Experience Niseko - Winter 2016-17

EXPERIENCE

JAPAN’S NO.1 SKI RESORT

VOL. 2 WINTER 2016/17

experienceniseko.com

ITADAKIMASU!

RIDE LIKE A

POWDER PRO!

YEAR-ROUND RESTAURANTS

4 Seasons

SKI EQUIPMENT

BUYER’S GUIDE

in Niseko

My

A PHOTO JOURNAL

IMMERSE YOURSELF ONSEN GUIDE

Favourite Things

Tips from the locals

LOCAL

HEROES THE MAKING OF

5

NISEKO STORIES

THREE INSPIRING BUSINESS OWNERS

PLUS! EVENTS, GEAR REVIEW & MORE

Compliment your Niseko holiday with airport transfers tailored just for you.

Private & Comfortable.

No fuss. No hassle. No delays.

Door-to-Door Convenience.

Affordable & Efficient.

Ride in style in a spacious, climate-controlled luxury vehicle.

No changing trains. No dragging your bags through stations.

No standing around.

Pickup and drop off at your hotel or chalet.

Low price, with more room for your golf or ski equipment.

www.skybus.co.jp Tel: 0136-555-601

The official international snowsports school of Niseko Grand Hirafu Resort

Book now: www.gondolasnowsports.com 204 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0081 JAPAN • Tel: 0136 23 2665

N E W FO R 2016/2017 S E A SO N !

Whether you’re a first-timer, an experienced powder-hound or just looking for safe and experienced instruction for the kids, GoSnow has you covered.

• • • •

Check out our main base next to the high-speed Hirafu Gondola.

And with more priority lift lines this winter and a new location at the Family Run, it’s never been easier to get started.

Whether you’re a first-timer, an experienced powder-hound or just looking for safe and experienced instruction for the kids, GoSnow has you covered.

Check out our main base next to the high-speed Hirafu Gondola. And with more priority lift lines this winter and a new location at the Family Run, it’s never been easier to get started.

MORE PRIORITY LIFT LINES MORE INSTRUCTORS EXTRA LOCATION AT FA MILY RUN 3 MAGIC CA RPETS

N E W FO R 2016/2017 SE A SO N !

• • • •

MORE PRIORITY LIFT LINES M O R E I N ST RU CTO R S E XT R A LO CAT I O N AT FA M I LY RU N 3 M AG I C CA R P E TS

204 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0081, Japan Tel: +81 136 23 2665 Email: lessons@gondolasnowsports.com

Editor’s Note It’s been a busy summer here in Niseko with a record number of visitors enjoying the green season. Niseko is world famous as a winter resort, but there are plenty of people here doing their bit to show everyone that this is actually a fantastic place year-round.

In this edition, we wanted to introduce some of those people who are responsible for the food and activities that make Niseko such a wonderful place to visit throughout the year.

This summer we also launched our website, www.experienceniseko.com, and has rapidly become a go-to source of information for those interested in all things Niseko.

As with all things in life, none of this would be possible without the help of many people, not to mention nowhere near as much fun!

I’d like to thank all those who contributed their time for interviews and advice, especially those involved in writing the articles without whose contributions the magazine would never have reached this point.

Enjoy the articles and photos in our second edition and we look forward to welcoming you back to Niseko again soon— any time of year!

CHRIS PICKERING

Niseko valley at night Summit Mt. Yotei, August 2016 Hidde Hageman: This photo was taken during a night that I spent on Mt. Yotei. It was simply amazing to be on the mountain in these conditions. We were able to see both the stars and the entire Niseko valley.

A truly beautiful sight to behold.

EXPERIENCE NISEKO Vol. 2, Winter 2016-17 www.experienceniseko.com Published by HTM KK, 91-1 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0081, Japan Cover photo of Maad Maude from 5 Niseko Stories (see page 50) Design: 43 North Design

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CONTENTS Niseko News & Event Guide 8 My Favourite Things Get the

The Making of 5 Niseko Stories 50

insiders’ recommendations on where to go and what to do in Niseko 20

Tee Time Niseko’s world-class golf courses 56

Itadakimasu! Discover why

Niseko: The Perfect Place to Raise Kids 58

Niseko is now a year-round destination for food lovers 24

6 Essential Tips for Buying Ski Equipment 30

Day Tripper Inspiration and ideas to help you plan your trip to Niseko 60 Four Seasons in Niseko

Gear Review 32

A photo journal 62

Ride Like a Powder Pro 36

Go With The Flow Niseko’s first mountain bike flow trail 74

Local Heroes What brings people from far and wide to set-up shop in Niseko? 38

Rising High The current state of the real estate market in Niseko 78

Immerse Yourself Our guide to the best onsen in the area 46

Trail Guide 80

Sake & Cheese A match made

Resort Map 82

in heaven 48

EXPERIENCE NISEKO

7

ODIN PLACE While it was sad to see the iconic wooden building that once housed the original Abucha knocked down over the summer, it has been really exciting watching the new Odin Place building go up in time for this winter. Full details of what is inside are included later in the magazine, but you’ll find some exciting food options, a couple of cool sounding bars, Explore Niseko booking centre and several retail options.

You literally cannot miss the building on the crossroads by Seicomart!

Niseko News

A brief digest of some of the things making headlines this season in Niseko...

NEW LIFTS In Niseko-Hirafu, the resort has upgraded the old King Triple lift over the summer.

This has resulted in the lift changing from a triple to a quad (still with a hood to keep the wind off) and the starting point of the lift has been pulled down below the Hirafu Gondola, making it easier to access more of the mountain.

The plan for 2017 is to work on upgrading the Family Pair lift, probably upgrading to a quad lift taking people higher up the mountain above the Family Run. Niseko Village are also increasing their lift infrastructure to plan ahead for the arrival of the Ritz Carlton. They have been working on a new beginner run with Japan’s first “mixed” lift (featuring gondola cabins and regular chairs) being put in over the top.

The lift will run from the proposed site of the Ritz and there are rumours of more Kasara Townhouses being built.

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Niseko brings home gold again In 2015 Niseko took home every single prize in the World Ski Awards for Japan. Again! Niseko United was Japan’s Best Ski Resort for the 3rd year running, meaning it has now won every single edition of the award!

And what about 2016? Well, we hate to be boring…but once more Niseko took home all the Japanese prizes! Best Resort, Best Ski Hotel, Best Ski Boutique Hotel and Best Ski Chalet. Boom!

AYA NISEKO There have been a few building projects going on this summer, but the biggest and most impressive must be the new ski-in ski-out hotel located next to The Vale Niseko. AYA Niseko (image below) has over 300 beds and all the amenities expected in a modern hotel development here in Niseko: onsen, massage, café, restaurant and bar. They even have a few extras and we are looking forward to checking out the gym, yoga studio and art gallery.

With ski-in ski-out access to the Family Run it will be difficult to miss!

SKI-IN SKI-OUT DEVELOPMENTS COMING SOON While AYA Niseko is opening its doors this winter, Skye Niseko (pictured) and Maples have started laying the foundations for their development over the next couple of years. All in all, these three ski-in ski-out hotels will be adding close to 1,000 beds to the top of the village as well as a host of restaurants and other services. Skye Niseko and Maples are both due to be completed in time for winter 2018.

GO GO GOSNOW! Since opening in the winter of 2014/15 GoSnow has grown into what is now the largest international Snowsports school in Japan – less than 3 years later! The big news for this winter are the two new magic carpets and learning areas – one in front of AYA Niseko (where there is also a kids’ base in the hotel) and the other underneath the Holiday Pair lift at the main Gondola Base.

In addition, the resort has extended the priority lift lines for GoSnow and Grand Hirafu ski schools to include the Family Pair and Holiday Pair lifts, in addition to the Centre 4 (Alpen Quad) and high-speed Hirafu Gondola.

With the same service in Hanazono for Hanazono Powder Guides, there are no excuses for missing any time on the mountain in your lesson or guiding product!

NISEKO SPA

BIG BRAND HOTELS

A new spa service is coming to Haven this winter in the middle village in Hirafu. With a planned opening for December 20th, Niseko Spa will provide a range of facials, body treatments, massages, nail-art and hairdressing.

Experienced French beautician Melodie Frejaville will be joining to act as manager and head therapist. Melodie has worked in some of the top salons in Paris as well as Hammer Springs in New Zealand.

More information is available online at www.nisekospa.com

The strength of the Japanese yen may have an impact on developments in Niseko, but probably not on these two: Park Hyatt will be opening a hotel and residences in the Hanazono Resort, planned for 2019, and a small Ritz Carlton is due to open in 2020 over in Niseko Village. Watch this space for more news on these exciting international brand developments!

MIDDLE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENTS Below the 343 there have been many houses completed over the summer and

10 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

also a few smaller sized condominium buildings. Flow, Haven and Aspect all open their doors to guests for the first time in 2016 offering a range of services— we’re pretty excited to find out more about the Niseko Spa down in the Haven building!

FEEL THE RHYTHM Hirafu’s biggest rental and retail store has expanded once more. More details on the stores in Odin Place can be found later in the magazine, but the old “Beats” store has been refitted into “Rhythm Summit”.

This shop will provide all that is required to get you safely into the backcountry.

Odin Place opens its doors So the old wooden building on the corner of the Hirafu Crossroads is no more…but now we have a new big shiny (mostly) wooden building! It might only be three floors, but you are not going to miss it! Housing retail stores, including the new Burton store, Explore Niseko and several food and beverage outlets, it’s going to become a real hub for shopping and après-ski in the centre of the village.

EAT There will be three main offerings for food and beverage in Odin Place. First up, on the 2nd floor leading out towards the main Rhythm store, there are two options: Koko and Mûsu. Koko is a take-away bakery, offering bread, juice and coffee. With wondrous treats baked either in Kutchan or on the premises, you’ll probably just want to wander in for the smell! Open from 7am-7pm you’ll be able to pick up a bite to eat any time.

Next door, resplendent with both indoor and outdoor open fireplaces is Mûsu. Remember this name because it will become your après-ski home! Open from breakfast until midnight, you can take in a healthy plate, or come back after 4pm when it will turn into the après-ski destination of Hirafu. Soak yourself in cocktails or wine by the fire while looking over the crowds on Hirafuzaka…go on then, why not?!

On the top floor is The Alpinist. Serving fondues, raclettes and other hearty alpine cuisine this is where you settle down to fill yourself up after a hard day on the slopes. Open from 11am until late it will doubtless be another unique addition to the incredible dining scene here in Niseko.

Even better news is that both Koko and Mûsu will be open year-round, adding to the growing number of fantastic restaurants serving people in all four seasons here in Niseko.

We’ve also heard whispers about The Tap Room on the top floor as well.

The Tap Room will be welcoming and cosy craft beer bar and 22 seat restaurant with chicken rotisserie. A Japanese chef, 8 beer taps (including the only Hirafu bar to serve local Niseko Beer on tap) this is yet another reason to head to Odin Place this winter. With beers starting at 700 yen and a whole chicken for 2,500 yen you won’t be disappointed!

SHOP If you get tired of eating and drinking, there’s plenty else to do. You can check out the new Burton store to get kitted out in the latest gear. Or if you are looking for something a bit more fancy, head to Zaka, which is going to be stocking a range of luxury outerwear and bringing a touch of European opulence to Niseko’s streets! So pop in if you fancy yourself something a bit “chic”!

If you’re more of a backcountry type than a fashion queen, you can satiate yourself at Rhythm Summit just across the road (in the old Beats shop). With an emphasis on safety, Summit aims to provide backcountry enthusiasts with everything they need to experience the big mountain adventure of their dreams.

At the time of going to press the final store list was still subject to confirmation, but there are rumours of something exciting on the top floor so we suggest you head up there to find out what!

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Yukitopia

New Year Events

Night Skiing

Night Skiing Opens

Event Guide

In mid-December the four resorts that make up Niseko United flip on the main breaker and light up the slopes for night skiing! If you’ve never experienced it, this year is the time to go for a night run!

There’s plenty happening in and around Niseko this winter!

WHEN: December 10, 2016 – March 20, 2017 WHERE: Niseko United Resorts TIME: 4:30pm - 9:00pm (last lifts at 8.30pm) INFO: www.niseko.ne.jp

Find out more online at experienceniseko.com/events

Yukitopia Festival This year marks the fifth year of Kutchan town’s Yukitopia Festival. The event features a range of spectacles such as dance groups and snowmobile shows and typically tends to focus on a range of activities and competitions that are open to active participation – as well as lots of local food stalls.

Highlights in the past have been snow tubing competitions, treasure hunts in the snow and water running/sliding contests.

It’s the place to go if you want to see people trying to snowboard across an icy pool of water! Like all Japanese festivals there will be a range of food and games to try and some free samples from around the Niseko area!

WHEN: February 18 - 19, 2017 WHERE: Asahigaoka Ski Hill, Kutchan town TIME: 4:30pm - 8:30pm INFO: town.kutchan.hokkaido.jp/tourism/yukitopia-festival/

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Christmas in the Resorts Christmas each year always brings old favourites and new surprises. In recent years companies around the resorts have taken it upon themselves to sponsor events like reindeer rides and visits from Santa.

Sometimes you will even catch a glimpse of the big man tearing down the slopes!

Don’t be afraid to get out and explore the resorts at this time of year; you’ll see lovely illuminations and never know what kind of festive event you might stumble across.

WHEN: December 20th - 25th WHERE: All of Niseko TIME: Varies by event

New Year’s Eve in Niseko New Year’s Eve is a special time of year in Japan and is marked with a range of interesting events and activities. As with the Christmas holidays, Niseko is home to many regular programs as well as a range of one-time events that are held over this festive time. Each of the resorts typically puts on a New Year’s Eve countdown, some like Annupuri offering free night rides, and others like Grand Hirafu featuring fireworks and torchlight skiing. Cultural activities like rice-cake (mochi) making are put on by the Alpen Hotel, while Hanazono Resort usually holds a traditional Japanese kagami-biraki ceremony, featuring the opening of a sake barrel for good luck in the new year.

WHEN: December 31st to January 3rd WHERE: All of Niseko TIME: Varies by event

Coming of Age Day – Seijin-no-hi Held the second Monday of January each year, this national holiday in Japan celebrates young adults turning twenty. Held across the country, it isn’t uncommon to see young men and women dressed up in traditional kimono and sporting elaborate hairstyles. If you are outside the resort areas in Niseko, you might see groups of young adults walking to convention halls or local temples ready to celebrate this significant moment in their lives!

WHEN: January 9, 2017 WHERE: Japan-wide, national holiday TIME: All day, early evening

Sapporo Winter Asian Games From 17-26 February 2017, Sapporo is hosting the Asian Winter Games. While none of the events are in Niseko, it still might be worth seeing if you can fit an event or two into your schedule before or after your stay in Niseko! Nothing better than watching some Alpine skiing or snowboarding over at Sapporo Teine Ski Area and then hitting the slopes yourself!

WHEN: February 17 - 26, 2017 WHERE: Sapporo Area (event venues vary) TIME: Varies by event INFO: www.sapporo2017.org/en/

Sapporo Snow Festival Sapporo’s Snow Festival, Yuki Matsuri, is renowned across Japan and around the world. Attracting over 2 million visitors each year, you might be amazed to learn that it started with an exhibition of just six snow sculptures made by local middle and high school students in 1950. Marvel over snow and ice sculptures ranging from the size of a car to the size of a building, some made by local amateurs and others by professional sculpting teams that travel the world. The Sapporo Snow Festival makes for an excellent day trip—be sure to swing by at night as the sculptures get lit up and are especially beautiful!

WHEN: February 6 - 12, 2017 WHERE: Sapporo Odori Koen and Susukino Area TIME: All day INFO: www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp/

Sapporo Snow Festival

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival An excellent choice for a day trip and a particularly great choice for a romantic evening walk, Otaru’s Snow Light Path Festival is a winter spectacle that is always worth making the time for. Glowing ice and snow candles line the already picturesque Otaru Canal and floating candles illuminate the icy winter water. Attracting half-a-million visitors last year, word has spread quickly about this event and you can be sure that it will be just as popular this coming winter!

WHEN: February 3 - 12, 2017 WHERE: Otaru Canal, Otaru City (90-minute drive from Niseko) TIME: Evening INFO: www.yukiakarinomichi.org/

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival

Doll Festival - Hina Matsuri Hina Matsuri is a nationwide holiday and event celebrated across Japan. If you are in and around the Niseko area, you will likely see people setting up small displays of ornate dolls in their homes and shops.

Many of the hotels and resort homes throughout the Niseko area will also set up displays in their lobbies. Be sure to keep an eye out for them popping up leading up to the actual day!

WHEN: March 3, 2017 WHERE: Japan-wide, national holiday TIME: All day

Asian Winter Games

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A S A N C T U A RY I N T HE HEA R T O F N IS E K O .

A S A N CT U A RY IN TH E H EAR T O F N ISEKO.

Contemporary Japanese design, superb vistas, central Niseko Hirafu Village convenience – AYA Niseko is a new luxury condominium hotel located on the Grand Hirafu Resort ski slope, with immediate connection to the lifts.

All apartments and penthouses are fully serviced, and are finished with underfloor heating, air-conditioning and high-end audio-visual entertainment.

Our experienced and dedicated team of hotel staff provide a superb range of services and in-house amenities including spa, gym, yoga room, restaurant, art gallery and more.

Ski-in ski-out luxury redefined.

Opening December 2016.

B OOK ONL I NE

www.ayaniseko.com

Good evening! How’s the trip going?

Very fun! We have been chilling and relaxing.

This is your second time in Niseko. What have you done so far?

Snowboarding of course! Also a snowmobiling tour, rafting…everyone likes rafting very much! At first, we were worried that it would be scary, that we would fall in the cold water a lot. But actually it was very fun—everyone had a good time together!

How was the spring snowboarding? How did you find the snow conditions?

Well…we thought snow conditions would be very icy and not good for snowboarding, but it was quite good—much better than we thought. We wished we’d had more time to snowboard. Niseko has different levels of ski courses—easy, medium and advanced —which are good for both beginner and advanced riders to have fun and at the same time challenge themselves.

We also heard you joined Thai “Snowater” fight at Ki Niseko in celebration of the Thai New Year. How did it feel to be representing Thailand?!

Ashamed! [laughter] We wanted to stay in the competition longer actually but we couldn’t. We were very proud to be Thai representatives, to show our pride by losing in a minute!

Next year come back for revenge!

Niseko is quite new to Thai visitors, including me. I first saw my friend posting their photo on Instagram. But I had no idea where it was at all, we didn’t even know Niseko. After coming here, I can say that I particularly like the spring time (April).

You get good weather—not too hot and not too cold, beautiful nature, good food and a variety of activities to try. There are great conditions for snowboarding, rafting— which everyone was excited about—and snowmobiling.

So you clearly love Niseko! Will you be staying this summer as well?

I do really want to come back again, each time I come here, I see things in Niseko differently. I hope we’ll see something wonderful in summer too. I am sure my family would enjoy it if the weather was very good!

Fantastic! We’ll see you soon then... And lastly, can you give me three words that you think best describe Niseko?

Let me think… I would say “private”, “fun” and “relaxing”.

Follow Taew on Instagram @taewaew_natapohn

Taew Natapohn gives Niseko the thumbs up Thai celebrity Taew Natapohn, who works in film, TV and as a Shiseido model, visited our snowy winter paradise not once, but twice last season! We tracked her down in April to find out how her second trip was going and to see if we could tempt her into coming back for summer! And it might just have worked...

BY SIRADA TRANGHIRANYATORN

EXPERIENCE NISEKO

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Orchestral Manoeuvres The Australian Chamber Orchestra tour Niseko again this winter—we took the opportunity to speak to Julian Thompson about why he and his fellow performers can’t stop coming back!

Please tell us a little about who you are.

I’m Julian and I’m a cellist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra is based in Sydney but we spend a lot of time touring. This year we’ll run eight tours around Australia as well as the USA twice, Switzerland, Scotland and the UK. So as well as spending quite a lot of time in concert halls and airports, I try to squeeze in as much surfing as I can back in Sydney and hanging out with my kids and wife back home. I’ve also recently taken up playing the Baroque Guitar, which is an exciting diversion from my usual cello playing antics.

When did you first come to Niseko and why?

We ran our first small music festival in Niseko back in 2010. I’d never been to Hokkaido before and I was completely beguiled the moment we arrived in

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Niseko. Since that first visit we’ve made it an absolute priority to get back just about every year—we’ve only missed one. It’s truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced and arriving direct out of the heat and humidity of the Aussie summer, it refreshes the psyche.

What keeps you coming back?

Well of course there’s the ludicrous powder! I’m a mad-keen boarder and the amount of quality snow you guys get over here is just ridiculous. I mean sometimes you just have to pinch yourself as you’re screaming down the mountain.

I love the whole scene, so many great places to eat and cosy little bars. We’ve made some great friends and I think that through these concerts we can really add something to Niseko culture as the resort continues to grow and improve.

What do you hope to achieve with the ACO events this year and in the future?

I can see a future where the festival continues to grow and our performances and relaxed concert-going become integrated into the whole Niseko ski holiday experience. A bit like in Europe and the US, where the après-ski culture is a big part of the ski holiday package, I think that we can add something special to Niseko’s culture.

A day on the slopes followed by a relaxed concert of beautiful music, for me that’s a perfect combination.

What’s your single most favourite thing about Niseko?

The powder and the people—hmmm, I guess that’s two though isn’t it…

Catch Julian and friends in concert in January 2017 right here in Niseko. More details at nisekoescapes.com/events/tognetti

My

FAVOURITE THINGS Let these locals guide you on what to do, where to go and where to eat & drink in Niseko.

INTERVIEWS BY MATT KAISER

MARI KITAMURA has been working at Ki Niseko for almost 2 years and living in the Niseko area since 2015. She loves to get out and ski when she has the chance and leads a particularly active lifestyle here in the Niseko area. She particularly likes yoga as it is an activity that she can do both through local businesses, but also year-round on her own time to fit around her busy work schedule.

DAISUKE OSHIO, born in Hokkaido, spent his childhood in Kobe before moving to Canada for five years to study and explore the world. His return to Japan brought him to Niseko, where he has now spent the last nine years. Living in Kutchan town with his wife and four sons, Daisuke has been working with Ski Japan for the last nine years and is currently their HR Manager.

What to do: Living in Kutchan is really convenient when raising a family and it has opened up a lot of new places and activities for me and my sons. It is easy when on vacation to stick to the slopes that are closest to where you are staying, but I would recommend trying to explore other slopes in the area. Each of the four main resorts has its own advantages and interesting features, but even some of the smaller local ski fields can be interesting!

I like to take my children to Kutchan’s Asahigaoka ski hill. Their groomed runs are really fun and they have interesting features like slalom runs. As local schools use Asahigaoka for school trips, the features are often designed for children rather than adults making it an amazing ski field for families. It’s nice because Asahigaoka is a bit outside of the resort so there is almost no traffic on the slopes. It’s a great summer destination too, we love to bike over and hike up the slopes on days with good weather! There’s even a neat little paved section with small ramps, curves and bowls that is perfect for children to bike through!

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What to do: Even in the last two years, yoga has become more and more popular here in the Niseko area. Whilst I enjoy practicing on my own at home before or after work, it is always nice to get a chance to practice with others. The summer months have started attracting more and more yoga events and retreats and are drawing teachers from Okinawa, the U.K., and other parts of the world. Nowadays, there is access to weekly year-round classes through Sanctuary Niseko, and Powder Yoga runs classes all winter-long as well! It is really exciting to have more and more chances to practice and I can’t wait to see what new opportunities will come in the next year!

If you are staying over the winter, check out a Powder Yoga class or two and if you are planning a trip in the summer, don’t forget to look out for opportunities to practice with world-travelling yoga instructors! The best part of practicing yoga in Niseko is that you are constantly surrounded by the stunning natural scenery, if you are lucky you will have a wicked view of Mt. Yotei while you do your sun salutations!

PETER IM is the Guest Services Supervisor with Niseko Central. He has been with the company for 2 years and has been living in Hokkaido for the last 5. Peter is an avid skier and hiker who loves to get into the backcountry, so it is no surprise that his recommendation is about just that!

What to do: Last winter I spent more and more time in the backcountry. With the abundance of quick and quality touring options in the Niseko area it’s easy to overlook the fact that the greater Niseko area is actually surrounded by mountains on three sides. There are literally dozens of touring options less than an hour’s drive from Niseko-Hirafu. Some are quick trips that can be done before lunch while others are longer, even with possible overnight options available as well. I’ve been particularly partial to the relatively smaller mountains just to the north of Kutchan. I can literally get up a 6 am, get to the trailhead by 7 am, get a couple laps in and get down by 10 am, and have time for lunch before heading into work at 1 pm for my afternoon shift. The best part is that you will literally have the entire mountain to yourself. It is difficult to find information on backcountry spots in English, so your best bet will be to find a Japanese-speaker familiar with the area.

Make sure that you also have the proper training, equipment, and experience before heading off the slopes as well!

DAN RASCH has only been in the Niseko area for the last year, but as the local Kutchan Town Assistant Language Teacher, his perspective is one quite different from those living and working around the resorts. He couldn’t be happier with his placement in Kutchan as he loves hitting the slopes (although he claims his ability pales in comparison to his students!).

THE NINJA KID spent his younger years training secretly deep in the Niseko mountains. It was only recently that he emerged from his final test, a winter-long meditation at the bottom of Hangetsu Lake at the foot of Mt. Yotei, and began his work with GoSnow three years ago. As he doesn’t speak, he used his ninja powers to show us an image of his favourite place to get a drink so that we could pass along his recommendation.

Where to drink: When traveling with a family and children, it is always important to find activities that all can participate in. For this reason, the Niseko Adventure Centre with the well-known restaurant JoJo’s on the second floor is the best place to grab a family-friendly drink!

Ninja Kid likes to spend his off-days on the climbing wall and finish his fun-filled exercise off with an awesome JoJo’s milkshake. With a large range of different flavours, he likes to mix it up a bit each time. He particularly likes it because he is able to add a shot of protein powder which he believes is a great recipe for recovery after a long day on the slopes or climbing wall. Jojo’s also operates the “Kid’s Garden” play area in winter where the young’uns can get out of the cold and into the ball pool!

Where to eat: I’m no gourmet or ‘foodie’ but I can generally tell a delicious meal from a merely satisfying one. The problem with the Niseko area is that most of the restaurants are undeniably delicious…you just have to shell out for it. Guess that’s the price you pay living in a town as touristfriendly as this one! The place that I wanted to recommend is a bit of a break from the usual Japanese or Western-style restaurants you find around these parts.

In the heart of Kutchan’s restaurant district is a neat little Korean place called Tomone Po-cha. For groups of two-to-three, the prices and dish sizes are more than reasonable and everything’s really delicious – that is, if you don’t mind a bit of spice on, well, everything! I highly recommend the pork hotpot (Budae Jigae), those delicious Korean-pancakes (Pajeon), and of course, the Kimchi (chili-pickled cabbage).

JEMMA CLARKE has been living in Niseko and has been a member of the Nisade reservations and sales team for over 2 years. She originally hails from Christchurch, New Zealand, where she first learnt to ski and snowboard as a child. Jemma loves snowboarding in winter, particularly night skiing at Grand Hirafu and hiking, wakeboarding and running marathons in Hokkaido during the summer.

Where to go: One of my favourite year-round places to go and relax for a drink after work or after a day’s riding is Toshiro’s Bar, located just up the stairs next to Niseko Pizza. Husband and wife team, Yoko and Akinori Toshiro are so welcoming when you arrive. Yoko is always dressed beautifully in Japanese yukata, taking extra special care of each guest, and Akinori can conjure up some amazing cocktails, from the classics to a range of locally inspired creations. They also have an amazing range of both Japanese and International whiskey brands for any connoisseurs in town. This would be my number one recommendation for a place to stop by for a drink this season.

Toshiro’s Bar

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Sprout

KATIA DI SALVATORE has been working with boutique and brand hotels here in Niseko for the past three years and has spent the last eight in Japan. Currently the Chief Service Ambassador at Hilton Niseko Village, she spends a large portion of her time interacting with guests and helping them to personalize and maximize their time in Niseko!

NANOKA NIJI has been living and working in the Niseko area for just over 18 months now. Living in the Kutchan Town area, she has been working as IT Support Staff with HTM since she moved to the area.

Where to eat: If you want to get a good taste of local Japanese cuisine, I highly recommend going to the Chinese restaurant Kado in Kutchan! You might think, ‘why would a Chinese restaurant be the place to go to get Japanese food?’ but that’s because at lunch time they serve soup curry!

Soup curry is one of the most popular Hokkaido dishes, because it always features an array of fresh and vividly flavoured local vegetables.

Hokkaido soup curry originates from Sapporo and has become incredibly popular in the last ten years or so. The soup is made with lots of strong spices, similar to Indian curry, but Japanese soup curry also uses ‘dashi’ which helps cut some of the bite and helps it to fit in with the Japanese palate. If you have never tried it before, the chicken and veggie combo is the best choice. My favourite is the seafood soup curry, which gives the soupy curry broth a nice shrimp flavour!

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DENNIS VAN DEN BRINK has been in Japan for 17 years, working in the food and beverage industry and growing food organically himself around the country. He has recently taken a sabbatical from digging in the dirt to chase a few remaining dreams in food production. Living in Niseko for about 9 years now, Dennis is the owner of DNA, which operates, manages and consults in the food and beverage industry. DNA oversees Green Farm Café, Wild Bill’s, Central Kitchen and Niseko Gelato in the Niseko area as well as a variety of projects elsewhere in Japan and Asia.

Where to eat: When I lived in Tokyo I really enjoyed going to small family run restaurants. It’s the true local experience that I liked and was also a great opportunity to learn about language and culture.

There were some great spots in Waseda, Iidabashi and Ueno. I still enjoy going to these local digs and now that my Japanese is pera-pera (fluent), they are a great place to pick up on the latest gossip.

One of the great things about Japanese cuisine is its simplicity and minimalism. It is also one of the hardest types of cuisine to get right, but with the good fresh ingredients available in Hokkaido, it makes it a lot easier.

When eating out in Kutchan, where I live, I like going to Irori, the oldest place in town. It’s simple and quite smoky. Everything is chargrilled on the spot. Chiharu Sushi and Torimatsu Yakitori are also favourites. They alternate very well.

Where to go: Working and living in a popular ski resort, I always look for those quiet and hidden gems where you can just rest and have a bite (or should I say a soak?) of the true Japanese life. If you ask me, Yukichichibu is the perfect escape from the crowds in Hirafu and Niseko. It’s located deep in the national park behind Mt. Annupuri and you might feel a bit lost in the middle of nowhere if you drive there in winter – nothing but snow around, not even a radio signal!

If you are like me and cannot stand lying in the same spot for more than ten minutes, you will love Yukichichibu because there are eleven different shaped and heated outdoor baths (rotenburo) with different types of bath waters to try. What really makes the difference for me, is the mineral mud bath, exclusive for the ladies, where you can roll in the mud and come out with the smoothest skin ever! And if that’s not enough, you are even allowed to drink a cold beer while you soak and contemplate the stunning view of Chisenupuri and Iwaonupuri (just make sure you have a designated driver or taxi lined up!).

Kutchan station, I almost always go there before I need to catch a train. It is nice to sit back, relax, and have a good coffee before the long journey. My favourite is their cappuccino, but everything they make is really good. I really love all of their staff, too. They are always so kind and have something interesting to say. I love sitting around and striking up a conversation with whoever is working for the day. Besides coffee, there are quite a lot of books about the outdoors and they are free to read. Books and good coffee – to me, it’s like heaven. If you are looking for a good coffee any time this season, Sprout is where you want to go.

WANAKA YOKOO was born and raised in Niseko. She started skiing when she was three years old and was competing in mogul skiing until the 2013/2014 season. She recently came back from Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. after two years of college life. Currently she is working for a local company in Hirafu and also at Kabayama elementary school as a translator. Sadly, she will be leaving the Niseko area on her next adventure to New Zealand, beginning with a bike tour from north to south before ending up at Lake Wanaka where she intends live and work for a while.

Where to go: Sprout has been my go-to place for a couple of years. Since it is located very close to

even a selection of Chinese and Korean restaurants as well. It is about a five to ten-minute walk from Kutchan Station.

Head down Ekimae Avenue (the main road) until you see the gate of Miyako Street on the left, which is the entryway to the restaurant district. If you are ever looking for an adventure and a good meal, I highly recommend you take a walk through Kutchan’s restaurant district.

KAYO TAKAHASHI has been living in the Niseko area for the last two years. After a winter season in Niseko Village and a summer in Hirafu, she made her way to Kutchan’s Town Hall where she now works.

Where to go: When it’s time to eat, I definitely recommend that you go to the restaurant district in downtown Kutchan – a favourite with all the locals. I like the atmosphere there: it’s an eclectic mix of the old and the new. There are so many restaurants to try that it’s like exploring each time you go there and discover a new place to eat.

I have never been disappointed in terms of finding good food and nice service in the area – and I have been exploring and discovering new places for two years now! There are all kinds of cuisines to choose from, ranging from Japanese staples like sushi, soba, ramen, yakitori, hotpot and izakaya to western-style pizzerias, cafes and bakeries and

Tel: 0136-22-2121 Ki Niseko 1F 183-43 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, 044-0081 www.kiniseko.com

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╂ ! ! きます

いただ

itadakimasu!

Discover why Niseko is now a year-round destination for food lovers

24 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

Niseko is not just a winter paradise for those who spend their off-season dreaming of our light and fluffy powder, it is rapidly developing into a true year-round resort.

One of the main reasons for that is something that everyone in the world loves‌food! Japan is worldrenowned for its incredible range and quality of food which has been exported and copied (usually poorly!) all over the globe.

But within Japan, Hokkaido is regarded not only as Japan’s magical garden where all the food is grown, but more and more as the best place to eat. And of course within Hokkaido, Niseko boasts the highest concentration of unbeatable restaurants. Many of these are famous among the winter crowd and need no introduction, so this year we decided to concentrate on the restaurants that are contributing to the resort year-round.

That’s right, no summers off for these hard-working

restauranteurs! Like the rest of the village, the following restaurants take a deep breath after winter and then reload for a busy summer.

Visitors to Niseko often remark how they originally came for the snow, but they keep coming back for the food. Well, now there is every reason to come back in summer to enjoy even fresher and more delicious produce, often picked from the farm or caught from the sea that very day.

Not only can you usually get a seat without a reservation but (whisper it quietly) you can also enjoy more bang for your buck (or more yakitori for your yen) with prices in summer often significantly lower than the peak winter months. Driven by the fact everything is fresh and ingredients are cheaper, the best chefs pass this love back to the customer!

The following are just a selection but in our opinion showcase not only the restaurants that serve some of the best food in Niseko, but are also helping to drive summer business and tourism to the region.

Abucha 2 It may be one of the hardest restaurants to get into in winter, but summer provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy this traditional Japanese Izakaya. The staff are super friendly, the beers are cold and there is the same wide range of food options available as in winter. www.abucha.net/abucha/en 0136-22-5620

An Dining Chef Maeda and his team provide a high-end option year-round, serving his unique take on Japanese food throughout all four seasons.

In summer Maeda-san heads out to the farms and fish markets to get the freshest produce and his menu changes almost every week to take into account the change in what is grown or caught.

While An Dining provides a full restaurant service out of Ki Niseko, An Deli now provides a year-round option for pastries and coffee on the ground floor of Landmark View.

Like Cezar (overleaf), Maeda-san is working on summer growth not only through his restaurants but also through working with others to provide more food festivals! www.andining.com 0136-22-5151

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Niseko Pizza A fixture in Niseko for many years, Cezar and his team have been supporting the summer market in Niseko and the surrounding area for as long as we can remember. Not only do they open the restaurant yearround, but they also take Niseko Pizza “mobile” in the summer—visiting festivals around Japan including Fuji Rock, Sapporo’s Autumn Festival and of course our local Kutchan Potato Festival and Hirafu Festival. www.nisekopizza.jp 0136-55-5553

Graubünden Based in Izumikyo, Junko Watanabe’s Graubünden sandwich and cake shop is a must, whatever the season. Providing large portion sizes, friendly service and mouth-watering cakes, it seems like Graubünden is even busier in summer than winter! www.graubunden.jp

L’Ocanda This small Italian restaurant in Izumikyo is a favourite of many locals and operates year-round providing an extraordinarily high quality of food from the family who run it. While the winter menu is based around a course dinner, in summer you can sit back and relax with the chalkboard à la carte menu and eat until you can eat no more! And don’t forget to grab a “shu-cream” dessert, it will blow your mind.

0136-55-8625

Green Farm Café “From farm to fork” is the motto of Dennis’ café in the centre of the village and again it is a popular spot with locals throughout the year, but especially in summer. The menu changes depending on what is in season but you know you’re going to get good quality food, served with a smile and even better value during the summer months when most lunches are around 1,000 yen.

0136-23-3354

So head to Niseko next summer and spoil yourself. With incredible food and luxury accommodation, Niseko’s famous service available for a fraction of the winter price, more onsen than you know what to do with and a perfect climate for exploring the luscious nature, there is no reason not to come!

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Dine In - TakeOut - Delivery

& PIZZAPASTAGRILLBAR

ZI P R LBA A L I R G ZZ A I T P S R PA BA S A L A Z L I P Z I R A RP AG ZZ I A T P B S R L A TA BA AP RIL S L Z A G L I Z P A I ST ZA GR RP Z A A A I P T B P GR S A L R A A Z L I T A P Z S I B R P G ZA GRILL PA R A Z I A A T LB P Z B S L R L Z A I I A L A P R I T P B A R S R G L Z STAG BARPIZ STAGRIL PIZZAPA GRILLBA ZAPASTA LBAR Z IL I ILL TA AR PA R S P B R A G L R A G Z L P A IZ A I A Z T I P A B R S L R P Z G A L R A Z I R TA PI AP LB BA S R G Z L L I A A A L Z I I P R T B P R S A L G ZA R L Z A A Z I I P A T Z R I P B S A P G R L A Z LBAR APASTA LBARPIZ STAGRIL RPIZZAP GRILLBA ZAPA A A A WWW.NISEKOPIZZA.JP ZZ (0136) 55 5553 IZ IL I P T B P R P S A L R R G A Z L I T A P A A Z S I B R T A L A P S G Z L P R A I A Z P A R PI ZA ST G R Z A I A A P T P IZZA GRILLB B A Z AS AR AGR LL For more information, menus and useful links, please visit our website

AP ST AG RILL BAR RPIZ P ZZA T APAS G ASTA LL RI TAG AR B RILL

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6

ESSENTIAL TIPS

FOR BUYING SKI EQUIPMENT

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Buying your own ski equipment can be a big investment, but offers big rewards on the slopes. However, the last thing you want is to get two runs in to your Niseko ski holiday and realize you’ve made a poor choice.

Here are our 6 essential tips for buying new ski equipment.

BOOTS ARE NUMBER ONE Boots are undoubtedly the most important piece of kit in your ski bag. The right pair can be the difference between a fantastic holiday and a very painful one and you’ll get much more performance out of the skis you’re on if you’re in a well-fitted pair (see the next item).

Conversely, a set of top-of-the-line skis are not much good if your feet are moving around inside the boot when you ski.

If you’re tossing up on whether to buy boots or skis first or how to allocate your budget, always put boots first. You might have to spend a little more than you intended, but in the long run it will be well worth it.

USE A RECOMMENDED BOOT FITTER At most ski resorts there will be a handful of professional boot fitters with a great reputation, so make sure you find out who they are.

Good boot fitters will often have a background in podiatry, so they’ll be able to put you in a boot that’s not only comfortable but good for your feet (and your skiing) in the long run.

It’s important to remember that there may only be a couple of boots in the store that are right for your foot and ability, so don’t get too hung up on colour, style or brand. You should also keep in mind that a pair that feels comfortable in the store will probably not feel the same way in sub-zero temperatures, or after two weeks of skiing in them.

In Niseko, we recommend a company called Boot Solutions (next to Rhythm Snowsports). Led by experienced podiatrist Ned Buckley, they have been operating in Japan since 2006 and offer the largest selection of boots (ski and snowboard) in the country. Make an appointment here.

FIND A SKI THAT SUITS YOUR STYLE AND LEVEL The last few years have seen a rapid trend towards wider, longer powder skis. Powder skis are fantastic in the conditions that they’re designed for, but if you’re a skier who tends to stick to the marked groomed runs in the resort, choosing a model that is too wide for you can hurt your skiing.

Pick a ski that is not only right for your ability, but also for the terrain that you’ll mostly be in. As a general rule wider, longer skis are better for the deeper snow, while shorter narrower skis will work better on the groomed runs or the bumps. Stiffer skis are more suitable for expert skiers, while softer skis tend to be more forgiving and better suited to beginners.

Chat to the staff in your local store to get a recommendation on the ski that’s best for you. In Niseko visit Rhythm Snowsports, which has a great selection of gear and a team of knowledgeable staff.

Pro tip: Pick the brains of your ski shop staff about the different types of camber in a ski, and you’ll really get a feel for the way ski technology has evolved over the last few years!

MAKE SMART CHOICES IF YOU’RE BUYING SECOND HAND For budget conscious skiers, buying second hand gear can be a good way to save a bit of cash. While we generally don’t recommend buying a second-hand pair of boots, purchasing a used ski can be a good option if you know what to look for.

Remember that skis have a life span and even when they appear to be in good condition may have lost their rigidity and liveliness over time. Find someone selling a ski that they’ve used on a couple of holiday trips, rather that the ex-rental pair that has been on snow for the last three seasons.

It’s also very important to check the condition of the base of the ski. Minor scratches are generally fine, however damage to the edge, bubbles in the surface or scratches that reach the core are not. Ask the seller about any repairs they’ve made to the ski and if there’s existing damage check with your ski repair shop that it can be fixed before handing over your hard-earned cash.

DEMO YOUR SKIS What you might not know is that many ski shops deduct the cost of ski rental from the price of the new skis if you decide to make the purchase. So get out there and work out what you like the best! Is it the 130mm pow ski that floats like a dream, or the ultra-stiff race ski that has you laying trenches down with the groomers?

KNOW THE DISCOUNTS It’s no surprise that many shops offer great discounts outside of the peak ski season, so plan to do your shopping over the summer or look out for the end of season discounts.

Buying last season’s model can be another great way to save a few dollars. Often companies will leave the construction of a particular ski model completely unchanged from season to season, choosing only to update the graphics on the top sheet. The manufacturer’s website will often tell you if there have been any changes, so if you insist on having all the latest technology packed into your ski, then jump online and do some research.

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 LEFT

Fera Danielle Insulated Parka The Danielle Insulated Parka is the perfect example of what this brand is all about. It is a waterproof and breathable jacket that comes with a range of technical additions including a powder skirt, removable hood and lycra inner cuffs with thumbholes. It also has a slimming silhouette with ruched stretch side panels and comes in a stunning range of colours.

Available at ZAKA

NeverLose Ski Tracker by Pow Unity Forget old school ski powder leashes, the NeverLose is the ultimate ski tracking device, perfect for finding a ski after you lose it in deep powder. The small unit attaches to your ski and communicates with your phone via Bluetooth (the app is available for both iOS and Android smartphones). If your ski is lost, you use the app to activate the ski finder mode.

The device will then emit an audible signal which will help you locate the ski. It also has a ‘guard mode’ which means the signal can be triggered by movement or when it’s separated from your phone, alerting you or others to potential theft.

You’ll also receive notification on your phone if this occurs.

Available at Rhythm Snowsports

Gear

Sorel 1964 Premium Wedge Boot

REVIEW

This après boot is made with premium full grain leather and coated canvas. With leather up the back and a rounded toe, the 1964 waterproof wedge has a heel cup and arch support. Perfect for those who don’t want to sacrifice style for practicality, this wedge will transport you from the lodge to a restaurant or bar in comfort. Its extra grip sole will give the wearer confidence on slippery surfaces, perfect for exploring the streets of Niseko.

Available at Zaka

Pieps Micro Beacon Strafe Cloud 9 Jacket The Cloud 9 Jacket is designed to provide full waterproof protection and insulation for the coldest days without sacrificing breath ability, in a women’s-specific fit and design. Technical features include an ergonomic, helmet compatible hood, watertight zippers, hand-warmer pockets, Velcro adjustable cuffs, removable powder skirt and underarm vents.

Available at Zaka

The Pieps Micro is the smallest and lightest three antenna beacon that Pieps offers, weighing in at 150g, so it’s smaller than an iPhone 6. This makes it easy to carry and perfect for those who like to travel fast and light. In order to keep its dimensions small, the Micro has been kept basic. It features a large screen and only an on/off button and a mark button for flagging multiple burials. Search mode is initiated by light and movement so while it’s in a harness inside a jacket it remains in transmit mode. Once pulled out, the beacon automatically turns to search mode. The three antenna system means this beacon will switch between them if one experiences a fault.

Bluetooth functionality has also been added to it can synch with your phone for managing and updating.

An AA battery will power the Micro for 200+ hours.

Available at Rhythm Summit

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Armada Kufo 103

Smith Vantage helmet and I/07 goggle combination

The Kufo 103 is a lightweight backcountry touring ski built for fast ascents and exhilarating descents. The caruba-wood core gives it flotation, while a combination of carbon and Kevlar gives it the ability to cut through chunky snow. The tail is flat which helps drive turns, while the exaggerated rocker in the tip allows for playfulness in deep powder. A medium turn radius contributes to its versatility. Possibly this ski’s most stellar moment is when you’re transferring from powder to crud, which it does without complaint.

This ski is best suited for advanced to expert riders who are interested in hiking around the backcountry, but still want a ski that performs well within the resort boundaries, no matter what the snow conditions.

Like sushi and sake, the Smith Vantage helmet and I/07 goggle are the perfect partnership. Smith’s Vantage helmet has been built for aggressive riding and comes with Smith’s state of the art protection and venting systems. It has also been built to match the curvature of a goggle’s frame, particularly the I/07, eliminating the potential for ‘gaper gap’ but at the same time allowing for enough airflow. The I/07 goggle comes with a quick release lens change system, superior anti fog coating, quick fit strap adjustment and is compatible with both bright light and low light performance mirror lenses.

Available at Rhythm Snowsports

Available at Rhythm Summit

 LEFT

Oyuki Merino-Dri Baselayer for men and women Oyuki’s new Merino-Dri baselayers are made from drirelease fabric, which is a combination of quality materials including merino wool. It is super warm and has suburb moisture wicking properties to keep wearers dry, no matter how intense it gets.

This is the perfect baselayer for those who prefer an alternative to pure wool that will keep you warm and comfortable in even the harshest winter environments.

RIGHT 

Oyuki Merino Midlayer for men and women This midlayer is made from 100% fine Australian merino wool, a fabric that is naturally warm, soft on your skin, breathable and odour resistant. The perfect garment for cold weather days, its natural properties regulate your body temperature to keep you warm and comfortable. A stylish cut means it also works perfectly as a hoodie when you’re spending time off the mountain.

Both available at ZAKA

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G3 Alpinist Climbing Skins If getting further than the lifts will take you is a priority, you will need to add a pair of climbing skins to your backcountry arsenal. The G3 range of Alpinist Climbing Skins is versatile, reliable and fits a large range of skis.

The laminated tip connector is low profile and self-aligning, insuring a secure connection. The tail connector comes with 16cm of length adjustment range and has been modified to make it easy to take the skins off with your gloves on. They also come with a removable rip strip which makes it easier to pull the skins apart and if the glue gets contaminated you can remove the strip for extra adhesion.

Available at Rhythm Summit

Oyuki MAAD Mitt

Oyuki Tamashii Mitt

The MAAD Mitt is a collaboration between professional freeskier Maude Raymond and Oyuki. Maude fell in love with Oyuki’s hometown of Niseko after traveling there for a filming expedition. She shared Oyuki’s passion for creating functional, authentic and high quality mountain essentials and the MAAD Mitt was born. This full leather mitt comes with the addition of a neoprene cuff that ensures a seamless fit under any jacket.

Its hook and loop strap with griptex pull tab offers easy access and the powder wrist loop means your mitt stays by your side. With an embroidered ‘Maneki-neko’ patch and subtle heart, everything about this mitt represents luck, love, and unique style.

The Tamashii is a brilliant all-rounder, offering great value for riders of any level. Softshell material has been strategically combined with goatskin so the Tamashii is warm, comfortable and able to perform under any conditions. The additional leather patch around the forefinger and thumb means this accessory will stand the test of time. ‘Tamashii’ means ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’ in Japanese and these gloves / mitts are assured to develop a soul of their own as they travel with you on your winter adventures.

Both available at Rhythm Snowsports

Black Crows Nocta Air Another piece of gear that provides its rider with fantastic versatility, the Nocta Air is a big mountain ski that provides excellent buoyancy in deep powder. Designed by legendary freeskier Julien Regnier to suit his personal style, this ski has been dubbed ‘unsinkable.’

The double rocker shape gives it its ability to ‘surf’ through deep snow and also allows it to manoeuvre nicely through the cruddy stuff.

This year the Nocta Air has been improved with the inclusion of a new balsa and flax fibre core, which makes it a kilogram lighter per pair.

Available at Rhythm Summit

2017 Capita Kazu Kokobu Pro Snowboard Kazu Kokobu is a Japanese professional snowboarder born and raised in Hokkaido. This is his signature model, which has been described as “the switchblade of powder boards.” It’s quick, manoeuvrable, and will slash the backcountry like none other. While many great powder boards are large and surfy, the Kazu Kokubo Pro comes in a compact chassis with a powder nose and a slightly tapered tail.

Available at Rhythm Snowsports

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Pieps Tour Rider JetForce Pack This is a mid-sized pack for serious backcountry skiers and snowboarders.

It uses JetForce technology, which is an airbag deployment system that can increase chances of survival during an avalanche.

What makes this pack different from previous technology is its use of a batterypowered jet fan, which inflates a 200L airbag in 3.5 seconds. This makes it travel-friendly and able to deploy multiple times (four times per battery charge to be exact). The Tour Rider also features ski and snowboard carry systems, a dedicated avalanche tools pocket, helmet holder and single ice-axe attachment for securing your gear.

A unique collection of alpine apparel zakaniseko.com

2nd Floor, Odin Place, Hirafu intersection

+81 136-55-5756

Hours 8am – 10pm

Ride like a Powder Pro Japow [noun] ¹ meaning Japanese Powder…the best in the world!

So you’ve made the pilgrimage to Niseko, one of the premier powder havens in the world, to ride some of the greatest snow on earth. But how do you get the most of your powder experience? Here are some tips to maximise your faceshots and minimise that sinking feeling!

BY DAVE QUIRK

GET YOURSELF SOME POWDER SKIS OR A POWDER BOARD The key to having fun in the powder is being able to float up in it and having powder-specific gear under foot will make that almost effortless. Fat skis and wide nosed boards with setback stances are key to tackling your new favourite pasttime. Local shops like Rhythm Snowsports have an amazing array of powder-specific skis and boards, including avalanche safety gear, that you can hire. Do it, because it will change the way you look at riding powder.

KNOW THE CONDITIONS Know how much snow fell overnight and how that effects where you plan to ride. The Niseko Avalanche Report is awesome, not only for predicting the prevailing avalanche conditions, but also letting you know how much snow fell and where. Take this into account as you plan when and where to ride.

GET UP EARLY Unless you plan on riding through bumps of chewed up snow, you’ll need to get your crew up to the lifts reasonably early. On an epic day it is not uncommon to be greeted by a line of powder hungry enthusiasts by 8.30am. Grab a coffee on the way up and get there early. Guiding companies like GoSnow in Niseko-Hirafu and Hanazono Powder Guides (in Hanazono) also offer lift-line priority to take you to the front of the queue and avoid the hassle.

PICK YOUR SPOT Whether it’s your first ever turn in pow or just the first one for the day, pick out a powder stash on the side of the run where the trees are spaced out and you can carry a comfortable amount of speed. Confidence is key so make sure you lock in a few turns on terrain where you feel in control and move up from there. Never just follow someone else’s tracks without knowing where you might end up.

36 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

SPEED IS YOUR FRIEND So when you feel ready to open up the throttle head to a nice open pow field and just let your board or skis run. The feeling is unbeatable! If you do fall, don’t panic! Relax, get yourself in a position to get up, and most importantly save your energy for riding!

RIDE WITH SOMEONE FUN ...and, hopefully, better than you. It never hurts to push yourself and sometimes just tearing up a few laps with someone fun and a little more experienced can show you a new way to tackle a line or turn in more challenging terrain.

It also gives you someone to high-five at the bottom and to relive that unforgettable run with over a bowl of ramen.

GET THE GEAR If you are planning on going out the gates, get the gear and make sure you know how to use it. The gates access system in Niseko is amazing and one of the most rewarding experiences on a sunny day is a hike to the Peak. The views are incredible and the sense of achievement high. The only catch is you are now in the backcountry. Always go with someone who knows their way around or, better still, book a guide who can tailor the experience to your ability.

KNOW WHEN TO STOP Riding powder can be one of the best things you ever do, but as a result it can be really tiring. Get up early, ride hard, get the best snow then take it easy in the PM. Maybe hit the onsen early before the crowds or get a late lunch down in town. Niseko consistently wakes to a new powder day so save some energy for tomorrow.

The snow here is like nowhere else you will have ever ridden in the world and so accessible! Get out there and give it a go.

If you are still having trouble or just need a little help grab a guide from one of the Niseko United accredited schools.

They will be more than happy to help you out. Good luck and go get yourself some of that japow!

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LOCAL

HEROES

What brings people from far and wide to set-up shop in Niseko?

We talk to three unique local business owners to find out...

I

t really is inspiring to have the privilege to live and work in the Niseko area. Ski resorts around the world tend to attract a range of exciting people, but there is something special about Niseko as it draws so many native Japanese and foreign nationals alike.

Nestled in the mountains of rural Hokkaido, you might not expect to find a place like Niseko turning out to be such an epicentre for international tourism, investment and growth, yet here are three unique individuals who have travelled from afar and found themselves running successful businesses and offering valuable services to the local and international communities in Niseko. It is due to the hard efforts and sacrifices of people like Tim Blake, Kanami Anderson, and Tim King that Niseko has evolved into such an extraordinary place to live and travel.

For all three of these business owners, it was the legendary Niseko powder snow that first brought them here, but over the years it has been their passion and desire to give something back to the Niseko community that has either rooted them here or kept them coming back year after year.

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INTERVIEWS BY MATT KAISER

K A N A M I A N D E R S O N has lead an amazingly colourful life, one which matches her calm and warm nature! She has lived much of her life overseas and has been on the move more than most people could even imagine. With all of her travels and adventures, yoga has always been an important part of her life, helping her to keep grounded, and focused.

Whilst always on her radar, it wasn’t until the winter of 2010/11 that awesome stories of Niseko powder snow finally brought Kanami here to Niseko. It didn’t take long for her presence to be felt in the Hirafu village as she sought to try and satisfy the demand of the budding yoga and wellness community in the area. It has been a tough number of years, but her hard work and determination have paid off enormously as Powder Yoga has become a well-known choice for locals and travellers alike during the winter season.

We were able to sit down with her to get the inside scoop on who she is, what drives her, and what helped her to power through while Powder Yoga was coming into its own.

What initially drew you to yoga and where has your life’s journey taken you so far?

I was pretty lucky to start yoga really young. I came across it straight out of high school, at the age of 18, while backpacking and traveling around Thailand. Right after returning from Thailand, I found a great teacher in Vancouver and she really got me into it. I liked it so much that I made it a consistent thing in my life.

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It takes a lot of flexibility to live such a transient lifestyle. Kanami’s practice not only kept her grounded, it helped provide her with both physical and mental flexibility and strength.

Could you tell us a bit more about your first few seasons as a yoga teacher here in Hirafu? How did this lead to Powder Yoga becoming what it is today?

When I first arrived in Niseko, I noticed that no one was teaching any yoga classes so there were no studios to apply to as a teacher. I just had to figure it out myself. I found a space in the basement of the J-Sekka building and started teaching classes. I was really nervous at the start, having had little experience running a studio on my own, but I went for it anyway.

It’s funny because I had this thought in the back of my mind before I first came to Niseko that one day I would love to open a studio there, but I never dreamed of actually doing it!

Those first few years were tough, I can’t count the number of times we must have said, “if only we could just teach yoga for a living!” All that time, I just kept picking up random jobs, thinking it was the only way to pay the bills in the winter.

At that time, I wanted so badly to start a yoga and wellness community in Niseko, but I didn’t really know how to do it. As it happened, Julia McCabe had just released that she was doing a Level 2 Yoga

Niseko is still such a new ski “ town, in its adolescent years.

I became a white-water rafting guide when I was 21 and did that for 10 years working in Canada, Ecuador, Colombia, Australia, Uganda and Japan. At the end of each season, work was over so I had to move on to the next destination, the next job, the next season. Being so transient was a lot of fun, but I was also all over the place. Yoga kept me grounded, kept me focused, kept me connected to myself and to what was important.

When was it during all of this that your interest shifted from simply practicing yoga to a desire to teach yoga?

Through outdoor guiding – I did a bit of kayak and snowmobile guiding along the way as well – I figured out that I really loved teaching people how to do something new, fun, and challenging.

As my yoga practice deepened over the years and as I started to enjoy white-water raft guiding less and less, I started to make the transition. I did my first yoga teacher training six years ago with a teacher from Whistler that I loved – Julia McCabe.

When along your journey did you first come to Niseko and what was it that brought you here?

Shortly after finishing my teacher training, I came to Niseko for the first time. I had started to tire of rafting and was slowly getting more and more into winter sports; while I had been snowboarding on and off my whole life, I wanted to be able to pay more attention to it.

40 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

Teacher training that year. On top of this, she was offering a scholarship program for it called “The Passion Project” and the recipient would receive a full ride to her $4,000 one-month training program.

The project required that you pick something you are passionate about and create a one-year business plan. It was at this time that I created and wrote my first official business plan for Powder Yoga. The plan, Powder Yoga, was my way of making yoga into a fulltime job for myself.

How did the first season of Powder Yoga go and how has it developed over the years?

The first season, the winter of 2013/14, was a bit tougher than I had anticipated. In the end, I did have to pick up some other jobs to make it happen, but I was able to offer one to two daily classes which was a big step up from what I had been able to do prior to that point. That season Powder Yoga moved into the old Yotei building that was next to Chalet Ivy (no longer standing). In 2014/15, Powder Yoga was housed in the tiny restaurant extension of Chalet Ivy. With a maximum of 14 students per class, we were up to two daily classes as well as a number of workshops over the season. This past winter, we were in the fifth floor conference room of the Hirafu 188 building and it was our biggest and busiest season yet.

”

What would you say were some of the biggest challenges you faced when setting up and maintaining your Nisekobased business?

I think the biggest challenge has been finding space.

Niseko is still such a new ski town, in its adolescent years. Most buildings were never designed to have a studio space for something like yoga. I had to look really hard and to look everywhere! It was and still is a challenge. I wish I could show you photos of some of the rooms I have held classes in. Quite funny, now in retrospect.

What was the biggest surprise that you have encountered along the way with Powder Yoga?

I think the biggest surprise was the amazing response and turn-out to the classes. I knew people were interested in yoga, but the number of students who came, and came consistently, really blew me away. Even a lot of seasonal workers, who don’t typically have a lot of cash to throw around, would sign up with a season’s pass and come almost every day! Really inspirational to see people doing that even when they are so busy.

Have you ever thought about expanding into the summer months and turning Powder Yoga into a yearround operation?

Yes, I would love to expand to a year-round studio, but I am still waiting for the summer months to become a bit busier so that I know that they can support it. If a summertime mountain bike park ends up being built in Hirafu, I think that would be the push to draw enough travellers interested in yoga to keep us open for summer as well.

Lastly what is your favourite Niseko activity and do you have any recommendations to go along with it for our readers?

My favourite thing to do in Niseko by far is snowboarding! My favourite run is Mizunosawa and I’d recommend it to anyone seeking some good powder. I live in Higashiyama during the winter months, so it is really amazing to be able to wake up, go for three or four laps and then begin work at 10:30 am. The terrain is so diverse there, you can almost always find a powder stash through the amazing tree runs!

For more information on Kanami and Powder Yoga, visit powderyoga.com.

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“Stronger than I ever thought possible�. Tim has set out to prove that getting in shape can begin at any age, and his results are telling.

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T I M B L A K E is not your average dad. At 45, he lifts more, runs faster and has more energy than he ever did in his 20s. In his own words, Tim went from being “a lazy slob” in his mid-20s, to a “martial arts and cycling nut” in his 30s, to a dad in his 40s—a point in his life that has him feeling “stronger than [he] ever felt possible”.

Naturally, Niseko has played an important role in Tim’s transformation. From engineer to super fit dad, his journey began back in 2006 during his first snowboarding holiday to the resort. “Something just clicked”, he says, and on the first day back in the office he handed in his resignation.

10 years on, and Tim is running Super Fit Dads out of his home office here in Niseko, coaching and inspiring fathers of Niseko and beyond—many of whom he reaches via his online business Super Fit Dads.

His message is fairly simple: it’s never too late to get in shape and there’s no better time to start than now. In our short exchange with Tim, it became very evident that he lives, breathes and believes in the philosophy behind his work (and lifestyle). Like many of us, he has also fallen in love with Niseko, a place that he says “provides the lifestyle and is a great place to bring up children”.

Fittingly, we caught up with him minutes before he sped off to a Prowler (sled pushing) training session up in the Hirafu #1 car park!

What was it that brought you to Niseko?

Weird as it sounds, disappointing snow conditions in Fernie, B.C. back in January 2005—we were there for a 14-day holiday and it rained a lot then froze to boilerplate. That’s when my (Japanese) wife mentioned some place called Niseko...

Were there any particular moments that inspired you to make the change from engineer to small business owner?

The following winter, we came to Niseko and something just clicked. The first day back in the office I handed in my resignation.

What is it about Niseko that makes it conducive to setting up a business like Super Fit Dads?

First and foremost, Niseko attracts people who like to be fit, healthy and enjoy an active lifestyle. Strength coaching (which I do in person) dovetails perfectly with that. It’s also a great base for the online side of things with my remote clients and eBook sales. Niseko provides the lifestyle and a great place to bring up children, and the Internet provides almost unlimited reach and opportunity.

As the owner of Super Fit Dads, what does your day generally involve?

Mornings are devoted to coaching clients—I get up around 4.30am and I am in the gym before 6. After that, you’ll find me at my computer: writing content for the Super Fit Dads website, working on promotion, looking after remote clients, taking care of e-mails, and doing dad-type things.

Your favourite outdoor activities here?

I love spending time with my wife and two young sons, so it would have to be camping in summer and hitting Hirafu for the “nighter” in winter.

Tim with his two sons in Niseko, Japan.

“

Niseko attracts people who like to be fit, healthy and enjoy an active lifestyle

”

What do you think about the cuisine here in Niseko? Where would you go for a good, healthy meal?

I love the seasonality of the local produce and I’m a huge venison fan, so it would have to be Shunsai down in Kutchan. But in reality, there’s no such thing as a “healthy” or “unhealthy” meal—ultimately, that all depends on the amount being eaten and the context in which it’s being consumed.

How have Niseko locals responded to the business? Do you find that people over here are generally living a healthy lifestyle?

Very positively—I’m strength coaching in-person six days a week and when people experience the incredible results, they tend to tell their friends and it snowballs from there (no pun intended). It’s so gratifying when people tell me how profound an effect being stronger has on their winter sports, summer activities and life in general.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get in shape for a skiing or snowboarding trip?

The best training or exercise program (these aren’t the same thing) is the one you can stick to—so choose something you enjoy doing. And the sooner you get started, the better —don’t leave it until the week before you hit the slopes.

Any Niseko local secrets that you’d like to share?

BCC White Rock is a great place to duck into for a sandwich/ pizza and a cup of coffee (contrary to popular belief, it’s perfectly possible to consume things like this and still be in great shape).

For more information about Tim, visit superfitdads.com

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Tim picking local cherries with his students.

T I M K I N G Growing up in Hong Kong and having spent the last seven years there as a teacher of physical education, Australian native Tim King knows all about life in a busy and bustling metropolis. While growing up, Tim found role models in his parents and past teachers, many of whom he still remains in touch with to this day so it probably didn’t come as much of a surprise to his friends and family when he chose to pursue teaching as a career.

Just one year after its inception, Tim joined the EdVenture team and now, four years later (five since it first began), he finds himself leading the charge. Today, while the parents and kids in week three of this summer’s EdVenture built their homemade rafts, Tim has taken a moment out of his busy schedule to sit down with us and talk a bit about himself, his experiences and his role in Edventure.

Where are you from, Tim? The short answer is that I am from Newcastle, Australia.

The long answer is that I left Newcastle when I was eight and spent the last twenty-two years growing up in Hong Kong—which I would consider home.

What is it that you do for a living?

I run EdVenture, which is a summer and winter program for kids and families. Before EdVenture, I was a full-time primary and secondary school teacher of physical education in Hong Kong.

We’ve heard that recently you have made a full switch between what you had been doing in Hong Kong and what you are doing now. Could you tell us a little about that?

I have been coming up to Niseko to run the summer program for a number of years and it has been growing so much that it really required full-time attention. It was February of last year that I handed in my letter of resignation, and two weeks ago last year was my last day as a teacher in Hong Kong.

step outside and I’m “ Ideafened by the silence

or the sound of birds and engulfed in the natural beauty of the area

them and I have a love for the mountains and teaching.

As a teacher you have a long summer break and I said that rather than going away and spending six weeks on a beach in South-East Asia, I would prefer to be up here putting my time and energy into something like this.

What would you say are the challenges of living between Hong Kong and Niseko?

There are two big challenges. One would be a personal challenge; I’m married and doing long-distance with your wife is a big challenge. We have a great relationship and when we were younger we did long-distance for a number of years before we got married. So we know what that takes, but it doesn’t make it any easier!

Two, from a business perspective of running a program like this, you really need to be on the ground. Meeting people, having conversations with people. You can’t find this stuff online; you can’t just do a Google search. You have to be going up, knocking on doors or driving past it. Being in Hong Kong it can be really tough to find new leads and explore new opportunities.

How many years have you been coming here to run the EdVenture program?

This is my fourth year. The initial year was with a couple of ladies and was a small one-week program. Then it grew from one, to two, to three, and now it is four weeks.

Have you ever thought about making the move from Hong Kong to Niseko?

That’s definitely a thought that goes through my head. I’m getting to an age where I’m starting to think about having kids, and what better environment to raise kids than somewhere like here! Saying that, I grew up in Hong Kong which gave me a great perspective of the world. To be able to move between the two would be absolutely ideal, as there are huge benefits from both locations. It’s definitely in the pipeline and if an opportunity came up to move it would probably be hard to turn it down.

What initially drew you to EdVenture and Niseko?

The ladies I mentioned before were all based in Hong Kong and they had been up here with their families and were putting together a summer program. I was introduced to

Having grown up in Hong Kong and spending so much time between HK and Niseko, what would you say is the biggest difference in lifestyle between the two?

The most attractive is the change of scenery; concrete

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Tim King helping to divide up new groups for the mornings adventure–building rafts and using them to raft down the Shiribeshi River.

Tim King holding a handmade skateboard in front of his class.

jungle versus the real jungle put simply. I live in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui which is one of the busiest areas in Hong Kong. I walk outside and I’m stepping out of the way of suitcases, taxis and tour buses. Here, I step outside and I’m deafened by the silence or the sound of birds and engulfed in the natural beauty of the area.

How do the differences in environment affect the children you teach here with the EdVenture program?

Those first few days, the kids just don’t know what to do with this open space. They see these huge grass fields and part of their minds go “wow, that’s amazing!”, but physically, they are used to taking five steps and changing direction, or getting out of the way of someone, or having to go up a set of stairs. Here, they can just run as far as they can before they fall over exhausted or throw a ball as far as they can. The difference is in their ability to confidently interact and move through the environment.

In the beginning, these kids just don’t get it and it is amazing to watch that change, that shift, from day one to day three or even week two [some will stay two full weeks]—they are just completely different kids.

A tough one, but an important Niseko question. Summer or Winter?

That’s a real tough one... I’m a huge mountain biker! I think right now at this point in time, until mountain biking can step up to what it is in North America I’m probably going to have to say winter. We know summer has plenty of potential, but once Niseko gets that nailed down it will make it a closer race for me.

Do you have any favourite Niseko location?

It’s not technically Niseko, but Lake Toya. I guess it’s the Niseko area. I like camping at Lake Toya.

What do you feel is the quintessential Niseko activity?

I think you’ve got to climb Mt. Yotei. I think you have to do it. Actually, one of the dads did it yesterday at lunch time. It took him a little bit longer than he expected, but he made it up! He said he got up and by the 9th stage he took his camera out to take a photo and the battery died!

For more information about the EdVenture program which Tim is running, go to edventureniseko.com.

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IMMERSE yourself

Ki Niseko After or before enjoying the onsen at Ki Niseko, you can enjoy a great massage at the Ki Spa and then fine dining at the An Dining restaurant. What more can a girl ask for?

What exactly is an onsen? How many onsen are there? What’s the difference between one onsen and another? What makes a “good” onsen? We answer these questions and more..

By Acme Wu, long-time Niseko visitor and relatively new Niseko resident!

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I

f I remember correctly, several years ago the term “onsen” was still not that well known. Even in travel magazines, onsen were usually referred to as “hot springs”. But recently, it seems like the term “onsen” has become one of those Japanese words known worldwide.

So...what is an onsen? According to the Onsen Law which was made back on July 10th, 1948, any water, water vapour, or gas that gushes out from the land that contains either a water temperature over 25 degrees celsius at source or one of 19 different prescribed minerals/chemicals.

There are 21,161 onsen facilities throughout Japan with Shizuoka as the leading prefecture (2,368), closely followed by Nagano (1,911) and Hokkaido (1,165).

Though Hokkaido is No.3 in the number of onsen facilities in Japan, the amount of onsen water coming out of the ground is second in the ranking with 255,624 litres per minute. This is enough onsen water to fill up more than 1,000 household bathtubs in a minute!

Opinions differ wildly over what makes a great onsen. This is a never-ending debate. Some like it hot, some like it warm. Some like rotenburo (outdoor baths) while some prefer indoor ones. Some like it with more sulphur, some hate the scent. All of these different types of onsen have their fans.

Some people say that 源泉かけ流し (gensen kake-nagashi) is the real, authentic onsen. The direct translation of this would be “direct flow of water source” and it requires: direct & continuous inflow of onsen from the source; zero reuse of overflowed onsen; and no water added to control temperature/quantity of onsen.

Some onsen are too hot or cold at the source and require heating or cooling to be used for bathing.

Sometimes, due to the lack of water flow, the overflown onsen water will be sanitized and reused. All these actions are not necessary for the natural “gensen kakenagashi” onsen—hence it’s status as the most favoured among onsen aficionado.

Kiranoyu This onsen located in Niseko Town is great! It’s only 15 minutes’ drive from Niseko-Hirafu and often has some interesting onsen experiences, like red wine or sake onsen.

Makkari Onsen This onsen has a great view of Mt. Yotei and if you are hungry, drop by the famous local tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) restaurant, Ichifuji, after the onsen. Perfect combo!

Alpen Hotel After a swim in the Alpen Hotel pool or boarding down the amazing Grand Hirafu runs, what can possibly be better than enjoying a great onsen with a view of the piste or Mt. Yotei? Maybe grab some friends and sing your hearts out at the Karaoke!

Kanronomori Though it’s a little far from Niseko-Hirafu Village, the birch trees outside of the rotenburo are breathtaking. The water there is silkier and I really enjoy the slight sulphur scent.

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SAKE & CHEESE

A match made in heaven

S

ake is often wrongly regarded as the Japanese equivalent of a spirit like vodka or whiskey, to be drunk in short measures and many times hot. In fact, good quality sake is best served cold (more on that later) and has the same alcohol content as wine.

Recently sake from Hokkaido has been becoming more and more popular within Japan among connoisseurs, whereas Hokkaido dairy has long been known for its quality.

So we sat down with three locals who are all making a name for themselves in Niseko to discuss the latest phenomenon, “Sake and Cheese”.

Kondo-san, Mizuguchi-san and Maeda-san are all in their late 30s and all making waves in Niseko for providing high quality produce.

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They’ve put their heads together to give us three must-try combinations of sake and cheese below, but we wanted to learn more about why the sake and cheese here works so well?

“Japanese cheese has a subtler flavour than European cheese but goes well with Japanese sake, which has a smooth flavour and pure aroma when it is of high quality”, says Shin Maeda, head chef at An Dining.

“Sake is like wine; there are different temperatures and drinking styles for different blends. It is vital that you ask a professional to tell you the right way to drink it—and then follow their advice! More often than not, heating up the sake will in fact destroy the aroma and remove the flavour. So be sure to ask the staff in your favourite restaurant what is the best way to drink it!”

1

+ Niseko Sekka - Brillat-Savarin Kondo-san runs the Niseko Cheese Factory which is situated in between Niseko Village and Annupuri ski resorts. He has taken over from his father who retired early from his salaryman job one day and announced “I’m going to make cheese!”. The quality of the cheese comes from the water of Mt Yotei and the small local farms guarantee to retain it during production.

The rich and colourful taste of dried fruit in the triple cream cheese matches well with the gorgeous flavour of Ginjo and Daiginjo sake. This combination is now very popular in the Sapporo sake industry. Because of the sweet taste this sake is recommended for beginners. Likewise, Brillat-Savarin is one of the most “taster-friendly” cheeses and popular with everyone!

2 Mizuguchi-san grew up in Kutchan but left to undergo his sake training. He now runs the Niseko Sake Brewery and his aim is not only to sell sake, but to introduce people to the process of manufacturing and to stay loyal to the incredible quality of ingredients found in Hokkaido.

Niseko Mimolette / Niseko Momiji (Mimolette)

+ Niseko Brewery Blue Special Junmai

This cheese, made with fat free milk, tastes much lighter than those made with whole milk and doesn’t interfere with the sake’s delicate taste—it’s versatile but is best matched with brewing sake. Blue Special Junmai has a flavourful taste due to the slow brewing processes and low-temperature fermentation.

3 Maeda-san is a Hokkaido native who trained as a sushi chef in Tokyo before moving to Australia and taking the restaurant scene by storm. He now runs An Dining and An Deli in Niseko-Hirafu, where he has already developed a reputation for excellence and value.

Niseko Brewery Red Junmai

Niseko Kazane – Washed Cheese

+ Niseko Brewery Kitashizuku Kimoto Junmai

This cheese has a unique flavour that matches sake such as Kimoto, which has a flavoursome and slightly sour taste due to the traditional brewing process.

We tried all three and honestly could not choose the best, they were incredible. You can pick up all the recommendations in An Deli (located on the ground floor of Landmark View Hotel) or head to An Dining (located in Ki Niseko) for a tasting. Kanpai!

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5

The Making of

NISEKO STORIES

During the Winter of 2015/2016 the snow film 5 Niseko Stories was produced and shot entirely in Niseko by local production company My House Pictures. It was supported by community enterprises and features a cast of both visiting pros and local rippers to produce a very unique look at our incredible environment here in Niseko and Hokkaido. We caught up with the director Shane Peel to get a little insight into the film.

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S H A N E P E E L : Making films is a tenuous prospect and making snow films is perhaps one of the most difficult of the tenuous bunch. But making a snow film in Niseko automatically mitigates one of the most variable factors faced by snow film productions… snow! Blessed with an abundance of deep, dry powder from December onwards, the Niseko range is one of the world’s snowiest places and the home of our production company My House Pictures.

In 2015/16 we were fortunate to enjoy the success of Snowsurf, a story that focused on the world famous Niseko snowboard company; Taro Tamai’s Gentemstick. So we once again looked to the local area for inspiration and partnered with local companies Oyuki Apparel, Rhythm Snowsports, Experience Niseko and Australian goggle company Sontimer. 5 Niseko Stories was born. For this project My House Pictures set out to tell five separate stories about Oyuki team riders who have a connection with Niseko during winter or call Niseko home.

These five stories were: “The Zone” featuring 5 days in the backcountry with a mixed crew; #2 Yohei Sasaki - a local skier; #3 Nat Segal - a visiting pro; #4 Boen Ferguson - a visiting photographer/skier, and #5 Toshiya Kasuga - a local snowboarder.

We hit Par Darlin’s PPP snowmobile zone for some of the better days of the early season with Nat and Boen and had the epic gullies and open bowls out there pretty much to ourselves thanks to Par closing the hill for us. A day out at the PPP is epic no matter the conditions and Par’s “good vibes only” mantra filters across to all his visitors. With features galore in a fully private zone it really is a powder paradise and that’s where we got some of our best shots.

The other mechanized access zone we hit was Lincoln Taylor’s Big Wave Snowcat tour area and we found our biggest mushroom hits out there (the closing shot in part five of Toshiya Kasuga) on one of the best days of the season with all-day bluebird … just look for the giant mushrooms in any of the sections.

Getting further into January we moved to human power access and as the snow depth moved from deep to bottomless it was game on. Most sessions involved a solid component of hard slog to get deep into the back blocks and right inside the amazing environment of Hokkaido’s famous trees, loaded with perfect powder snow and most days we were totally alone.

We also hit some of the steeper terrain that only opens up for a day or so each season and by being safe and cautious we managed to avoid most of the instability. For those sessions we had Glen Claydon from GCP Photography on hand to get some pretty cool aerial perspectives.

This was a new look at the Niseko region for us.

Above: Shane Peel Opposite: Yohei Sasaki Below: Oyuki team rider Nat Segal

N A T S E G A L (Oyuki team rider) : Filming in the Niseko backcountry was awesome but hiking for shots is definitely a lot more work than you would realize. Shooting in one of the powder snow capitals of the world obviously has its upsides but moving through this kind of snow while filming, either ski touring or boot-packing, can be a lot of work.

However, on the plus side you can generally be sure that your landings and lines are going to be soft and forgiving. This means that you can comfortably ski harder and push your boundaries a little bit more. I think one thing that some people do take for granted in the Niseko backcountry is avalanche safety. It is no different from anywhere in the world - get educated, learn how to use your backcountry equipment and carry it at all times.

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“

Niseko is special for me since the area gives me tons of slopes which can not be experienced in just a single life.

”

S H A N E P E E L : Higashiyama resident Yohei Sasaki lives at Pension Bongo at the foot of the Niseko Village resort and has done so for his entire 27 years. Yohei is connected to the mountains above his house in a manner that is different to most residents in that he’s “Dosanko” or from Hokkaido since birth.

Yohei’s connection is special.

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Y O H E I S A S A K I (Oyuki team rider, above) : Skiing is special for me since the sport gives me the time to put myself in the mountains where I can learn about nature, happiness and the meaning of my life.

It gives me the freedom to ride the mountains. Niseko is special for me since the area gives me tons of slopes which can not be experienced in just a single life. Shooting for 5 Niseko Stories was a great experience for me since I put great focus on every single line which is not usual when I am skiing just for fun. So I feel that my skill level went up after the filming…a very different season than normal for me, that’s for sure.

S H A N E P E E L : Oyuki team rider Boen Ferguson (pictured) is a former pro skier from the Australian Alpine town of Jindabine and when the abuse his body was getting from skiing started to mount, he turned his eye to snowsports photography and has carved out a niche as one of Australia’s best shooters. What a lot of the viewers of his work don’t realize is that the kid can send it on skis as well! His riding is solid and during the filming for his part in the film he also managed to shoot photos for the film’s main partner Oyuki, keep an active Instagram presence, act as driver, guide and general raider of pow stashes resort-wide from the start of January right through until the end of the powder season. A number of Boen’s POVs, stills and follow shots also appear in the film along with his riding.

S H A N E P E E L : Toshiya Kasuga, like so many of the area’s residents, moved to Niseko for the bottomless powder and has carved out a dream life that revolves around working in summer and riding as many powder days as possible in Winter. He leads a simple life with his wife and two cats, Nubo and Mabo, hidden away in the forest. Like clockwork he can be found on the spot for first lifts to access the newly opened run at Mizunosawa or strapping on the snowshoes to access any one of the many backcountry bowls surrounding Mt Annupuri. “Kassun’s” style is a mix of skate influenced edge and the famous Niseko “Snowsurf” style championed by the local Gentemstick riders… flow and deep rail turns.

T O S H I Y A K A S U G A (Oyuki team rider, below) : It snows constantly in high season here as you know, which is why living in Niseko is so valuable in my life as a snowboarder. Even with more people in the resort in the past decade we still can get incredible runs in the morning in perfect deep powder. If you are coming to visit, make sure to bring your feeling of excitement because even with lots of people there is perfect snow to be found if you look.

5 Niseko Stories dropped on Teton Gravity Research’s online channel in the middle of the 2016 Japanese summer and the response was fantastic. It drew the gaze of the global snowsports community to our mountains and it has become the litmus test for a much more ambitious project set to begin filming this coming season. Few places in the world have the snowfall and conditions that allow for a full 12 weeks of filming.

The deep pow we take for granted in Niseko is a blessing for both riders and production crews that will allow us to evolve and improve the standard of film coming from the region and also show the rest of the world the magic in the shirakaba groves and gullies of Hokkaido.

5 Niseko Stories was produced with the support of Niseko companies Oyuki Apparel, Experience Niseko, Rhythm Japan and Australian company Sontimer goggles.

Check out the full film online at experienceniseko.com/5nisekostories

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Live.

Learn.

Discover.

Plan your next Adventure with Edventure Niseko info@edventureniseko.com www.edventureniseko.com @edventure niseko

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TEE TIME

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he bubble era of the late 80s and 90s in Japan brought a massive amount of investment in not only ski resorts, but also in golf courses. There are currently over 2,300 courses in Japan and 170 in Hokkaido alone. The areas in and around Niseko certainly did not miss out on this development and there are nine golf courses within 45 minutes’ drive of Niseko making the region a perfect base for a summer golf trip.

No one is more keen to see the end of the long, white winter here in Niseko than the golf courses (and golfers)!

Once all the snow starts to melt away in April, the courses busily clear all the snow and make preparations for golf to take centre stage for the following 6 months.

Courses around Niseko feature spectacular views of Mt Yotei and the surrounding mountains that make you want to pull your camera out between shots—not to mention the natural undulations, gullies and ravines traversing holes which make for some thrilling, heart-inthe-mouth moments.

Another common feature of the courses in the area is the abundance of trees and greenery including the unforgiving, thick sasa (a type of bamboo) grass which grows up to two metres tall gobbling up any shots that stray out of bounds; and watch out for occasional encounters with wildlife including squirrels, foxes and eagles.

And of course, you can expect the usual high level of service that Japan is renowned for—your clubs are usually taken by staff as soon as you arrive at the course and magically make their own way onto the golf cart.

At the end of your day your clubs are wiped down and counted with you to make sure you haven’t left your pitching wedge on the side of a green.

Carts are standard and included in the fees helping to speed up play and prices are also surprisingly reasonable (cheaper on weekdays). Many also include onsen or showering/bath facilities in the course fees.

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Golfers in Niseko are treated to spectacular views

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Niseko Village Golf Course

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 10 mins Starting price: 7,200 yen Length: 6,422 yards Highlights: Spectacular views of Mt. Yotei and immaculately kept all over. Hole 10 is a 704-yard par 6 monster. An onsen at the Hilton after your round is the perfect way to end your day.

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Niseko Golf Course

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 25 mins Starting price: 6,500 yen Length: 6,306 yards Highlights: Exciting and challenging up-down holes set amongst a pristine forest. Designed by the one and only Arnold Palmer.

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Niseko Resort and Golf (Rankoshi)

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 35 mins Starting price: 2,000 yen Length: 6,024 yards Highlights: Costs only 2,000 yen if you play in the month of your birthday. Best value course in the region.

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Hanazono Golf Course

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 15 mins Starting price: 6,500 yen Length: 6,343 yards Highlights: Great views of Mt. Yotei, multiple strategic water features and immaculate greens. A favourite among the locals.

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Rusutsu Izumikawa

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 35 mins Starting price: 6,200 yen Length: 6,327 yards Highlights: A course designed to help beginners with wide fairways yet still be a challenge for low handicappers.

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Rusutsu Tower Course

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 35 mins Starting price: 6,200 yen Length: 6,672 yards Highlights: Night golf! Tee off before 7pm for 9 holes under lights. Designed by Japanese golf legend Jumbo Ozaki. A memorial plate marks the length of one of his drives on the course.

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Rusutsu River Course

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 40 mins Starting price: 6,200 yen Length: 6,107 yards Highlights: This shortish course alongside the Rusutsu Wood Course is one of the easier courses in the region. Take on 36 holes if you are feeling energetic.

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Rusutsu Wood Course

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 40 mins Starting price: 6,200 yen Length: 6,817 yards Highlights: A long and challenging course designed

by Curtis Strange. Beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

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A-Brand Golf Course

Distance from Niseko-Hirafu: 45 mins Starting price: 5,500 yen Length: 6,556 yards Highlights: Spectacular views of the coast and the extravagant hotel/club house interior and exterior design is worth the drive alone. A hidden gem.

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Niseko: the perfect place to raise kids BY YUKO MIYAKE

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am originally from Kyoto, which is very different from where I am living now and I have lived in many different cities outside of Japan since I left my hometown at the age of 15.

It seems like fate that I ended up arriving in the small town of Niseko, living as one of the outsiders!

Many residents in this area are from other places originally, showing that this unique little international community is a great place, not only to visit, but also to settle in; especially for people who have or are thinking of starting a family.

I moved to Sapporo a couple of years ago during the winter season. I took a day trip to Niseko and that was my first “Niseko experience”. When I was in the Hirafu area for the first time, I was almost overwhelmed by hearing English being spoken all over the village, in hotels and restaurants, and the sheer number of visitors from abroad. It made me wonder if visitors here felt like I had felt when I was in Waikiki beach in Hawaii, where for a Japanese person you could end up feeling like you had never left Japan. It was surprising to learn that there are such places in Japan that are becoming so international. I bet most of the Japanese people feel the same way. What I felt that winter when I first visited Niseko and discovered this unique and very special community will always be engraved in my memory.

A lot of people come from all over the world, seeking Niseko’s incredibly high quality powder snow. Some people become obsessed over the powder snow, a few even start thinking about Niseko as a place to live - but there is so much more to the Niseko than just it’s famous snow. It is a rich environment for kids to enjoy learning snow activities on the mountain, of course, but in the other three seasons there are so many options and activities to try as well! As Niseko is receiving increasing attention to its year-round beauty and more and more people are recognising it as an amazing place to start a family, the population is growing each year as expats and Japanese people alike move to the area.

If you still feel that you lack all the motivation to move to the Niseko area, staying a whole summer would be an option to look into and is one that the area is uniquely set to cater to. You can get a short taste of the Niseko lifestyle and use this as a measure to decide whether the Niseko area would be suitable for you and your family.

Niseko has turned into a hot destination for summer long-stay and fortunately, there are a variety of accommodation providers offering long-stay packages for the summer. Most long-stay accommodations will be a fully furnished, apartment-style condominium or house.

With a complete kitchen, it can really become a second home. You can buy groceries at the local supermarkets and can explore cooking with local Hokkaido ingredients.

There are many onsen in and around the Niseko area and some long-stay accommodation providers even have in-house onsen! Communal bathing is a large part of Japanese culture and is a great opportunity to become more comfortable with your children and enjoy some quality time together.

Hokkaido’s climate is drier and milder than other cities in Japan over the summer months and for that reason alone a lot of Japanese people (and increasingly Asian guests too) come to Niseko to avoid the heat and humidity of the mainland. The pleasant summer climate makes it perfect for all the summer camps and programs for children in the Niseko area. They are designed and run for English speakers, but it isn’t uncommon to see speakers of other languages participating.

For example, EdVenture runs week-long programs, each program having a slightly different curriculum. The curriculum is based around the natural setting of the Niseko area and features activities truly unique to the environment.

If you want your kids to have a truly one-of-a-kind cultural experience, there are options available for your children to attend local schools in the Niseko area and kids’ camps for Japanese youths facilitated by the Niseko Adventure Centre. Niseko provides an amazing opportunity for kids to explore a new culture and they can absorb so much more than we adults can as they are still growing and discovering the world around them. While the kids are at school or participating in camps, parents can enjoy their time doing summer activities such as rafting, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), hiking, cycling, and golfing - better yet, do these with the kids, too!

As a mother of two young boys, I feel that Niseko is the perfect place to raise children - especially younger ones.

If you have ever thought you would rather your children grow up surrounded by nature as opposed to a big city, then Niseko is the perfect choice. It might be a bit nerve-

provides “ Niseko an amazing

opportunity for kids to explore a new culture

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wracking to consider moving to a different country, one where you don’t speak the native tongue. Truth be told, it is usually pretty hard to overcome a big language barrier and to get involved in the community and to comfortably settle down. But in the Niseko area, this problem is softened due to Niseko’s status as an international resort.

You might be surprised to discover how supportive the community is and how many resources there are to ease the frustrations caused by language barriers. There are also a lot more job opportunities for foreign nationals and across a range of different industries too.

You might be concerned about the education system and what kind of schooling your children might receive.

Although Niseko is a small town there is an international school which is a branch of Sapporo’s Hokkaido International School. Kutchan’s Kabayama Elementary School is also well known for having an incredible mix of students with varied backgrounds and is possibly one of the most unique schools in all of Japan for this reason.

Many families who have moved to the Niseko area choose to send their children to local schools. Their children learn the Japanese language naturally in school and during their everyday life. They also pick up many Japanese mannerisms and get a chance to be exposed to different Japanese traditions and values. By doing so, young children can grow up learning multiple languages,

cultures and customs as they learn both those of Japan and those of their parents. Kids can learn so many things naturally in such a diverse environment. Adults too, can take advantage of learning about both Japanese customs and the Japanese language, often considered to be one of the more difficult languages to learn, while living in Niseko.

This is now my second year living in Niseko and my kids are both enjoying their time in school. My older son has gotten the chance to experience both international school and is now attending a local elementary school.

My younger son goes to Niseko Youji Centre, a local Kindergarten. Both of my boys enjoy taking advantage of the winter time and are out snowboarding almost every day. In the summer we go mountain biking and spend our evenings barbecuing. When they visited their grandparents’ house in Kyoto during the summer they were surprised how much hotter it was in Kyoto and both were relieved upon our return home to Hokkaido.

You might wonder whether there is anything negative about living in Niseko!? I guess if I had to choose something, you and your family and friends back home might miss each other … and you would likely put on a bit of weight eating all of the amazing and delicious food in Hokkaido!

Yuko Miyake is a full-time mum and full-time lover of Niseko.

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Perfect Niseko off-mountain activities

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TRIPPER MORNING

Snowmobiling Tour

JUMP ON A SNOWMOBILE or even a snow-bike, twist the throttle and ride through the boundless fields, through a forest trail or simply out into the farm lands looking up at Mt. Yotei. The feeling you get from an hour riding through the fresh cold air with breath-taking views of our natural surroundings such as Mt. Yotei and the Sea of

Japan is very rewarding. It is an enjoyable activity for the entire family, as kids have the option to do a twin ride with an adult driver. For adventurous adults, spending a day in deep powder snow learning how to handle a snowmobile and how to climb a hill safely is one of those activities that should not be missed!

When: Middle of December – Middle of April Price: Approx. 12,000 yen (price for single ride) Duration: 60 – 90 minutes Where: White Isle Snowmobile Park, niseko-weiss.co.jp, 0136-222517; Hanazono, hanazononiseko.com, 0136-21-6688; NOASC, noasc.com, 0136-23-1688; Niseko Village, niseko-village.com, 0136-44-2211; Hokkaido Backcountry Club, hokkaidobackcountryclub. com, 0136-55-5953

AFTERNOON

We think you’ll have your hands full during your trip to Niseko, but sometimes it’s nice to step away from the slopes, food and onsen of Hirafu and head out a little. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are our tips for three ways to enjoy yourself when you are not hitting the mountain on your skis or board!

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Snowshoe Tour

SNOWSHOEING is something that you will hear the locals raving about here in Niseko! There is no better way to explore this winter wonderland than by your own two feet! Step by step walking through the woods makes your experience in powder snow different from an average day. An experienced guide will bring you to peaceful gems like

Hangetsuko, the lake at the foot of Mt. Yotei, or the hot springs at Chisenupuri. Snowshoeing is not just walking, but sliding too! Why don’t you try sliding downhill in snowshoes to experience the best powder snow in Niseko – anyone can do it even if you are not skilled at skiing or snowboarding. Let’s go!

When: Middle of December – Beginning of May Price: Approx. 4,000 yen Duration: 1 -3 hours Where: Niseko Village, niseko-village.com, 0136-44-2211; NOASC, noasc.com, 0136-23-1688; NAC (Niseko Adventure Centre), nacadventures.jp, 013623-2093; Bouken Kazoku: bouken-kazoku.com, 0136-22-3759 ; NOC (Niseko Outdoor Centre): noc-hokkaido.jp, 0136-44-1133

D A Y 2 Indoor Activities M O R N I N G Homemade Ice Cream Making The cold never bothered me anyway! The colder you are, the more ice cream you want as its taste is always amazing and seems to warm you up from the inside. Now you are here in Hokkaido where dairy products are recognized as the best in Japan! Trying out ice cream making is a great way to spend some good-quality family time in Niseko. An instructor will prepare all the ingredients and teach you how to make yummy, milky ice cream. The only thing you need to get ready is your arm muscle to whip the cold, heavy cream until stiff peaks form! After a mere 40-60 minutes you will be rewarded with the most delicious homemade ice cream ever! (Don’t ask other people’s opinion though…keep it all to yourself!)

When: Year-round Price: Approx. 1,000 – 1,300 yen Duration: 1 hour Where: Niseko Milk Kobo, milk-kobo.com, 013644-3734; Country Inn Milky House, niseko-milky.com, 0136-58-2875

AFTERNOON

Sand Blasting Art

Is imagination more important than knowledge? If the answer is “yes”, sandblast glass art is a great choiceand a good chance to slow down. Pick your favourite glass, mark off an area that you want to design and bring your own unique creativity to the table with hand-cut stencils. Don’t be nervous…because there is no right or wrong when we are talking about design.

You will learn to make your own masterpiece by hand under the guidance of expert local artists. You will be definitely be proud of yourself after getting it done and have a unique souvenir to take home with you.

When: Year-round Price: Approx. 3,000 – 5,000 yen Duration: 1-3 hours (spending whole day is doable too!)

Where: Glass Gallery Doumu, glass-doumu.com

D A Y 3 Explore another part of Hokkaido

Sapporo: Capital of Hokkaido Wake up in the morning and head north to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido where you will dip back into the Japan that most of the world recognizes: tall buildings, lots of shops and fashionable people walking in the latest Japanese trends, even in snowfall.

We recommend that you start walking from Sapporo station, where there are plenty of shopping malls and also the “Bic Camera” shop where you can satiate all your electronic needs – everything from the latest cameras to a heated toilet seat! Then head down to Odori Park past Sapporo Tower to the Susukino area where all great restaurants and bars are located, including ramen alley and king crab buffet!

If you are here in February this year you are doubly fortunate. Firstly, the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games begin on February 19th in Sapporo, running until February 26th. You

Otaru: Hokkaido’s Sea Entrance just might be able to capitalize on the timing and catch an event or two, enjoying some world class winter sports.

Second, the internationally renowned Sapporo Snow Festival is the biggest fixture on the list of Japanese winter events. The event, which has been running since 1950, consistently attracts over 2 million visitors a year, many coming from all over the world to see the ice sculptures lining Odori Park.

You can also head to the Susukino venue, which features an ice sculpture contest and an ice bar, or the Tsudome Community Dome where there is a giant ice slide (among other things)!

Sapporo Snow Festival Dates: Odori Site and Susukino Site: February 6-12, 2017; Tsudome site: February 1-12, 2017 Getting there: Approx. 120 minutes’ drive from Niseko or by train from Kutchan station

Prepare to be completely mesmerized by the site of the Otaru Canal followed by a short walk to the shopping street “Sakimachi street” where you can find numerous souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants and museums (including the Music Box Museum and Museum of Venetian Art).

Food is one of the must-try things in this town, especially seafood as it is located on the sea. Sankaku fish market may not be huge compared to some of the other city fish markets in Japan, but you can still enjoy fresh sashimi melting in your mouth.

A special festival in Otaru is held in early February, where the canal is lit up by dozens of floating candles, one of the many beautifully lit attractions that make up the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival. More than 100,000 candles illuminate many other places in the city during the festival period.

In addition to the main attractions, locals put lanterns on display outside shop windows and homes, adding to the festive, spiritual atmosphere.

Getting there: Approx. 90 minutes’ drive from Niseko and by train from Kutchan station

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N

iseko may be a world-famous winter resort and your tales of winter probably trigger jealousy from all your friends, but winter is only part of the story here.

Summer is slowly becoming recognized as a fantastic season to visit, with beautiful sunny days, plenty of outdoor activities to do or even just spending lazy days admiring the endless nature and views. Many Japanese and increasing numbers of Asian guests come to escape the heat and humidity of their own towns and to enjoy the beauty of Hokkaido’s nature.

But spring and autumn also have their secrets too. When spring comes, the snow melts and plants quickly grow up with the landscape changing from all-white to all-green almost overnight. Cherry blossom trees bloom and colourful leaves appear all over the surrounding area. In autumn, we can see the leaves changing colour.

So this year we bring you a photo feature showcasing the four seasons of Niseko.

These shots are the handiwork of two very different “locals”. Hitomi Igawa is 25 years old and originally from Aomori in Japan. Like many others she originally came to Niseko for the snow but fell in love with Mt. Yotei, particularly the incredible opportunities it provided for photography.

Now a resident in Niseko and working for a local hotel, she still makes a point of checking Mt. Yotei every morning—if it’s clear she’ll head to a viewpoint to take in the sunrise.

As Hitomi said, “the more I saw Mt. Yotei, the more I loved it. I really wanted to see how its beauty changed with each season. The nature of Mt. Yotei and Niseko, with its different beautiful faces for each season, always moves me, and I cannot help but take pictures”.

Hidde Hageman is a Dutch videographer and photographer. Originally experiencing Niseko as a snowboard instructor, he couldn’t resist coming back for summer too.

As a child he was always interested in the art of photography. He started off using analogue cameras and can still remember the pleasure and sensation of getting a film developed.

Hidde loves taking nature shots and Niseko provides him with endless inspiration. Mt. Yotei is one of the most beautiful mountains he has ever seen, it constantly keeps him amazed.

“The mountain hardly ever looks the same, that’s why it is my favourite subject in the Niseko area. Niseko is simply a photographers dream. I love being out here,” says Hidde. “The ultimate goal for me, as a photographer, is to freeze the most amazing moments, people and places, whilst exploring this mind-blowing planet, and Niseko presents unique opportunities to do that”.

FOLLOW HIDDE @hagemanphotography FOLLOW HITOMI @hitomigawa

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FOUR SEASONS IN NISEKO

Powder hunters Peak of Annupuri, January 2016 Hidde Hageman: Hiking to the peak is a great experience. Some days it can get a bit crowded. It is key that one takes all the necessary avalanche equipment when hiking the peak. This place is truly a freeride heaven!

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Left:

Ostrich with spring Mt. Yotei Dai2 Arishima Dacho Bokujo, April 2016 Hitomi Igawa: After winter, Niseko empties and becomes a quiet town. I like the slow lifestyle and beautiful spring but sometimes I feel lonely. When I visited this farm the powerful ostriches cheered me up!

Right:

Looking at me!

Hirafu, March 2016 Hitomi: In the Niseko area you can sometimes see foxes. During winter time they are so fluffy and very pretty. They are used to people because tourists give them food. But please don’t! It’s bad for the ecosystem and be careful about touching them, Ezo foxes can carry parasites. Keep your distance and look with a kind, warm heart.

Left:

Lonely bamboo Lower part of Miharashi, March 2016 Hidde: A lonely bamboo shoot had managed to poke out of the snow. It caught my attention, as I was following the fox trail that is just beside it. These two little details caught my eye and I had to take a photo of it.

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Half-Moon Lake in summer time Hangetsuko, October 2016 Hidde: At the foot of Mt. Yotei. It looks like Jurassic Park!

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Early morning winter rays Near the Hirafu Gondola, March 2016 Hidde: On this particular morning the sun had an amazing golden glow. I had to pay tribute to that magic with a photograph.

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Sunflowers in front of Mt. Annupuri Milk Kobo, August 2016 Hitomi: When I see sunflowers, I’m able to feel “summer”. Niseko’s summer is short, so we should enjoy it while it lasts!

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Kibitaki Lake Hangetsu, May 2016 Hitomi: I go to Lake Hangetsu often in spring time because I can find new flowers there. One day some flycather birds suddenly appeared in front of me.

This one seemed to ask me to take a photo of him.

Waterfall Fukidashi Park, October 2016 Hidde: The photo was captured with a neutral density filter, which allowed me to shoot with a slower shutter speed (six seconds in this case). This makes the water look like silk and gives the photo a dreamy effect. There are several waterfalls to be found in Fukidashi Park where the water is fresh from Mt. Yotei.

You’ll find many locals here filling up on fresh mountain spring water for the week!

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Yotei under the stars Lower Hirafu, January 2016 Hidde:This image required quite a bit of walking around. I didn’t want to have any power lines or trees blocking my frame. In the end I found a spot somewhere near the lowest part of lower Hirafu. The trees were illuminated by the streetlights nearby.

Snow-dressed tree on a bluebird day Lake Hangetsu, May 2016 Hitomi: It was the best day! Blue sky, great powder, a beautiful view‌it was a supreme moment! But for me, it causes a problem because I need to choose between enjoying snowboarding or taking photos but I know I am very lucky to have that choice!

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Shapes of Yotei Summit of Mt. Yotei, August 2016 Hidde: This photo was taken in the early morning on Mt. Yotei. The sun was coming up in the east and we were lucky enough to witness this amazing scene unfold. The clouds below us created a canvas for Yotei’s shape to be seen.

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GO WITH

THE FLOW We sat down with Teppei Nakajima who has spent the summer building Niseko’s first mountain bike flow trail.

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t’s pretty rare to actually get Teppei Nakajima sitting still—he’s either guiding people to Niseko’s best powder or tearing it up on his mountain bike, depending on the season! Here is what he had to say about the budding mountain bike scene here in Niseko and why we should all be so excited about it.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you found yourself here in Niseko.

I actually grew up in Tokyo and came to Niseko about 10 years ago. I’m now 42 years old but I moved here from Canada. I’d spent four years in Whistler and wanted to find somewhere in Japan where I could use all the experiences I had gained over there. At that time Niseko had just started to get foreign guests so I thought it would be a good opportunity for me.

How has Niseko changed in those 10 years?

Back then, there were not many people living here permanently and it was still a bit of a party town, not so serious. It meant that it was hard for the local Japanese people to communicate with the foreigners, both in terms of language and culture. But now you can walk around and find so many people who are able to speak both Japanese and English, both foreigners and locals. So communication between people is much better. It’s more like “Niseko Republic” now, not just Japan! More of a community.

Why did you decide to stay?

Initially it was because my snowboarding career was getting better and better, so I could get more work and have a nice lifestyle. But then it became clear that many people were starting to work towards making Niseko a true year-round, four season resort. So I had the opportunity to work on my mountain biking too. So I got involved in the summer season too and since I started that, to be honest I am desperate to see it through and to finish it.

How close do you think we are to being a four season resort then?

Over the past couple of years the atmosphere has really changed in the resort during summer. More and more guests are coming and particularly more families and younger people. It makes the resort feel alive and you can sense the kind of excitement building about summer in Niseko.

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Great! So tell me a little about the flow trail and how that started?

Basically the whole idea came from Yoshi Tanaka, who is one of the Kutchan Town Councillors. He found a company called Allegra from Switzerland when he went there to visit St Moritz for the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship with Kutchan.

Allegra really introduced the idea of flow trails to much of Europe and helped to develop the trails and grow the sport. They are also now working across the world helping to design trails.

We had two guys from Allegra who came to check out the Niseko area and the potential for mountain bike tourism. They made a draft design last year and then this year we were able to access some funds from the government to build the first flow trail. It’s basically a trial or test to show the government that it can work to grow summer tourism. If we get enough data and feedback from guests and about operations, then we can build more.

This year the trail is only open a few days for testing, not for public use every day, but we are hoping to get positive feedback from the testers who are coming from all over Hokkaido and then to take that feedback to the government. We also have to show that the trail doesn’t damage the mountain permanently or cause erosion for example.

Can you explain the main difference between a “flow trail” and “downhill mountain biking”? I think a lot of people have an image of mountain biking only being suitable for crazy people with full body armour!

Basically a flow trail is easier – it has a shallower gradient and banks on the turns.

It’s never flat, so you always have some rollers or some features. It feels more like you are riding a rollercoaster. A flow trail gives you the feeling of zero gravity on a mountain bike and people really enjoy that sensation.

Flow trails are also better for the environment as they cause less erosion damage. And of course they are suitable for all riders from beginners to advanced.

Beginners can take it easy and go slow, whereas advanced riders who want to go fast have to brush up their skills because it will be tough. So the courses are great for everybody.

76 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

Great, so tell us a bit more about the course you built this summer.

Sure. The course is located on the Asahigaoka ski hill just behind Kutchan Station. You can recognise the ski hill from the old ski jump that is there.

The course is about 1.3km long and took us about 20 days to build, with seven people working on it. It can be used by kids from about 10 years old because the surface is really smooth, almost all dirt with very few rocks. It’s good for beginners too.

Tell us what happens when people come to ride.

For the test days we will drive people up to the top of the hill in some vans, not use the lifts (although we hope to in the future).

People can come and check in, we’ll give them a safety lecture and then get them on the course!

Sounds simple enough! And what’s next then?

The future potential is huge. I’ve been building trails around Niseko for the last 10 years and I’d love to connect them all—for example from Hanazono through Hirafu to Niseko Village. And of course we can use the

lifts too, so people can get up the mountains nice and easily.

I don’t think summer will ever be busier than winter, but there is so much potential here. In summer it feels like you are in an alpine environment, in the middle of nature.

It’s so good for the spirit.

And if you could ask for one thing from the resorts…what would it be?

I would ask the whole resort to work together more in one direction—that could be so powerful if the resorts work together and if Kutchan Town and Niseko Town work together.

Then we will have a real bright future all year round!

Teppei works as a mountain bike trail builder (and rider!) in summer and a ski and snowboard instructor in winter. He’s fluent in English and Japanese and experienced in both western and Japanese cultures—a perfect example of the people who make this resort so special.

You can experience the first ever flow trail designed by European specialists in the whole of Asia if you visit Niseko in summer… and there will be more to come!

RISING Navigating Niseko’s property market

M

high

uch of Niseko’s growth stems from the real estate and investment opportunities available here. As the resort has grown in terms of reputation and level of service, the real estate market has also shifted. We sat down with Keith Rodgers, owner of Taiga Real Estate, to find out his take on the current state of the market.

“The market over the past year has been strong. In particular, we saw an impressive number of apartments sell in the early part of last winter, driven by the popular ski-in, ski-out developments AYA Niseko and Skye Niseko”, says Keith.

“A number of resale apartments and houses have moved in the interim months, and land sales have been consistent throughout. Land ranges from the super lux Elevation development in Izumikyo (sold out except one lot) to large, sought-after lots in the country with great views of Mt. Yotei”.

78 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

Where are the buyers coming from?

The market is now dominated by Hong Kong and I think you could break this down almost equally between Chinese and ex-pat buyers. Buyers also come regularly from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. 10 years ago, Australia was a more dominant force, but as the market has moved more high-end, there has been a definite shift towards South-East Asia.

Why do people buy in Niseko? Is it all to do with skiing?

Actually, not anymore in my opinion. The first word that comes to mind is “family”.

The typical buyer is in his or her 40s or 50s, a working professional, and has kids. They want their children to grow up experiencing a country getaway—and Niseko’s winter wonderland and vibrant green summer have immense appeal. The exploding popularity and brand recognition of Niseko certainly adds intrigue to the investment angle. But make no mistake, the initial kernel of the

Hakuchozan by Taiga Projects

idea to purchase comes back to good family getaways.

That’s got to be good for our hopes of making Niseko into a year-round resort!

Absolutely, the more owners who come in summer with their families the better.

They’ll come back with their friends and extended families once they experience the weather, nature and of course the fresh produce in summer!

So what sort of options are there out there for a potential buyer?

As Niseko has matured as an international resort, there are more opportunities now than ever. From raw land to luxury apartments, there is a broad spectrum.

There are even pure investment opportunities such as staff accommodation, driven by the need to provide high-level service to all the guests.

The one sector that is in short supply would be luxury chalets sales. Most people

build these as long-term family homes and, especially when they have young kids, they usually have an exit strategy of 10 - 15 years minimum. Niseko’s luxury chalet market is only about 10 years old, so there are not many options on the market, meaning most people have to buy land and build themselves.

Where do you see the market going in the next 10 years?

For all of the progress to date, I still see Niseko as early in its development. There are lots of empty lots in Niseko-Hirafu, so lots of room for growth here. The Ritz Carlton (Niseko Village) and Park Hyatt (Hanazono) will add some additional cache to the area, and I think go a long way to driving the brand-sensitive Japanese market up here too.

The really interesting angle is the green season, since it is so long and actually hits a much more diverse spectrum of people than snow lovers. As the word gets out on

Niseko’s stunning summers, occupancy will go up, and more activities and events will sprout up. All of which has positive implications for rental occupancy and property values.

So where is the value at the moment for a potential investor?

For a value acquisition, I look for stunning lots outside the village, which have views and inherent beauty. The truly good ones are surprisingly rare, so you have to do your homework in advance, and be prepared to move quickly if the opportunity comes up.

There are a range of real estate and development companies in Niseko-Hirafu village. Most offer a variety of property related services. To catch up with Keith, contact him through taigaprojects.com

EXPERIENCE NISEKO

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80 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

EXPERIENCE NISEKO

81

Resort Map A

B Lupicia Boutique

Dog Paddle

Alpine Estate

1

343

Amuse Rental

Lupicia Restaurant

Powder Kabayama Primary School Kabayama House

Beagle

SilverFox

Green Saso

Aspara Lodge Aspara Tour

The Orchards Niseko Rising Sun Guides

Gentemstick Showroom

Alpen Ridge NBS Ski School NBS Rental NBS Retail Ridge Café

Fresh Café

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Expedition

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Seisei 1, 2

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Snow Monkey Nupuri Cottage

Fumoto Konishi House

Gouka Lodge - Bondi

Aspenwood

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Local Bus

NISEKO UNITE

Grand

Edelweiss Uncle

Yukiten

Grand

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Miyabi Niseko Lodge Koala Cottage

Sugi House

Hanazo

Whiskey Woods

Tsubaki

Cocoa

Tomotsune

Facilities Odayaka

Gustav's Hideaway

Icho House

Tsukinoki

Hanazo

Forest Star Lodge

Hannah no Hana

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Niseko Resort Service Monty's BBQ & Pub M Lodge

MSK building Tamashii Bar Yosaku

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Ski area

NBS Kid’s Club

LARRY ADLER Rent-a-Ski

NISADE / Niseko Alpine Developments Nozomi Views

343

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Java House Niseko Photography & Guiding

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Ruby Chalet

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Niseko Cottage

ED Shuttle

Tahoe Lodge

M Group Heritage

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MY ecolodge GREEN BENTOSS Cafe & Dining i GATE IKEUCHI eco shop niseko

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Grand Hirafu Rental (.base) Grand Hirafu Rental (Gondola Sta.) i GATE IKEUCHI rental center INSKI Larry Adler Rent-a-Ski NBS Rental (Alpen Ridge) NBS Rental (Shiki Niseko) Niseko 343 Niseko Resort Service Niseko Sports (Hirafu zaka) NOASC Rental

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Ruhiel Yellow House NOASC

Curry Goya Albarta Lodge

Paint ball Field Niseko

Kutchan Town, Route 5

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Peak Niseko Car Rentals ST Gallery

L'ocanda

Ichimura

Duty Free Shop

Waza's World

Katana

Koropokkuru Ground

Hi'iragi-sanso

Tonttu

Ezo Fuji

Hirafu Midtown

Yamada Intersection

Powder-goya

Osteria

BLISS LODGING

P P 26

White Liner Reservation Center

Stage Izumikyo Konayuki BLISS COTTAGE SAKURA

Burger Boss

Good Sports Ski & Snowboard Rental

Cards Issued Overseas-compliant ATM International Currency Exchange

Whistler Lodge

Nisse

Inuneco House

Log Village

Yanagi House

Lift Ticket Counter Information Map Post

Ramat Niseko

Log House M&R Etupirika

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Alpine Central

Izumikyo Office

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Aster A, B

Cotton Grass Slow Life

Kitakitsune

Snow Gum Lodge

Oak Ridge

Izumikyo 2

Star Chalet

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Niseko Villa

AAC Niseko Niseko Club Lodge

Fubuki 1, 2, 3

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Niseko Ramen Kazahana

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The Red Ski House

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Ezo Views Tancho Centre

Izumikyo 3

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Tatami

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Mount Merry La Plagne

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Yellow House

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Yutaka Town House

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Niseko Reise House

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Niseko 343

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THE NORTH FACE GRAVITY NISEKO

Nichigo Apartment

Yume House

Gondola Chalets Harro's Snowsports

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Niseko Consulting Niseko Owners

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Grand Hirafu Ski / Snowboard Rental Niseko Central Ski Valet

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Wild Bill's

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Hirafu Gondola Station

Haku'un-so

Kizuna

Kiseki

Powderhound Lodge

21 L

Mariposa

Silver Birch

West Village

Hirafu Gondola Station

Deep Tracks

Mountain Jam

Hanami Townhouse

Hirafu North Hirafu Station

NCS toyru

Fresh Powder Niseko

Youtei Tracks

Powder Tracks

Ni’s

Robata Niseko Naniwatei

Yama Shizen East Niseko Central

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E3 E3 C1(D2) D2

0136-23-2239 D1 0136-22-1105 D1 0136-21-5811 A2(C2) 0136-23-0205 B4

Sun Sports Land 0136-23-3220 B3 The Explore Niseko Booking Centre 0136-55-8848 B2(D2) Welcome Center 0136-22-0109 E1 Travel Company [JP] : Japanese licence [AU] : Australian licence Aspara Tour [JP] 0136-23-3340 EXPERIENCE NISEKO B1 Hokkaido Travel [JP] 0136-23-3327 A3(D3) 0136-21-6221 B2(C3) Holiday Niseko Japan Ski Experience 090-2058-3807 F3 Niseko Central [JP] 0136-23-3503 E2

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SPRINT Taxi Stand Temporary Police Bo Accommodation A1 Niseko AAC Niseko Absolute Niseko Adventure Ajisai (Hirafu House Akagera Akagera Akari Akatsuki Akazora Albarta Lodge Alice Alpen Ridge Alpine Central Always Niseko Annabel Arbor Aries Arrow Wood Asahi Asanagi Asobi Dokoro Aspara Lodge Aspect Niseko Aspenwood Aster A・B Asuka Asupara Batake Atelier de Niseko Australia House Avalon AYA Niseko Bamboo Lodge Baw Baw Sanso Berg Big Valley 1・2・3 BLISS COTTAGE SAK BLISS LODGING blowhard Bluebell Bouken Kazoku Boyo-so Byakko Captain Casi67 Cecuko Chalet Ivy Chalet Luma Chalet Murasaki Chamonix Cisco Moon Cloud 9 Cocoa Cottage343 Cotton Grass Cowbell Create

Explore the delicious flavours of Hokkaido

Supermarket

Otaru National Highway

Kutchan Sta

GS Supermarket

B

Kyogoku

Kutchan Intersection

Show your Niseko Passport and

GET 5% OFF! ATM

Kutchan Chamber of Commerce

withdraw cash

Currency exchange Hirafu

12-6pm

Niseko

English-speaking staff 12-8pm

9:30am-9pm

OPEN EVERY DAY (EXCEPT NEW YEAR’S DAY)

0136-21-3677

84 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

Rest space with free wi-fi Duty free

12-7pm

¥100 store excl. tax

Tax-free Shop

+

Eat in & Take Aways & Delivery Services

TICKLE YOUR TASTE BUDS WITH AUTHENTIC INDIAN CUISINE

PRAWN MASALA

SAG CHICKEN

CHICKEN BIRYANI

Momiji Building, 170-50 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun TEL : 090-7519-6674 e-mail : info@bombayblue.jp EXPERIENCE NISEKO

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NOW ALSO OPEN IN HAVEN NISEKO

From ¥6,000 for 60min Sports Massage

Down hill from traffic lights, past Gyu+ (The Fridge Door Bar)

FREE gift voucher for another massage if you are not totally happy with your massage.

Haven Niseko, Yamada 163-185, Kutchan-cho

Australia House B1, Yamada 170-5, Kutchan-cho

! al! ! eci re 2pm p d S ef o Bir ages b y l ss r Ea nt ma u o Dis c

Tel: 0136-22-0399 www.nisekomassage.com

The Holiday Saver Products to manage and prevent injuries

Don’t let minor conditions and soreness keep you off the slopes.

ACL Prevention Guaranteed!*

Niseko Physio has been operating in Niseko for over ten years.

Two convenient locations: • Australia House opposite the Seicomart • Haven Niseko, just below the Gyu+ (Fridge Door) Bar, downhill from the traffic lights Bookings preferred but not essential. Travel insurance claimable.

*If you sustain a complete rupture of your ACL while wearing this Breg CX2K brace, we will refund the cost of the brace and give you ¥100,000 towards your operation.

Purchases made with a consultation may be travel insurance claimable.

Haven Niseko

Tel: 0136 55 5739 Haven Niseko, Yamada 163-185, Kutchan-cho www.asiaphysio.com

Tel: 0136-22-0399 Australia House B1, Yamada 170-5, Kutchan-cho www.nisekophysio.com

*We do not see fractures, dislocations or other serious injury. These conditions should go directly to Kutchan Hospital.

A S I A P H Y S I O N E T W O R K T O K Y O • N I S E K O • H A K U B A • N O Z A WA • R U S U T S U • MY O K O K O G E N • S I N G A P O R E • K U A L A L U M P U R

86 EXPERIENCE NISEKO

Indulge & Rejuvenate A week in Niseko’s dry winter air can take its toll.

Recharge and rejuvenate at Niseko Spa.

Facials • Body Treatments • Massage • Nails & Hair Haven Niseko, Yamada 163-185, Kutchan-cho Tel: 0136 55 5729 www.nisekospa.com

Richard Tognetti

& members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra

EXPERIENCE NISEKO

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88 EXPERIENCE NISEKO