Last Friday, me and my esteemed team of skiers left the warm shores of Lake Wanaka for the super chilled powder caked slopes of Hakuba, in the Nagano area of Japan. An excited plane ride with Air New Zealand, which resulted in a competition in who could watch the most movies soon had us arrived in one of the biggest cities in the world. TOKYO. Not letting our tiredness get the better of us, we were chaperoned from the plane, straight to the famous NINJA BAR for an epic feed, all at the hands of some ninjas! This is all part of my trip for the Japan National Tourism Association, through the Nagano Region ski resorts called Classic Resorts Japan.
Private Ninja waiter
After some warm Sake and amazing dishes served by our very own Ninja (Samurai swords, fire, dry ice and an edible Bonsi tree were amongst just some of the nights entertainments) If you are ever in Tokyo, its a must….
We finaly rested our heads at 4am (NZ time) and took 40 winks before jumping on the Shinkansen (bullet train) towards the mountains and Nagano. That was of course after a visit to Shibuya (the worlds busiest pedestrian crossing)
Oh Tokyo, the sights you see….
After the very efficient and massively fast bullet train that whisked us to Nagano at a speed of 250km an hr we arrived in quite a different temperature. As Japan is so efficient, we had sent our ski bags directly to our hotel (the wonderful Tokyu Hotel) in Hakuba from the airport, so with just a back pack each it was spectacularly easy. An hr and a half bus ride later we were in the magical village of Hakuba nestled in the impressively massive Japanese Alps. As it had snowed 30 cm we made the decision to head to Cortina, one of the many resorts in Hakuba, notorious for its epic tree skiing, a mind blowing hotel, which resembles a large plastic Tudor house and an one of the best Onsens (natural hot spring bath) I have ever bathed in. Only in Japan.
Cortina Hotel
Julia Atikinson of Studio Home shredding the Japanese goods…
Vicci Miller
After a day at Cortina, the sun showed its face so we then headed up to Happo One, famous for its epic open spaces, huge alpine views and entry to the most incredible Japanese back country. We hiked up for an hr and a half above the top lifts with our guide Dave from Evergreen Outdoor Center to access this back country mecca.
Tim and Tom hiking along the ridge
Tom Dunbar
Back country Hakuba goodness, Tom, Vicci and Tim skied.
Tim Rutherford
To soothe our aching bodies, we have had an Onsen every day…
Here are the ladies bathing…
The mountain Onsen 40 mins from Hakuba. Dreamy….
The night of two dinners
Love Japanese food…
We are now in Shiga Kogen and had a sweet day shredding the pow, after a cultural day yesterday of an Onsen village, Geisha and snow monkeys. Will update a blog soon…