy riders of all levels. Sneak in during the week, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have the place to yourself while the locals are away at work. Daily maintenance keeps the runs in tip-top condition,

ready to be carved up every morning.

If you need a confidence booster, head to the Appi Ski & Snowboard School for a lesson, which can be given in English. The school is headed by the god-like presence of Eiichi Kodama, technical member of the World Ski Instructor Federation, and International Chairman of the Ski Instructor Association of Japan. Appiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Salomon & Atomic

www.appi.co.jp

Tohoku

111

AppI Collaboration Station has quality ski equipment available for hire. As well as the top racing models, freestyle, and powder skis, it carries the latest Salomon & Atomic ski boots, plus a huge range of snowboards.

Appi is a family friendly resort, providing a purpose built Family Park to play with the kids, and childcare for when it’s time to go exploring.

Your stay doesn’t have to be all about regular skiing either, with plenty of additional activities including nature trips, backcountry skiing, and even having lunch inside an igloo! The resort also has plenty of English signage, and employs English speaking staff to cater for the needs of its international visitors. Email them directly at appi_english@ihr.co.jp.

A p pi ha s continue d to welcome its Australian and international regulars, as well as new guests in the 20112 012 s e a s o n , d e s p i t e t h e Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, a testament to Appi’s growing reputation a s a f r i e n dl y r e s o r t , w i t h excellent hospitality. Guests are a cco mmo date d in the Hotel Appi Grand, which offers ski in, ski out access, Appi Grand Villa-3, and Appi Grand Annex. A range

of luxury amenities, including complimentary in te r n e t , re s t au ran t s an d b ar s , a s well a s gymnasium and pool facilities, are completed by a hot spring, the perfect place to relax apres-ski.

Appi Grand Villa-3 is also scheduled to include new self-contained Japanese and Western style rooms with kitchen facilities for the 2012-2013 season. There are also many pleasant guest houses suited to families in the surrounds of Appi like Lavista Appi Kogen, which has its own hot spring.

Gues t s on a long s tay at Appi will find themselves within easy reach of Morioka, the capital city of Iwate Prefecture, by bus or train.

So even if the weather isn’t great for skiing, you can easily pop over for a visit in about 50 minutes. Morioka is a cit y with a rich local history and culture, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to enjoy shopping, dining, and drinking! Don’t forget to take a look at the Appi English website, www.appi. co.jp/foreign_country/english, which has more details on the great range of courses and facilities at the resort, with comprehensive reser vation and access information.

The symbol of Appikogen is our hot spring for beautiful skin!

Appikogen 605-30 Appi Kogen, Hachimantai City, Iwate-ken japan

Tel: +81 0195 73 5301 Email: appi@dormy-hotels.com 112

Tohoku

Snow depth

2012

6.1

Grand Opening

Terrain

Longest run

For reservations and inquiries:

lavista appi kogen Gondolas

Chairlifts

Half pipe

SERCH Night skiing

Zao Hot Springs Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

110cm 170cm 210cm 220cm

Apr

Beg

Int

Adv

-

40%

40%

20%

9km

1

37

17:00-21:00

The sprawling clusters of forest on the slopes at Zao Hot Springs are covered in layer upon layer of hoar frost and snow, earning them the affectionate nickname of Ice Monsters. They form an ultimate obstacle course down the mountain, and weaving in and out of the twisted shapes, while rocking back on big powder turns is a big highlight of a ski trip to Zao.

The resort occupies a hefty 305ha, and is Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most expansive. Thanks to this abundance of real es tate, it s longest run extends for a glorious 10km across a diverse variety of terrain. Zao has 12 courses in total, across a network of 15 slopes beginning at 1,661m above sea level, and dropping down to 780m.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a seat free back to the top, on one of 37 chairlifts and a gondola.

The Ice Mons ter s are illuminated in bright colours when the lights come on for night skiing at Zao, providing a beautiful backdrop to the action. The re s o r t al s o p rov id e s h elpf ul En gli s h signage, and private ski lessons in English for beginners.

T he hot spring s nearby are 19 0 0 years young, and their soothing mineral waters are the best way to bounce back after a long powder session. They are serviced by lovely traditional Japanese accommodation, including ryokan inns and minshuku, bed and breakfast style gue s thou se s . Many have the added luxury of baths with natural hot spring water, and serve a delightful selection of local fish, vegetables and other produce.

Zao is just three and a half hours from Tokyo thanks to the bullet train, which links to direct bus services from Yamagata City. www.zao-spa.or.jp/english/index.html Tohoku

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Alts Bandai Snow Park & Resort Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

115cm 160cm 230cm 230cm

Apr

Beg

Int

Adv

-

35%

40%

25%

3km

1

10

17:00-21:00

Alts Bandai Snow Park and Resort may be one of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major international competition venues, but all skiers have something to enjoy thanks to its diverse layout. Cruisers will want to check out the long runs of the Active Zone, some of which are open for night skiing until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The Family Zone has wide-open, gentle slopes, and is well suited to beginner and intermediate skiers.

The angle drops, and the speed increases on the runs of the Nature Zone, while the Freestyle Zone is the place to go for parks, moguls, and pole courses. The terrain park is one of the resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trump cards, and its half pipe, rails, boxes, and table top jumps get an especially big thumbs up from boarders. The four zones contain 29 courses altogether, and have a total distance of 30km over a 580m vertical drop.

Alt s Bandai employs sponsored riders from around the world at its Snow Academy, who are seriously committed to improving the skills of their students.

Comprehensive private lessons are available for all levels, styles and riders, including kids.

English speaking staff are on duty 24 hours at the resort, and accommodation includes everything from lavish hot spring hotels to backpacker rooms, suiting all budgets. Mt Bandai Hot Springs are also close by, and have an outdoor bath with a great view of the mountains.

www.alts.co.jp/english

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Snow depth

Terrain

Longest run

Gondolas

Chairlifts

Half pipe

Night skiing

TOHOKU FOUR SEASONS Help yourself to some of Tohoku’s lovely mountain scenery, traditional architecture, and lush greenery…

Tohoku is the place to experience the Japan you saw at the movies – ancient temples veiled in enchanting forests, castles and mountains, all in vivid technicolour throughout the four seasons.

The Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture is one of the first parts of Tohoku that bring a samurai epic to mind, with attractions like Tsuruga Castle. Lords of the ancient Aizu Domain ruled from the cas tle af ter it was first completed in 1384, and it has been fully restored today after receiving some decisive blows during its last major siege, the Battle of Aizu in 1868. Diehard Lord Matsudaira Katamori made a final stand here with his retainers against the modern forces of the Meiji Emperor, and although they were isolated and prised out, 1,000 sensational cherry blossom trees have taken their place around the castle grounds today.

Aizu is set deep in the mountains well inland from the coast, and is also home to the majestic Urabandai Highland, in Bandai Asahi National Park. 300 beautiful lakes and ponds, and lush

forests in the area were dramatically sculpted during Mt Bandai’s last volcanic outburst in 1888, and are equally as enjoyable during spring, the mild summer months, or the crisper autumn, dappled with shimmering reds and yellows.

Further north in Iwate Prefecture is the p ri s tine Chu s o n - ji Te mple in Hiraizumi , a monument to Pure Land Buddhism in use since 850, and one of five World Heritage listed temples and gardens in the area. Tsukimizaka Slope, the main pathway to Chuson-ji, is flanked by towering cryptomeria trees, and the temple houses exquisite statues, paintings and scrolls believed to date from the 12th century.

For another fascinating blend of nature and history, head down to the village of Tozawa and take the Mogami River Basho Line Boat Ride in Yamagata Prefecture. The river was an ancient transport route through the rugged mountainous countryside, including a nearby forest of giant cedars estimated at 1,000 years old, and provided inspiration for famous Haiku poet Matsuo Basho. en.tohokukanko.jp Tohoku

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www.oze-info.com

Katashina

There are dozens of gorgeous ski resorts in Gunma prefecture in the northern Kanto region, and many are only two to three-hourdrive away from Tokyo. Fans of Gunma's consistent snow quality and great slopes make frequent day trips to ski resorts here.

A short side trip from Marunuma Kogen and Oze Iwakura ski resorts is Katashina Village, famous for the exceptional quality of its natural spring water. Locals enjoy this natural product filtered directly from the mountains in nearby Nikko and Oze National Parks. As well as the powder snow of winter, the region's natural beauty and fresh produce throughout the seasons make it an attractive and rewarding destination all year round. Accessible by car in just two hours from Tokyo and equipped with 280 accommodation facilities, planning your holiday to Katashina Village is easy.

Katashina Onsen After a big day slicing your way through powder snow, there is nothing better than recharging in a hot spring or â&#x20AC;&#x153;onsenâ&#x20AC;?.

Katashina Village is fortunate enough to be at the crossroads of nine different onsen, which are believed in Japan to have a range of positive effects on health and wellbeing. They are a great way to meet new people and experience the local atmosphere, as skiers, hikers and mountain climbers alike enjoy visiting the hot springs in Katashina Village throughout the year to rejuvenate and relax.

Summer Activities Oze National Park, a short distance from Katashina Village, showcases a stunning array of flora in spring and spectacular vistas of red and yellow in autumn. Home to Japan's largest highland marsh, it is a popular destination for trekkers and photographers.

Dining and Drinking Thanks to its plethora of accommodation facilities, there is a range of establishments in and around Katashina Village which enable visitors to experience the quality of local produce. Apples, mushrooms, sweet corn and beans, in particular are famous for their freshness and quality, thanks to a fertile natural farming environment. The superior purity of local water also results in excellent sake, and adds a refreshing edge to products such as soba noodles and tofu. Visitors can also enjoy the taste of the different types of trout caught from local rivers.

Stric tly Sak e T h e c h an gin g f a c e o f s ak e in J ap an an d A u s t r ali a

Design Cooperation: Kontatsu Australia

Sake has undergone a dramatic role reversal of late, falling from its place as a Japanese household tradition, while rising up as a refreshing new trend in Australia.

The wine glass has formed a vital link between its contrasting fortunes, forming the catalyst for increasing popularity in the chic suburbs of Sydney, and providing an unexpectedly new lease of life for its image in Japanâ&#x20AC;Ś Strictly Sake

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D i s c o v e r i n g

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Despite official status as Japan’s national drink, sake has been down in the domestic doldrums over the past three decades, contrasting with rising offshore consumption.

The Fine Sake Awards, Japan stepped into this situation in 2011, as an exciting new contest assessing sake on its merits through the clarity of a wine glass.

In the process, it aims to strengthen the future of sake on all fronts…

The Changing Fortunes of Sake Is it a chardonnay? Is it a cabernet? No, it’s… sake in a wine glass! Even the most liberal 19th century samurai gent may not have envisaged serving their national beverage in a wine glass, but here we are at last folks. The age of The Fine Sake Awards, Japan is upon us!

The Fine Sake Awards aim to ignite a passion for sake among Japan’s younger generation, reinvigorate an ailing domestic sake market, and provide further impetus for international sake exports, by presenting it through a medium that reveals its hidden beauty.

Otherwise known as a wine glass, it accentuates the often delicate, complex aroma of sake, and provides a cross section of its subtle viscosity. The accompanying change in flavour is marked, and delicious enough to become obvious to the most complete beginner. In other words, the wine glass is an innovation that presents sake with heretofore unknown clarity and style, eclipsing its traditional vessel, a ceramic shot glass known as a choko.

The Fine Sake Awards are in many ways a touché against the tough times sake has been going through lately on its home ground, dispensed by a coalition of brewers and wholesalers. The situation can be expressed in real terms as a plummet in

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sake consumption from 1.675 million kilolitres in 1975, to just 664,000 kilolitres in 2007, a statistic officially recorded by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association. In particular, whilst the sake consumption of every Japanese adult sat at the 11.5 litre mark in 1997, it has dropped by almost half, to 6.4 litres per adult in 2007.

To add insult to injury, the Great East Japan Ear thquake and subsequent tsunami dealt the country a crippling blow in March 2011, and sent the sake industry reeling. As well as the direct damage suffered on the ground in Japan’s northeast, the mood of national austerity for months afterwards translated to almost non-existent sake consumption, putting the final nail in the coffin of many breweries already struggling amidst the stagnating market.

On the other side of the fence, interest in sake has increased at a dramatic rate over the past few years, particularly in the UK, US and Australia. The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association noted a near doubling of Japanese sake exports to Australia b et we en 20 05 and 20 0 9, and famous Tok yo sake wholesaler Kontatsu, in business since 1924, reinforced the growth of the local sake market by establishing Kontatsu Australia in 2008.

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A Selection of Prizewinners from the Fine Sake Awards Japan, 2012

The Fine Sake Awards Japan, 2012 As the traditional sake brewing season entered its closing stages on February 16, 2012, a panel of 20 chefs, announcers, brewers, and wholesalers set to work in the Tokyo offices of Kontatsu on a blind tasting of 325 sakes from 193 breweries around Japan.

After careful deliberation, 22 outstanding sakes were bestowed with supreme honours, and 86 were recognised with a Gold Award.

Attesting to the quality produced by Japanese sake breweries irrespective of their location, the 22 top prize winners were from prefectures right across the archipelago. Most notably among the group were sakes from Akita, Yamagata, and Miyagi Prefectures in the Tohoku region of Japan, which bore the brunt of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; illustrating the remarkable speed with which the area has been recovering from the disaster.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in the bustling area of Roppongi, Tokyo on April 9, where judges including French fine dining guru Dominique Corby, food sommelier Megumi Uruga, and sake sommelier Akiko Tomoda gave a series of insightful talks about new initiatives to revitalise the sake market.

The ceremony was filled with constant cheering and concluded on a high note, sending the several hundred participants forth with a refreshed sense of optimism for the future of sake in Japan and around the world, in a wine glass!

Tomio Premier Amour-Junmai

BizenomachiDaiginjo

Origin: Kyoto

Origin: Hyogo

Awasaki-Junmai/ Sparkling

Fukuju-Junmai Daiginjo

Origin: Hyogo

Origin: Hyogo

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Kontatsu Australia, Pioneers of Sake in Sydney Kontatsu Australia was established in Sydney on 8 August 2008 with a mission to bring the culture of Japanese sake Down Under, a product of sophisticated techniques passed down through an unbroken line of Japanese brewers for generations...

Kontatsu Australia has overcome a series of difficult challenges in developing the market for sake in Sydney, and while the journey ahead is still no easy one, their efforts are resulting in a slow, but certain increase in sake consumption among Sydneysiders.

Back in the days when the company first arrived Down Under, Japanese restaurants in Sydney carried the same brands of sake, with almost no difference in variety or product range. Misconceptions about the correct way to serve sake were rife, and together with a conservative approach to new ideas among the local population, it has been no easy task for Kontatsu to open peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes to the charms of sake.

The price dif ferential with wine has been another thorn in the side of sake development in Sydney. Sake not only becomes more expensive when imported from Japan, it also has to compete with a large volume of locally produced delicious, inexpensive wine.

In trying to overcome this hurdle, Kontatsu has insisted on maintaining the quality of sake in mint condition by using refrigerated transport from Japan.

Products for importation are selected meticulously on the basis of their ability to satisfy high standards of quality within a reasonable price bracket.

In May 2010, Kontatsu created an outlet to experiment with these products directly in the market, taking the plunge and opening Watermoon,

a Japanese sake bar and restaurant in the chic Sydney suburb of Potts Point. One of the most successful projects at Watermoon has been serving sake shots in wine glasses, as a way of allowing people to gain a greater appreciation for the finer points of sake through a familiar medium. It was originally implemented as a sake taster shot menu, exclusively for patrons bringing their own wine to the restaurant. Inexpensively priced and sparingly portioned, the concept caught on like wildfire, with over half of the patrons imbibing in tasting sets, and using sake when making a toast. The idea is yet to result in a proportionate increase in sake sales by the bottle, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provided a glimpse of the success to be had by serving sake in a way that makes it accessible to everybody.

In the meantime, wider perceptions of sake in Sydney have undergone some significant changes over the past one to two years. Many restaurants and bars on the scene have gone from serving the one trick pony of heated sake, to a more diverse range including rich, fruity Ginjo-shu style sakes, with growing numbers of patrons demanding more fullbodied Junmai-shu sake. In addition, the opening of exclusive sake bars by non-Japanese owners, and the appearance of niche products like Yamahai Junmaishu sake on course menus at fusion style fine dining restaurants cements the fact that Sydneysiders are increasingly falling in love with sake.

The Japan-Australia Sake Specialists Kontatsu started out in 1924 as Kondotatsuji Store, an alcohol and can beverage wholesaler in the Nihonbashi district of downtown Tokyo, growing to become a trusted purveyor of fine sake with strong links to breweries and retail customers across Japan. The company also plays a key role in the future development of the sake industry, as a committee member with The Fine Sake Awards Japan, an innovative contest designed to help people rediscover the beauty of sake by enjoying it in a wine glass.

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Enjoy Your Sake with Authentic Tableware from Noritake Australia

Sake Trends in Sydney

Look no further than Noritake Australia for elegant, well-designed tableware. Owned and operated by Noritake Japan, which was originally founded in 1904, Noritake is a highly respected company in over 100 countries. Chinaware produced by Miyama, a winner of five Good Design Awards based in Gifu, Japan is in vogue in the current Noritake product line up, and includes Sumi, a collection of original sake vessels created with a special casting technique.

Miyama echoes the conviction of Noritake that tableware should not simply just be functional, but sophisticated and striking.

Jun Pacific has been assisting an increasing number of restaurants in Sydney who are new to the world of sake, with tips on serving and quality control.

Sake is really a close relative of wine, in that it must be served at the appropriate temperature, and stored properly in order to fully appreciate it. Daiginjoshu sake is especially popular with Australians, for its crisp, fruity edge on the palate, and comes into its own at 17°. Armed with this knowledge, I hope we see people enjoying sake to the point where it becomes a standard everywhere, just like wine and beer.

Takeshi Yamaguchi Tokyo Mart (Jun Pacific Corporation Pty Ltd)

©Nagano Prefecture/©JNTO

Masuya Group, Sydney’s Japanese dining specialists, are bringing Australia the very best in boutique sake from across Japan.

www.masuya.com.au

MASUYA Basement, 12-14 O'Connell St, Sydney

豪州初・純米酒専門居酒屋

Sake Dining TORIICHI

Ground Floor, 12-14 O'Connell Street, Sydney NSW 2000 T: 9233-8181 E: info@masuya.com.au

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S a k e

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B e g i n n e r s

Sake is brewed using special techniques that set it apart from wine and beer, and requires careful preparation to be enjoyed at its best…

Types of Sake Broadly speaking, sake can be classified as either Futsu-shu, the table variety, or Tokutei Meisho-shu, the premium variety. The latter may be divided again into Junmai-shu, produced using only the natural ingredients of rice, water, koji mould and yeast, and Ginjo-shu or Honjozo-shu varieties, which contain brewers alcohol.

Rice Polishing Premium sake is fine-tuned by polishing the outer shell away from the rice to remove proteins and minerals that retard fermentation, and thereby depreciate the finished product. Daiginjo-shu sake rice is polished to about half of its original size, in a process that must be undertaken slowly to avoid cracking or heat damage.

Sake Grades The rice is milled down to at least

50%

The rice is milled down to at least

60%

Special Designation Sake

Jyunmai-Daiginjo

Daiginjo

Jyunmai-Ginjo

Ginjo

Tokubetsu-Jyunmai Tokubetsu-Honjyozo

The rice is milled down to at least

Honjyozo

70%

Other

Normal Sake

70% of total sake productions

FutsuShu

Jyunmai Rice + Water + Yeast + Mould + No Additives 10% of total sake productions

Rice + Water + Yeast + Mould + Distilled alcohol (less than 10% of rice weight)

Serving Temperatures Sake is served chilled (hiya), at room temperature (joon), or warmed (kan), and getting this temperature right is the key to unlocking the range of flavour

tones in a single brew. 4 0 - 60 °C is generally appropriate for Futsu-shu or Junmai-shu varieties, while premium Ginjo-shu or Daiginjo-shu sakes are served chilled at 7-10°C. Sake Brewers Toji, or sake brewers, are highly regarded in Japanese society for their skill and artistry, which they have refined and passed on for generations. Modern Toji are just as likely to be university graduates as they are experienced brewery employees, working throughout the year in temperature-controlled breweries, or only in the traditional winter brewing season.

Alcohol Content The majority of sake is diluted to an alcohol content of around 15%, from a raw figure of 18-20%, which is produced simultaneously during the brewing process as sugar compounds are created from the starch. This makes it distinctly different to the brewing process for beer, in which these compounds evolve consecutively.

Sake Meter Value The flavour spectrum of sake is quantified by a Sake Meter Value (SMV), which indicates the weight differential of sake against the same quantity of water at a prescribed neutral point of 4°C. Heavier sakes of around -4 are very sweet, while a +10 sake is the exact opposite. The balance point between the two is considered to be about +3.

The secret ingredient Sake is not just a highlight of the wine list at Ocean Room, it's also integral in preparing the soup stock, a labour of love made exclusively with liberal lashings of full bodied junmai-shu sake. All this work pays off in dobin mushi, a fish and vegetable broth with a gorgeous aroma of crab. Served in an elegant teapot, dobin mushi makes an excellent match with sake, along with winter hot pot dishes.

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Ocean Room Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay West, The Rocks Phone: (02) 9252-9585 www.oceanroomsydney.com Tue-Fri 12:00-15:00 Mon-Sat 18:00-23:00 Licensed

The finer points of Japanese sake Hideaki Fukada Sake Sommelier Toriciya, Cammeray

Instead of poring over a selection of reds and whites to go with the tuna and white fish on your next sushi extravaganza, you can count on a Japanese sake to move with the flavours as you do. Its versatility is evident in the range of tones which can be drawn out of a single bottle, just by adjusting the temperature.

The professionals at any fine dining restaurant in Japan worth its salt will have your sake heated, or cooled in specific increments according to the dishes on the table.

In order to do this, they must have a complete understanding of the drink’s flavour palate, which ranges from a full-bodied junmai, to the light and smooth soshu, the fragrant kunshu, and a mature jukushu. Their job isn’t just to tell you what the type of sake is though.

Sake sommeliers compose a selection tailored to suit the menu, and oversee rigorous quality control on this delicate brew, which can spoil easily by shaking, or exposure to sunlight.

These are the basics, but they aren’t being achieved to a great extent at present. In actual fact, even Japanese suppliers in Australia import off sake with a vinegary aroma, which isn’t fit for serving at all. This is because they think that’s how sake is supposed to be, but in reality it’s completely the opposite.

A further issue is that there simply aren’t a great number of sake sommeliers out there. Customers don’t know what to drink, and there’s no one to tell them either.

This results in disasters like fullbodied junmai being heated to go with sashimi, which is just downright barbaric.

Starting an izakaya like Toriciya overseas has always been a dream for me, and something I wanted to do properly in terms of sake.

Plenty of informed sake drinkers are dismayed to find a discrepancy in the knowledge of their beverage behind the bar, not to mention the surprising number of Japanese

people going out for a bite of their own cuisine, while remaining completely in the dark when it comes to sake.

After remaining largely oblivious to it myself from an early age, I was enchanted by a quality brew at the age of 25. It was so good that it became the catalyst for me deciding to become a sake sommelier. I just had to find out more about the complexity of the flavour profiles, and why they change at different temperatures.

The past 13 or 14 years since I first started learning about sake have seen some major changes, including the introduction of a new grading system based on the three categories of junmai, honjozo, and futsu. Quality has risen dramatically thanks to advances in rice polishing technology, yeast improvements, and better rice malt.

We’ve arrived at the stage where the sake we’re drinking today is the best yet!

Experience local sake, authentic shochu and seasonal delicacies, all handpicked by our sommelier...

TORICIYA

Phone (02) 9904-2277 18 Cammeray Road, Cammeray NSW 2062 Tue-Sun 18:00-22:00 Licensed Strictly Sake

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M a k i n g

Making sake is a painstaking procedure, requiring patience and dedication. Brewing traditions have evolved over centuries to incorporate modern machinery where possible, while maintaining the delicate balance of the mixture...

Step

1

Polishing

Amino acids, fats and proteins that encase the starchy core of rice can throw a spanner in the works when it comes to producing refined sake. Rice used in brews like Ginjo-shu and Daiginjo-shu is polished upwards of 40%, to ensure the flavour clarity of the final product.

Step

2

Washing

A fine residue remains on the rice after polishing, which can only be completely removed by washing, a process known as senmai. Extreme care is taken to avoid the rice absorbing too much water at this stage, which can happen in the blink of an eye without its protective outer layer.

Step

3

Soaking and Steaming

Once the last impurities have been washed from the rice, it is soaked to fine tune the amount of water it will absorb when steamed in a giant cauldron, known in Japanese as a koshiki.

Brewers then spread the rice out once it’s done, to allow the grains to cool properly.

Step

4

Koji Making

The steamed rice is permeated with koji, a mould that holds the key to proliferating enzymes in the mix ture that pro duce brewing sugars, in turn instigating the fermentation p r o c e s s . Ko j i i s t h e m a g i c ingredient that produces sake, making it the most important step in the brewing procedure.

Step

5

Fermentation

Now infused with koji, the rice is transferred to a fermentation t ank w ith yeas t, and lef t to mature for a period of two to six weeks. The resulting mixture is called the moromi, and is the base from which the fragrance and flavour of the sake really begins to develop.

Step

6

Pressing

Once the desired flavour has been achieved through fermentation, it’s time to say goodbye to the moromi and isolate the liquid by pressing.

While the majority of breweries leave this s tep to machines, a select few continue the painstaking tradition of pressing the sake using canvas bags.

The perfect match Kushiyaki takes pride in increasing the recognition of sake as an excellent match for almost all Japanese cuisine, beyond well known standards like t e r i yak i and suk i yak i. E s p e ciall y recommended is the limited edition Usumidori sake, the perfect companion to a tasting plate of salmon roe, simmered octopus, braised pork, poached saury with Japanese pepper, marinated ocean trout, and silver cod fried in miso paste.

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Kushiyaki – Bar & Grill Ground Floor, Regent Place, 501 George Street, Sydney Phone: (02) 9267-7775 www.azuma.com.au Tue–Sat 12:00–14:30, 18:00-22:00 Closed Sun & Mon Licensed only

S a k e

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S y d n e y

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S c e n e

Broaden your palate with this diverse selection of premium sakes from across Japan, currently creating a sensation in restaurants and bars on the Sydney scene…

Kinsho Hakutaka-Junmai

Kikumasamune-Taruzake

Origin: Hyogo

Origin: Hyogo

The flagship brew from Hakutaka in Hyogo, one of Japan’s traditional sake making strongholds, with a powerful, full-bodied flavour maximising the umami qualities inherent in the rice. Equally as enjoyable when cooled or warmed.

Jozan-Junmai Origin: Fukui

An authentic dry sake, marked by a fresh hint of the Yoshinosugi cedar wood barrels used to store it. Well suited to rich, spicy foods, Taruzake is best chilled, but can also be enjoyed at room temperature. Aim for 40-45° if heating.

Akanesasu-Junmai Origin: Nagano

A n u n f i l t e r e d s a ke , aged for 1.5 years and stabilised by heating in the bottle. Brewed using the region’s famous Gohyakumangoku rice polished to 60%, with a great balance of umami, m a t u r i t y, s h a r p n e s s and dryness. Delicious at room temperature.

Ninki-ichi-Daiginjo Origin: Fukushima

Complex, full-bodied flavours punc tuated by an over ture of sweetness and umami.

Produced with a variety of ingredients invoking t h e m o unt a ins of N a g a n o, unfiltered and undiluted where possible to pay homage to the natural flavours.

Dr y, sharp s ake, w ith pleasing umami tones unique to Junmai Daiginjo-shu sake. Brewed by a Ginjo-shu specialist, with a superior balance between taste and aroma that makes it the perfect accompaniment during a meal chilled, at room temperature or warmed.

Kikusui Kousen-Junmai Origin: Niigata

Koharu-Junmai Origin: Tokushima Junmai-shu sake, produced with high grade Ya m a d a N i s h i k i s a k e rice p o lishe d to 6 0 % .

Exceptionally delicate on the palate with a fruity flavour reminis cent of wine, equally as enjoyable for the connoisseur as it is for the novice.

A high qualit y, ine x p ensi ve s ake that holds its charm well, and one of the top p e r fo r m e r s in t h e Ko nt at su Aus t ralia wholesale product range. The brew is a highly fragrant junmai-shu with umami, and refreshing overtones.

Niwa no uguisu Daruma Label-Junmai Origin: Fukuoka Junmai-shu sake without the heavy afterglow, easy to drink and delicious both chilled and warmed. A fruity aroma precedes maximal umami flavours from the rice, for a rich taste with exceptional clarity. Premium quality at a great price.

Discover your ideal sake Y² Izakaya is the best place to discover your ideal sake, offering advice on how to best enjoy its ‘Sake of the Week,’ and providing tasters for the sake novice, welcoming their palate to the flavour of sake. At the top of the 15 sakes on the menu is Senchu Hassaku, a crispy, dry junmai-shu from Kochi Prefecture with a sweet finish, accompanied by six generous seafood, meat and vegetable tapas plates.

Y² Izakaya 2A Waters Road, Neutral Bay Phone: (02) 9953-8808 www.y2izakaya.com Mon-Sat 18:00-Late Licensed/BYO $3pp (Wine only)

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Over 200 YEARS OF HISTORY

No.1 VINEGAR BR AND IN JAPAN (Source: INTAGE Inc.,SCI, Jan-Dec 2010 mizkan™ Brand Total)

Serving Suggestion

Serving Suggestion

For Sushi

For Salad

Gr ain Flavored Distilled Vinegar

Sushi Seasoning

How to Cook delicious Teriyaki 1 Heat oil in a fry pan and pan fry 250g chicken until golden brown.

2 Turn chicken, cover with a lid and cook on medium heat until cooked through.

3 Add 3tbsp Mizkan™ HONTERI™ Mirin Seasoning, 2tbsp of cooking rice wine, 1/2 tsp corn flour and 2tbsp soy sauce and stir through.

4 Allow sauce to coat chicken and thicken slightly.

5 Serve immediately.

HONTERI Mirin Seasoning ™

Serving Suggestion

For Restaur ant Use Size (20L) Vinegars

SUEHIRO

SHIR AGIKU

™

Gr ain Flavored Distilled Vinegar

™

Rice Flavored Distilled Vinegar

YUSEN

™

GR AIN FLAVORED DISTILLED VINEGAR (SAKE CAKE VINEGAR)

SUSHI SEASONING 30-K (Pre-Mixed type for Sushi)

www.mizkan.asia (English) www.mizkan.co.jp (Japanese)

©Japan Ryokan Association/©JNTO

©Tetsuya's

The

World of Japanese Cuisine There’s never been a better time to enjoy Japanese cuisine in Australia, and local food trends reflect its increasing specialisation and diversity. These elements are a natural extension of its roots in Japan, where it is an emblem of regional pride and cultural sophistication. At its heart remains a strong connection to the rhythm of the nature, and a philosophy of nutritional balance that has come to be considered as one of the secrets of Japanese longevity…

The World of Japanese Cuisine

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Gourmet Japanese is

Hot Down Under Food Forward 2012, an independent study of Australian food trends by public relations agency Weber Shandwick, indicates that we are increasingly casting our gaze towards healthy, convenient food from around the world with a touch of gourmet class. These qualities are abundant in the traditional Japanese diet, which is renowned for its highly nutritious, elegantly presented and satisfying food…

©Tetsuya's

A gorgeous contemporary Japanese creation

More than 1000 diners, shoppers, food critics, chefs and nutritionists took part in Food Forward 2012, an independent study of Australian food trends by public relations agency Weber Shandwick. Some of the biggest influences on the dinner plate priorities of these Australians in 2012 are summarised in the study as global flavour combinations, gourmet convenience, and farm to fork. They paint a picture of increased demand for a quality, diverse range of foods that can be incorporated within busy modern lifestyles, and a thirst for more detailed information about where it all comes from. In addition, one in five participants voted 128

The World of Japanese Cuisine

‘McDonald’s loses Heart Foundation tick of approval,’ (Sydney Morning Herald, September 21, 2011), as their most important food story of 2011, revealing a strong undercurrent of concern for healthy eating in the community.

As a whole, these trends are a direct reflection of the food culture in Japan, which is shaped by a consumer and restaurant market with exacting quality standards, a wealth of product information, and a need for convenience.

The superior taste of seasonal produce is as revered as a balanced approach to eating, which has deep roots in ichiju issai, a blueprint of rice, pickles, miso soup and one side dish imbued on the Japanese psyche from centuries old Buddhist traditions.

Japanese restaurants and grocers have transported their food culture with them to Australia, into a melting pot that has provided fertile soil for the development of fusion dishes incorporating global elements. They are enjoying unprecedentedly high levels of popularity at present, and the Sydney scene in particular is an excellent example of the way in which current food trends appear to be a major driving force behind the continued expansion of Japanese cuisine in Australia.

©Nagano Prefecture/©JNTO

Fragrant, spicy wasabi roots

Tuna with a touch of class

Global Flavour Combinations

a fresh, colourful array of nigiri, temaki, sashimi and other types of sushi to suit all budgets. The added beauty of sushi is that it is incredibly easy to roll yourself, something that is common knowledge among the customers of Japanese grocery stores also concentrated in these areas.

Sydney has a variety of definitive destinations for gourmet adventurers seeking out a new take on the traditional flavours of Japan. A combination of local chefs trained in Japan, and Japanese professionals don’t disappoint, with seasonally refreshed menus that can feature Australian tuna, shellfish, octopus and ocean trout flavoured with quintessentially Japanese touches like yuzu vinaigrette, miso paste or fresh wasabi. Followed by equally tantalising dessert menus including sake infused ice cream and fruit, Sydney Japanese fusion restaurants have their finger on the pulse of trends in modern Japanese dining.

Gourmet Convenience It’s becoming hard to imagine how Sydney survived without sushi. The simple yet sexy roll has become a fast and healthy option for lunch, and nigiri, its top heavy cousins, can be an impressive part of a Japanese dinner. Authentic sushi bars operated by Japanese dining specialists can be found in especially high clusters around the Sydney CBD and lower north shore, serving

©Saga Prefecture/©JNTO

The ubiquitous temaki sushi

Farm to Fork In the same way as they experiment with fresh new flavour combinations, more and more Sydney Japanese restaurants place paramount importance on the journey of their ingredients to the table, taking pride in serving Australian seasonal produce. One of the major highlights is being able to order handmade sushi a la carte from the counter, with high quality rice vinegar as a finishing touch. This also applies to Japanese restaurants set up in the izakaya style, as much about imbibing in a beverage, as they are about enjoying fresh fish, vegetables and other local bounty. Diners are educated freely about the brewing regions of authentic sake and shochu, and have access to limited edition products from legendary traditional breweries.

Tourism Australia Copyright

Fresh lobster anyone?

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Rice

The Traditional

Japanese Diet

Far from falling out of the sky on a dining tray replete with a set of chopsticks, Japan’s traditional cuisine has taken hundreds of years, and possibly billions of bowls of rice to evolve. Famously balanced and nutritious, its beginnings lie in the frugal Buddhist meal format of ichiju issai, or rice, pickles, miso soup and one side. The core philosophies of ichiju issai remain in the backbone of food education in Japan, and the Japanese diet has gathered global attention as a preventative weapon against modern lifestyle diseases…

Steamed rice is known in Japanese as gohan or meshi. These words can also mean an entire meal, illustrating the fundamental nature of this Japanese staple. Brown rice especially is high in essential minerals like iron, zinc and magnesium, as well as vitamin E, and B vitamins.

Seafood The diverse bounty of fresh, nutritious seafood surrounding the Japanese archipelago has been enjoyed throughout the seasons since the dawn of time. Full of essential fatty acids like DHA and EPA, vitamins and minerals, it is one of the secrets of Japanese longevity.

Seaweed Fishermen spend painstaking hours harvesting nori, wakame, konbu, hijiki and other types of seaweed cultivated around Japan. Packed with essential nutrients, fatty acids and low in calories, seaweed is a central part of dashi stock, and a traditional staple with rice.

Miso Miso paste is a nutritious seasoning added to sauces, pickled meat, vegetables, and soup. A fermented cocktail of soybeans, salt and koji mould, it functions as a major source of protein, vitamin B12, vitamin E, protein, iron and calcium in the Japanese diet.

Soy Sauce Japanese soy sauce is marked by a slightly sweet sherry-like flavour, the product of slowly and carefully fermenting soybeans and koji mould, often with a grain like wheat. The byproduct of pressing miso paste, it is high in antioxidants and lactic acid bacteria.

Tokyo Mart

Great range of high quality Japanese groceries, all at a reasonable price • One of the biggest Japanese supermarkets in Australia • Product lines almost identical to supermarkets in Japan • Diverse variety of products in stock, from everyday seasonings, to sweets • Freshness, quality, and value guaranteed on all products Shop 27, Northbridge Plaza, Northbridge NSW 2063 T: (02) 9958 6860 W: www.junpacific.com/tokyomart Open: Mon-Wed, Fri 9:00-17:30, Thu 9:00-18:30, Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-16:00 Closed: Public Holidays

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ŠJNTO

ANEGAWA ENTERPRISE

Fermented Foods

Craving Japanese?

We stock Japanese groceries, sundry items, bread, cakes, vegetables, seasonings and pickles for all your kitchen needs, as well as healthy takeaway meals and Japanese bento boxes.

Koji, a mould with spores that typically grow on rice, instigates the fermentation process of soybeans and grain to produce nutritious miso paste and soy sauce. The slimy soybean super food of natto is another by-product of fermentation, instigated by spores of the natto bacillus mould.

In addition, rice vinegar is used extensively in Japan to make healthy and delicious meat, fish and vegetable pickles.

Home delivery available.

(Sydney CBD and surround)

We offer wholesale too!

OPEN 7 DAYS 11:00-21:00

(02)9904-7313 1 Wilkes Avenue, Artarmon NSW 2064

INSTANT MISO SOUP Miso Soup 8-Servings Value Pack

Miyasaka Jozo is a company driven by their high standards of quality, healthy food and respect for the environment. It offers a variety of miso pastes made from traditional recipes, sourcing only the best ingredients manufactured in ISO9001 plant. An essential item in every Japanese kitchen, miso is extremely nourishing and easy to use for miso soups; the company's wide range of delicious instant soups, garnished generously with tofu or seaweed, are particularly quick and easy to make.

M I YA S A K A J O Z O

2+ 81 3 3 3 8 5 212 3

www.miyasaka-jozo.com The World of Japanese Cuisine

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Kobe Beef - Hyogo

Culinary

Diversity in Japan

Produced from Tajima cattle, a breed of black Wagyu cattle native to Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe Beef is renowned as a delicacy internationally. One of the secrets to its peerless f lavour and marbling is the pure bloodline of Tajima cattle, unbroken since the medieval Edo Period.

©JNTO

Sanuki Udon - Kagawa Sanuki Udon is produced in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku.

Deliciously served al dente and a bargain at just a few hundred yen per bowl locally, it is traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve as toshikoshi udon, a symbolic dish to invoke a long life just like the noodles.

Food across Japan is a celebrated source of local pride and cultural history. The incredible diversity to be found on the dining table from north to south has deep roots in the days of ancient Japan, an agrarian society where the travel of common people between regions was scarce. Culinary traditions developed within insular villages existing harmoniously with the natural environment, based around fresh, seasonal produce…

©JNTO

Champuru - Okinawa The word champuru comes from canpur, meaning ‘mixed’ in Malay and Indonesian, and is used in Okinawa to describe a range of tasty stir-fry dishes. One of the classics is goya champuru, a mix of goya – a type of bitter melon proven as an anticancer – with tofu, egg and pork.

AZUMA Awarded One Hat Restaurant

by SMH, Good Food Guide 2008, 2009 & 2010 AZUMA CHIFLEY T (02) 9222-9960 www.azuma.com.au L1, CHIFLEY PLAZA 2 CHIFLEY SQ, SYDNEY

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TON TON CHIFLEY T (02) 9222-1010 L1, CHIFLEY PLAZA, 2 CHIFLEY SQ, SYDNEY

The World of Japanese Cuisine

KUSHIYAKI BAR & GRILL AZUMA PATISSERIE TON TON REGENT T (02) 9267-7775 T (02) 9267-7701 T (02) 9267-1313 REGENT PLACE, REGENT PLACE, REGENT PLACE, 501 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY 501 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY 501 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY

©JNTO

Okonomiyaki - Osaka

©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/©JNTO

Okonomiyaki pancakes are as diverse as they are ubiquitous in Japan, but few would disagree that Osaka is their spiritual home. Improvising with your favourite ingredients is the key, over a batter of cabbage and flour flavoured with dashi stock, and topped with an amazing sauce.

Ramen - Hokkaido The mere thought of ramen is enough to set mouths watering across Japan. Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido holds a special place in the hearts of ramen lovers as the birthplace of miso ramen, which is characterised by robust, wavy noodles - the perfect comfort food for the cold northern climate.

Nozawana - Nagano

©Nagano Prefecture©JNTO

Nozawa na is a fol iage t u r n ip, grown for its leaves by farmers a rou nd the hot spr i ng v i l lage o f Noz a w a O n s e n i n N a g a n o Prefectu re. It is enjoyed as a nutritious pickle with high levels of vitam i n C, vitam i n A and lactobacillus, digestive bacteria also found in yoghourt.

Ise Udon - Mie Enormous udon noodles ser ved in a broth bursting with umami f l a v ou r s, I s e Ud o n h a s b e e n produced for centur ies in Mie Prefecture as a simple, hear t y meal for pilgrims on their way to Ise Grand Shrine. The broth is typically infused with tamari soy sauce, dried bonito flakes and kelp.

Nanko Ume - Wakayama A prem iu m va r iet y of t he apr icotlike ume fruit exclusive to Wakayama Prefecture, Nanko Ume are venerated for their thin skins and plump flesh.

They are highly sought after in the form of umeboshi, a healthy pickle eaten on rice, and umeshu, a refreshing liqueur.

Our noodles are made fresh in the store

so you can enjoy fresh and the best tasting quality ramen, soba and yakisoba-fried noodles every day. Try other items on the ever-growing menu of authentic Japanese dishes which includes rice dishes, set meals and side dishes.

www.ichibanboshi.com.au THE GALERIES

EXPRESS ICHIBANBOSHI

BONDI JUNCTION

GOLD COAST（QLD）

Phone (02) 9262 7677

Phone (02) 9264 7780

Phone (02) 9369 3980

Phone (07) 5528 2112

Level 2, The Galeries, 500 George Street, Sydney Noodle Bar

Shop 8, Lower Ground Floor, The Galeries, 500 George Street, Sydney

Shop 1, 171-173 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction

Shop 1, 42 Nerang Street, Southport

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JAPANESE RESTAUR ANT GUIDE Ainoya

Sit back and enjoy an intimate dinner, or catch up with family and friends over the innovative fusion of traditional Japanese and modern cuisine at Ainoya, complimented by a carefully matched wine list. Elegant Japanese style décor is all part of the cultural experience, with an additional option of traditional horikotatsu seating around a hollow alcove in the floor. Guests are entertained just like friends at home, with warm and friendly service.

Azuma

Sydney's most renowned and creative fine dining Japanese restaurant – this year celebrating 10 years! The newly renovated Azuma is now offering a new degustation menu, along with awarded sushi, sashimi and endless Ala Carte options! Awarded One Chef's Hat by the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2008, 2009, 2010. Come and try Masterchef Kimitaka Azuma's wonderful creations!

Ichi-ban Boshi (The Galeries)

Our flagship restaurant is located in the heart of Sydney's CBD; a short stroll from all the major shopping outlets and Town Hall station. Fully licensed, we have a large variety of tapas-style entrée selections, which compliment our traditional array of noodles and rice dishes. Come in for lunch, or for after-work drinks and stay for dinner!

Ichi-ban Boshi (Bondi Junction)

Located smack bang in the middle of Oxford Street Mall, it's only a short stroll from Bondi Junction station and bus terminal, with plenty of outdoor alfresco seating. You can choose to dine inside or out! Perfect spot for shoppers and commuters. We have a variety of toppings for our special Ramen noodles, and try to have rice dishes and set menus.

Kushiyaki – Bar & Grill

Along with an interesting menu of grilled skewers, this Japanese Bar & Grill offers a menu of traditional and innovative Japanese cuisine as well as a unique Otsumami list. Matched with these quality dishes is an impressive Sake and Shochu list – the first of its kind to be seen in Sydney! With such a varied menu there is something here for everyone!

Masuya

Enjoy sushi, sashimi and nabe hot pot dishes using a variety of local fish proudly sourced from the best in Australia at Masuya, along with its signature tuna bought fresh every morning by the chef. Masuya seats 100, and has a comprehensive dinner menu with about 50 dishes, including Australian Wagyu Beef, Berkshire Pork, and vegetable dishes. The wine list features varieties from around Australia, carefully selected by sommelier Yuichi Kanamaru.

Shop 3, 34 Burton St, Kirribilli Phone: (02) 9922-1512 www.ainoya.com.au Fri-Sun 12:00-15:00 Tue-Sun 18:00Licensed/BYO $3.5pp Wine Only

Level 1 Chifley Plaza, Chifley Square, Sydney Phone: (02) 9222-9960 www.azuma.com.au Mon-Fri 12:00-14:30 Mon-Sat 18:00-22:00 Licensed

Level 2, The Galeries, 500 George St, Sydney Phone: (02) 9262-7677 www.ichibanboshi.com.au Open Daily 11:00-21:00 Licensed

Shop 1, 171-173 Oxford St, Bondi Junction Phone: (02) 9369-3980 www.ichibanboshi.com.au Open Daily 11:00-21:30 BYO

Regent Place, 501 George St, Sydney Phone: (02) 9267-7775 www.azuma.com.au Tue-Sat 12:00-14:30, 18:00-22:00 Closed Sun & Mon Licensed only

Basement Level 12-14 O'Connell St, Sydney Phone: (02) 9235-2717 www.masuya.com.au Mond-Fri 12:00-14:30 Mon-Sat 18:00-22:00 Licensed

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Miso

Located in World Square in the heart of Sydney, Miso is a busy restaurant serving obento lunch boxes and tonkatsu, Japanesestyle deep fried pork cutlets. The pork is proudly free range, produced by Western Plains Pork in Victoria, and each piece is carefully dusted with flour and breadcrumbs, and fried in soybean oil after receiving each order. Prices range between a reasonable $15-20, and Miso enjoys popularity among local Japanese diners.

Ocean Room

Sydney Opera House and Harbour form an impressive backdrop to Ocean Room, one of the city’s most iconic dining destinations.

Diners are treated to a sumptuous collection of modern Japanese cuisine prepared with local Australian produce, in a stunning, architecturally applauded interior. An award-winning wine list, along with a vibrant array of Japanese inspired cocktails can also be enjoyed in the special O Bar space.

Sake Dining Toriichi

Toriichi is an izakaya-style restaurant serving painstaking selected junmai-shu sakes, along with local chicken, sushi, Australian Wagyu Beef, and broiled free range Aussie Beef. The menu also includes oden, a one-pot dish simmered in top quality stock, and large tasting plates matched with the sake list. Visit Toriichi at lunch, for about 20 different set menu dishes between $15-20, soon to be joined by takeaway lunch boxes and healthy sushi rolls.

Sushi Bar Makoto Chatswood

Australian diners love the 20 types of uramaki, a visually impressive sushi roll with the seaweed wrapped around the inside, at Sushi Bar Makoto Chatswood. The menu includes a unique selection of hand-rolled temaki sushi, and some favourites among Japanese diners are aji (horse mackerel), saba (Spanish mackerel), nigiri sushi and inari sushi from the Kinki region of Japan, and futomaki rolls.

Makoto also offers competitively priced takeaway platters.

TonTon

Following the success of TonTon Takeaway in Chifley Plaza, TonTon at Regent Place has joined the party with the same authentic Japanese dishes made to order in a vibrant setting, also offering takeaway options and a variety of ready to go dishes as well. The signature 'TonTon Ramen' heads a variety of traditional dishes such as teriyaki, Japanese curry, udon noodles and soba noodles. Visit www.tontontakeaway.com.au for more.

Toriciya

No stone has been left unturned by Toriciya's sommelier in selecting the finest local sake and authentic shochu, to match a tast y menu featuring fresh seasonal and local fish. The restaurant interior exudes the essence of Japan, and chefs insist on preparing dishes by hand. Made with Japanese rice and traditional red rice vinegar, their sushi is a special favourite and can be enjoyed over the counter.

Watermoon

Enjoy a wide variet y of sake and some creative takes on Japanese food in the ambience of Watermoon, a bar and restaurant directly under the helm of famous Japanese sake wholesaler Kontatsu. The sake list is refreshed every t wo months, and diners have the freedom to imbibe in constant selection of around 20 brews, in an elegant wood panelled interior invoking a quintessentially Japanese essence.

Y² Izakaya

Y² izakaya serves mouth-watering and inexpensive smallplate cooking, in the Japanese izakaya tradition. As venues for socialising, and an increasingly innovative culinary influence, Izakaya are casual places serving delectable tasting plates.

This way, diners can enjoy a wide selection of different foods.

Y² takes pleasure in educating its clientele with many exotic and traditional items, exclusive to its menu.

Shop 20, 123 Liverpool St, Sydney Phone: (02) 9283-9686 www.masuya.com.au Mon-Fri 11:45-14:30 Mon-Sat 17:30-21:30 BYO

Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay West, The Rocks Phone: (02) 9252-9585 www.oceanroomsydney.com Tue-Fri 12:00-15:00 Mon-Sat 18:00-23:00 Licensed

Ground Floor 12-14 O’Connell St, Sydney Phone: (02) 9233-8181 www.masuya.com.au Mon-Fri 12:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00 Licensed

336 Victoria Ave, Chatswood Phone: (02) 9411-1838 www.masuya.com.au Mon-Sat 11:30-21:30 Sun 11:30-21:00 BYO

Chifley Plaza 2 Chifley Sq, Sydney Phone: (02) 9222-1010 Mon-Fri 11:30-15:30 Regent Place 501 George St, Sydney Phone: (02) 9267-1313 Open 7days 11:30- Licensed

18 Cammeray Rd, Cammeray Phone: (02) 9904-2277 Tue-Sun 18:00-22:00 Licensed

176 Victoria St, Potts Point Phone: (02) 9331-8850 www.watermoonrestaurant.com.au Fri-Sat 12:00-15:00 Mon-Sun 18:00-22:00 Licensed/BYO $3pp (Wine only)

2A Waters Rd, Neutral Bay Phone: (02) 9953-8808 www.y2izakaya.com Mon-Sat 18:00-Late Licensed/BYO $3pp (Wine only)

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JAPAN FOR ME

A Tale of Two Cultures General Manager, East Asian Growth Markets, Austrade

Elizabeth Masamune PSM

Eating sushi and dressing up in a kimono became par for the course during Elizabeth Masamune’s childhood in Melbourne during the 1960s, as her father helped Japanese tableware company Noritake establish a foothold in Australia. Many year s later at univer sit y, she to ok t he op p or tunit y to dig deeper and learn the Japanese language, which opened the door to a career as an interpreter and translator in Japan. Not content with simply facilitating the international business dealings of this economic powerhouse however, she leapt into t he driver ’s seat whe n an o p e nin g presented itself at Austrade, Australia’s, trade and investment development agency...

Japan and Australia share common values when it comes to the way we want to live our lives, what we want out of life, and how we like to do business, which I think can get overshadowed by the differences in culture or language. We like to be fair, equitable, honest, and have a democratic approach to the way we do things, which are qualities not necessarily shared in more developing countries.

If you’re travelling to Japan, the best thing you can do in any early relationship with the Japanese is be yourself. People get very worked up about what the protocol is, worrying that they have to bow to this level, and they have to do this and they have to do that. If you do all that perfectly that’s nice, but Japanese people rarely ever judge a visiting foreigner because they didn’t bow to the right level or made some cultural gaffe. They’re extremely forgiving, and extremely kind people. In fact, they’re so kind and polite that you could use the most terrible Japanese phrase, for example, but if you were making an effort at communicating in their language, they’d still smile politely, even though they had not understood a word you said, and would try and make the best of the situation.

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During my last posting in Japan, every Saturday I’d go out and buy flowers. I’d go to my little flower shop around the corner, and ask the guy “well, what about these ones?” “Oh no, they’re a bit old,” he’d insist. “I’ve already had them for four days, I wouldn’t buy them if I were you. Now these ones, they’ll last longer because I only got them yesterday.”

Most florists would want to try and sell you their older stock as quickly as they could, but this guy would not let me buy anything that he did not think was going to last me until next Saturday.

That was really nice, and when I lef t the neighbourhood I went around and gave everyone all a small present, and said thank you for being part of my life for the last four years. That’s Japan. It’s about family, and it’s about community. My father was recruited by Noritake, a Japanese tableware company, in 1958 or 1959 just before I was born, to help them establish their operations in Australia. We always had Japanese people coming to the house even when I was a very small baby, so I had a very early introduction into Japanese culture. It was a very special connection for me, and I just grew up with Japan in my life. I was asked to dinner at about

8 years old to one of their houses, had to put on a yukata, and have sukiyaki. I started eating sushi when I was about 9, when there was only one sushi restaurant in Melbourne at that stage.

the place to go, similar to what China is today. I was there for the boom time, and then the burst of the bubble. As we got into the late 90s and early 2000s, I think Japan was forced out of necessity to deal quite rigorously and severely with its own issues in order to change and survive.

I actually lived in Japan from 1986, right through to 1996, for 10 years, working for Austrade for most of By 20 05 the relationship bet ween Japan and that time. I met my husband on about year 5 of that Australia had started to shift, and a lot of that had 10 year stretch, got married, and in 1996, we moved to do with the contraction of the domestic market in to Indonesia, where I was appointed as Austrade’s Japan, the change in Japanese companies’ ambitions Trade Commissioner for Japan in Asia. I left Japan and focus, and of course, the gradual rise of China, for 11 years, becoming Senior Trade Commissioner India, other big markets around the region that in Vietnam, and then Senior Trade Commissioner in Aus t ralia n e e d e d to Korea before returning start to engage in. The to Japan as Senior positioning of Australia Trade Commis sioner in the A sia- Pacific, in Tokyo. During that and the positioning of period, one of the Australia as a market in things that I learned to its own right, started do was to look at Japan to take on much more from the outside, and significance in the to see Japan and the "I just grew up with Japan in my life" minds of the Japanese.

Japanese the way that What I also saw over other people saw them. t h e la s t p e r i o d t hat When you live in Japan, I was in Japan from you’re always looking at 2 0 0 7-2 011 w a s t h e Japan from the inside, sudden realisation through Japanese eyes, on the part of the so to speak.

Japanese that Australia weathered the GFC a In Indonesia I lot better than most discovered that it was other economies. In ex tremely hard for the search for growth me as a foreigner to opportunities, we be accepted by the found a lot more Japanese in the ver y A World of Tranquility is an exquisite photo investment from closed community collection by Yoshimitsu Masamune, with Japanese companies that they had created, text translated by Elizabeth Masamune c o m i n g d o w n h e r e, and it was much more and a realisation that Australia is actually a fairly difficult than talking to people in Tokyo. They all prospective domestic market in its own right. kept on saying what wonderful Japanese I spoke. I was very frustrated, thinking nobody would take me I think the strong commercial links between Australia seriously, but after about a year or so, the pieces fell and Japan in commodities and resources will remain into place. I was then accepted into their community as a key pillar of the bilateral relationship, but the and it allowed me to get on with the job, but I people to people links, and the desire to build the realised that the concept of mura shakai, insular Australia-Japan partnership into something greater village society, is alive and well in some of these large will move us in new directions. There’ll be more communities that the Japanese create for themselves extensive Japanese involvement in the Australian overseas. domestic economy.

In the 80s when I was studying Japanese, Japan was JAPAN FOR ME

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JAPAN FOR ME

The Way of the Radio DJ CEO, Past Present Future Ltd.

Chris Glenn

Chris Glenn was enchanted by his grandfather’s tales of Japan as a kid growing up in Adelaide, and developing an interest in Japanese culture and history, he decided to embark on a student exchange program after high school. Embracing the challenge and thriving in his new surroundings, the experience fanned the flames of a passion for Japan which, even after returning to Australia and realising his childhood dream of becoming a radio DJ, called on him to go back. So Chris packed his bags and combined his two loves into one, settling in Nagoya to become a bilingual radio and TV personality, start a radio school, and even learn how to make samurai armour!

I went to the zoo one day in April just about six months after coming to Nagoya in ‘93, and as I came out, there was a guy out the front wearing Japanese armour handing out pamphlets. He was inviting people to come back to his armour workshop, where they could dress up in armour and have a photograph taken together to celebrate the Boys’ Day national holiday. It’s now been renamed Children’s Day, but boys still dress up in samurai armour, or receive ornamental gifts of it, as a token of protection.

It turned out that he was one of only 11 remaining armour craftsmen in Japan, and of course I’m into history, and he’s into history, so he invited me to his workshop. I guess he understood that I really did have an appreciation for the samurai, and he said “would you like to make a helmet? I’ll teach you.” So I became his apprentice for a while, one of his first. Once I’d built my own helmet of course I wanted the whole thing, so I basically made my own suit of armour!

I’m a member of the Japan Armor and Weapons Research and Preservation Society, and we take part in battle re-enactments where I wear it. Probably the

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biggest was Sekigahara in the year 2000, part of the 400th anniversary of the battle, where 850 people in armour re-enacted the battle on the actual site. The original victory of the Tokugawa forces at Sekigahara in 1600 unified Japan after over 150 years of bloody conflict and political intrigue, and Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu established a samurai government which ruled until the restoration of Emperor Meiji in 1868.

There’s only 14 castles still remaining from the feudal period of Japanese history, in any existence, and four of those - Inuyama, Matsumoto, Hikone, and of course Himeji - are National Treasures. Inuyama, which is just north of Nagoya, is the oldest remaining castle in Japan. If you go to a castle, there’s a lot of culture, and a lot of history, and that’s where the samurai were, so you get to see something interesting.

I’ve always been a fanatic on Japanese history and culture. I first came to Japan in 1985 when I was 16, on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Sapporo. The reason I’d chosen Japan was because I wanted to go somewhere that was completely different from Australia. Naturally the language, culture, history,

and the people - the way they think, the way they act - everything is completely different. It was a challenge for me. Would I be able to fit in?

A lot of the inspiration was from my grandfather.

Of course during the war, he fought against the Japanese in Indonesia, through New Guinea, and up into the Philippines. Unlike many Australians, once it was over my grandfather thought well, they were the enemy, now they’re our friends. He was a school teacher, and when he retired in the early seventies he went to Japan and spent about six months touring the country, and of course as a child I heard all these fantastic stories from him. So I guess that was the first seed.

learn, and it was a good experience. Realising that I only had a year meant that I ended up getting a bit too deep at times, so of course getting back to Australia was almost like reverse culture shock.

When all the Australian exchange students were going home, a group that had been to Sweden arrived in Tokyo, and we all went back to Australia together. You could see the difference on the plane then. The kids that had gone to Japan were all sitting at the front of the plane, very well behaved and quiet, bowing to each other, and eating their food quietly. The guys in the back who had all been to Sweden were sitting smoking and drinking beer, throwing things at each other, and being loud and raucous. That alone was a shock. We’d all been Japanified, to an extent.

The second seed would have been in primary school.

Names of various From the age of 8 countries were written I wanted to be a d ow n o n a p i e ce of helicopter pilot or a paper and dropped radio DJ, and af ter I into a hat, and we had got back from Japan to choose the country. in January of ‘86, I got Yugoslavia, but I started attending the kid next to me got the South Australian Japan so we swapped, School of Bradcasting. b e c aus e his p arent s Then inMarch before had emigrate d from I’d got ten any where Yu g o s l a v i a . A y e a r near completing radio la te r in hi g h s c h o o l "Once I’d built my own helmet of course I school, I scored a job my histor y teacher wanted the whole thing, so I basically made at 5MU in Murray quit through the my own suit of armour!"

Bridge, and t wo and year because of a a half years later got heart attack, and the headhunted and went to 5DN in Adelaide. I was 21 sports teacher became our history teacher. He or 22, and I’d made it to cap city radio which was knew nothing, so he said pick a country outside fantastic, but I still had this desire to get back to of Australia and write a report on it. I took my Japan. I thought well, I’ve done what I wanted to report from the previous year and rewrote it, added do, I’ve been in radio in Australia, I’ve got this far, some new bits and pieces, and that cemented the there’s not much further I can go up. Maybe I can argument - Japan, that looks interesting - it’s got stay at the same station and get a morning shift a long history and a different culture, could be a eventually, but that could take years. Or, do I take good challenge. From there it was basically a case of the opportunity now to go back to Japan? And I knowing that I only had a year in Japan, and trying did. Within three months of arriving back in Japan in to make the most of it.

‘93, I got picked up by a radio station starting up in Nagoya, and I’ve been here ever since.

When I first arrived, I spoke five words. It was a challenge to get on with the other kids at school, and communicate with the teachers, and of course Japan World (japanworld.info) is a new website my host family for instance. I was very lucky in that from Past Present Future Ltd especially for Japan fans, with information on culture, history, my host families, all four of them, spoke no English shopping and more. whatsoever. So in order to communicate I had to JAPAN FOR ME

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So Cool, So Japan!

Whether it’s the sight of robed monks sending a quick text message, or skyscrapers towering in front of distant peaks, Japan is a country that

Ryokan www.ryokan.or.jp If you’re in search of traditional Japan, look no further than a ryokan. Typified by graceful sloping rooves, calming wood panelling and exquisite gardens, these inns have been shaped by centuries of histor y and capture the essence of elegant Japanese simplicity.

Fuseya were the ancient predecessors of m o d e r n r yo k a n, b a s i c r e s t h o u s e s fo u n d e d by altruistic Buddhist monks during the Nara Period (710-784). Over years that followed, they developed steadily to accommodate increasing numbers of religious pilgrims, merchants and feudal lords with their entourage, refining the key elements of the ryokan experience today – relaxing baths, fine food, and impeccable service.

Guests change into slippers at the front door, and don their yukata, a light cotton kimono, after the bathing ritual. Interiors are quintessentially Japanese with tatami mats, sliding doors and paper screens, often accompanied by therapeutic hot spring baths.

constantly surprises its guests with contrast. Despite leading the world in technological wizardry, it preserves a special place for tradition alongside modernity. So Cool, So Japan presents a selection of highlights from this sophisticated, yet down to earth culture.

©Japan Ryokan Association/©JNTO

Ryokan Gojyuan Discover traditional Japan in the heart of Sydney Visit our Japanese style bed and breakfast in the leafy suburb of Balmain, 10 minutes from the Sydney CBD, for workshops on traditional Japanese art and craft. Tatami rooms and a bath house soon to come...

208 Darling St, Balmain NSW 2041

www.ryokangojyuan.com

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So Cool, So Japan!

Tokyo www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp Greater Tokyo is a mega-city with a population of 34.2 million, and is the capital of the world’s third-largest economy. A centre of cutting-edge technology, gourmet food, art, music and culture, it is an essential inclusion on the itinerary of any visit to Japan.

Geographically, Tok yo is spread over the southwest part of east Japan facing the Pacific Ocean, and includes the isolated Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands in its administrative zone.

Unifying Japan after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu established his samurai government in Tokyo, which was known as Edo in those days. It has been the capital of Japan ever since, and has undergone two remarkable recoveries after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and the Firebombing of Tokyo in 1945.

Many of the most interesting discoveries to be made in Tokyo lie on the Yamanote Line, a loop encircling the hear t of the city. Shinjuku Station is a major terminal on the line used by an

astonishing average of 3.6 million people every day, moving through Tokyo's fast-paced shopping and amusement quarter. Bustling South and East Shinjuku are ideal for shopping, people watching, movies, or eating and drinking. West Shinjuku on the other hand, is the place for strolling along wide boulevards and Tokyo-viewing from the tops of soaring skyscrapers.

Nearby Roppongi has a trendy nightlife district, which is popular among international visitors, and also features many art galleries and excellent shopping. Key entertainment destinations include Roppongi Hills, which houses the Mori Art Museum and the Tokyo City View observatory, and Tokyo Midtown, which includes the Suntory Museum of Art. Many of the attractions around Tok yo are

well integrated with accommodation and dining facilities, exemplified by the in-house art exhibitions and collaborative projects at the Park Hotel in Shiodome.

Discover Cool Japan at Park Hotel Tokyo

©Y.Shimizu/©JNTO

Park Hotel Tokyo (1-7-1 Higashi-Shimbashi, Minatoku, Tokyo) has a policy of hosting in-house creative projects that provide an enhanced experience for guests and promote cool Japan, including the 'Art colours' series, which reflects seasonal hues and has featured stunning Ukiyo-e paintings and prints. The Colors of Summer Par ty has also been held in support with additional visual art and music, together with Dishes in Colors of Summer, a gourmet celebration of cuisine inspired by the exhibition.

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Tokyo Skytree Mount Fuji www.tokyo-skytree.jp Tok yo Sk y tree is a 634m free-standing digital broadcasting tower in the hear t of downtown Tokyo, and was recognized as the world’s tallest on 17 November 2011 by the Guinness World Records Company.

The Skytree was officially declared open on 22 May 2012, much to the delight of ticket holders waiting to visit the Tokyo Skytree Tembo Galleria at 450m. Lower down at a mere 350m is the Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck, containing the Skytree Café, the Skytree Shop, and Sky Restaurant 634.

634 can be pronounced as ‘mu-sa-shi’ in the old fashioned Japanese way of counting, forming a symbolic link to the old province of Musashi in which the Skytree stands today. It dwarfs the 333m Tokyo Tower, which was also once the world’s tallest broadcasting tower when in was completed in 1958. A host of skyscrapers exceeding 200m have mushroomed throughout central Tokyo in subsequent decades, and after Japanese television broadcasting went completely digital in July 2011, stations have been faced with the need for a more powerful transmitter.

Tokyo Skytree is designed to symbolise sori (concave curves) and mukuri (convex curves), two hallmarks of Japanese architecture and design found on swords and traditional rooves. Beautifully illuminated with two distinct colour arrangements alternating from night to night, Tokyo Skytree is also a stone’s throw from the famous landmark of Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, and embodies the striking contrast between past and present found throughout Japan.

www.fujisan.ne.jp Climbing the 3,776m Mt Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak, is a rite of passage for many, undertaken during the summer months of July and August. The sunrise above clouds from the summit is breathtaking, and a truly memorable way to experience Japan.

In order to time this perfectly, climbers begin with an early evening assault from halfway up the mountain, which is accessible by road, and spend a night in one of the mountain huts before final glory the following morning.

There are three main routes that ascend Mt Fuji, offering a variety of views and terrain between them. The Fujinomiya Trail begins from furthest up the mountain at 2,400m, and has the added benefit of a guidance point and clinic at its eighth station, which is open for a few weeks from late July to mid August. As well as being prone to unpredictable weather, Mt Fuji is just high enough to experience the symptoms of altitude sickness, so be well prepared and climb slowly to avoid an unplanned stopover here.

The Subashiri Trail, starting from 2,000m, and the Gotemba Trail from 1,400m offer two more routes to the summit of Mt Fuji, and are generally chosen by serious, experienced climbers who want to enjoy the journey as much as the final destination.

The popularity of climbing Mt Fuji means that trails can be bumper to bumper at times during the height of the Japanese holiday season in late July and August, so the trick to a more relaxing ascent is to go in early July as soon as the trails open.

©Akira Okada/©JNTO

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The Bullet Train Anime The bullet train, or shinkansen in Japanese, covers over 2,500 kilometres across the Japanese islands of Honshu and Kyushu, and its Tokaido Line, which links Tokyo and Osaka, is the busiest high speed rail network in the world with 151 million passengers annually.

The Tokaido Shinkansen was completed in 1964, in conjunction with the Tokyo Olympics, and is named after an ancient trade route between Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka known as the Tokaido.

I t w a s t h e b r a i n c h i l d of H i d e o S h i m a , a Japanese Government Railways engineer who commenced with the company during the days of steam locomotives in 1925. Shima contributed design innovations to Japan’s passenger and freight trains in the years that followed, and in the process, struck upon the idea of installing electric motors in individual rail cars.

This has become the defining feature of the shinkansen, along with air suspension and air conditioning. The motor system enables the trains to travel at speeds of up to 300 km/h with ease, and decelerate safely.

67 tunnels were constructed through Japan’s mountainous countryside to complete the Tokaido Shinkansen and on top of this, it required some 3,000 bridges in order to maintain a smooth track gradient. By 1965, it had halved the 6 hours and 40 minutes required to travel bet ween Tok yo and Osaka on a conventional express, bringing enormous benefits to business and tourism, and acting as a catalyst for the ongoing construction of more networks.

©Japan Convention Services, Inc./©JNTO

Anime is Japanese animation, traditionally based on stories from manga comics. It first caught the public eye during the 19 60s through the work of creator Osamu Tezuka, who is revered as the godfather of modern anime, and now has a passionate fan base throughout Asia, Europe, North America and Australia, where names like Astro Boy and Son Goku have become part of the popular imagination.

Originally a manga artist himself, Tezuka used Astro Boy and many of his other famous characters to pioneer TV animation in Japan, also developing the classic artistic mould of anime characters – big eyes, long legs and a healthy head of hair.

Digital technology has revolutionised Tezuka’s original anime production techniques, and the Internet has subsequently provided a vehicle for its exploding popularity. International fans are easily able to watch or download films and series online, leading to a heightened interest in Japanese culture and language as a result.

At their most fer vent, anime fans can be seen dressed as their favourite characters at cosplay contests – a term coined in Japanese by grafting together the English phrase ‘costume play.’ Handmade elaborate cosplay costumes can be seen on parade in capital cities around Australia during the Madman National Cosplay Championship, where fans strut their stuff to see who will win the grand prize of a trip to Tokyo, and experience the home of anime culture.

My Neighbor Totoro©1988 Nibariki-G So Cool, So Japan!

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