The Scenic Night 2011 in Niseko Kiranoyu Onsen

Feb 21, 2011 

The Scenic Night arrived in Niseko last weekend.

A lovely snow chapel appeared in the parking lot of Niseko Kiranoyu Onsen, and there was an actual wedding ceremony.

The bride is Erika from Sapporo and the groom is Ryo from Kyowa-town.They lightened the candle hand in hand, and smiled on the heart-shaped snow stage fringed with candles.

They will set up a new family in Kyowa from this time.

Congratulations and best wishes, Erika and Ryo! You’ve made my day!

Ryo & Erika

The Scenic Night in Niseko will have wedding ceremonies in 2012 as well. If you are getting married around this time next year, please check out the up-to-date information

Posted by: natsu  |  category: Out there..., Winter holidays, events |  Tag: Comment: 0

Spring weather and Scenic Night

Feb 18, 2011 

We’ve enjoyed peaceful spring-like weather for these couple of weeks as a nice break in the 6month-long snowy winter for a change.

With a few new snow last night and the mild temperature, we can enjoy moist and soft powder this morning.It may seem a bit difficult to ski with such snow conditions at first.Just relax and jump on your skis, then you’ll get　new fun different from skiing in deep dry powders!

By the way, I went to Otaru to see “Yuki-Akari-no-Michi” event last weekend. It was a really lovely event with lots of snow stuatues and candles throughout the town.

If you missed the event, don’t worry. We have a similar candle event this weekend in Niseko, the Scenic Night 2011!
Please click here for more info.

Posted by: natsu  |  category: Mountains, Out there..., events |  Tag: Comment: 0

“Asa-Tekkari”-Morning glitters

Feb 10, 2011 

You may hear the word “Asa-Tekkari”. It is the word the local people in Niseko use to express the weather typical here in Winter.
It is fine with sunshine in early morning whatever the weather forcast is, and it gets to snow around 9-10am.We are blessed with both fine morning and deep powder. This is Niseko’s “Asa-Tekkari”, morning glitters! Click to read more…

Posted by: natsu  |  category: Mountains, Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 0

POWDER ALERT!!!

Jan 07, 2011 

It started snowing on yesterday morning and still keeps snowing and snowing! We’ve got tons of powder for these two days.
This is NISEKO! YAHOOOOO!!!
You may be stuck in the deep powder even just after getting off the chair lift, like people above.

Please click here to check out the latest information of weather and the lift operations.The Onsen-zawa course@Hirafu is open, and we are still waiting for the Miharashi-course and all the gates open.

Make sure you check out the daily Niseko Avalanche report before you go out the backcountry or out of the ski-resort control area…

And one more thing. Don’t forget to bring your shovels to rescue your car out of the waist-depth snow after a cheerful day of skiing and snowboading!

Posted by: natsu  |  category: Activities, Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 1

The sun sets on Autumn

Nov 30, 2010 

I snapped this pic the other afternoon just before the snows moved in for good. We (hopefully!) won’t be seeing the grass around here until May is back so I just thought I’d throw this up.

Let’s hope that the snow falling today is just the beginning of a really good season without any more warm spells.

Carn old man winter ! Bring it on !!

Posted by: Chris  |  category: Green Season, Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 0

Season prep continues

Nov 24, 2010 

While most of us are focused on the hill & the conspicuous lack of snow, business owners across town are busy getting ready for the season. Work crews are putting the final touches on reno’s across the village. Rental shops are trucking in stock in preparation for the crowds. And seasonal staff are quietly filtering in to swell the village population.

Rhythm & Beats are only days away from kicking open the doors on their big and no doubt beautiful store, and here’s just one of several 40 footers crammed full of goodies that we’ll all be clambering for in weeks to come.

Demo / Fusion are a couple of days ahead in the curve, and they made the most of the pre-season quiet to have a bit of an opening party last Monday.

Paddys though might have bragging rights for the best opening so far – as they should given that they’re a pub! No denying the pulling power of ¥300 Guinness as long-time locals and first-timers swap snow stories.

Thanks to everyone involved at these and all the other opening events around town… And keep those snow prayers coming!

Posted by: Chris  |  category: Food, Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 0

Yotei Reflections

Nov 22, 2010 

Yotei Reflections

The lack of snow is certainly somewhat disappointing but the flip side is this beautiful extended autumn. Yesterday I took a stroll over the golf course near my home to enjoy this view.
Biking and golf are still very possible. And yesterday would have been a great day to kick a footy around. You’d be best advised to make the most of it while you can because in another couple of weeks it will all seem a distant memory.

This time of year always gets me thinking about the season which is drawing to a close and all the great events we’ve enjoyed thru the season. A whirlwind of trade shows punctuated by BBQs and summer events. Family. Friends old and new. Football. Cycle Week. Pure. Rafting. MTB’ing. The Hillclimb. Lots of Onsens and good food.

Once the snow falls – and it will – we’ll probably all be too busy think about what a great summer we’ve had, so maybe take some time now while you can…

Posted by: Chris  |  category: Green Season, Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 0

Big Air, Bigger Fun!

Nov 18, 2010 

Just had confirmation through that next year’s Toyota Big Air will definitely go ahead on February 26th, 2011. This is a great chance to see a bunch of the best boarders in the world huck off for a big ol’ bag of cash… and a new Toyota. Past winners read like a “Who’s who” of snowboarding, and include Nicolas Muller, Shaun White, Kevin Pearce, Eero Ettala, and Peetu Piroinen.

If you haven’t seen this kind of thing, it really is impressive. And if you have, well you already know what I’m talking about! Lots of Niseko operators run trips down to Sapporo for the event – either returning that night to Niseko or making a night of it and staying downtown.

While I wouldn’t cross an ocean just to see it, if you’re unsure what time of the season to head on up to Niseko then either side of this event will be fantastic timing. Lots of powder, good stable weather (usually!) and far fewer crowds… All in all my favourite time of year.

The revised official website should be up tonight and viewable at http://www.toyota-bigair.jp/index_en.html

Posted by: Chris  |  category: Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 0

Niseko Ranges

Sep 29, 2010 

It’s easy to overlook the things that surround you every day. I certainly end up too busy with the things going on around me and don’t lift my head up to take in the beauty that’s surrounds me every day.

Here in Niseko I walk past picture postcard views with hardly a glance – scenes that draw people from all corners of the globe, and I take them for granted.

There’s beauty all around us here in Niseko, and I dare say that most of us living here don’t truly appreciate how lucky we are: Views fit to hang on walls around the world. Food worth crossing oceans for. And people too. There’s a wonderful group of people who’ve ended up here – some transplanted from other parts of Japan or the globe, some locally born and raised. Regardless of where they’re from they all share the same passion for this special area.

I just wanted to throw that out there: I am fortunate. And I am grateful.

Posted by: Chris  |  category: Green Season, Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 0

First Snow on Yotei!

Sep 24, 2010 

Early risers today were treated to the sight of the first decent snowfall of the season on Mt Yotei. This is always eagerly awaited and gets every skier and snowboarder in the area pretty pumped for the winter ! Time to start digging out the gear and checking what needs a bit of love pre-season, and what needs replacing outright. While there’s still a long time until the lift’s start running (Hirafu is slated for the earliest start on November 20) even last year we had an amazing snowfall down to village level in mid-November.

This year’s “Hatsuyuki” is about eleven days earlier than last year’s and just a few days after the first snow on Asahidake, hopefully boding well for the season proper! Get excited people – the season is almost upon us!

Posted by: Chris  |  category: Out there... |  Tag: Comment: 0