Very early in the morning, we had to walk quite some distance with our heavy load to OCAT, to board the bus to Itami Airport to catch the flight to Sapporo Chitose airport. There were heaps of students waiting to board the flight when we arriving at the boarding gate for the flight. We found out later that in Japan, they have school ski trips during winter.
On arrival at Sapporo Chitose Airport, we managed to locate the waiting bay and bus to Niseko, , which we have reserved seats. It took about 1 1/2 hours to get to Niseko. Then we had some difficulties finding our accommodation - Hirafu-tei Hotel.
This is our Japanese style room with private rotemburo.
view from the bath..priceless
nighttime view - even more priceless
the main road leading up to the ski/snowboard area
looking at Mt Yotei opposite Mt Annapuri
My greatest snowboarding achievement here was being able to get off the chairlifts without falling the moment i get off. The good thing about this resort is that the staff exercise control over the chairlifts. They slow down if they see someone fresh or if requested (which i did by indicating with my hand as the lift is about to arrive at the 'unloading' area) and they halt the lifts if someone fell right at the lifts when they try to get off. After all is clear, the lifts will be resumed. How good is that. Gives everyone a chance to learn, not fear. I have caused stopage a couple of times before my success. I fell flat on my face the moment I 'unload' from the chairlift and the attendant would check if I am alright. Daijobou des ka. Unlike my experience at Mt Buller where I fell off the moment I stood up and instead of stopping the chairlift temporarily so I can get away, the attendant shouted for me to move away. Oh..I am sitting on the ground with the board strapped to one of my feet, seconds away from the running chairlifts and I am supposed to stand up and suavely board away? The next thing i know the chairlift had hit me in the head, hard. I will never go back to that shithole again.
Each morning we would go down for buffet breakfast which is included in our booking. This is when the housekeeping staff would come to put away the futon mattress so we would come back full in the stomach to a cleaned-up room. Then around dinner time when most guests are out feeding, the housekeeping staff would come again to lay out the futon. This is quite common in most accommodation in Japan. Our room and the complimentary Spotaka bags used to carry our snowboard boots
View from the bath in our room
Crispy, dried ladyfingers. We had the buffet dinner in the hotel on the first night but it was costly and too much food for our stomach. The rest of the time here we had instant noodles from the convenience store and ramen at eateries nearby. One day we did splurge and had Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki at a nearby hotel.
The run just next to our hotel
Japanese student groups on ski lessons
Our hotel on the right
Out on a photoshoot
We had ramen and donburi here one of the days
An snowman shaped ice-cream container. Talk about packaging...
Entrance to Hirafu-tei Hotel
Night view of Niseko
Night-time at the run beside our hotel
Snowflakes on my pants....this is the first time i took notice and look closely at snowflakes
If it weren't for the Japanese signs reminding you that you are in Japan, you would have thought you are in Australia. The number of Aussies here are astounding, not just visitors but also residents on business or work affairs. It's like Bali for wintertime. Most of them, not all, especially the younger crowd thinks they own this place. Rude, arrogant and disrespectful are perfect to describe the Aussies here. Perhaps everywhere too.
Exhausted after 7 nights and 8 days in Niseko, we leave for Sapporo tomorrow.
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