Sunset over a Annupuri with low clouds in the valley. Photos from a few week back. Enjoy!A view of Annupuri from MakariNature being painted by natureMakari Youtie Niskeo Annupuri

Kanronomori Summer Festival When ever you come to Niseko there will always be something to do that you did not plan to do. Even though I live here this is still true and it wasn’t till after watching the All Blacks beat the Wallabies last Saturday that a friend told me about the Kanronomori Summer Festival or kanronomori natsu matsuri. So off I went to Kanronomori, a boutique hotel at the western end of the Niseko resort area tucked away at the foot of Moiwa Ski Area in the mori [forest]. The festival was small and relaxed and had all the usual Japanese food stalls from Okonomiyaki to barbecued hotate [scallop]. Japanese singers entertained the mostly seated crowd as they ate, drank and talked or just soaked up the atmosphere. But then unexpected and in show of the Japanese great acceptance and adoption of good things a large group of drummers appeared and before we knew it the whole court yard was full of amazing samba sounds and dancers, an awesome and totally energizing experience. Not to any ones surprise the night was finished off with hanabi [flower fire] or fireworks Japanese love there festivals so no matter what time of year you are here you will sure be treated to one somewhere on your travels and don’t forget if you are around Hokkaido during summer to drop by the Odori Beer Garden which is part of the Sapporo Summer Festival.

Chris driving straight down the fairway at Konbu Yama Six weeks ago at the Niseko Charity Golf barbecue I won a few pair tickets for a few rounds of golf at one of Niseko Village’s golf courses. So after a few days practicing my short game and driving at the golf centers just south of Kutchan on route 5 I ventured out for my first game of golf in a very very long time. I grabbed a friend who didn’t have the Niseko Village Golf Season pass and two friends that did and headed out for a 8AM tee off at the Arnold Palmer designed Niseko Golf Course nestled in the foothills of Konbu Yama (mountain) about 5km south of Niseko on route 5. The Niseko Golf course is very challenging and fun requiring accurate drives and iron shots to get you on the green. Niseko Golf Course is set in a magnificent forested area with sweeping views of the mountains and valleys all around and at some points you can see Mt. Niseko Annupuri, Mt. Konbu and Mt. Yotei all by just turn you head! Well that was such a fun day that I will head out again very soon. Thank you to my playing partners on the day and Niseko Village for such a great prize! Ash teeing off at the 16th Niseko Golf Course

the 2nd Annual Softball classic at Niseko Hirafu Sun Sports Last weekend saw a great variety of events take place in the Niseko area organized by different local groups. As well as plenty of other things to do some of the local food establishments re opened for the summer season. Saturday and Sunday saw 2 days of mountain bike action; the Grand Hirafu Bike Challenge. This event was a great success thanks to NisekoMTB and Grand Hirafu. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to snap any shots but if you are interested why don’t you head over to theNiseko Tourism webpage where they have a little wrap up. For those coming here August 30th to September 6th 2009 there will be many more cycling events as part of Niseko Cycle Week. Sunday saw the 2nd Annual Softball Classic take place, like the Grand Hirafu Bike Challenge numbers were down but it couldn’t stop the fun of friendly softball between two teams selected on the day. What ever season you come to Niseko whether it be winter, spring, summer or autumn there are plenty of things to do and if you time it right you will always be given the great locals Niseko welcome and chance to join in a myriad of events and activities that are organized throughout the year. Also I would like suggest to check out Joels new article across at nisekosnow.net about salmon fishing in Hokkaido. The article gives you great over view of fishing at Shankotan Peninsular 40 minutes drive from Niseko to Eastern Hokkaido. Enjoy!

Finally the Hokkaido summer is here, lush green mountains and hot weather and the people are out and about enjoying what Niseko has to offer. For me it saw a weekend of exploring the mountains that extend from Niseko Annupuri out to the coast at Iwanai. Youtei from the peak of Niseko Annupuri with the final bit of snow in the foreground These mountains have lots to offer in summer from hiking on mountain trails, mountain biking, road cycling and for the daring amongst us even paragliding in the thermals of Niseko Annupuri. the road from Niseko to Iwanai with patches of snow in late Junea fox on the road between Iwanai and Rankoshi about to eat dinnerParagliders high above Niseko Annupuri

Last weekend was a great time to escape Niseko to Sapporo as the 18th Yosakoi Soran dance festival (Japanese only) was on.sapporo dance festivalyosakoi soran sapporo dance The festival is a great show of modern very energetic dance to modern music. For more info on the history of this style of dance check Yoaskoi on Wikipedia

I was also lucky enough to go to the Sapporo Dome to see the local baseball team the Nippon Ham Fighters take on the Dragons, this was also a great afternoon entertainment, I definitely recommend it if you get the chance, again lots of energy when the Fighter were scoring and the Sapporo dome is an awesome structure well worth a look! outside sapporo domeA Sapporo Fighters game at the Sapporo Dome Finally the Sapporo Matsuri(Festival) was also on, which is the Annual Festival of Hokkaido Jingu Shrine. During this festival Nakajima Park at the south end of the city is full of food and game tents and Sapporo people get dressed up in their Yukata(traditional Japanese clothing), again a very colourful festival. Even though it rained throughout the weekend the weather could not dampen the spirits of the people, great city and a great weekend!

After reading the article Blizzard of Ozand drive to the “real” Japan on Sunday I thought what Craig Tansley said was not quite true. I live in Niseko and not the ski resort of Hirafu and everyday I leave home I go to the real Japan. Granted in winter there are lots of foreigners in town but around every corner is Japan. Anyhow just 1/2 hour from my home is a beautiful coast where people carry on with normal life and this actually is true just 5 minutes from Niseko Hirafu, the village that most people call Niseko. You just have to venture out a bit and open your eyes. Check the photos from the Suttsu coast that I took a few month back. Truely Japan? Suttsu Coast 30 minutes from Niseko and the Japan SeaFishermen at the HabourPower Generators on the Suttsu Coast, Hokkaido

A friend of mine gave me a copy of this video, it is a great watch that documents some excellent “Newschool Skiing” footage from between 2001 to 2007 of a group of Sapporo skiers. It is really inspirational whether you are a skier or a snowboarder. If you get the chance you should watch it and buy it. In the meantime check out the You Tube clips below and also check out the LOVEDOMINANT page on You Tube for some more great skiing and snowboarding from around Japan.

Thought that would get you attention! Looking up White Avenue in Annupuri at Niseko Annupuri Peak on May 14, 2009 Even when the mountain’s lifts are closed in Niseko and everybody is gearing up for some summer action mother nature again lets us know that winter is still not quite finished! It may have only been a dusting on the peaks around Niseko and Kiroro’s Mt. Yoichi but the temperates dropped to close to zero in the areas around Niseko and Kutchan. The outlook for the week ahead see the temperates rise again to same as during the Golden week Holiday period.

Check out the weeks weather ahead

Some photos from the drive… Lake Shikotsu in SpringSnow on the Mountains around Shikotsu Ko on the 27th of April 2009Moon like landscape in Shikotsu National Park

The 2 hour drive back from Chitose airport to Niseko on Monday with new snow on the mountains and sun shining was almost a scene from mid-winter. Anytime of year the drive between Sapporo’s Chitose Airport and Niseko is a spectacular drive, possible more so in summer as you can stop off for a picnic and swim in Shikotsu Ko(lake). However in winter you could stop for a spa at Shikotsu Ko Onsen(hot spring).

As the sun gets higher in the sky and it sets more in the north the sunsets in Niseko just seem to become more intense. Just one of the may reasons to come here in spring. Spring conditions on the mountains are still great and the rafting has started. Pink Yotei Zan in Spring from Kutchan Annupuri under a full spring sunset refecting in the snow melt on the fields of Kutchan.

Well Grand Hirafu Niseko has done themselves proud. The park this year is again an improvement from last year. There are 3 levels with jumps ranging from beginners jumps right through to a massive 17 metre table top. Check here till the end of Golden week for some photos.

In the meantime check the two below. niseko hirafu springtime park airtimeHirafu spring park

Hokkaido mountains have had a few late lashings of winter lately with powder days enjoyed by those skiing and riding at the Niseko resorts and also at Rusutsu and Teine Highlands in Sapporo. Check out the shots below to see just how good it’s been. Never under estimate the spring! Spring of course is the best time to hit the park and take advantage of those soft landings. This year Hanazono resort finally stepped it up for Hokkaido by making a respectable park and decent superpipe. Big up Hanazono! For the Niseko area after Hanazono closes the park action shifts to Hirafu. At this time of year Sapporo Kokusai usually has a couple of jumps up and Nakayama Toge a tiny one chair affair at the top of the pass between Sapporo and Niseko will also have a fun line of jumps and rails. Get up there for some fun in the sun and don’t forget the bbq!

Well, just like anytime of the year you can not be guaranteed the weather. But this spring in Niseko has seen a great mix of winter and bluebird riding. In between a few great powder days here we have also been lucky to been riding great spring conditions off piste and in the parks and pipes. Niseko backbowls in spring after 4 days of winterskiing fresh line in mid March, Niseko Annupurisuprisingly good powder in spring, Annupuri Nisekothats me! method off Simon's spine in Annupuri, thanks to Chris for taking the camera

Just off the mountain, great runs on Niseko Annupuri in the backbowls. After 4 days of cold snowy-ish weather 20cm had accumulated on a firm base with some deeper wind blown stashes. Really can’t complain being the 25th of March. Is this the last of it or not? will check the weather and download the photo’s and get back to with some shots and the week’s weather outloook.

As last weeks warmer weather showed us spring is on the way, but as you can see from Simon’s photo’s the winter still has some bite left. The snow arrived just in time for the weekend and word on the street was that Rusutsu had some great snow.Unfortunately being the weekend and due to a rumored lift outage it had to be shared among quite a few, not bad for the middle of March though. Speaking of weekends another one of Japans frequent public holidays is looming, this one celebrating the spring equinox, great news for the working folk!! And what better way to celebrate a holiday than with a party. The good people from S.P.I.N. and A.Life Sapporo are putting on an international party so after the day on the couch or the hill come out for a nite on the town. See ya there! http://alife.jp/pc/schedule/200903.html http://www.myspace.com/sappororythm

Well, we got another taste of winter on Saturday night making yesterday pretty good on the mountain. Searching the mountain for pockets of powder I managed to snap this shot. Is winter ever going to end?Niseko nights after another blast of winter

After a week of warm weather and not so good conditions on the mountain here in Niseko we got what maybe is the last taste of winter?? So after a week off from the epic season we’ve had everybody was brought to life again by the latest snow. Wednesday night saw a great night session on the hill with everybody I bumped into stoked that the rain had again tuned back to snow. Thursday then saw some great turns at Hanazono in the infamous strawberry fields and the for keen ones amongst us it was off to the the not so secret Chisenupuri for untracked turns. Today saw the sleds come out in the morning for a play in the Niseko backcountry. Reports I just heard was that Hirafu this afternoon was back to great spring conditions. getting ready to ride, Hirafu Gondola at NightA well slashed Hirafu bankChisenupuri NisekoSnowmobiling in the Niseko Backcountry

Whilst in Sounkyo I made a point to frequent the Onsens. Sounkyo, I would guess was built on Onsens and has numerous. I managed to only visit 3 as Kurodake no Yu, the one down the road from where I was staying, was great and you could get an onsen and ramen for ¥980. Choyo Tei & Choyo Resort Hotel are the other 2 I visited. Onsens are a great place to soak up Japanese culture and relax after a busy day and are definitely worth visiting. If you want to read more about Onsens why not go over to nisekosnow.net and check out our article on Onsens and also check out the Onsen etiquette page if it is your first time.