Australian Alpine Club Niseko

flake count update

2012-01-11T14:40:00.000+09:00

Update

It was probably the snowiest December in Niseko since the first lifts started turning fifty years ago, with over five metres snowfall recorded.　The biggest daily snowfall was a sixty centimetre deluge reported on 6 January and the cumulative snowfall has already exceeded seven metres.

new hirafu gondola opens

2011-12-13T17:00:00.000+09:00

Includes an excellent demonstration of how to count-down in Japanese / Nihongo.

Credit: http://360niseko.com/

new hirafu gondola cabins arrive

2011-10-27T23:00:00.000+09:00

New cabins have arrived for the Hirafu Gondola. They look beautiful. Report and pics here at Niseko 360. Note the new extra large external ski & board slots (plus the snowline creeping down Mt Yotei).

early sliding

2011-10-27T20:00:00.000+09:00

If snowlovers ever needed a reminder that the White Season is fast approaching, see this report by the Tokyo Snow Club on the opening of two resorts in Honshu.

australian chamber orchestra niseko tour dates

2011-10-23T12:45:00.001+09:00

ACO musicians Richard Tognetti, Satu Vänskä, Aiko Goto, Julian Thompson and Maxime Bibeau and members of the ACO’s Qantas Emerging Artist Program perform three evening concerts, leaving the days free for skiing. Concerts programs are to be confirmed.

12 Jan 8pm
Hilton Niseko Village

13 Jan 7pm
Hanazono 308

14 Jan 7pm
Niseko Grand Hirafu Mountain Centre

General admission tickets $30/2500JPY
Under 15 year olds $12/1000JPY

Tickets will go on sale in October 2011.

Details here.

super saver coupons

2011-10-18T21:00:00.000+09:00

Discount coupons for tourists to Japan, useable at over 4,600 locations.

Visit Japan details here. Discount coupons (pdf) are downloadable here.

powder play in a land of peace

2011-08-28T11:00:00.000+09:00

With outstanding snow and scrupulously honest citizens, Niseko is enticing Aussie skiers, writes Sarah Nicholson (Sunday Times, 21/8/11)

After the quake
If you’re thinking about spending your next overseas ski trip at Niseko, or one of Japan's other ski resorts, don't let the country's recent natural disasters put you off. Last year, more than 225,000 Australians visited the Land of the Rising Sun, with a good portion travelling during the coldest months to hit the slopes. Before the earthquake and tsunami hit Honshu Island's northern provinces on March 11, the numbers were looking like jumping and while 50 per cent fewer international visitors headed to Japan in March and April, the Japanese National Tourism Organisation says there's no reason to stay away.

"Popular destinations for Australians remain unaffected and there is no major disruptions to infrastructure,'' JNTO's Sydney executive director, Yukio Yamashita, says.

Skiing there
Niseko resort is on Hokkaido Island. See niseko.ne.jp
Niseko Village, see nisekotourism.com and click on "English''
More: Japan National Tourism Organisation, see www.jnto.go.jp

Are you one of those skiers or snowboarders who tend to lose stuff when you're in the mountains? Have you left your wallet on the table in the restaurant where you ate lunch, your shoes on the floor at the rental shop, your gloves in the bathroom, your board bag on the road beside the car, your jacket on the back of the door in your room at the lodge, or your goggles hanging on the chairlift's safety bar?

Then fret not, I have just the place for your next snow holiday, and it's a destination considered to be so safe there's a good chance you'll return home with all your possessions.

Japan the country that's become a haven for Australian powder hounds, with resorts such as Appi Kogen and Hakuba dragging snow-seekers north during our summer has earnt a reputation for being one of the safest places on the planet, with a population that's so honest they surrender even the most insignificant items to lost-and-found counters.

The most recent figures from Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department reveal more than two million ``found items'' were handed back to the capital's lost-and-found attendants during 2008, including almost $36 million in cash, as well as umbrellas, clothing, ID cards and mobile phones.

Japan was ranked the third most peaceful country in the world on last year's Global Peace Index, which is compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace using 23 indicators, including safety and security in society, civil liberties and hospitality to strangers.

I have been to Japan a few times, and skied some of the country's best mountains, and I joke that the place is a bit like the jumping castle at a children's party, where you can bounce and bounce because you know you're not going to get hurt.

During one visit I sat next to an Aussie guy on a train who had left his wallet at a station cafe and, when he returned a few minutes later, found a local standing guard beside his money.

If you like the sound of that you won't be alone, as more than 52,200 Australians visited Japan during the first two months of this year there's a swag of mountain villages to choose from and more than 500 ski resorts sprinkled across the country.

One of the best is Niseko, the resort on the southwestern tip of Hokkaido Island that was the first to break into the Australian market more than a decade ago when investors from the Victorian and NSW ski fields started pouring big bucks into developing the region.

According to Deep Powder Tours, an Australian company with 16 years' experience booking Japanese ski adventures, Niseko is ``the most popular and well-known ski resort in Japan''.

"Niseko receives an average of 12m to 14m of the driest powder snow and is regarded as one of the Top 10 international ski resorts in the world,'' the company's website proclaims.

"The entire area is made up of four interconnected ski areas, including Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Annupuri and Niseko Village, with 48km of serviced runs, 38 lifts with common lift passes, runs of up to 5.6km, and a vertical drop of 1000m between the highest and lowest lifted points.

"There is always a variety of uncrowded quality skiing to be had.''

If that's not enough to tempt you, consider these vital statistics. The ski lifts are open from 8.30am to 8.30pm every day, snow sits on the ground for around 130 days every year, Niseko boasts one of the largest illuminated night-skiing areas in the world, as well as a half pipe and terrain park, and there are 17 restaurants and cafes on the mountain.

There's also a variety of terrain 30 per cent of the mountain is suited to beginners, 40 per cent appeals to intermediates, and 30 per cent is set for advanced skiers and snowboarders and, on a clear day, you can stand on a Niseko slope and look across the peaks to the snow-covered farmland below and the sea in the distance.

So, with so many resorts to choose from, why has Niseko become a firm favourite with Australians? First, the snow is bloody good, with the winter storms that brew in Siberia dropping all their moisture on the water as they blow cross the Sea of Japan and saving only the driest powder snow that rivals the famous powder stashes in the Colorado ski fields for Niseko's uncrowded slopes.

Then there's the fact it's easy to get to, with regular services flying between Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Sapporo, and a coach ride completing the journey to the mountain.

And Australians don't suffer jetlag because there are only a couple of time zones to jump during the relatively short flight up from the southern hemisphere.

Because Niseko's been a popular destination for Aussie travellers for a decade, there's also a lot of English spoken around the village, unlike in other parts of Japan.

And there's a good offering of Western-style food available, which means it's an especially good spot for younger Australians taking their first ski trip abroad.

It's also the sort of place where you can strike perfect conditions a blue-sky day, fresh powder, long, empty runs. And that means you can have one of those special snow days that you remember long after you've returned home.

Japan at the very top of the list

2011-05-01T15:30:00.000+09:00

Former Australian Winter Olympian Steven Lee was in Japan (Hakuba) during the March earthquake. His travel report concludes:

"So please, when you are planning your 2012 northern winter escape put Japan at the very top of the list. Not only for the very best snow and powder you can imagine, but for the beautiful people of Japan who certainly deserve all of our support.
I'll be back, guaranteed."

final flake count 2010-11

2011-05-01T15:15:00.001+09:00

niseko visitors 2010-11

2011-05-01T15:00:00.003+09:00

travel updates after the 3.11 earthquake

2011-04-11T15:45:00.004+09:00

The Japan National Tourism Organization has provided answers to some Frequently Asked Questions following the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

developments planned

2011-04-11T15:00:00.001+09:00

Development projects in the Niseko area are scheduled to proceed from this Spring as planned:

Construction on Shiki, next to the Mountain Side Palace, has already begun.
The Hotel Scot demolition is on schedule to make space for The Rocks development.
Construction on the M Hotel on Momiji-zaka Street has begun.

In preparation for Grand Hirafu’s fiftieth anniversary, a number of exciting projects are slated to begin around upgrading the Hirafu gondola. Upgrades include:

An 8-person cabin (replacing the 4-person cabins)
Speed boost – the whole trip will now be only five minutes
Renovated building

Additionally, a new ski centre will be built next door, complete with restaurant, ski school, rentals, and ski shop. A new kids’ space will be constructed, as well. When the first ski guests arrive later this year, there will certainly be new and exciting changes.

niseko's safety

2011-04-11T14:30:00.028+09:00

Niseko is more than 500 kilometres from the epicentre of the earthquake and inland, so it experienced almost no direct impacts from the event. Despite concerns about food shortages in affected areas, Niseko neither expected nor experienced supply issues. Additionally, the Hokkaido power grid is completely separate from Tokyo Electric, so the power restrictions affecting parts of the main island do not extend to Niseko. Although several countries issued travel advisories against Tokyo and the areas most severely damaged by the earthquake, Hokkaido and therefore Niseko were not included in many such advisories.

not many millisieverts

2011-03-22T20:50:00.001+09:00

Niseko Promotion Board has responded to guest concerns about the impact of the problems at the Fukushima power station (which is 600 kilometres distant) by obtaining some radiation measurements. The measured radiation readings at Sapporo, the closest monitoring point to Niseko, is shown below. Niseko is clearly as safe as, or perhaps even safer than, anywhere else in the world.

earthquake & tsunami

2011-03-20T15:05:00.000+09:00

As friends of Japan, our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible earthquake and tsunami in Honshu which has claimed the lives of so many people.

The massive 8.9 Richter Scale undersea earthquake off the north-east coast of Honshu was certainly felt in Niseko but there have been no reports of any local damage. Niseko remains in operation, however some planned activities have been curtailed out of respect for the victims of the tragedy.

Niseko locals and guests have responded to the tragedy by donating warm clothing and similar items that will be sent to some of the affected areas, plus there are some planned charity events.

Monetary donations can be made to the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Australian Red Cross Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal 2011 and the Salvation Army.

For people with Australian tax residency, the Australian Government has declared the Japanese earthquake and tsunami as a disaster for the purpose of tax deductibility, which means that donations will be deductible against Australian income tax (please retain a receipt to substantiate if required).

snowfall & snowdepths 2010-11 (14)

2011-03-20T15:00:00.000+09:00

changed arrangements post-tsunami

2011-03-15T21:00:00.003+09:00

The following advice has been received from the Niseko Promotion Board regarding changed arrangements following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami:

In consideration of the hardship of the recent earthquake and tsunami victims, some changes to event schedule and business hours have been made by each resort in the Niseko area. Please see below for details:

Annupuri Ski Resort
●　Night skiing hours →　Until 8pm from 15 to 26 March
●　Night skiing price →　Changed to 1,700yen (previously 1,900yen)
●　Event →　The Annupuri Festa initially scheduled to be held on 19-21 March has been cancelled

Grand Hirafu
●　Night skiing hours (changes applied from 16 March)
●　Ace Family Pair Lift in service until 8pm
●　Ace Quad #2 Centre 4 in service until 7:40pm
●　King Hooded Triple Lift #3 in service until 5pm

●　The night operation of Hirafu Gondola and Holiday Pair Lift #1 which was scheduled on 19, 20, and 26 March has also been canceled.
●　Grand Shuttle →　In service until 8pm from 16 March
●　Event →　Weekend fireworks in March have been all cancelled.

Hanazono
●　Event →　The Salomon BBR test ride events initially scheduled to be held on 19 and 20 March have been cancelled.
●　The Slope Style competition will be held on 19 March on schedule.

Moiwa Ski Resort
●　Event →　The Free Run Contest will be held as a charity event on 19 March.

Niseko Village [updated]
●　Night skiing hours →　Until 8pm
●　Night skiing price →　Changed to 1,300yen (previously 1,500yen)
●　Event →　The 2011 Wonderland Festival planned for March 26 at Niseko Village is cancelled.

fresh tracks

2011-02-25T17:44:00.001+09:00

We have been posting a few photos from members and guests during this White Season showing conditions that some folks have described as 'snowmaggedon'.

Marc is shown here making some nice fresh tracks during a pause between snowfalls.

hong kong firm to build huge resort in niseko

2011-02-24T19:00:00.000+09:00

SAPPORO (Nikkei)--Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd. plans to develop a huge resort complex including hotels and condominiums in the Niseko ski area of Hokkaido.

Starting next year, the Hong Kong-based property developer will invest more than 100 billion yen to construct two hotels, a hot-spring facility and 3,000 condo units in the vicinity of the Hanazono Ski Resort, operated by PCPD subsidiary Nihon Harmony Resorts KK.

PCPD, a group firm of Hong Kong telecommunications giant PCCW Ltd., acquired Nihon Harmony Resorts from its Australian owners in 2007.

The Japanese subsidiary will spearhead the project and plans to start out by constructing four condominium buildings and a roughly 200-room hotel that will open in 2014.

(The Nikkei Business Daily Feb. 23 edition)

Currency converted, this represents an investment of A$1.25 billion, probably one of the biggest alpine resort investments anywhere.

Previous blogpost is here.

legendary powder amongst the sacred trees

2011-02-23T18:30:00.006+09:00

The Ski Club of Great Britain report on their experience of a recent trip to Niseko and Furano with the Warren Smith Ski Academy Powder Ski Camps. Apparently the trees are sacred in Furano, putting some restriction on the off-piste action.

The report is here.

hokkaido’s powder snow paradise

2011-02-18T18:30:00.002+09:00

A nice one page summary of just about everything that is great about Niseko published in Trends in Japan.
Probably worth forwarding to anybody with any doubts.

booking status update 7 (2011)

2011-02-12T08:00:00.000+09:00

Current booking status at the lodge for the 2011 Niseko White Season at the date of posting is charted here. This is intended as a rough guide and is subject to confirmation or change due to new bookings or cancellations.

Please contact our booking agents at Mogul Ski World for the exact booking position.

Mogul Ski World

1/576 Malvern Road, Prahran VIC 3181 Australia

Tel: +61 (0)3 9525 2555

Fax: +61 (0)3 9521 1617
Toll Free 1800 335 724
reservations@mogulski.com.au

riders of the storm

2011-01-30T20:30:00.000+09:00

A couple of AAC Niseko lodge guests (Harrison and William) revelling in the Hokkaido 'white space' this month.

cool links

2011-01-21T10:30:00.002+09:00

There is a new ‘cool links’ section in our weblog sidebar (at left) for topics that are often the subject of internet searches. Rather than have many of them stored away in our weblog archives there are now direct links to important or frequently searched topics such as etiquette, ATMs, bookings, membership, train travel to Niseko, lodge management, UHF radios and snowfall data. They were going to be called our ‘hot links’, but as it is Niseko-related we thought ‘cool links’ might be more appropriate.

niseko after dark

2011-01-19T17:40:00.000+09:00

One of the joys of Niseko is that snowsports don't have to stop just because of nightfall. Some more photos this week of AAC Niseko lodge guests next to the Big Thermometer and enjoying the Hirafu slopes after dark.

daily flakes

2011-01-19T17:30:00.007+09:00

This recent video by 'The Daily Flake' provides a good indication of Niseko conditions over the past two weeks.

Japan Snow Report - The Daily Flake Sunday Special 16 Jan 2011 from The Daily Flake on Vimeo.

a change of scenery

2011-01-13T19:51:00.000+09:00

The nearby resort of Rusutsu provides an interesting day-trip from Niseko. Pictured below are lodge manager Chris Holmes (in checked ski pants) with AAC Niseko lodge guests William, Harrison and Nigel.

january 'powder heaven'

2011-01-09T16:15:00.006+09:00

Almost one and half metres of Hokkaido's finest has arrived over the past four days and these pictures of AAC Niseko lodge guests Nigel, Harrison and William enjoying the powder conditions say it all.

Club Med looks to profit from China's skiing craze

2010-12-17T11:00:00.001+09:00

French leisure group Club Med formally opens its first resort in China on Tuesday in the icy northeast, cashing in on a newfound love for winter sports among an increasingly wealthy middle class.

Club Med is hoping to attract clients from across China, and even Southeast Asia, to its new village in Yabuli, which features 18 ski slopes -- and winter temperatures often below minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit).

"Most of the industry is in decline. China is really the only place where the industry is growing," Justin Downes, a Canadian from the ski resort of Whistler who advises investors on the winter sports sector in China, told AFP.

Club Med will also offer plenty of indoor winter pursuits such as karaoke and mah-jong for those not willing to brave the frigid Siberian winds.

Chinese clients "are not keen on skiing eight hours a day. They want to have other things to do," Downes said.

The Canadian consultant said he was working on a project with Lim Chee Wah, an heir to Malaysia's Genting group, to develop what will be the largest ski resort in Asia, three hours outside Beijing in the northern province of Hebei.

The project, called "Secret Garden" and due to open in 2012, is expected to be able to accommodate 18,000 tourists a day, and would include a theme park and golf course for the summer months.

"There are about five million ski tourists in the country, which is tiny by global standards," acknowledged Downes, who estimates the number could jump to 20 million by 2020 as new ski resorts are built and others are expanded.

Skiing only caught on for ordinary Chinese in the mid-1990s in the country's north and northeast, but has since blossomed into a pastime that can be practised nationwide.

So far, more than 200 ski resorts, most of them quite small, have opened everywhere from western China's Xinjiang region and the Tibetan plateau to the southwestern province of Yunnan and Inner Mongolia in the north.

On the outskirts of Beijing, about 10 ski areas are in operation, most of them using artificial snow to lure weekend daytrippers, as the region's winters have seen less and less precipitation.

"I spend between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan each year on skiing," Luo Xiaoheng, a 34-year-old businessman who took up the sport 10 years ago, told AFP while checking out a new pair of skis at a sporting goods store in the capital.

"The conditions are not that great in China, but the level of the skiers on the slopes is improving rapidly," said Luo, who said he once travelled to Chamonix in the French Alps to pursue his hobby.

Club Med said last week its sales in China had increased by over 40 percent in 2010. The country is expected to become the group's second-largest market by 2015, with the opening of five villages.

By Boris Cambreleng (AFP)

things we like (cool apps)

2010-12-01T12:00:00.001+09:00

The ubiquity of smartphones has inspired the enterprising folks at http://www.snowjapan.com/ to develop some excellent applications for both the iPhone / iPod Touch and Android phones. Details here.

opening on hold

2010-11-18T20:15:00.001+09:00

Niseko is going to need a bit more frozen precipitation before the lifts start turning.
The snow is coming (and it will be good), but there is unlikely to be enough to start-up this Saturday.
HT: powderlife

so you think you can ski?

2010-11-17T18:00:00.009+09:00

ski instructor courses
Australian Professional Snowsports Instructors Inc (APSI) will be conducting ski instructor courses in Niseko in late February and early 2011. The courses will range from Level 1 (entry level) through to Level 2. The APSI Level 1 (entry level) course is the minimum required to instruct at Australian alpine resorts and APSI qualifications are internationally recognised.

You can train to be a snowsports instructor without being employed by a snowsports school. You can also complete an instructor course that will enhance your technical skills, even if you don't intend to work as a snowsports instructor.

dates
25 February - 6 March 2011

courses/exams available
Level 1 - (entry level)
Level 2 - (formerly 'Level 1')
Level 3 - (formerly 'Level 2' prep & re-sits)

Full course dates and costs will be available through the APSI online shop www.apsi.net.au.

white season to begin

2010-11-16T09:00:00.004+09:00

The lifts start turning on Grand Hirafu next Saturday 20 November, with the other Niseko ski areas expected to open in the following days. In a typical White Season the Niseko lifts operate until the first week in May.

"The Niseko locals have been parking their mountain bikes and golf clubs, waxing their bases and preparing for the first resort guests. A few of the locals have also been climbing the slopes to get their first tracks for the Season," said Ian Farrow, Chairman of Australian Alpine Club Niseko.

As the Niseko lifts start turning, the Australian Alpine Club Niseko e-mail competition will be closing on Saturday at noon Niseko time (2pm AEDST). The prize is a week for two at the lodge in either the 2010/11 Season or the 2011/12 Season. Details here.

Bookings are well underway and there is some space available at the Australian Alpine Club Niseko lodge for this White Season, including for commercial guests. For more information, see http://www.aacniseko.com/ or contact Mogul Ski World on 1800 335 724 for details.

(media release)

booking status update 5 (2010/11)

2010-11-05T17:15:00.035+09:00

Current booking status at the lodge for the 2010/11 Niseko White Season at the date of posting is charted here. This is intended as a rough guide and is subject to confirmation or change due to new bookings or cancellations.

Please contact our booking agents at Mogul Ski World for the exact booking situation.

Mogul Ski World

1/576 Malvern Road, Prahran VIC 3181 Australia

Tel: +61 (0)3 9525 2555

Fax: +61 (0)3 9521 1617

Toll Free 1800 335 724
reservations@mogulski.com.au

first tracks 2010/11

2010-10-30T06:00:00.002+09:00

photo: Glen Claydon http://studio343.jp/2010/10/

The e-mail sent to members and friends of AAC Niseko this week was just in time for the first snow (“hatsu yuki”) in Niseko. As we predicted, it wasn’t long before a few of the locals would be making the rest of us envious by photographing their first tracks (“hatsu torakku”?) for the White Season.

Admittedly, there is not yet much of a snow base and it is still likely to be a few weeks before the ski lifts start spinning in Niseko. We’ll start counting the flakes from then.

aacniseko competition

2010-10-20T21:00:00.012+09:00

We have plenty of people visiting our website, but we would like to keep in contact with them and expand our list of potential lodge guests and prospective members. We are therefore having a competition to help build our contact list of people who are interested in Niseko snowsports.

the prize
The prize is seven nights accommodation for two people at the Australian Alpine Club Niseko lodge (currently worth up to A$600 per person in peak season).

how to enter
Send an e-mail to us at aacnisekocompetition@ozemail.com.au, CC-ed to the e-mail addresses of two or more friends (over 18 years of age) who are interested in snowsports in Niseko. Paste this link http://tinyurl.com/2cvkb2b to our competition into your e-mail, so that they know why you are sending it and so that they might enter too.

the rules
You must be over 18 years of age to enter or claim this prize. One entry (e-mail address) per person. The winner will be selected by computer randomisation from the e-mail entries received by 12:00pm JST on Saturday 20 November 2010. The winner will be notified by e-mail on Monday 22 November 2010. The accommodation prize is to be taken in either the 2010/11 or 2011/12 Japanese winter seasons, subject to our mutual best endeavours and the prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. You and your friends will receive the occasional e-mail from us, mainly promoting lodge accommodation and other Australian Alpine Club Niseko related news, but we won’t misuse your e-mail address and you can opt out of receiving e-mail from us. By entering this competition you accept these terms and conditions.

more information
More information about Australian Alpine Club Niseko is available through http://www.aacniseko.com/. News and updates are published on http://aacniseko.blogspot.com/ and you can also follow us on http://twitter.com/aacniseko.

UPDATE: 20 November 2010
The competion has now closed and the winner has been advised.
Thank you to everyone who expressed an interest and participated.

takkyubin

2010-10-11T20:00:00.000+09:00

One of Japan tourism's best-kept secrets is the nationwide delivery service Takkyubin. Fast and reliable, it delivers almost anything; skis, suitcases, snowboards etc within 24 hours. It is the reason why Japanese tourists often seem to 'travel light'.

Takkyubin can save you from hauling luggage such as snowsports equipment, particularly if you want to do other things such as spend time in Tokyo or other tourist attractions. Pick-ups can be arranged from hotels, airports or convenience stores and the cost is reasonable. An average-sized suitcase can be sent from Kanto (Tokyo area) to Hokkaido for ¥2,210 (about A$28).

Takkyubin contact details.
Website: www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/english
Telephone: +81 3 3541 3411

first snow competition

2010-10-03T21:45:00.008+09:00

Predicting each winter's first Niseko Hirafu snowfall has become something of a tradition at The Kutchannel. This is their 3rd Annual 'Niseko First Snow' contest, and this year they have a sponsor, The Barn, and a new system for tracking entries.

You can now use a Kutchannel username and password (you may need to register first) to log into http://NisekoFirstSnow.com/ and make your prediction for when there will be the first sustained snowfall in Niseko Hirafu at village level.

If your prediction proves more accurate than anyone else's, than you will receive a free world class dinner for two at the new French bistro, The Barn, offering all-season alpine food and wine fare in Hokkaido's warmest authentic bistro atmosphere.

lodge manager 2010-11

2010-09-09T06:00:00.003+09:00

Chris Holmes will be our new lodge manager for the 2010/11 White Season. Chris holds a Diploma in Japanese Business Language, has Japanese residency and considerable experience in the tourism and hospitality sector. Many members will be familiar with Chris through his role in facilitating many of the bookings and travel arrangements to the lodge during last season. Chris will be assisted by Takashi Tobitsuka ("Toby") a Niseko local resident who will bring his depth of experience to the role.

The position was advertised through Big Planet Placements and attracted many highly credentialled applications.

lodge manager 2010/11

2010-07-20T05:00:00.003+09:00

We will be seeking a Lodge Manager for the 2010/11 Niseko 'White Season', specifically a person (or couple) who can offer:

English (written and spoken), plus at least functional spoken Japanese
Experience in similar hospitality roles
Driver’s licence valid for Japan (Japanese or International licence)
Applicants eligible to work in Japan for the whole season (more than three months) will be strongly preferred

Details are currently being finalised, so potential applicants may wish to register with Big Planet Placements in order to receive the 'job alert' when it is posted.

Update: direct link to the advertisement is here.

niseko green season

2010-07-01T21:30:00.003+09:00

There is an excellent article about the Niseko 'Green Season ' in 'Metropolis' magazine. Many people will be familiar with the fine dining, golf, mountain biking and whitewater rafting; but who knew that Niseko also had a local ostrich farm?

Read the 'Metropolis' article here (h/t JSekka).

panoramas

2010-06-18T19:30:00.001+09:00

Niseko-based photographer Glen Claydon has produced some stunning panoramic photographs of Niseko and surrounding areas. Gather up some sushi and sake, click on the link and its almost like being there.

upgrading the street

2010-06-06T14:27:00.000+09:00

'The Japan Times' resports that a major 750 million Yen renovation is planned for the Hirafu-zaka, the a street running from Niseko Grand Hirafu to the center of the village. The full story is here.

bookings 2010-11

2010-06-01T21:30:00.009+09:00

Bookings for the 2010-11 Niseko White Season are now open. A big change for next season is that we have a new Australian-based booking agent and bookings can be made in Australian dollars.

Bookings for the 2010-11 Niseko White Season are now being managed by Mogul Ski World.

Mogul Ski World
Lvl 1/576 Malvern Road, Prahran Victoria 3181, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)3 9525 2555 Fax: +61 (0)3 9521 1617
Toll Free: 1800 335 724
reservations@mogulski.com.au
http://www.mogulski.com.au/

More booking information details are available here: http://aacniseko.com/pages/book.htm

who came to niseko?

2010-05-19T22:30:00.003+09:00

Data supplied by the Niseko Promotion Board, based on information from major accommodation providers, gives a reasonable profile of Niseko visitation in the 2009-10 White Season.

Japanese comprise almost two-thirds of Niseko visitors, with Australians comprising the largest single group of foreign guests. The most international of the Japanese snow resorts, Niseko is also becoming increasingly popular with visitors from Hong Kong and Singapore.

The time series chart illustrates the popularity of the peak months of January and February, with a significant decline in March, despite some excellent snow conditions. Total recorded visitor numbers were over 270,000; including almost 40,000 Australians.

final flake count

2010-05-16T06:36:00.005+09:00

Frequently asked questions are "how much does it snow in Niseko?" and "when is the best time to go to Niseko?" The above chart illustrates how much it snowed and the snowdepths during the season. When the Niseko lifts stopped spinning on Sunday 9 May there was still about 2.5 metres of snow on the peaks. Conservatively counted cumulative snowfall in Niseko during this White Season exceeded 15 metres (over 50 feet for the non-metric) since the lifts began turning at the end of November. Some flake-counters are suggesting that the total snowfall over the past season was even higher, at 18 metres.

Snowfall chart data is derived from snowjapan.com reports, with the snow depth measured at the top of Hirafu.

perfect powder

2010-04-07T20:00:00.000+09:00

From the 'The Illawarra Mercury' last weekend:

Ski heaven does exist writes Denise Everton, as she ploughs through seemingly endless powder surrounded by breathtaking scenery during a trip to Japan's Niseko ski fields.

My friends didn't lie. For the past two years I'd been hearing about the brilliance of the ski experience in a little spot called Niseko on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, descriptions that had reached near mythical proportions.

They talked of perfect powder; dry, fluffy snow that rose above the knee and enslaved all who dared to set ski upon (or perhaps more correctly, within) it.

There were long, graceful runs serviced by gondolas and covered chairs to keep the icy wind from slicing though you and heated pools called onsens to soothe tired muscles at the end of the day.

As a graduate of the Australian ski fields with its icy slopes and short runs, I could have been forgiven for thinking said friends had indulged in a little too much sake at the end of the day, but they really didn't lie. Ski heaven does exist and Niseko is its name.

Although not Japan's only ski field, Niseko is a firm favourite with Aussie skiers who seem to vastly outnumber all other nationalities on the slopes.

It's a bit of a hike to get there as you fly into Tokyo, connect to Hokkaido and then take roughly a three-hour bus trip to the village but travel can be very fluid. With time to spare at the domestic airport, we were offered an earlier flight, then had no trouble grabbing an earlier bus once in Hokkaido.

From that moment on, the magical mystery tour really began.

Even the bus trip was a revelation. We passed through picture-perfect forests where tree branches were laden with snow, skirted dazzling lakes and gazed upon fields of thick, white snow that stretched into the distance.

Never, in all my travels, had I seen this much powder and the beauty of the landscape absorbed me. When we passed through towns along the way, there were always people on roofs or in side streets shovelling snow and clearing overhangs. It looked like hard, cold work - a daily battle which you would never win but had to try anyway.

The magic doesn't dim when you reach Niseko. There's three main resorts - Hirafu, Annupuri and Hanazono - which are well spread out and can be skied on the same pass.

Hirafu is one of those amazing mixes - stylish accommodation melded with the comfort of a small village atmosphere. You can find five-star restaurants or food vans, ice bars or Irish sports bars, breakfast nooks that turn out mouth-watering pastries in the morning then turn into restaurants at night where you need to book a week in advance to gain access.

There's a boot guru who can modify your uncomfortable old ski boots into a perfect fit within hours and, best of all, a massage place specialising in the foot and lower leg that is nothing short of brilliant at the end of a few days skiing.

The convenience store sells great basics if you want to cook in your self-service apartment and if you're staying in the lower end of the village, there's shuttle buses to transport you to the ski lifts at the top end of town.

Still, the real magic unfolds on the slopes where you have almost 50km of groomed trails and slopes and roughly 12 hours a day to enjoy it.

The groomed areas are fun but the thing you quickly learn about powder is that it's highly addictive and you'll ski anywhere to cut a swath through the virgin snow.

Trees, which once loomed as deadly obstacles to be avoided at all costs, now become your greatest playmate as you swoop and veer around their trunks where powder tends to be deep.

You goggle at the sight of the snow rising over your knees as you plough through the fluffy stuff, so different from the heavy, wet material that falls from the sky in Australia.

It's a bizarre experience, skiing without being able to see your legs, seeing a bump in the snow ahead but skiing through it without resistance, or falling over onto a soft landing and getting up covering in snow but not getting wet and cold.

It doesn't matter that the sky isn't a brilliant blue, that the clouds can close in at a moment's notice and that the wind chill can be biting. This is a place where the longest run is 5.6km, where you have to stop for a breather mid run because the slope just goes on and on and where the view of Mount Yotei stretching before you when the clouds do break, is breathtaking.

Every moment on the slopes is worth it, even if your boots are pinching your shins, your feet are freezing and you look like some sort of alien creature with your balaclava, goggles and ski helmet.

By the end of the week my legs were screaming, particularly when we came out of the powder and hit the relative hardness of the groomed slopes.

As I railed inwardly at my inability to add just one more run to the day, I was already plotting how to improve my ski fitness before the next trip - the powder wouldn't beat me again.

Still, there wasn't much we hadn't done. We'd skied all the resorts, tested the gondolas, survived the open-air lifts, tried our skills at night skiing, ate a wonderful array of Japanese food at the cafes on the slopes, discovered the joys of hand and feet warmer sachets and laughed at a group of Aussie guys tackling a super-huge test-tube of beer over lunch at Hanazono.

That same afternoon our group of six adults swapped skis for snow mobiles and trekked off over the mountains for some fresh adventure and a touch of sanctioned hooning. The change of pace was great fun, the scenery spectacular and yes, it gave us a chance to rest our legs.

That left just one thing to try.

Onsens are a traditional part of Japanese life and one that is worth putting aside your modesty to try.

The hot springs or baths are found throughout Japan and there are a couple available for use in Hirafu. We tried one found in a hotel in the upper village and if you want to relax, this is the way to do it.

Separate baths are provided for men and women and feature both indoor and outdoor baths overlooking the ski slopes.

No swimming costumes are allowed but you can carry a small hand towel for modesty if you prefer which people often then place on their head once in the water. There are small cubicles for cleansing before and after you relax in the onsen so by the time you emerge from the room you are feeling a bit like a warm, wobbly custard mould.

One word of warning for the shy though, we discovered the men's outdoor onsen was visible from the bar/cafe in a corner of the hotel when we stopped for a beer before heading back to our accommodation. Thank goodness for lots of steam.

After skiing Niseko I have to wonder how I'll go back in the Aussie Alps with its icy groomed runs and patchy snow. Still, it'll be a good chance to practice my form and try to improve my ability in case Niseko lures me back.

fifteen metres (and counting)

2010-03-31T20:30:00.002+09:00

At the end of March the cumulative snowfall in Niseko during this White Season has already exceeded 15 metres (over 50 feet for the non-metric) since the lifts began turning at the end of November. The snowdepth has increased by more than 2.5 metres through March (when the resort is traditionally quiet), including a fresh dump of more than 40 cm last weekend. We have updated our snowfall chart to the end of March and it appears that Niseko might be reaching its peak snowdepth before the inevitable melt begins.

Snowfall chart data is derived from snowjapan.com reports, with the snow depth measured at the top of Hirafu.

snowfall & snow depths update

2010-03-20T04:15:00.002+09:00

Some number crunching and charting updates the snowfall and snow depth in Niseko so far this season.

The cumulative snowfall since the official season opening has been 14.15 metres (or for those non-metric folk, over 46 ft).

The snowdepth appears to have reached its peak and is now plateauing, but it illustrates why March continues to deliver such excellent value in Niseko.

Data is derived from snowjapan.com reports, with the snow depth as measured at the top of Hirafu.

new winter views

2010-03-15T04:00:00.014+09:00

Glen Claydon has completed some nice new exterior photographs of the lodge. Plenty of patience required to wait for a Niseko day with such azure skies.

Flaky science

2010-03-10T21:30:00.000+09:00

How to predict the consistency of snow

Mar 4th 2010 | From The Economist print edition

Schuss those dendrites

“THE wrong type of snow” became famous as a lame excuse in Britain in February 1991 when, caught out by a cold snap, British Rail blamed severe disruption to its services on problems clearing unusually soft and powdery snow from its tracks. But British Rail had a point. There are, indeed, different types of snow—and people who live in mountainous areas, or visit to ski, like to know which ones to expect. Forecasting what sort of snow will fall is not easy. But a pair of researchers at the University of Utah think they have cracked the problem.

Jim Steenburgh and Trevor Alcott carried out their research in the Alta ski area, which is about 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) up in the Wasatch range. Good record-keeping at the resort, including precipitation measurements that are taken automatically every hour, allowed them to analyse 457 snowfalls that took place between 1999 and 2007.

What they were looking for was a correlation between the weather conditions at the time of a snowfall and the amount of water in the snow that fell. This is called the snow-to-liquid ratio. For example, if 10cm of snow falling over a given area contains the equivalent of 2cm of rain when it has melted, this ratio is five—a bit slushy.

The higher the ratio (known, confusingly, as the density, even though bigger numbers mean the snow is actually less dense), the drier and more powdery the snow. This is the type skiers prefer. In the Wasatch mountains the average density is 14, although it can vary from well below five to 25 or more.

Dr Steenburgh and Mr Alcott found, not surprisingly, that temperature plays a large part in controlling snow density. Where that temperature pertains, though, is crucial. It is the temperature above the crests of the range, where the snow crystals form, that seems to matter most. When this is around freezing point, the snow formed is dense (ie, the value of the ratio is low). As the temperature falls, snow gets drier and fluffier because of the formation of dendrite crystals (snowflakes, to the layman) that contain lots of spaces. As conditions get colder still, though, the crystals become more compact again, and the snow gets heavier.

What was less expected was the effect of wind. Wind at the mountain tops, says Dr Steenburgh, bashes the snowflakes into one another, knocking the spaces out of the crystals. The windier the conditions, the smaller the snow-to-liquid ratio.

The study, to be published in Weather and Forecasting, found that the fluffiest snow at Alta occurs in falls that contain less than 2cm of water over 24 hours, with a mountain-top wind speed of 29-42kph (18-26mph) and a temperature of -18˚C to -12˚C. If it gets warmer or colder the snow gets heavier with water.

All of which is good news for skiers planning a last-minute trip to the slopes. They will have a much better idea before they set off of what they can expect. It should also help in the prediction of avalanche risk, because snow slips are often the result of dense snow falling on a less-dense underlayer. Now all that is needed is a version of the formula that Britain’s train companies can use, so they can prepare their excuses in advance.

Niseko Village sold for ¥6 billion

2010-03-09T21:00:00.004+09:00

Niseko Village resort (formerly Higashiyama) has reportedly been sold for ¥6 billion to a Malaysian property, hotel and power conglomerate YTL Corp. Subsidiary company YTL Hotels & Properties Sdn Bhd is buying 100% of Niseko Village K.K. from PC One Y.K, a unit of Citigroup Financial Products Inc.

Niseko Village Resort includes the 506-room Hilton Niseko Village, 200-room Green Leaf Hotel, two 18-hole golf courses and 155 hectares of leased ski mountain land with seven ski lifts and 15 ski trails.

"The proposed acquisition will enable the YTL Corp group to participate in one of Japan's finest ski resort destinations on the island of Hokkaido with potential to develop into a world class four season resort through luxury residential development and mountain retail development," YTL said.

Sources: Dow Jones & Business Times (Malaysia)

the british are here

2010-02-17T19:45:00.001+09:00

The Warren Smith Ski Academy has brought a group to Niseko from the United Kingdom for a 'powder camp.' One of their participants recently remarked after a day in Niseko "that was the best day’s skiing of my life." The group is reporting on their time in Niseko here.

bag jump

2010-02-15T19:15:00.001+09:00

Haruka Ito ('Harupi') has uploaded this clip of the new bag jump at Hanazono.

Snowflake count so far this season has just crossed the 12 metre mark.

delicious, isn't it?

2010-02-05T20:07:00.003+09:00

おいしいですね | oishii desu ne | delicious, isn't it?

Nigel Abbott of Hanazono Powder TV reviews the Nihonbashi restaurant in Kutchan. A welcome addition to the snow reports.

Kutchan access is very easy using the free Night-Go bus that departs from a bus stop very close to the Niseko Club lodge.

snowfall & snow depths

2010-01-29T21:00:00.017+09:00

Some number crunching and charting illustrates the snowfall and snow depth in Niseko so far this season.

The cumulative snowfall since the official season opening has been 9.9 metres (or for those non-metric folk, about 33 ft).

Data is derived from snowjapan.com reports, with the snow depth as measured at the top of Hirafu.

plenty of snow

2010-01-27T20:19:00.004+09:00

Midway through the peak season in Niseko, the snowfall for January has been recorded as 'above the average'. Fresh snow has been falling consistently in the resort throughout the month. There are still some vacant rooms at the lodge in February plus there should be plenty of space (and snow) for those who want to take advantage of the great discounts available in March.

spare a thought

2010-01-24T19:00:00.009+09:00

The incredible abundance of snow that the Niseko resort has been receiving during this season continues to surprise even many of the locals. While this much snow is always glorious when it is falling on the hill, it sometimes presents some interesting challenges for the lodge.

exchange rates

2010-01-14T20:00:00.011+09:00

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) this week released a country forecast summary for Australia. Included in the material was a forecast for the AUD/JPY exchange rate (see the first column expressed as A$:¥100). Inverting this relationship provides some forecast ¥:A$ exchange rate averages. Of course these are all forecast averages for the respective years and the AUD trading today at 85 JPY seems to be reasonable value (albeit well below the 105 JPY when the Niseko Club lodge was acquired in mid-2007).

	A$:¥100(av)	¥:A$(av)
2009	1.37	73
2010	1.26	79
2011	1.17	85
2012	1.19	84
2013	1.21	83
2014	1.22	82

fluffy stuff

2010-01-13T21:30:00.005+09:00

The fluffy stuff pictured was recently on sale at the nearby Rusutsu resort. Plenty of that other 'fluffy stuff', powder snow, has been falling steadily in Niseko over the past few days, with more forecast.

sapporo snow festival

2010-01-11T17:22:00.003+09:00

When: February 5th - 11th, 2010
Where: Odori Park, Susukino, and other places in Sapporo City, Hokkaido.

Since its beginning with a mere six snow statue displays in 1950, this winter the 61st Sapporo Snow Festival will be held in February, 2010. Hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures will line 1.5 km Odori Park and other sites around the city. At Odori Park, you can see gigantic statues and statues made by individual citizens of Sapporo, as well as statues made by people from overseas. All of such art works, made only with white snow and crystal-clear ice, are impressively large and sophisticated. It is a representative Japanese winter festival, attracting more than 2 million people every year.

More information here.

[Source JAL]

cool climate concerts

2010-01-11T17:05:00.003+09:00

Writing in today's Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Simon Plant reports on the Australian Chamber Orchestra's Niseko tour starting this Friday:

Packing his winter togs

We know he's a surfing nut but Richard Tognetti (right) is an avid skier as well.

"I love winter," says the artistic director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, "so anything that gets me into a cold climate, the happier I am."

Imagine Tognetti's delight, then, when the ACO got the go-ahead to perform three concerts in Japan. In winter. At a ski resort.

Niseko on Hokkaido in Japan's north is one of the world's great ski destinations and Niseko Village is where the ACO will launch the inaugural Niseko Winter Music Festival on January 15.

"I couldn't think of anything better than ski-ing all day, then attending a concert in the evening," Tognetti says. The ACO is no stranger to Japan, having played in Tokyo in 2008.

"I was keen to showcase the ACO in Japan again," Tognetti says, "but not just fly into a big city and do a one-night stand. I wanted to find an interesting venue."

Tognetti also sought Japanese talent: acclaimed harpist Naoko Yoshino and "one of the best taiko drumming troupes in Japan".

"Japan is an incredibly cultured place," he says. "I thought, wouldn't it be great to do something that showed we weren't just a bunch of sporting yobbos? So I talked to some Japanese people about it and they were intrigued."

Tognetti, armed with his "impossibly precious" Guarneri del Gesu violin, will be joined in Niseko by half a dozen ACO members to play Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Grieg's Holberg Suite and Piazzolla's Contrabajissimo.

"If this festival works well, we'll do it again," Tognetti says.

Will there be time for downhill racing?

"Sure. But if I just wanted to go ski-ing in Japan, that's what I'd do. I wouldn't go and put three concerts on there."

More information here.

akemashite omedetou gozaimasu

2010-01-01T12:30:00.035+09:00

Happy New Year / あけましておめでとうございます. New Year's Eve had some remarkable night skiing conditions in the Hirafu area and the snow storm (fubuki) has just kept coming. The powder snow now falling in Niseko is of such quality that in the words of a junior AAC member now staying at the lodge “if [Australian alpine resort] ever had snow this good they would probably put in a bottle and erect a shrine around it.”

This morning at 10am there was a ceremonial cracking of a sake cask at the King Bell restaurant on the mountain. Sake at that hour was clearly not too early on New Year's Day for those present.

train to niseko

2009-12-21T12:36:00.070+09:00

An alternative to air travel to Niseko (via New Chitose airport and two hour bus transfer) is to use the excellent Japanese railway system. The bonus is the experience of using the shinkanzen [bullet train] from Tokyo to Hachinhoe in northern Honshu and seeing plenty of Japan along the way. From Hachinhoe there is a connecting limited express train service that travels through the 53 km Seikan Tunnel beneath the Tsugaru Channel that separates Honshu and Hokkaido. The limited express train service travels to Oshamanbe, from where a single carriage train, similar in some ways to a Melbourne tram, travels the final few kilometres to Kutchan station (take care not to disembark at the stations called 'Niseko' and 'Hirafu' which are actually some distance from the the Niseko resort). An example route departs from Tokyo station at 8:56am, arriving in Kutchan at 7:19pm. Trip planning can be done through the excellent Hyperdia website (switch off air travel options).

booking status 3 (09/10)

2009-12-16T14:00:00.009+09:00

Current booking status at the lodge for 2009/10 winter season at the date of posting is charted here. This is intended as a rough guide and is subject to change due to new bookings or cancellations.

Please e-mail the booking agents at Outdoor Travel Japan for the exact booking situation. Commercial booking enquiries can also be made through SnowJapan.com.

hanazono tv

2009-12-16T13:00:00.004+09:00

Samara Tanton (often seen at Falls Creek in company with Pete the Snow Dragon) and Haruka Ito deliver a clever bilingual Hanazono TV Daily Powder Report on conditions in that part of the Niseko resort.

exchange matters

2009-12-16T10:00:00.010+09:00

The best Yen exchange rates for the Australian dollar currently appear to be through the firm KVB Kunlun which has local offices in Melbourne and Sydney. On 14 December they were retailing JPY at the rate of 80 per AUD, compared with a rate of around 77.5 at the major banks and other foreign exchange vendors. You should contact them directly in order to obtain an over-the-counter quote and the simplest transactions are cash-for-cash. More details here.

business as usual

2009-12-15T20:00:00.003+09:00

Niseko is back to what it does best; delivering mountains of fresh powder snow. Some reports suggest that as much as 70cm has fallen in the past day or so, with plenty predicted for the rest of this week.

Link here to the Japan Meteorological Agency website showing precipitation in Hokkaido.

things not to bring

2009-12-09T20:30:00.007+09:00

A timely reminder from NisekoWebzine that visitors should not bring Australian UHF-CB radios to Japan.

Australian UHF-CB radios may interfere with radio communications related to disaster prevention (avalanches etc). Regrettably, there is still a problem with visitors using illegal UHF-CB radios in Niseko, either through ignorance of the law or ignoring the official warnings.

In this case ignorance of the law is not a defence. If you possess non-conforming radio equipment in a condition where a signal can be emitted, you will be considered to have established an 'illegal radio station,' regardless of whether you are aware of the illegality or even whether you have used the radio equipment.

Japanese authorities are offering up to five years accommodation if illegal signals interfere with fire-fighting, police or disaster prevention communications.

We gave similar advice about leaving UHF radios at home last season.

The official Japanese advice on this issue is here.

the daily flake

2009-12-07T05:00:00.001+09:00

from Christie Dowling on Vimeo.

booking status 2 (09/10)

2009-12-04T04:30:00.011+09:00

Current booking status at the lodge for 2009/10 winter season at the date of posting is charted here. This is intended as a rough guide and is subject to change due to new bookings or cancellations.

Please e-mail the booking agents at Outdoor Travel Japan for the exact booking situation. Commercial booking enquiries can also be made through www.snowjapan.com.

Yen too strong?

2009-12-02T03:50:00.001+09:00

The Australian dollar has risen substantially against the US dollar over the past year (and there is renewed media speculation about impending parity) but its relative performance against the Yen has not been as impressive.

A recent report on Australian radio suggested that the Japanese Government is considering intervention to weaken the Yen after the US dollar hit a 14 year low against the Japanese currency. A link to the transcript and audio download is here.

Update: Bank of Japan acts to combat deflation and weaken the Yen (from 'The Economist').

JNTO links

2009-11-29T03:00:00.005+09:00

Some useful links are available online through the Japan National Tourism Organization office in Sydney here (and also under Japan links in our sidebar).

H1N1 influenza

2009-11-24T20:30:00.009+09:00

The H1N1 influenza pandemic is now affecting northern hemisphere countries including Japan in much the same way that it impacted Australia during the southern hemisphere winter season.

Air travel is a conduit for the spread of H1N1 influenza and inbound international passengers to Japan are likely to be screened for the disease.

Japanese health authorities are keen to prevent the spread of the disease and AAC Niseko is obviously keen to avoid this contagion infecting the lodge.

Members and guests are very strongly advised to consider H1N1 immunisation prior to arriving in Japan so they can maximise their time enjoying the powder snow rather than risk spending their holidays convalescing in quarantine.

Advice from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is here.
Advice from the local Hokkaido prefecture is here.
An article from 'The Japan Times' is here.

Kurodake last weekend

2009-11-23T20:45:00.004+09:00

Good times and very clever photography from Kurodake last weekend (use 'full screen' mode and click on some of the links).

Kurodake Ropeway and Black Mountain Lodge in Hokkaido

first tracks 2009/10

2009-11-22T20:30:00.001+09:00

Niseko's local publication 'powderlife' has a report on the official ceremony and some of the first tracks for the 2009/10 winter season on Saturday here.

new membership options

2009-11-21T20:00:00.003+09:00

AAC Niseko is now offering some additional membership options that reflect those offered by some other Australian Alpine Club projects.

Intermediate and Junior membership
Two new membership categories include:

Intermediate membership category for those aged between 18 and 24
Junior membership category for those aged under 18

The cost of these memberships will be two-thirds of the full membership for Intermediate members and one-third of the full membership for Junior members. Intermediate and Junior members would increase their membership interest on attaining the next age bracket.

Instalment payment option
Members now have the option to join by instalment payment. Their initial payment is the joining fee plus one quarter of the equity amount, followed by three instalment payments invoiced at six monthly intervals. The instalment payment option applies to all categories of membership.

Members joining by instalment will not be entitled to vote at meetings of AAC Niseko until their membership is fully paid, but they are entitled to all the other rights and privileges of a member, including reciprocal rights at the other Australian Alpine Club lodges.

These new membership options are detailed in the membership application form.

booking status 1 (09/10)

2009-11-17T06:00:00.001+09:00

Current booking status at the lodge for 2009/10 winter season is outlined below. This is intended as a rough guide and is subject to change due to bookings or cancellations.

Please contact the booking agents at Outdoor Travel Japan for the exact booking situation.

guide
green = space available
amber = limited space available
red = no space available

06 Dec – 12 Dec
13 Dec – 19 Dec
20 Dec – 26 Dec
27 Dec – 02 Jan (one room available)
03 Jan – 09 Jan (one room available)
10 Jan – 16 Jan
17 Jan – 23 Jan
24 Jan – 30 Jan
31 Jan – 06 Feb
07 Feb – 13 Feb
14 Feb – 20 Feb
21 Feb – 27 Feb
28 Feb – 06 Mar (AAC Week)
07 Mar – 13 Mar
14 Mar – 20 Mar
21 Mar – 27 Mar

resort opening dates

2009-11-15T05:56:00.000+09:00

21 November: Grand Hirafu & Annupuri
28 November: Niseko Village (Higashiyama)
5 December: Hanazono

picture this

2009-10-28T19:00:00.003+09:00

Some new photographs of the AAC Niseko lodge have recently been taken by local Niseko photographer Glen Claydon. Some of our lodge photographs were at least two years old, dating back prior to acquisition and these didn't reflect the program of continuous improvement (改善, 'kaizen') that has been taking place since 2007. Pictured here are the dining / lounge area and the media lounge. More photographs to follow soon.

zen and the art of powderboard making

2009-10-26T19:45:00.010+09:00

'Signatures' is the latest film by Colorado-based director Nick Waggoner. It was released a few weeks ago to critical acclaim at North America film festivals. 'Signatures' was filmed in Niseko area backcountry (not a ski lift in sight), with American and Japanese skiers and boarders riding through awesome volumes of Hokkaido powder snow. It also shows the beauty of the Niseko area when there isn’t any snow; with its wild rivers, dense forest and lush cultivated fields.

Local Niseko boardsmith Taro Tamai showcases some of his unique gentemstick designs that are a hybrid between a surfboard and a snowboard, with a wide nose (great for Hokkaido powder) and a swallow-tail; he calls one of his designs the 'rocket fish'. 'Signatures' also features some 'noboard' riding (imagine a snowboard without bindings).

The 'Signatures' soundtrack is a very pleasant collection of country and bluegrass music, which seems to work beautifully with the backcountry theme. The film has an artistic ambience, rather than being one of the many ski films featuring extreme stunts. The DVD also has a nice collection of 'extras' including some rather cool beach scenes, with snow on the foreshore.

If you also want to get your hands on a copy of the 'Signatures' DVD, the best way is to order direct from Sweetgrass Productions. Good value for Australians at the current exchange rate.

just add snow

2009-10-24T05:55:00.009+09:00

The lodge has a fresh coat of paint and a new look for the coming winter season. This work was necessary after an assessment of the exterior paintwork at the end of last season. Caleb and his painting crew had to wait for the right conditions (dry weather) to complete the transformation of the lodge from its former pallid pink to its more robust new hue. It also has a much better aesthetic fit with the surrounding forest (林 or はやし, "hayashi") area.

first snow on mt yotei

2009-10-05T20:00:00.001+09:00

Glen Claydon, a local Niseko photographer, has snapped the first snow "hatsu yuki" (初雪 or はつゆき, literally meaning the first snow of the season) which arrived on the peak of Mt Yotei yesterday.

'Hatsu' is a term used for 'new' or 'first-born' and 'yuki' (pronounced "you-key") means snow.

some other useful snow words
大雪 oo yuki - heavy snowfall
吹雪 fubuki - snow storm
雪合戦 yuki gassen - snowball fight
雪祭り yuki matsuri - snow festival

Link here for "a blizzard of Japanese snow words."

winter music festival

2009-10-01T21:51:00.002+09:00

The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) will be touring Niseko in mid-January 2010 with concerts planned for Kutchan and Hanazono. The ACO will be joined in concert by the local Youtei Taiko Serve Association taiko drummers and one of the world’s greatest harp players, Naoko Yoshino.

The ACO's Niseko concert details are here.

first snow in hokkaido

2009-09-18T07:25:00.000+09:00

The first snowfalls have already been recorded on a couple of mountains in central Hokkaido, including Mt Kurodake on 10 September. The annual competition to tip the first snow in Niseko has started by the Niseko Promotion Board. The first snow in Niseko was recorded on 24 September in 2008, 10 October in 2007, 9 October in 2006 and 3 October in 2005.

lodge manager 2009-10

2009-09-01T00:00:00.004+09:00

Toa Ross, our lodge manager for 2008-09, indicated his a desire to ‘enjoy a New Zealand summer’ earlier this year and advised that he would not be available to be our lodge manager for the 2009-10.

Marika Ohtani will be taking a career break from her Advisor role with KPMG in London to be our lodge manager at AAC Niseko.

Marika holds dual British / Canadian citizenship and also has Japanese heritage. Her formal qualifications include a Mathematics B.Sc degree and professional accreditation as a Chartered Accountant.

In addition to her business skills, Marika has previous experience in the hospitality sector in the United Kingdom, Canada (Whistler) and France (Morzine, at a chalet in the French Alps). She has a passion for snowboarding, yoga and running.

queenstown without sheep

2009-08-29T21:30:00.001+09:00

Simon Tan writing in the Singapore publication 'Today' (27/8/09) extols the virtues of Hokkaido, even when there is no snow.

I was drawn to Hokkaido on my first ski trip in 2001. As the northernmost island of Japan, the cold Siberian winds which cut a swathe through its landscape every winter almost guarantee soft, fluffy snow during its long ski season stretching from late November to early May.

For beginners keen to master skiing or snowboarding, this is godsent. With broad boulevards of freshly-combed snow braiding the mountains under clear blue skies, beginners and intermediate skiers can make a tentative attempt at a downhill descent after only a morning’s ski lessons by good looking, English-speaking ski instructors.
And if you do fall, you are cushioned by the bountiful snow, thus reducing the risk of injuries save for a bruised ego. With the polite Japanese more likely to avoid you with an apologetic “sumimasen” even when you do get into their way, it is not difficult to see why towns like Niseko, Sahoro and Furano have earned a rabid following among the ski fraternity in Singapore.

Then again, what would Hokkaido be like without the blanket of white, fluffy snow enveloping its slopes and valleys, making it oh so Christmas-y?

I decided to find out. I soon discovered that Hokkaido prides itself as an all-action destination that caters to young and old all year round. With the congenial people and agreeable weather, visitors have flocked in increasing numbers to this relatively untrammelled island to enjoy the abundant sights and activities.
Here are some interesting towns that are worth a visit.

Niseko
Anyone who has visited this town would say that it resembles Queenstown in New Zealand — without the sheep. Despite the rapid construction of apartment blocks by Australians keen on capitalising on Niseko’s wonderful attraction as a ski destination, a visit during autumn offers an unparalleled vista of cascading hills and mountains of golden leaves.

You can drive through Niseko’s Scenic Byway, which runs through two national parks, to enjoy the dramatic mountain scenery. Those who prefer physical activity can cycle or hike through the countryside with its many waterfalls and marshlands. Well-marked spots on the Scenic Byway will show shutterbugs where they can stop for a photo. Just pick up a map from the Hokkaido tourist office.

In Hirafu village, visit Kushi Tapas Restaurant for Japanese tapas, or, if you are into fine, Japanese-Australian fusion dining, try the adjoining Sekka restaurant. Accommodations are plentiful. Karonomori Hotel has a cavernous onsen to soak in. For those who prefer clean, minimalist decor, try the J Sekka Annupuri Lodge.

vending machines

2009-08-22T14:48:00.004+09:00

One of the things that visitors to Japan notice is the omnipresent vending machine. In many places, several vending machines can often be found lined up on the side of a street, and they sell a variety of products. As of the end of 2008, the number of operational vending machines in Japan was about 5.26 million, which is much higher than that of other countries. In Japan, low rates of vandalism and petty crime ensure that vending machines could be placed outside. In the 1970s, a major beverage company created canned coffee and began to sell it through vending machines that could keep drinks either hot or cold. Later, an improved version was produced that could keep hot and cold drinks in the same machine, at the same time. This made it possible with the same machine to sell only cold drinks in spring and summer, then both hot and cold ones in fall and winter. Another reason why vending machines are so popular here is partly because the Japanese feel a certain affinity with robots. A vending machine can be regarded as a kind of robot. Japanese people have a positive view of robots, as depicted in highly popular Japanese animations such as Astro Boy and Doraemon. Most Japanese do not mind buying goods or receiving services from robots.

One drink vending machine in Japan has its own lottery: after purchasing your drink, an electric roulette starts. If you win, you can get another drink free of charge. Unique vending machines only found in a certain place are also popular. The most famous may be those which stock canned oden (Japanese Pot-au-fer) and canned ramen noodles in Akihabara, Tokyo. Another interesting angle is seen in "drink vending machines with short comedy skits," which have been installed mainly in rest areas along an expressway. Insert coins, select your coffee and the machine will grind beans, brew coffee, and pour it into a paper cup. During the waiting time - which could last up to a minute - short comedy skits play on the LCD screen for your entertainment. There are many other examples of vending machine ingenuity to be found at train stations: "paperback vending machines" which sell the latest popular titles, "umbrella vending machines" in case of a sudden shower, and "business card makers" - an especially "Japanese" type of vending machine, as business cards are essential in Japan and the exchange of cards as a greeting is very important in business.

Vending machines can be found on streets everywhere. Power is always supplied to them, and recently broadband or wireless communications technology has enabled vending machines to be equipped with fast Internet connections. More and more vending machines also have LCD screens, and they have started to play new roles on various occasions. One such role can be seen when a disaster strikes. Some vending machines have a function called "free vend," which offers free drinks in an emergency such as natural disasters. This "free vend" actually worked well in October 2004, when the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquakes hit the area. There are also vending machines equipped with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), and others which will direct you a place of refuge in a natural disaster. In big city areas, you can find various types of vending machines that cater to working commuters at the train stations, while vegetable/egg vending machines and rice polishing machines are found in farming towns. Discover the great variety of vending machines in Japan and imagine the next generation of vending machines to come.

Source: JAL e-information 'point of interest'

[AAC Niseko has a beer vending machine in the lodge, of course]

doing a season in niseko

2009-08-19T21:07:00.002+09:00

A guide for expatriates on 'doing a season in Niseko'.
HT: Nisekoguide & Shred Syndicate.

signatures

2009-08-11T21:30:00.002+09:00

Sweetgrass Productions’ new film, 'Signatures', premieres in little more than a month on 19 September in Aspen and Montreal. Filmed in Niseko backcountry, the promotional YouTube trailer provides a taste of the film. A release date in Australia has not yet been announced.

big thrills in Japan

2009-08-01T14:47:00.002+09:00

In some parts of Japan (notably not Niseko) the local authorities actively discourage off-piste skiing. It seems that surfers had very similar problems thirty years ago:

"Here's a picture of me with the police," laughs Noboru Tagawa, handing me a faded photo. "They are writing me a ticket for surfing. This was 1979." Noboru was Hokkaido's first surfer and now runs a ski school at one of the island's winter resorts. "They thought surfing was dangerous and irresponsible. Whenever we went in, they would come with loud hailers and call us from the water. So we set up a surfing federation, and proved to everyone surfing was a great thing to be involved with."

The full article from 'The Independent' (UK) about summer in Hokkaido is here.

sakura in niseko

2009-06-22T19:19:00.008+09:00

The end of 'white season' ushers in 'sakura' (桜 / さくら / cherry blossom) time. These photos, courtesy of photographer Glen Claydon, illustrate exactly what the Niseko locals mean when they mention the 'green season.'

new ATM in Hirafu

2009-06-18T20:26:00.000+09:00

The Niseko Promotion Board reports that an International ATM is now available in Hirafu Village. This is a welcome development for Niseko visitors often unaccustomed to carrying large amounts of cash and it relieves the need to travel to Kutchan to access the Post Office ATM. The new ATM is located at the Hokkaido Tracks offices in the middle village of Hirafu and will be available throughout the year.

the right direction

2009-06-09T20:39:00.002+09:00

The AUD/JPY exchange rate appears to be headed in a favourable direction and recovering from the currency shock of the third quarter 2008.

Japan snow expo travel in Sydney

2009-06-09T20:26:00.004+09:00

The Japan Snow & Adventure Trade Show 2009 was held in Sydney in late May. Keen observers might note that 'Yuki' (ゆき), the first name of JNTO Deputy Director Ogawa-san, translates as 'snow'.

niseko tv director's choice

2009-05-06T21:21:00.004+09:00

For those suffering SDS (snow deficit syndrome), this video won't help. [HT: Niseko Webzine]

white-hot

2009-04-29T06:21:00.004+09:00

Japan is a white-hot playground for ski bunnies, writes Lonely Planet.

Japan's best ski resorts are found in the Japanese alps region of Central Honshu (mostly in Nagano and Niigata prefectures) and on the northern island of Hokkaido.

The former lays claim to the highest mountains, while the latter has the deepest and most regular snow. Both regions offer first-class skiing.

If you're interested in doing some sightseeing in cities such as Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo in addition to your skiing, you might consider hitting the resorts in the Japanese alps. If skiing is your main goal, then Hokkaido might be the way to go (although, to be fair, the difference is really only one quick internal flight).

What follows is our very biased list of the five best ski areas in Japan.
This is just to whet your appetite - there are more than 600 that haven't been mentioned here.

Niseko: As far as most Australian skiers are concerned, "Niseko" is how you say powder in Japanese. This is understandable, since Niseko receives an average of 13m of snow annually.

Happo-one: Nagano-ken's Happo-one (hah poh oh nay) is the quintessential Japanese alps ski resort. With the sprawling Hakuba mountain range as a backdrop, it offers eye-popping views along with excellent and varied skiing.

Shiga Kogen: Also in Nagano-ken, Shiga Kogen is the world's largest ski area, with an incredible 21 different interlinked areas, all connected by trails and lifts and accessible with one lift ticket.

Nozawa/Onsen: This quaint ski resort/village tucked high up in Nagano-ken is the closest thing you'll find to Switzerland in Japan.

Rusutsu: Hokkaido's Rusutsu is luring skiers away from super popular Niseko. Rusutsu gets regular dumps of deep powder snow like Niseko, and allows skiers and boarders to enjoy it on piste and off piste (there are some great tree runs and the management doesn't try to prevent you from enjoying it).

'MX' 28/4/09

april snow in niseko

2009-04-08T06:10:00.001+09:00

Tracey McGown writing in the ‘North West News’ provides some good reasons why you shouldn't settle for barely a metre of snow in June [in Australia] when you can have four metres in April.

“Grand Hirafu on the north island of Hokkaido is full of surprises like the Irish pub and a Tex Mex restaurant but it is the snow that will astound you most of all. You only have to mention the name to those who have been before to watch their eyes glaze over.

It is when you start talking to people the true secret of this ski village is revealed - fantastic skiing even now.

Once upon a time Queensland school holidays were in August--slap bang in the middle of the best snow conditions in Australia. Then they changed to late June and September, the most unreliable times for skiing.

Many have already surrendered to the siren song of the Japanese ski fields - on average 12m of snow falls annually and with six weeks holidays to fill in January this market has taken off. There is of course another secret to this winter wonderland destination that many people do not know - the ski season runs until May.”

feedback

2009-04-08T05:43:00.002+09:00

Comments from members and guests this season.

thanks Toa & Manu

2009-04-03T21:46:00.002+09:00

Snow will still be abundant in Niseko until the lifts close, traditionally in Golden Week (the first week in May), but the season is basically finished with the end of winter bookings at the lodge. Lodge manager Toa and his brother Manu are now on their way home to New Zealand after running a very professional operation during the 2008/09 winter season.