The Fittest and the Dirtiest
Jul 04, 2011
This weekend, HANAZONO308 hosted one the JCF Japan Series MTB X-Country races, and it was quite the event. Competitors from all over Japan came to compete, and teams from major brands such as Cannondale and Giant were well-represented. The main course wound for 5km around Hanazono’s activity center and up towards the ski slopes and the nearby Tokyu Golf Course, leaving competitors muddied and tired, but the crowd loved it! Over 180 riders of all ages participated.
The elite-level race was a sight to see. The start of the race was a short climb then a cut back into the woods where things got tight and dusty. A number of racers fell over quickly, and even among these athletes their skills weren’t always enough to stay on the bike in such tough conditions.
There was a chance for all levels and ages to try out the course, too. The kid’s races were probably better attended than the ones with more competitive fields. Personally, I was inspired seeing those kids, from elementary school to high school, and I can’t wait to get back on my bike and try out the course later this week.
Our favorite platypus ninja, Kamonohashi, even made an appearance to help slake the thirst of tired competitors during the beginner race. Most riders took advantage of it, but a couple were so focused that they didn’t even know he was standing there! That’s serious dedication.
The HANAZONO308 Activity Center is open this summer, offering various off-site watersports, a wakeboard park, mountain biking, nature exploration activities, and golf. Stop by – everything you need is there. More photos are available from the event.
Posted by: Max | category: Activities, Green Season, events | Tag: Comment: 0
K2 Stable in Niseko opens!
Jun 27, 2011
Are you up for a horseback riding challenge?
This Friday, July 1st, a new style of horseback riding club will open at the K2stable in Niseko
The stable has a beautiful view of Mount Yotei, and the owners, a husband and wife couple, spent over a year searching for the right spot. It was worth it!
One unique part of the stable is the opportunity to learn about horseback riding from the basics. For beginners, you will first learn about how to ride a horse and how to do it safely in a lecture, then you will hop on! Until you and the horse have gotten used to one another, you’ll walk around slowly. It’s quite safe.
The horses here are extremely gentle compared to other places. In any case, you’ll quickly get a good feel for using the reigns and stirrups to control the speed and direction of your horse.
Learning to ride is all about developing a relationship, and you’ll have a good opportunity to learn lots here. It won’t be just a fun experience, but a memorable day spent in the outdoors.
The stable owners, Mr. and Mrs. Tero, are laid-back and easy to talk to.
Of course, there’s a relaxed rest house as well. Make sure to check it out.
K2stable
〒048-1551
238-5 Satomi Aza Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan.
TEL.+81 136 44 3788
FAX.+81 136 44 3788
Their homepage is here.
Posted by: Max | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Barbecue and photo exhibition
Jun 20, 2011
So I’m a little late again, but this was an awesome event that deserved some recognition. Plus, it’s always exciting to see the community come out and see each other on a beautiful Friday afternoon.
Shortly after the earthquake, the locals at Niseko Photography filled their van with supplies and drove down to Tohoku to deliver and provide whatever support they could. Naturally, they brought along their cameras.
The result was an emotional, sometimes heartbreaking, and sometimes enlivening look into the lives of those who suffered a horrible ordeal. The photos were printed and on display at Niseko Photography about 10 days ago. With the support of Hokkaido Tracks, they fired up several barbecues for the event and invited everyone to grill what they could.
Here’s to more events like this! For the record, there was another barbecue going on down the street, too. Gotta love the summer.
Posted by: Max | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
How to spend a full-moon night…
Jun 16, 2011
Tonight will be a full-moon in Niseko.
Although there was a total eclipse of the moon this morning and many parties across the world, in Hokkaido it was only a partial eclipse this morning. Anyone see it?
Enjoying a hot-spring bath in the open air under a full moon is one of my favorite memories here… truly beyond description. The onsen at the Hilton Niseko offers a mysterious mood as you gaze off into the forest under the moonlight. The pond’s surface shimmers, and sometimes you can hear the owls hooting.
Lovely full-moon days…
Posted by: Yoko | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Australian Chamber Orchestra returns to Niseko next winter!
Jun 01, 2011
We are delighted to announce that we have received a video message from the Australian Chamber Orchestra confirming their plans to return to Niseko again this coming winter. This will be their third visit to Niseko and we cannot wait to host them once more.
Posted by: Max | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Tsunami relief ride and BBQ
May 31, 2011
On Saturday, the Hokkaido JET Project Outreach chair in Kutchan held a charity event to raise money for those affected by the tsunami in Japan last March. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it on the ride (I stopped by for the food!), but I wanted to make sure as many people knew about his efforts as possible. The event raised around 80,000 yen, which will probably be donated to an area that one of our locals visited in the last few weeks.
Besides, the event brought out a lot of the local community, who I was able to meet for the first time.
Glen over at Studio343 was there for the whole time and put up several more photos. Check it out!
Edit: I got some more pictures from the event! They’re below:
Posted by: Max | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Morning mist and bird calls
May 30, 2011
Having only arrived back in Niseko after a few weeks in the US last Monday, my roommate woke me up early last week to go explore Asahigaoka Park with one of the NPB’s nature guides, Naomi, and a few others.
The weather may not have been ideal, but the birds certainly didn’t care. We could hear a number of different type of warblers, some small woodpeckers, crows, and other types of (mostly small) birds with beautiful songs.
Naturally, there were a few other things to see in the park. The snow has really only vanished in the last month or so, and the wildflowers are starting to pop up throughout the park. For that matter, they’re sprouting throughout Kutchan, Niseko, and Hirafu, adding some energetic splashes of color to the recently revealed greens on the mountains and streets. The cherry blossoms have been blooming for a while now, and the pinks of some of the late varieties are astonishingly deep.
I’m happy to say that, even though it was early, we weren’t alone in the park.
There were a couple of other groups out enjoying the view and the still morning. Right as we got to the top of the local ski hill (part of the park), the clouds had just started to lift from Mt. Yotei. All in all, a beautiful morning. May there be many more like it.
- Max
Posted by: Max | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
Spring rafting for the adventurous
May 30, 2011
Yesterday, I went rafting with Hokkaido Lion Adventures.
The Shiribetsu River, one of the most dramatic rivers in Japan, offers a number of activities you can enjoy throughout the year, and spring rafting is the most thrilling experience of all . Click to read more…
Posted by: natsu | category: Activities, Green Season, Out there... | Tag: Comment: 0
Photographer Mr. Hanamura’s memories
May 18, 2011
Mr. Hanamura, a photographer who worked in Niseko last June for Trail-running Kingdom, ran a story about his memories of Niseko for his blog.
“An artisan photographer’s story/Spring in Niseko”
Don’t miss his work in Trail-runnning kingdom !
Mr. Hanamura mentions flowers of potatoes in his blog.
Potato-flowers are usually in full bloom from mid June to late June in Niseko. We can enjoy magnolias and cherry trees at their best now!
Posted by: natsu | category: Green Season, Out there... | Tag: Comment: 0
Le Soup Curry
May 16, 2011
I returned to Sapporo this weekend and had Soup Curry, which I love. I ordered the curry with 10 sorts of vegetables and added the porc fried – it was so big! It took an hour to eat it!
Soup Curry is a really popular food in Sapporo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapporo (See the topic of Culture and entertaiment)
It is now famous in all Japan, but I believe that the soup curry restaurants in Hokkaido taste a bit different (and better!) from ones in other areas. Here in Niseko, we have a few soup curry restaurants, too. I can’t wait to try them all…
***information on soup curry restaurants in Niseko***
http://www.nisekotourism.com/yellow-page/index.php?lang=en&g1=03&g2=01&g3=03
FRANCAIS:
J’ai revenue à Sapporo ce weekend et mangé le Soup Curry qui me plaît beaucoup. Là-bas, j’ai demendé le curry avec 10 légumes et ajouté des porc, c’était énorme! J’ai pris une heure pour le manger.
Le Soup Curry, c’est une gastronomie représentative de Sapporo. C’est conu maintenant dans tout le japon, et pourtant je crois que les restaurants du soup curry à Hokkaido se distingues par ses saveurs de ceux d’autres endroits. Ici à Niseko, il y a quelques restaurants du soup curry, je veux bien d’y aller et dominer les soup curry de Niseko.
***L’information des restaurants soup curry à Niseko (en anglais)***
http://www.nisekotourism.com/yellow-page/index.php?lang=en&g1=03&g2=01&g3=03
Posted by: Yoko | category: Uncategorized | Tag: Comment: 0
