Hakuba Connect Winter 2013

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Contact Information1606-4 Hokujo, Hakuba, Nagano 399-9301, JapanEnglish Tel: 080-3126-0247Japanese Tel: 080-3422-9005Email: [email protected]

Published by Snow Connections

Hakuba Connect annual winter visitor guide is free when picked up at distribution points throughout the Hakuba valley. Snow Connections. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.Individual advertisers are solely responsible for the content of advertising material which they submit to us, including ensuring that it complies with relevant legislation. We accept no responsi-bility for the content of advertising material, including, without limitation, any error omission or inaccuracy therein.

ovember 14th 2012 was another day well all remember in Hakuba. Despite forecasts of rain and mere sleet, we received our earliest heavy snowfall

for many years. News crews arrived and my Facebook page went crazy with everyone posting photos of the deep snow. For many, including myself, were caught unaware, vehicles still hadnt changed to winter tyres or snow wipers, toys and bikes were still lying around the yard, trees and bushes hadnt been tied up for protection, and most importantly, snow blowers hadnt had a proper service before the exertions of winter.

But everyone I spoke to on that day, had a smile on their faces. Why? Well, after a tough winter last year

with the aftereffects of the Tohoku Disaster, this year bookings are up, new real estate developments are being built in the resort, and so many new aprs-ski bars are opening up that I have lost count. Its shaping up to be an exciting season!

As ever, weve tried to fill the magazine with lots of information about Hakuba, including an in-depth report, commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the Nagano Winter Olympics. Find out what went on here during those two weeks of madness. We hope Hakuba Connect helps you make the most of your stay and in turn provides information for you to plan your next visit. Take a copy home with you and show your friends what they are missing!

See you on the slopes!

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WELCOME TOHAKUBA

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www.hakubaconnect.com 7

Stewart AdamsonContributor

Steve WilliamsEditor

James RobbContributor

Tereza FoulcherContributor

Mikiyo WilliamsAdvertising

Michael GroveDesign

Ashish BoseDesign

Patrick FuxPhotographer

NOVEMBERNovember 16Opening of Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47 & Hakuba Happo-one. The earliest in recent years.

DECEMBERDecember 1 Official opening at some of the ski areas. Priests will bless the good fortune of each ski area. Free hot soup is given out to visitors.

December 25Christmas is not celebrated the same as in Western coun-tries though most hotels and lodges will have Christmas trees up. Did you know that Christmas is KFCs busiest day? KFC is located at mid-station Tsugaike Kogen.

JANUARYJanuary 1Wake up with a heavy head? Japa-nese love to start the New Years with a onsen/hot-spring.

stadium will be lit up with thousands of candles and illumina-tions.

February 14Valentines Day! In Japan ladies must give chocolate to their husbands, boyfriends etc. One month later on White Day on March 14, men return a gift of more value.

February 23Tsugaike Kogen Snow & Ultra Thanksgiving Festival. Bring your skis and ski down with a lit fire torch. Free for everyone!

MARCHMarch 9-10Hakuba 47. Staff will be dressed up in different costumes. Games include

man contest.

February 8Hakuba Ski Day 15th Anniversary of the Nagano Winter Olympics.

February 10A week long of festivals kick off with the Yuki Koi (We Love Snow) Festival. The ski jumping

January 15Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival. Buses leave Hakuba in the early evening and return late at night.

FEBRUARYFebruary 2Happo Bank-The Snow Park- opens at Kita-one. Be the first to get some

big air this winter.

February 8Iwatake Snow Field thanks Festival. Japanese drums, raffles and a snow-

treasure hunting & fastest soda drinker competition!

March 9Hakuba Goryu Snow Festival. Fireworks, Japanese drums, torch lit skiing. Night skiing is free. Watch out for the dragons!

APRILApril 14Happo Spring Festival. If you thought the moguls on Happo

were big....well they get even bigger for Happo Super Cup. The race sees Hakubas Aiko Uemura, World Cup Gold Medalist, getting high off the bumps.

MAYMay 6Final day of the winter season. Thats 174 days of skiing & riding. How many days did you manage?

NEW YEARS COUNTDOWNNew Years is BIG in Japan and what better way to celebrate then here in Hakuba. Lots of parties and firework

displays.

March 7 & 8 67th Riesen Slalom gets underway on Happo-one. The race starts at Usagidaira and finishes at Happo-one ski school.

February 16Happo-one Fire Festival from 19:30 to 21:30 at Nakiyama base area. Hot wine and free sake. Wrap up well it can get cold.

March 2Snow Splash in Hakuba! Dont miss the big season music finale. Enjoy a big night of sound at The Pub in Wadano.


A CENTURY OF SKIING IN HAKUBA

his winter marks the cente-nary of skiing here in Hakuba. Major Elder von Lerch is

credited with bringing skiing to Japan in 1911 and two years later had spread to Hakuba.

The first ski club was formed at Happo-one in 1929, three years before the railways arrived in town. Hakubas first big downhill ski race was held on a 10km course at Tsug-aike in 1939. This golden age of earn your turns in Hakuba ended in 1954 when the first ski lift was erected on the Nakiyama slopes of Happo-one. It was 500 meters long and strung between wooden towers.

The first modern gondola in the area was the Hakuba Cable built in 1958 at the site of the current Happo-one Gondola Adam. It reached the Usgadaira slopes and was in operation until 1983.

Watch out for special events throughout the season.

Australian Olympic skier, Steve Lee showing Major Elder von Lerch how times have changed.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF

LIFE t may came as no surprise to the people living in the mountainous and snowy areas of this country

that Japan boasts the most ski areas in the world! Like a loaded buffet table it can be a bit overwhelming to know what to sample with such a variety of slopes on the table. Each area has its own charm point ; from un-crowded groomers, open glades or fun off-piste terrain.

The lure of the fresh turns between the trees beckons them away from the confines of the slopes seems the natural progression as skiers or boarders develops more confidence and technique.

To the delight of many, a number of resorts in Japan now allow folks to ride the off-piste areas and forested areas between runs. Those keen souls looking to access some tasty lines in those areas are welcome to join in one of Evergreens day excur-sions to resorts not only within Hakuba but also to the Nagano and Niigata areas as well. Hook up with like-minded powder-seeking people, get kitted out with safety gear and fat skis/boards and with a knowl-edgeable professional guide to find your own powder perfect moment.

www.evergreenhakuba.com

SNOW LIFEWINNER 2012 WORLD LUXURY HOTEL AWARD

he World Luxury Hotel Awards is a recognized global organi-zation that provides luxury

hotels with recognition for their world class facilities and service excellence.

Over 1000 luxury hotels, lodges, resorts and private islands were nominated to participate in the 2012 competition and the winners were decided by the people that matter the most; international tour operators, travel agents and hotel guests. The voting is based upon service excel-lence and the World Luxury Hotel Awards focus purely on the highly competitive luxury hotel sector.

SHIROUMA-SO, which is a different reading in Chinese characters for Hakuba, stands at the base of Hakuba Happo-one ski resort. Its a Japanese Ryokan that combines both traditional and modern archi-tecture, resulting in a creative and beautiful design.

Being a historical hotel, SHIROUMA-SO boasts traditional Japanese-style architecture and furnishings, including pillars and support beams dating from the Edo Period more than 200 years ago.

It is a long standing Onsen Ryokan with big windowed rooms facing the majestic Hakuba mountains, where you can see where you skied today as well as plan the next days fun.

The hotel Onsen can be rented out for private bathing. www.shiroumaso.com/english/

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THE LAST SAMURAIamurai; The name conjures up images of ancient castles,

fearsome warlords, razor edge katana swords and the Samurai code of honor, Bushido.

The art of the Samurai lives on and you can experience it nightly in Hakuba during winter.

This year there is a change in the Samurai with Tanida-san taking over from his father, who sadly passed away last year. Like the ancient Samurai the art is still passed down from father to son through the generations.

The nightly show, which includes an all you can eat Korean style barbeque dinner, which in itself sounds a must do, features a sword display that will take you back through the ages.

Everyone will have a chance to try on Samurai body armor or a beauti-ful Japanese kimono. You can also try your luck at throwing a real shuriken or Ninja star as they are sometimes known. We are told that Ninja will be making an appearance, of course if you can find them!

All children will receive a Samurai present. Now that is something to brag about when they go back to school!

Show and dinner every evening in winter. Samurai House is located in the Century Hotel.(See ad on page 58)

INTER RESORTSERVICESo one on a ski vacation likes waiting being that either waiting in a lift line or waiting

for public transport. For lift lines then visit a Hakuba ski area on a week day; the lift lines are virtually non-existent. And instead of waiting in the cold for public transport book a ride on the Nagano Snow Shuttle. JHN Travel have been operating shuttles to and from Narita Airport to Hakuba and other Nagano ski resorts for several seasons now. The buses are scheduled for departure from the airport as well as the resort to meet in-coming and out-going flights to Australia.

For the 2012-2013 winter season the Nagano Snow Shuttle is starting inter resort services from both the large ski areas of Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen located across the Nagano Valley. Not too far as the crow flies but far enough to consider a door to door service.

There is a daily shuttle from Hakuba to both Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen that are timed to run first thing in the morning, so you can still enjoy a full day on the slopes at your destination.

Shuttles leave from Happo Bus terminal and travel via Echoland and Goryu.

The service will operate from December 20th until March 10th.

Reservations are required, and can be made online up until 48 hours before departure.

www.NaganoSnowShuttle.com

INDIANSUMMER

ew to Hakuba this season, Koharu Resort Hotel & Suites bring a touch of elegance to

the much sought after area of Wadano-no-Mori. Koharu meaning Indian Summer a period of unseasonably warm weather during the autumn has been designed in reflection of this striking and vibrant time of year when the chill of approaching winter is temporarily held at bay amidst an explosion of color. They hope to incorporate this warmth into every aspect of their service and thus provide their guests with a genuine and memorable holiday experience.

They will be in operation throughout the year and are based at one of the most accessible gateways to snows-ports in Japan. Directly opposite the Sakka ski lifts of Happo One, they are located in one of the most convenient spots in the Hakuba Valley, a stones throw from some of the best skiing. Their collection of studios, one-bedroom apartments and villas allow for every groups needs to be catered for, from large families or groups to couples. Koharu Resort Hotel & Suites has been designed with care and atten-tion and the result is a selection of exquisitely crafted accommodation options where the guests can enjoy the endless activities the local Hakuba area has to offer.

www.koharuresorthotel.com

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GREEN SEASON

ome and enjoy Hakuba in summer.

For those of you who love Hakuba in the winter there is another side to Hakuba which needs to be seen to be believed. The locals call it the Green Season. As the snow slowly recedes to higher altitude and the winter weather changes to spring sunshine, the cherry blossoms come out, the rivers flow and the landscape begins to change and its time to enjoy some other adventures.

Adventures and activities which will take your breath away as most of them enable you to take in the beautiful scenery, wildlife and the glorious views. Including; road cycling, mountain biking, hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, canyoning and of course paragliding from the peaks of Hakuba just to name a few. To help you get the best of your Hakuba adventure holiday there are a few excellent businesses in town that offer services to make the most of your time here including Ever-green Outdoor Center, Lion Adven-ture and Sweet Riders. Of course you could also take it easier by just enjoy the towering alps, take a leisurely stroll or cycle around town, work on your photog-raphy skills or even just catch up on a book or two. We look forward to seeing you in Hakuba over the warmer months to try your hand at some of the great adventures on offer.

www.hakubaconnect.com/summer

MATE ROCK UPDATE

ate Rock was the charitable festival founded by long-term Australian resident of

Japan, Adrian Bell, in response to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear accident disas-ters of March 2011. Adrian organized a concert on the bottom of the slopes at Hakuba 47 Ski Resort with the likes of iconic Australian rock bands as The Angels with Dave Gleeson and Jimmy Barnes.

The proceeds of Mate Rock were set aside to fund educational visits for children who were directly affected by the disaster. Mate Rock has so far provided US$250,000 in funds to causes that support children in the affected areas.

One of the beneficiaries of the fund has been the village or Iitate, situated in a verdant area of Fukushima that has long boasted a history of agriculture and beef farming. It is also located under 40 kilometers from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The village had to be evacuated in April 2011 on the advice of the Government authorities. Most families have relocated to other parts of the Fukushima prefecture, and are now living in temporary accommodation, with their children having to attend new schools.

Due to the fantastic efforts of the Mate Rock charitable festival, dozens of school children from Iitate Village have been able to enjoy visits to Western Australia. These visits are designed to positively impact the lives of the Japanese youth that were so badly affected by the disas-ter of 2011.

BECOME A NIGHT RIDER

ew for this season, night lessons at Goryu Ski resort. 2 hour private lessons from

7pm 9pm are available. With pick up and drop off from your hotel, the night sessions are a perfect way to start off your winter holiday or are a great idea for those who have never experienced sliding under lights. Whether you are an individual or group the price is the same.

Maybe you have a day tour planned but still want to get some snow time. You want to brush up your skills so as you can maximise your day time riding hours. Then night riding is a perfect way to maximise your snow holiday time.

All ages and abilities can participate in either skiing or snowboarding lessons. With a 6:30pm pick up and a 9:30pm drop off the experience couldnt be easier.

To become a night rider, book a night lesson with Hakuba Snow Sports School by calling Daniel Mee on 080-5357-6420 or by emailing [email protected].

Marillen Hotel located adjacent to Happo-one Nakiyama night slope will have night skiing packages available. Clients will be picked up and enjoy skiing and dinner and maybe a drink or two. Hakuba Connect has heard that a really good saxophone player will be playing on some nights!

www.hotelmarillen.com

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at Turin 2006 Japans only medal at those games. Four years after Nagano, Japan co-hosted the Soccer World Cup with South Korea, and the consistently improving results for both the mens and womens national sides since 2002 contrast strongly with winter sports, where much of Japans momen-tum from Nagano 1998 appears to have been lost.

As with the Soccer World Cup, the number of overseas spec-tators who actually visited the Nagano Olympics was minimal, leaving the games as a missed opportunity in the promotion of inbound tourism. Japans domestic skier population in the 1990s was so large that the idea of people coming from overseas probably wasnt even considered. For us in Hakuba, hosting the Olympic downhill was an honor that gives testimony to the scale and authenticity of Happo-One Ski Resort. For the downhill at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olym-pics, courses had to be specially cut on a local mountain (!) due to the insufficient vertical at existing resorts nearby. That said, we believe Hakubas international popularity may have more to do with an increasing general awareness of skiing in Japan and the towns Japan Alps location rather than with the simple Olympics venue label. One of Japans major selling points has been the regular and extensive snowfalls that give us soft and fluffy conditions, not the hard and fast pistes used in Olympic competition. Course preparation at the games often involved shoveling away or stamping down the fresh snow most Hakuba skiers like to ride.

With the Ski Jump, Snow Harp, and Wing 21, a beautiful theatre/sports complex used for cultural events, the Olympics gave Hakuba some excellent facilities that belie its small, 9000-plus population. For ordinary people, possibly the biggest legacy has been the upgrading of the roads into Hakuba,

providing much easier access to town for tourists and easier commutes to local cities for Hakuba residents themselves. With ever-declining skier numbers in Japan, this advantage has helped the town retain its market share and remain comparatively strong in the face of what is increasingly cut-throat competition from other ski areas. The past fifteen years have not been kind to the ski industry in Japan, and Japans ageing and declining population suggest that recovery will not be easy. Looking back now, the 1998 Nagano Games look increasingly like a zenith for technical, resort-based alpine skiing in Japan. If there is a future, it will be in so-called freestyle and freeriding, both on skis and snowboards. Thats where we think the gold lies in them thar hills.


hen you roll off your last ski run and soak in that hot onsen bath, when the chairlifts and gondolas

have come to their quiet halts and the sunset leaves behind a magical pink hue then its time for the Hakuba Valleys army of workers to climb into their big metal beasts. By morning these piste-groomers have pushed and tilled the snow on dozens of ski runs into perfect corduroy stripes.

Its not only about the powder in Hakuba as the thrill of carving a fresh groomed slope is one of the most fantastic feelings that can be had on snow. Responsible for its delivery is the resorts highly skilled grooming team without them we would all be skiing and boarding on lumps and bumps across the whole of the mountain. The beginner

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and intermediate slopes would have moguls as big as they are on some of the expert runs!

If you peer out of your hotel bedroom in the dead of the night then youll probably glimpse their headlight patterns in the far distance, among a swirl of snow-flurries. The piste-groomers are a nocturnal bunch who work from dusk to dawn. Whilst you and I are sleeping soundly and snuggled in to our duvets away and dreaming of carving runs in the morning, you can bet that they will be out performing tasks such as restoring tired pistes and nudging reserves of snow onto needed areas.

Poor or little snow cover can be sometimes unavoidable in some of the more exposed


areas particularly where prevailing winds can blow the fresh snow away as fast as it falls. The piste groomers know the mountains like the back of their hands (even in the dark!) and so they get to know where to find snow reserves, whether they be snow drift or where they have nudged snow into more sheltered spots for their later use.

As you may imagine, it can get very lonely up on the mountain in the deep of night. Even in daylight, when the visibility suddenly drops, skiers and boarders can quickly lose their bearings becoming disorientated within seconds. The groomer drivers however must know their mountains intimately not just when it is clear but also at night and even in blizzard conditions. This knowledge of the ski area can take a couple of seasons to acquire and there is no substitute for experience. Despite this mountain familiarity, the unexpected can occur and so it is crucial that the groomer drivers keep in constant contact with their control center, with each other via satellite GPS and of course with mobile phones.

To keep spirits up the cabs are fitted with hi-fi systems and formidable heaters to ensure they feel comfortable up on the mountain. It can soon become a home from home really! Life is certainly no picnic though and it is hard work fighting fatigue in poor or no visibility, strong winds and white outs. Driving a groomer or snowcat as they are sometimes called is a delicate art. Riding on the wide, metal-bladed tracks means that progress, even on soft snow, tends to feel nerve-jangling firm not ideal when the controls are light and amazingly sensitive.


rubber blade. The end result is that perfectly formed corduroy.

Some off the vehicles have a beefy 3.5 tonne winch and around 1000m of steel cable on the top. This is then attached by cable to a secure anchor-point and you can happily wind your way up and

Once an even snow base has been established the real process of grooming begins. Again this requires sensitive and precise handling, with the front blade in minimal contact with the surface, merely flattening it to allow the rotating blades at the rear to whip up the snow before finally smoothing by the heavy serrated

down otherwise impossibly steep pistes in perfect safety. Yes, thats how they do it. Next time you are on the mountain, have a look at the top of a steep slope for the cable point or even a tree!

Sometimes heavy snowfall in the early mornings does not leave the groomers with enough time to re-groom and gives the false impression that no grooming has occurred. Rest assured the groomers will have been working through the night to ensure the base below is in great condition.

Wondering why you ski pass is becoming pricier? Well the groomers arent cheap. Each vehicle costs about $300,000 to buy. And with such big engines they can consume at the rate of 250 liters of fuel per vehicle per shift.

The best part of the job for the groomers are the epic sunrises every morning

Smoothing out moguls and bumps. Maintaining snow depth in high traffic areas. Construction of race courses. Packing fresh snow. Making and maintaining features in the terrain parks.

A groomers job:



Along time ago in Hakuba, there lived a lumberjack and his son. One winter day, as they were gathering some wood, a great blizzard descended upon them. They rushed back to their cabin to wait out the storm. However the snow only got heavier and heavier, and the two fell asleep by the warm fireplace.

After some time, the boy was woken by

the howling wind. The door of the cabin flew open and snow rushed inside, putting out the fire. At that moment, a beautiful woman with a pure white kimono, jet black hair and seemingly transparent skin appeared with the snow. She went over to the father and breathed frosty air on him. He became white as snow and breathed no more.

The son cried out, "You are the Yuki

Onna!" He remembered the story of the fearsome woman who comes with the snow to take the lives of people in the night. Having seen her kill his father, the son's body started to tremble. He wanted to run far away, but his body would not move. The Yuki Onna moved ever closer while blowing white air from her mouth. She bent down over him, lower and lower, until her face almost touched his. He saw that she was very

She immediately stopped and asked, "Where did you see this woman?" He answered, "Just before my 20th birthday there was a snow storm and she came to the cabin.

It was the Yuki Onna!" Oyuki sadly said. "The Yuki Onna must have told you sternly not to speak of this or she would kill you!

Why do you say this?" He replied, "How do you know this, Oyuki?" She slowly stood up and her kimono and face became freezing white. "It was you... It was you..." he cried.

"That is right. Why did you say that? Now I cannot live with you. If it wasnt for our child asleep I would kill you" she shrieked. He pleaded "Forgive me, Oyuki!" She shook her head. "I will never forget you. Somehow take care of our child. Farewell!" The door flew open, and Oyuki disap-peared into the snow. The young man ran out, but there was no trace of her. Though he searched and searched, the Yuki Onna was never seen again.

beautiful, though her eyes made him afraid. She looked at him for a time, then smiled and whispered, "I intended to treat you like the other man, but you have received my favor. I will let you live tonight since you are so young. But if you ever tell anyone, even your own mother, about what you have seen this night, I shall know it and then I will kill you. Remember what I say!" And with those words she disappeared into the night. The boy rushed to the door, but the Yuki Onna had already gone. The boy shut the door, secured it and fell asleep. The next morning, the boy awoke to find his father's frozen body and wondered if he had really seen the Yuki Onna.

The young mans health soon recov-ered, and as the Yuki Onna had told him, he never spoke about that night.

A year passed and winter arrived once more. One snowy night, the young man heard a tapping on the door and he opened it to find a beautiful woman standing outside. "I'm caught in the snow. Is it possible I could stay here tonight?" she asked.

The young man ushered her in and gave her some food. She told him her name was Oyuki and that she had no family. They talked and talked. As time passed, they grew to like each other and eventu-ally they were married. A few years later they had a child.

In Hakuba, another harsh winter came. Snow fell heavily once more in the still of night. The young man looked over at the side of Oyuki's face as she watched their child sleeping on a warm futon. He said, "You know, you remind me of a woman I saw a long time ago. You look just like her."

the cost of their holidays, this is certainly not the case, and these inter-mediaries provide a valuable link between a broad range of Japanese hotels and international travellers. Many hotels in Japan have traditionally focused on the domestic market, so this brings huge opportunities for further growth for Hakuba as hotels can fill up and more people can enjoy the famous powder snow always on offer in Hakuba.

Another natural progression with the growth of Hakuba is the growing level of in-resort services that make a destination

akuba has a long history as a ski resort since the Reverend Walter Weston first conquered the Japa-

nese Alps in the first years of the 20th century, with Happo One, Hakubas biggest and most developed mountain consistently voted Japans number one resort by the Japanese themselves. Development was slow and steady until the region rode the 80s skiing boom in Japan that saw resorts popping up left right and centre, which meant at one point Japan had more ski resorts than any other country in the world. Then the 1998 Winter Olympics were held in Hakuba, well and truly putting the area on the map for international tourists, showcasing the big mountains and light dry powder.

What does this mean for you? A huge amount was invested into Hakuba in terms of tourism infrastruc-ture, with lots of hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, roads, and everything else that an influx of visitors requires. Now organisations such as Hakuba Hotel Group are taking this one step further by offering full service packages that make holiday bookings so easy. This starts with the booking process; customers can see real time availability online, get a full description of the hotel, its location, get a quote and book and pay without lifting the phone should they so choose. This online system allows customers to book and pay for accommodations ranging from budget beds in a ski lodge to mid range hotels

to luxury self-contained accommoda-tion. This also helps break down the language and cultural barrier between Western tourists and the local Japanese, which at times can make travel a nerve racking experience. While many travel-lers believe intermediaries just add to

stand out. For example Hakuba now has a lively nightlife with new bars and restaurants popping up every season. New tastes and flavours are brought into the village, with Mimis restaurant in the Phoenix Hotel combining Australian award wining chefs and the best local produce and the Marillen Hotel and Restaurant contributing traditional European slope side warm lunches to Happo One.

So now any keen skier or snowboarder can simply book and pay for a Japanese ski holiday online with English speaking staff, who communicate directly with Japanese hotel operators, and get an exceptional level of in-resort service. This would lead you to believe you are travelling to a tourist-focused ski resort

with little local culture, but this couldnt be further from the case. Hakuba manages to maintain its small village feel, along with endless powder runs on offer over 10 ski resorts, ensuring you will scarcely see a lift line during your stay. Now go out and experience everything that Hakuba has to offer!

Stay up to date with the snow conditions and activities and nightlife in Hakuba via the Liquid Snow Tours Facebook page, www.facebook.com/liquidsnowtours and for bookings and enquiries see: www.ski-resorts-japan.com.


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07:00Rise and Slide

After a good nights sleep its an early start for a day of excitement in the Hakuba Valley.

07:30Fuel Up

For those staying in hotels, make sure you tuck into a hearty breakfast. If you are staying in an apart-ment or backpackers, grab a coffee and a bite to eat at one of 24 hour convenience

stores located around the resort.

08:00Shuttle Run

Today we are off to Hakuba Cortina at the northern end of the valley about 20 to 30 minutes from the main accommodation areas of Hakuba. Take the free shuttle bus. The bus will pass by Iwatake Sowfield and Tsugaike Kogen before reaching Cortina. Check the reverse side of the free Hakuba Map for times.

09:00Get Ahead

The line for first tracks can be a little long on powder mornings. The best way to cope is to enjoy a morning coffee at the impressive huge Green Plaza Hotel. Do you think the roof can be seen from space?

09:30Powder Time

Meet up with the friendly guys and girls from Evergreen Outdoor Center in one of their powder clinics. They will show you where the best stashes of powder are, to

improve you powder skiing or riding.

12:30Hungry?

Head back to the Green Plaza Hotel for a delicious hand made pizza. They will give you a pizza base and let you create your own original. A word of warning dont pile the toppings too high!

13:30Keep Exploring

Hakuba Cortina is rightly considered by most to have the ebst tree skking in the valley. The resort


operates this on a self-responsibility code with visitors skiing and riding at their own risk. Please respect the rules and stay out of closed areas. They are closed for a reason.

14:30Tired Yet?

Those who are tired can head down to the hotel once again and relax in the onsen while looking up at the mountains. Hakuba Cortina has a ski-lunch-onsen lift special. Sadly though

this deal wont let you ski the interconnected resort of Hakuba Norikura.

16:00All Aboard

The shuttle bus back to the hotel is a great time to those 40 winks in. Make sure you let the driver know your accommodation.


16:30 Revitalize

After all the exhilara-tion, it is time to give your body a well-earned rest. Chill out in one of the many onsens around the resort or get a mas-sage to rejuvenate those tired muscles. See page 47 for more details.

17:30Happy Hour

Raise a glass to the days adventures at

Uncle Stevens Mexican restaurant in Happo Village. They have lots of different beers, cocktails and snacks to get you in the party mood.

18:00 Shogun

Located a minute or so from Uncle Stevens inside the Century Hotel is Samurai House. Here you can enjoy an evening of excitement with Tanida san as he shows the art of Samurai swords-

manship. All you can eat Korean BBQ food make the evening a memorable experience (see ad on page 58)

20:00Climb the ladder

Hashi-go means ladder or pub crawl in Japa-nese. Three bars in Happo, The Yohei Club, Jacks Bar and The Beach Bar, have got together to introduce Hashi-go. Get your ladder stamped at each bar in order to qualify for a free drink.

22:00Genki-go

From Hashi-go to Genki-go!! Genki means to be in good spirits and its time to sample a few spirits too! Take a ride on the evening Genki-go shuttle bus over to the aprs ski capital of Hakuba, Echoland.

22:10Fine Wines

First stop is the Village Wine Bar inside the White Horse Hotel.

Snow shoeing through the forests followed by choco-late fondue and hot spiced wine.

(See page 60)

Fondue Snow TourJoin Lion Adventure for an excitement packed day of snowmobiling. Beginners to experienced riders can enjoy their full day tours.

Go Snowmobiling For those crooners amongst you. Karaoke is available at Bar Plus One, Non Jae and Cherry Pub. Did you know that Karaoke means empty orchestra?

KaraokeThe Pub in lower Wadano is huge! It has a Japanese style izakaya pub, steak house and a traditional British Pub with darts, pool table and large plasma TVs.

The Pub

THINGS FOR TOMORROW


Plenty of fine wines to sample.

23:00Dance Dance Dance

Club Rage is the new name for the refur-bished and rebranded Q Tips. Relax on one of the sofas or strut your stuff to the latest sounds from the States. This is aprs ski at its best.

12:45Last Taxi

Taxis in Hakuba stop at 01:00 in the morning. So if you need to get back to your accom-modation then make sure you have a taxi waiting for you.

Call Alps Taxi0261-72-2221

.a time now for a well earned rest and you can start all over again tomorrow.

Wednesday night at Riki Restaurant on Olympic Road the Salt Road Drummers will be banging away. Enjoy traditional soba dishes.Riki Tel 0261-85-4311

Japanese Taiko DrumsHappo-one and Goryu have night skiing every evening in winter. Wrap up well- it can get very cold at night.

Night Skiing


since 2010 in both winter and summer with great success. The Hotel is now offering investors the chance to design and construct their own Phoenix Chalet for private use or as a fully managed investment utilizing the rental pool of The Phoenix Hotel. The eight chalets that have been built are all named after local rivers, mountains and beauty spots that make Nagano Prefecture a premier destination not just for winter but for all the four seasons. Set in a tranquil part of the village, yet only a short walk from many amenities and ski lift access, the chalets integrate perfectly into the environment. The chalets are constructed to the highest standards by Fusion Homes who source the finest local materials, fixtures and finishes that reflect the stunning alpine setting. The

he Phoenix Hotel is pleased to present an exciting opportunity to

participate in the growth and development of Hakuba, Japan's premier Alpine resort area. Since opening in 2008, The Phoenix Hotel has established a reputation for

quality accommodation and the highest standard of gourmet dining available in the region. The hotel is situated in a beau-tiful natural forest setting in a prime location between Wadano and Happo-one villages. Phase 1 of The Phoenix Chalet development is complete with 8 chalets operating

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interiors are a mix of contemporary and traditional styles. They boast a modern open kitchen with a good sized adjacent dining area as well as a large lounge area which is perfect for discussing the days escapades and planning tomorrows. Both the two and three bedroom chalets have been fitted out with beautiful carpentry and they are a real credit to the builders. Floors plans will be flexible to suit all requirements. Fusion Homes have fifteen years worth of experience of building in Hakuba. Their trademark style is to deliver a unique but functional end product by combining the very best building techniques and concepts from around the globe and ensuring that they are beautifully set in perfect surroundings. Hakuba valley is Asia's grand Alpine playground. In Japan visitors from the metropolises of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya

Year round income

Master Builder

On-site management

Proximity to Tokyo

Ideal location

Bilingual concierge service

Access to The Phoenix Hotel

Technology. High speed internet and

cable TV system


have long flocked to this special region which stands out as the preferred destination for winter enthusiasts. Likewise guests from around the world, in particular from Asia, have begun to discover the beauty of winter in Hakuba. Set against a backdrop of the rugged peaks of the Japanese Alps, the scenery of Hakuba is truly amazing. It earns its reputation as a winter destination with a large number of resorts (ten in total), all easily accessible and offer-ing a multitude of runs and a large variety of terrain from beginner to advanced. There is also the added attraction of a cross country ski park and ski jump facility, purpose built for the 1998 Nagano Olympics and still used as a venue for World Cup events. Hakuba also has much to offer in the spring, summer and

autumn, the so called "green season". In fact visitor numbers are typically higher during the green season than in winter. Spring brings with it a burst of color and life as the valley turns green and the mountain flowers and cherry blossoms bloom. In summer the refreshing alpine lakes afford swimming and boating and the mountains attract many day walkers and serious mountain climbers. Other activities include white water rafting, paragliding and mountain biking not to mention the local cultural attractions including many temples and castles. Hakuba valley also has many natural hot spring bathes which are popular all year round. And then there is the food. Hakuba is located in the Shinshu region, the breadbasket of Japan. The Japanese cuisine offering is diverse and without exception delicious,


even the western offerings are exceptional due to the meticu-lous traits of the Japanese chefs and the freshness of the ingredients. Perhaps unique to Hakuba as a mountain desti-nation is the availability of wonderful seafood since the valley is located only 40 kilometers from the wild oceans of the Sea of Japan. The amazing Shinshu beef, Hakuba Pork, a variety of Alpine game and trout or "Shinshu salmon" create a cacophony of flavors for your enjoyment.

The Phoenix Chalets

Year round income. The phase 1 of the Phoenix chalets has been in operation since 2010 and has enjoyed extremely high winter occupancy and an increasingly busy green season.

Bilingual concierge service. Prior to arrival e-mail or call to ensure that the heating is turned on and your chalet is clean and ready for your arrival. The concierge service is ready to help arrange in house-dining, shopping, lift tickets, ski hire, lessons, car-hire, taxi pickups and everything else you need to make your stay comfortable.

On-site management. Peace of mind that someone is keeping an eye on your investment.

Proximity to Tokyo. Hakuba is only one hour by car from Nagano which is a 1.5 hour bullet train ride to Tokyo. The drive direct from Tokyo takes about 3.5 hours.

Ideal location. The Phoenix Hotel is set in a beautiful forest location in Wadano close to the Happo slopes yet only a 10 minute walk to the Happo Bus terminal and Happo-one village.

Master Builder. The Phoenix Chalets are constructed to the highest standards by Master Builders Fusion Homes, the most experienced and only truly bilingual building profes-sional in the region. Work with them to customize your Chalet to your individual taste and requirements.

Technology. High speed internet and cable TV system. Work from Hakuba if you must!

Access to The Phoenix Hotel. Five star dining at Mimi's Restaurant and Bar. In Chalet catering service and take out Deli menu. Hotel Japanese style bath and sauna facility. Shut-tle Bus transfers to the major mountain resorts.

For inquiries contact: [email protected]


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Own your private piece of Hakuba with a Phoenix Chalet built to your specifications.The Phoenix Hotel is pleased to present an exciting opportunity to participate in the growth and development of Hakuba, Japan's premier Alpine resort area. Since opening in 2008, The Phoenix Hotel has established a reputation for quality accommodation and the highest standard of gourmet dining available in the region. The hotel is situated in a beautiful natural forest setting in a prime location between Wadanomori and Happone villages. Phase 1 of The Phoenix Chalet development is complete with 8 chalets operating in both winter and summer with great success since 2008. The Hotel is now offering investors the chance to design and construct their own Phoenix Chalet for private use or as a fully managed investment utilizing the rental pool of The Phoenix Hotel.

Phoenix ChaletsFeatures Luxury Ski Chalets Free-Hold Ownership Year Round Income Bilingual Concierge Service Convenient Proximity to Tokyo Ideal Location in Wadanomori Quality Construction and Design Professional On-Site Management Built to Your Specifications Shuttle Bus Transfers to the Major Mountain Resorts Full Hotel Service from the Phoenix Hotel

some of the worlds best downhill and freeride mountain biking. It has lakes for water-sports and numerous cultural and culinary year round attractions. It also has a great property market and a great base village boasting a lot of ski-in/ski-out, property. It is a truly iconic year round destination.

Property investment by foreigners has been gaining momentum in Hakuba over the last 5 years, but underwent a bit of a hiccup when the magnitude 10 earthquake occurred just over 40km off Tohoku. The resultant tsunami claimed tens of thousands of lives and the over hyped media focused on Fukushimas nuclear power plant. Hakuba is a very long way in every sense from the disaster area, but under-standably the lead in to last season started with very poor bookings. Things were looking dire. But something happened. All of a sudden the bookings started to return, later than usual, but it ended up being a great season. Investment confi-dence returned as well.

any foreign investors have discovered how undervalued and

inexpensive property is to buy in Hakuba. Part of this is perception is due to their relatively strong home currency exchange rates, but when looking at yields from a pure investment perception it is true!

The year round potential of the area is obvious to every-one and there is a growing inbound multicultural foreign tourism market. Hakuba is being revitalized with the injection of this fresh new blood. Investment has come from all over the Pacific, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and domestic ex-pats. There is interest from China, Russia and Scandinavia.

A Singaporean Investor told us that it is his vision that Hakuba will become the Whistler of the East.

What does that mean? Whistler is no doubt famous as a Snowsports destination, but it has equal fame as home to

All YEAR ROUND RESORTM


We have seen many properties change hands, again mainly with foreign invest-ment which is very positive for the local economy and industry and we have seen a lot of new construction. Hakuba is back on track

The current investment theme revolves around construction, whether new, re-development or major renovation. Many of the derelict and tired old buildings have been demolished to make way for the future. A lot have been bought and given a huge dose of love with great results. The old Japanese style, winter focused base development is not serving the new guests as well as the diametrically opposed, modern, true year round ski area base developments like Snowmass, Whis-tler and Sun Valley. Ski-in/Ski-out property is and always will be the most desired accommodation and justifiably earns premium rental returns. This is something noticeably absent in Hakuba.

One of the latest developments to be on the table is Blue Lake Resort. Based around stunning Aokiko (Blue Tree Lake) one of the Japans clearest bodies of water, Blue Lake Prop-erty KK are releasing around 10 ski-in/ski-out, drive-in/drive-out development blocks in stage 1. Aokiko was a ski resort linking Kashimayari and Sanosaka via lifts and ski runs that ceased operating four years ago. Blue Lake Resort Lifts KK are planning to get those lifts turning again early in 2013.

The former ski resort and its large lakeside hotel are to receive a major redevelopment, rebadged as Blue Lake Resort. Eventually over 6 stages, there will be 70 large ski-in/ski-out, drive-in/drive-out blocks available. This will truly be the first resort development of its type in Japan and one would assume it will have a major beneficial impact on the industry in this country. With all 3 resorts once again linked there are 18 lifts covering a vast amount of terrain, one of the largest areas in the Valley.

The development plan takes advantage of all the current facilities which include lakeshore access, indoor pool, gym floor, 3 restaurants and then adds to this with new retail, restaurants, convenience stores and a proposed aquatic centre.

Summer ads lift accessed mountain biking, a zipline forest park, the existing water jump park and much more.

Maybe our Singaporean friend foresaw this development?

The future for the real estate market and the construction industry in Hakuba is looking bright. Have a chat to one of the local real estate agents or builders you will find in this maga-zine for more information and to get your opportunity to take advantage of the excellent pricing available on property in Hakuba.

Endorsed steep tree ridingAccess to 3 linked resortsGreat Kids ski and board centreProfessional Adult ski schoolBase building with indoor pool & GymNumerous great restaurantsMountain BikingSummer mountain and watersports

Limited remaining shares @ JPY100Freehold Ski-in/Ski-out land availableA true 4 seasons destination200 bed hotel and restaurantLocal culture with western comfortsSubstantial expansion plans to make the #1 destination in Hakuba

email [email protected] for information

Contact numbers:Sakura Real Estate 0261-72-6133Hakuba Real Estate 0261-75-3073


Sales Direct +81-(0)261-72-6133 +81-(0)80-1060-7070Property Listings www.hakuba-real-estate.comE-mail [email protected]

n recent years, a number of non-Japanese have bought properties in Hakuba for both private and commercial reasons.

Many buyers are amazed at the prices of land and buildings compared to other international ski areas.

We sat down with Tabito Hashimoto of Sakura Real Estate and discussed how the market is looking.

How long has Sakura Real Estate been in business?My father set up the company 28 years ago during the Japanese property bubble. My sister is called Sakura, which also means cherry blossom, he named it after her. I joined the company 10 years ago and became the Managing Director 6 years ago.

Why is the land and property prices so cheap compared to other countries?Land and building prices peaked in the mid 1990s, since then, prices have fallen significantly in both the cities and countryside of Japan. Hakubas prices are 30% less than they were during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

How is the market looking?To be honest the property market doesnt change all that much from year to year in Hakuba. There are always buyers who are looking for that special kind of place. Luckily we have that here under the beautiful Northern Alps.

Around six years ago we did start to get quite a lot of non-Japanese buying properties. This died off a little with the Global Financial Crisis and again followed by the earthquake and tsunami. We have recovered well and the Wadano area in particular has seen a lot of Hong Kong based capital coming in.

What type of properties do International clients buy?Basically there are two types of foreign buyers. One group are made up of mainly expats who live in Japan and in the surrounding East Asian coun-tries. They are looking to buy small chalets in an all year round mountain resort that is easily accessi-ble. You have to remember that Hakuba is only 3 1/2 hours from Tokyo.The other group are developers and investors that are looking for income producing properties close by to the ski areas. Many are buying Japanese style accommodations, reforming them to western standards and then running them as boutique lodges. A lot of the properties were built in the

Sakura Real Estate Sakura Real Estate Sakura Real Estate Sakura Real Estate Sakura Real Estate

Interview with

TABITO HASHIMOTO of I


property boom with quality materials and the only require-ment these days is a bit of tender love and care inside them.

We have seen a large influx of international and mixed race families moving to Hakuba. The local schools sometimes look more international than the international ones!

What is the legal side to buying property in Japan? Does Sakura Real Estate help with this?It is quite straightforward for foreign nationals to buy property in Japan, though there are of course legal procedures and documentation that are required. We as real estate agents can be held legally responsible for providing any false infor-mation, either intentionally or by accident, so we take careful consideration when we prepare the paperwork and make sure everything is as it should be.

With international clients buying property but being away for long periods do you help with property maintenance?This is a question that we are asked so often. A lot of overseas buyers are anxious about the snow clearing and other general maintenance that are sometimes required. We introduce reliable and trusted property management companies to help our clients.

Do you have a location where customers can meet with you and browse properties? We have an office located directly in front of the main Hakuba train station. Here you can come in and meet with our sales staff and browse available properties.


he spa at the Tokyu Hotel offers a variety of aroma massages in combination with their natural hot spring or onsen as they are called in Japan. Onsen water is

naturally high in minerals and can really help the body recover after an awesome day of riding on the mountain. It is the number one Japanese aprs ski activity. Modern, chic, and

spotlessly clean, the onsen at the Tokyu offers a very comfortable introduction to Japanese bathing. Its lovely outdoor rock pool is particularly impressive.

When you do visit the Tokyu Hotel for a massage make sure you give yourself an extra 15 minutes, for the staff to greet

TTThThTTTThThTThTTThhhhhThhhhhTTTThTTThhhhhhhhhhhhThhhhhhhhhThhThhThhooooouooo gh mountains are great to look at and fabulous to play on, they can give your leeleleegsgsgs aaandndndnd iniiinnnninninnninnddddeed your whole body a hard workout. After a long journey here or a big day on theeee eeeee slslopopopeseses,,trtrtrtrttreat yourself to one of Hakubas massage and spa treatments to revive your tired mmmusccleleess,s,

ease any lingering tension, and bring true relaxation to your holiday.With more options appearing every year, Hakuba Connect have selected a few to help you on

the road to spa heaven!

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you with a cup of herbal tea and discuss what to expect from the treatment you will receive.

Thai massage is more energizing and rigorous than other classic forms of massage. Thai massage is believed to have been developed by a physi-cian to Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago in India. The healing techniques of Thai massage embrace the four states of mind: loving kindness, compassion, joy, and balance. Thai massage has been called The Yoga Done For You for the therapeutic stretches and pressing applied to your feet, legs, body, arms, and head while you rest comfortably on the floor, fully clothed, except for bare feet. Thai massage has its roots in a spiritual tradition, and its purpose is to heal a person physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thai massage is available at Bangkok-ya, just around the corner from the cozy Thai restaurant. The restau-rant is run by fun-loving Kaz, an avid telemarker who spends the off seasons in his beloved Thailand. There are numerous massages available from traditional Thai massages and Thai

reflexology to hot stone healing. Various packages are avail-able, including special discounts for couples.

The Ridge Hotel located perfectly in lower Wadano offers an in-house massage includ-ing Ski or Snowboard Pro Recovery Massage. Thirty minutes in the morning prior to skiing or boarding is designed to make you ready for a day on the slopes by allowing tired limbs to be invigorated and get most out of those tired legs.

This is followed by another thirty minutes after skiing to help increase microcirculation and reduce the onset of muscle soreness.

For those not wanting to venture out of their hotel, can experience a

massage in the comfort of their own room. Tamamido Mobile Massage, led by the cheerful Miki, are dedicated winter sports enthusiasts who are usually found on the slopes in the morning. They have developed a deep understanding of the physical intensity of skiing and snowboarding and offer a wide range of treatments, including both Japanese and Thai massages along with Swedish oil aroma treatments.

ne of the most common discussions we have in the physio rooms over the years is about the Japanese health system and tourists are often concerned about

what they will do if they get injured in Japan. Many foreigners visiting or living in Japan are quite reluctant to present them-selves to a Japanese hospital, primarily due to concerns over the language, but also the cost and culture. The health system in Japan is quite socialist, whereby everyone contrib-utes to the national health-care scheme and, from approved providers, the government will cover 70% of the cost, with patients covering the other 30%. Private-health insurance is not uncommon, but only to cover the 30% gap and Japanese will rarely attend clinics that are not part of the national-health scheme, so most clinics work under the constraints of the health system, which can be quite onerous.

With the increasing number of medical procedures becoming available it can be difficult for a national health care scheme to cover the cost of providing these treatments to everyone. The Japanese mentality of gaman, defined as the ability to endure the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity, means there is often an acceptance that non-life threatening problems should just be endured, so the less than compre-hensive level of service works well with less demanding Japa-nese patients. This reminds me of a Japanese patient who told me that when she let out a moan during labor the nurse

scolded her with a quick Shame on you, so she had to keep quiet and gaman. Pain relief is often not a high priority and doses are lower than in western countries.

In Hakuba the ski patrol will assist you down the hill if you are injured and often assist you into a taxi or ambulance to take you to the local doctor, to Hakuba Physio or back to your hotel. The local doctor has an X-ray so if you are suspecting a fracture it is a good starting point. The nearest hospital is in Omachi which is approximately 30 minutes away, but unfortu-nately has set working hours and are closed at lunch time. In Hakuba Physio we often perform a quick triage assessment and decide if the patient is suitable for us or needs to go to a doctor. Most knee injuries can be treated without seeing a doctor and travel insurance companies are understanding so we can even arrange upgrades for flights home. Of course your best bet is not to get injured but rest assured if you do, you will be taken care of well.

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Bevan Colless i s the f ounder o f Tokyo Physio, Niseko Physio and Hakuba Physio. Bevan and his team o f physiotherapists are Australian trained and specialise in winter sports injuries.


Daiich Sato no-yu:Located close to Happo Information Center. One of the more popular Onsens.

Echoland Onsen:A great onsen to rejuvenate oneself before the apres ski starts off.

Mimizuku Onsen:A locals favorite. Wonderful views of the Hakuba peaks. A short walk from Hakuba Station.

Foot Onsen:Sit back and dangle your aching legs and feet in the free foot onsen. Dont forget to bring a towel.

Getting naked, hot and wet with a bunch of total strangers is perhaps the most quintessentially Japanese thing to do. There are several of onsen (natural thermal hot springs) scattered the length of the Hakuba Valley. The mineral content of almost every onsen in Hakuba is slightly different, and many onsens use the healing effects of their particular mineral mix in their marketing. A trip to Hakuba is not complete without a trip to the onsen.

Step 1Undress slowly and calmly, taking care to fold your clothes and place them neatly in the basket or locker provided.

Step 2Remove your towel from its packaging - it will probably be no bigger than a handkerchief. This towel is meant to hide your genitals, to rub a soapy foam on your body, or to cool your forehead in the hot bath.

Step 3Wash and rinse before you enter the bath - this is done while kneeling or seated on a small stool, and bowls are provided. This is one of the most important steps - bathing without first washing yourself is considered the height of rudeness. Scrub like youve never scrubbed before.

Step 4Enter the bath slowly and gradually, especially if you are in a large group. Upon entering the water, you may loudly exclaim your pleasure, and discuss its quality. You will then slowly relax as the hot bath washes over you.

Step 5After a dip, you can then exit the bath to scrub your body (or someone elses) once more, until you reach a boiled red or purple color. You may then re-enter the bath, and repeat.

INFORMATION CENTERS

The official Hakuba Information Center is a little out of the way opposite the ski jumping stadium. The Happo Infor-mation Center with a cafe and wifi is located in the center of Happo Village. It carries local tourist brochures and maps in your local language as well as having English speaking staff on hand to help out with various inquires.

Hakuba Tourism Commission 0261-72-7100Happo Information Center 0261-72-3066

GETTING AROUND

Genki-Go Night Shuttle BusGetting around in the evening is cheap and convenient with the Genki-go evening shuttle bus services. The buses circulate the resort from about 5pm to about 11pm The buses pass through all of the main accommodation cent-ers, supermarkets and aprs ski areas. There are two routes this year, blue and green. Make sure you know what time the bus leaves to go back to your accommoda-tion or it could be an expensive taxi ride or a long walk. The fare is 200 yen for both adults and children. Under

sixes are free. The service runs from December 22nd through to February 28th.

Check inside the free Hakuba Connect map for times and routes.

Ski Shuttle BusesSki Shuttle Buses are plentiful and service all resorts. For some routes you will need to change at the Happpo Information Center /Bus Terminal. Please remember which number or letter bus you catch in the morning so you can get the same one back to your accommodation. If in doubt check with your driver the Hotels name.

Check inside the free Hakuba Connect map for times and routes.

Car RentalIf you are confident about driving on the snow and ice then renting a car is great way of getting first tracks in the powder as well as doing day trips. All rental cars are 4wd and come fitted with snow tyres. Customers wishing to rent will need either a Japanese drivers license or an inter-national license and their passport. Without these items cars cannot be rented.


TaxisHakuba is served by local taxi companies and are usually parked up at the main Hakuba station. Expect to pay about 1,500 yen between Wadano and Echoland. Try to reserve a taxi at least 30 minutes before your departure. Ask your accommodation to book for you as most drivers do not speak English. Please note that the taxis stop running at about 1:00am. After that you are on your own. If there a few of you, then ski area transfers by taxi can be so much easier. Expect to pay about 5,000 yen from the main Hakuba Accommodation areas to Hakuba Cortina Ski Area

Alps Daichi Koutsu Service 0261-72-2221Hakuba Kanko Taxi 0261-72-2144

ONWARD TRAVEL

Nagano Snow ShuttleNagano Snow Shuttle (0261-75-5360) offer a reliable direct bus service with plenty of luggage and leg space to both Tokyo City and Narita Airport. Buses leave daily from Happo bus terminal at 10:30am and arrive Tokyo 15:00pm & Narita Airport 17:00. Bookings can be made online, through your accommodation, by phone or at the JHN travel office inside the Panorama Hotel. The one way trip is 9,900yen for adults and 7,500yen for children.


See the back page of this magazine for more details. For those wanting transfers to other ski resorts in Nagano then from this winter season Nagano Snow Shuttle will be doing inter-resort transfers between Hakuba, Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen.

The service runs from December 20th to March 10th.

Public TransportRegular bus services are available between Hakuba and Nagano City. They depart the Happo Information Center/Bus Terminal, Hakuba main train station and on the main road in front of Goryus, Kamishiro train Station. Connections to Shinkansen trains can be made in Nagano City.

One way fare is 1500yenCheck inside the free Hakuba Connect map for times.

Luggage Delivery ServiceYour luggage can be delivered in advance between the airports and your hotel in Hakuba. It usually takes two days. Your hotel should be able to arrange this for you. Expect to pay about 2,000yen per luggage.

MEDICAL SERVICES

ClinicHakuba doesnt have a hospital, the nearest is Omachi, which is about 30 minutes away.

Most on mountain ski accident patients are taken to Shin-tani Clinic. (0261-75-4177) English speaking staff are on hand to help out. Credit cards are accepted. For more serious cases, Shintani Clinic will arrange ambulance services to nearby hospitals.

PharmacyBasic medicine, headache & muscle pain relief can be bought over the counter at Ohta Pharmacy. The staff speak English and have medical dictionaries to help you find the most suitable medicine.

COMMUNICATIONS

InternetThese days most hotels and lodges will have a computer terminal or wireless network.


Rental computer terminals can be found in Sanroku Tours near Hakuba Station and Happo Information Center. Wire-less hotspots can be found all around most notably in cafes.

TelephonesCell phones need to be 3G to work in Japan. Domestic calls can be made from the green public phones. International calls can be made from the grey ones.

MoneyATMs which take international cards are only available at post offices and the two 7-11s. One 7/11 is located on Olympic Road in Misorano and the other on route 148 near to Goryu intersection. 7-11s are 24 hours.

Post OfficesThere are two post offices in Hakuba, one is located near to Hakuba Train Station (MAP F-8) and the other near to Kamishiro Train Station (MAP C-2). Both have international ATMs that accept most credit cards. ATM Operating Hours are 9am - 7pm.

SupermarketsThere are three supermarkets in Hakuba. Max Value formerly known as Jusco is the largest. Here you can find groceries, clothing, winter boots, a bakery, local produce and souvenirs. Also located inside is a popular 100 yen store where you can pick up great Japanese knick-knacks.


JAPANESE FOR VISITORS

GreetingsGood Morning Ohayo gozaimasuHello/ Good Afternoon KonnichiwaGood Evening KonbanwaGood Night Oyasumi nasaiBye/ Goodbye Mata/ SayonaraExcuse Me SumimasenThank-you ArigatoPlease- giving DozoPlease- asking KudasaiIm sorry Gomen nasaiHow are you? Genki desu-ka?

Out & AboutWhere is. ..wa doko desu ka?I cant speak Japanese. Nihongo wa dekimasenDo you speak English? Eigo wo hanasemasu ka? Do you have? .arimasu ka?How much is it? Ikura desu ka?Does this bus go to XXX? Kono basu wa XXX ni ikmasu ka?

Aprs SkiTwo beers please Biru futatsu kudasaiDo you come here often? Yoku koko ni kimasu ka? Cheers KanpaiThat was great! (after meal) Gochiso sama deshita

fantastic way to spend a rest day off the ski slopes of Hakuba and experience more of what the Nagano region has to offer is to take the Snow Monkey Tour. It

takes about a 2 hour bus ride to get to the monkey park. Along the way, your guides will engage you with interesting facts about the Nagano area and also have a few funny stories to tell.

The highlight of the tour is seeing the Japanese Macaque monkeys that inhabit the Jigokudani Hells Valley Monkey Park and enjoy the hot spring that has been created especially for them. The scenic walk through the forest to this area takes about 20 minutes. Make sure you rug up and wear your ski jacket and warm boots as hell is a very cold place in this instance! Youll understand why the monkeys are so keen to soak in the hot onsen.

Take your camera as youll be amazed at how closely you can observe the monkeys. They really are remarkable to watch and photogenic! Its easy to get caught up watching them and it can be hard to remember to get back to the bus in time for the drive to the 250 year old Musuichi Sake Brewery where youll be having lunch. The brewery is located in the town of Obuse which has a rich cultural and artistic history. This brewery one of the few that still uses traditional Oke barrels to ferment the Sake. Youll want to buy a bottle of Sake just for the way theyre beauti-fully decanted. After youve enjoyed a delicious lunch with rice cooked in an old-fashioned wood-burning oven and a taste of the Sake, you can visit the museum of the art works of the famous Japanese artist Hokusai or look around the quaint shops in the town.

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The final stop of the day takes you to the Zenkoji Buddhist Temple in Nagano City. The temple was built in the 7th century and is said to house the first Buddha statue brought to Japan. The Hibitsu which is the secret Buddha is so precious that its hidden from the public but a replica is shown every 6 years. The next viewing will be in 2015 and will attract millions of pilgrims. In the meantime, for a small donation, you can try your luck at finding the key to paradise which is attached to the wall of a completely dark corridor under the temples prayer chamber. The temple also contains a statue of Binzuru, a physician who was said to be Buddhas follower. Rubbing the statue is said to cure you of your aches and pains the spot you rub should correspond to the area that needs healing. A perfect way to finish off the day and ensure that youre primed for your next big day on the mountain! Youll be back in Hakuba in time for dinner and an early night if you want to make first tracks the next day.

Tours to see the snowmonkeys can be booked by:Ski Japan Holidays (0261-72-6663),

Sanuroku Tours (0261-72-6900),Joyful Day Tours (0261-75-5155),


NOZAWA ONSEN FIRE FESTIVALhe first Nozawa Onsen fire festival began in 1863 as a means of

praying for a plentiful harvest, health and good luck in the coming year. It is one of the three grandest fire festivals in Japan and the only of the three to be held in deep mid winter. Sometimes this can cause a problem.

When heavy snow falls during the preceding days and on the day itself, it can render the firewood wet and very difficult to be lit. On the day of the festival the flame is lit by the Kono family at Terayu Onsen and then brought down to the festival site. The battles start at 8.30pm with the torch bearers attacking the pavilion. The towns 25 year olds have to fight off these and defend the lower part. The fighting is intense and dangerous for all those involved. But in the end, inevitably, the torch bearers win and the whole pavilion goes up in flames.

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Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival is on January 15th.Tours can be booked by:

Ski Japan Holidays (0261-72-6663)Joyful Day Tours (0261-75-5155)

or many winter landscapes and minus temperatures are not everyday fare, and getting acclimatized to the snow here in Hakuba when they arrive takes a bit of getting used to. The kids however usually take to it like fish to water

and are off playing in the snow within minutes. One thing that many discover is that they can do snowshoeing here, and it turns out that it is something that everyone can do as a family. Many visitors adopt doing a night snowshoe tour on one of their free evenings in town.

This entails getting the right boots and sizing up snowshoes and then heading off with guides who regularly point out animal tracks in the snow along the way. After a while sit down on a handmade snow-couch and table and tuck into the yummy dessert the guides prepare. Chocolate fondue with fruits, accompanied by hot spiced wine!

Probably the most fun is on the return leg, running and jumping back down the hill, tripping over your snowshoes and falling face first into the soft snow! It is one of the many Japan trip highlights that visitors can take back home with them.If you are interested in snowshoe tours, contact the guys at Evergreen.

X- COUNTRYSKIING

efinitely the vertical world of alpine skiing and snowboarding is the major draw in Hakuba,

however cross-country skiing has its own special appeal and its easy accessi-bility continue to make it a great winter activity for anyone. Cross-country skiing is unquestionably the more traditional way to ski. In days gone by, it was for getting from point A to point B, as you can ski pretty much anywhere there is snow. It is also the cheaper of the two. Once you have your skis, you are free to explore around at your own pace enjoy the fresh mountain air, the solitude, the quiet snowy forests and friendly cama-raderie of fellow skiers. The systems of man-made ski trails in the Hakuba area usually get going once there is a good base of snow to work with and they can drive the groomers on the courses to set the tracks. Since the 1998 Olympic Nordic events were hosted at the Snow Harp Stadium they maintain the trails in winter. Iwatake cross-country ski trail system is another course in the Hakuba area. To make the most of your time and to experience the best sights and hidden gems of the Hakuba area, it is recom-mended to sign up for a tour with Evergreens cross-country guides. The guides are safe and professional and will give you tips on your skiing technique on the trails, teaching you about the local wildlife and showing you the beauty of the winter mountains youll have some great photos as well as some wonderful winter holiday memories.

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EVENING SNOWSHOEING

SNOW MOBILINGhe easiest way to join the world of roopers is hook up with Lion Adventures and go on one of their snowmobile

tours. Most tours start with the guides getting you to do a few figures of eight at the bottom of the hill. The progression then continues onto some laps of groomed cat tracks on the mountain. Once youre all fit and able, its time to hit the off piste! Imagine doing that on your first morning skiing. Youd be half buried within seconds! Once off the trails and in powder, the snowmobiles ride like a snowboard or fat skis, all mellow and surfy. As you get the feel of how to ride a sled, you can start to attack more terrain. www.hakuba.lion-adventure.com

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BEST SHOT IN HAKUBAf you have ever wanted to feel and touch a pistol, machine gun or sniper rifle then you are in luck. Top Target located in Echoland has a wide selection of

modern replica weapons. The weapons or B.B guns fire small plastic pellets, giving you the experience and fun of shooting without the danger. They have a selection of your Hollywood favorites including the Desert Eagle as seen in the Predator movies.

The sniper rifles come with a scope and rests, allowing you to pause for a breath, take aim and hit the target with superior accuracy. The range is a full nine meters which is the usual length for BB Gun firing competitions. Challenge your friends to be the best shot in Hakuba.

Another favorite is the M4 Assault Rifle- one of the most popular weapons and it can fire single or semi-automatic pellets.

Children are welcome in Top Target and can fire the weapons though we recommend that they do come with an adult.

Top Target is also a good place to hang out with friends and shoot some pool at one of the two quality pool tables or try your hand at darts with the electronic darts board. You can be top target with the dart as well as the guns.

A well stocked caf & bar offers a variety of alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, hot drinks, snacks and light bites. Even if youre not into guns there is free wifi to catch up on Facebook and the news from back home.

Downstairs is home to Hakubas largest souvenir shop Weather Report that has over 7,000 different types of souvenirs on sale!

Why brag about your kill streaks on a computer when you can go to Top Target, test your skills for real and take home a target sheet to prove it right here in Hakuba.

Top Target is located on the main Echoland Street. Genki-go Bus Stop No.17

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he journey begins at any one station though we recom-mend commencing at either Nagano, Matsumoto or of course Hakuba. Within minutes of the train pulling away

from the station you will be in open valleys with snow laden trees giving way to panoramic views of towering mountains and lakes frozen from the cold breath of winter.

You view all this through large windows while you are nestled into your warm seat. Mounted digital cameras on the front of the train provide a drivers eye view on flat screen monitors installed in the carriages.

If you are coming from Nagano or Matsumoto to Hakuba you will have the added treat of disembarking from the train and enjoying a guided tour to the impressive Hotaka Shrine, followed by a cultural performance onboard the train. A good selection of refreshments are offered throughout the trip.

The train timetable is every Saturday and Sunday (except Jan 19 & 20 and Feb 16 & 17) as well as selected other dates throughout the winter season. You can book at any manned JR train station including Hakuba. JR Rail pass holders can ride using their passes.

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heres no better way to celebrate a great day of skiing or riding than

with a few well earned aprs ski drinks with your friends. Once the chairlifts shut down for the day its time to party from aprs ski time to the early hours in one or many of the resorts famous bars or clubs.

Hakuba likes to party! After a large powder dump, when people trade stories of the spills or the amazing line they skied down, to the celebration of a major life milestone which could include getting through the mogul field unscathed at Kurobishi on Happo-one! But where to celebrate that in terms of everyones different atmosphere, taste, style and of course budget. Well, Hakuba has such a wide variety of bars and clubs to suit everyones preference.

The Beach Bar in the mountains! Fun livelybar. Will the staff be wearing bikinis this year?

Tracks Barin Goryu.Now firmlyestablished asthe forefrontof Goryusnightlife. Laststop on Goryusfamous pubcrawl.

nightlife. Lastfstop on Goryusfamous pubffcrawl.

The Pub isHUGE. A realBritish style pubin the heart ofWadano.

B-Line. Retro bar from the 80s in Echoland. Chillout and listen to the sounds of Michael Jackson whileshooting a few balls on the pool table.

variety of bars and clubs to suit everyones preference.

out and listen to the sounds of Michael shooting a few balls on the pool table. ff

The Lodge at the Tokyu Hotel. A stylish and contemporarylounge bar with fireplace, cocktails and champagne.

Bar Plus 1 across the road from HakubaStation has Karaoke rooms that will haveyou singing into the early hours.

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In fact it would be hard to visit all of the Hakuba nightlife during your stay here; though it would be a lot of fun trying.

Want a place that is just off the mountain that you can enjoy a happy hour drink or two in ski boots? Hakubas got that!

Looking for an upscale lounge to enjoy a signature cocktail or a glass or two of champagne? Hakuba has that! Enjoy listening to live music or just having a chat with one of the local characters in town.

Got that too!

Love to dance to the early hours to the latest sounds.

Easy peezy.

From the most casual pub frequented by locals to a classy wine bar, Hakuba has all the bases covered.

Penke Bar & Bistro in upper Wadano. A funparty atmosphere with plenty of events going on during winter. Imported cricket sets forsnow cricket.

Bike Bar great atmosphere withlive music throughout the season.


This winter season there are a quite a few new wine bars, pubs, lounges and clubs opening in the resort that the staff at Hakuba Connect are looking forward to doing some serious reconnaissance work, sampling the delights that each new one has to offer.

See you in the bar.

Bar Cross in Happo village. Basementbar with a great vibe. Run by back country guides. This is where you will find outwhere the best powder stashes are.


he Mominoki Complex close by to the Wadano Intersection is a mini-aprs ski center for everyone to enjoy.

Adjacent to the Mominoki Hotel is the Wadano Visitor Center. This is a gift shop that has more than just souvenirs it also sells high quality ski wear and accessories. Also located in the Center is Three Peaks ski rentals, which hires out some of the best ski and snowboard gear in the whole of Hakuba.

In The Pub you will find the Ogino Steak House & Bar which offers premium Japanese Wagyu beef and local wild game, including culinary delights such as venison and wild duck.

For a traditional style Japanese pub head into the Iazakaya Kaz dining room. They have a wide range of izakaya foods as well as skiers favorites, sushi and sashimi.

Lots of excellent events are held at The Pub throughout the winter season and they even have a free night time shuttle bus for pick-ups and drop-offs to beat the cold winter nights.

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Q. Uncle Stevens is a great name, how did it come about?

A. Previously my friend Steven opened a Mexican restaurant in Osaka called Uncle Stevens. The name proved very popular so I decided to use it when I opened 16 years ago.

Q. You dont look Mexican.

A. No, of course not! But I love all things Mexican and take a trip there every year to sample new food and drinks.

Q. There are many hungry skiers and snowboarders tell us your specialty dish.

A. There all special!! But I highly recommend our jalapeno quesadillas as well as our original chimichanga.

Q. A Mexican restaurant is not only about the food is it?

A. Thats right! It is also about the atmosphere and of course the drinks. At Uncle Stevens we have Happy Hour from 3.00 to 5:30 where customers have a choice of Mexican or Japanese beers for only 500yen. We have a large range of tequilas; in fact I am a tequila sommelier, so I know how to make the perfect margarita.

or our purposes, Happo Village refers to the area from the Happo intersection with the newly-extended Lawson convenience store, past the Bus Station/ Tourist Information Center, and up through the maze of

hotels, bars, and souvenir shops toward the Happo Gondola. Along with the rental shops, bars and restaurants, youll find a couple of onsens, as well as the free foot onsen by the bus station itself.

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Have a fun night out Japanese style. When somebody says going to"Hashi-go" (ladder) going out for a night in Japan, it means intendingto frequent a few different establishments not just one. In the heart of Happo, 3 local bars have got together to introduce Happo Hashi-go. Havetwo or more drinks in each of the participating bars over the course of thesame evening and get the ladder card stamped in each bar in any order andyou qualify for a free drink. Meet some of the colorful Hakuba locals and geta feel of Japan off the slopes as well. Come and get on the Happo ladder andsee where it takes you.

Hashi-go participating bars: The Yohei Club, Jacks Bar, The Beach Bar.

or a nice change from the regular ski hill fare found on the resort, why not drop into Roots Cafe for some deliciously unique food & drink in a relaxing lounge vibe. Roots Cafe's chefs have a created a wholesome choice of fresh and nutricious meals based entirely on ethnic vegetarian cuisine. Chill or hangout while enjoying coffee, or sample their

wide range of world teas, smoothies or local organic beers and wines. Besides having yummy veggie soups, appetizers and mains, their concept is to use all natural and organic products to promote a healthy, vital body and lifestyle.

On every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, from January March Roots Cafe will be hosting an Avalanche Night which is open to everyone. The evening is an opportunity to learn about avalanches from professional lecturers over drinks in a casual atmosphere.

Open early for breakfast for skiers needing a boost in the morning and into the evening for aprs ski, Roots is also a great spot to warm up mid-runs as they are located right at the base of the Kokusai Lift on Happo-One Resort. So after an exciting day on the slopes, why not quench your thirst and quell your hunger with a large selection of organic beverages and appetizers at the best slope-side cafe in town.

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choland is Hakubas entertainment hub. Situated between the Happo and Hakuba 47 ski areas, youll find a wide selection of restaurants and bars on the

main Echoland Street, with numerous hotels and lodges located on the roads branching off on both sides. Dining choices include Japanese Izakaya-style pub food, chanko nabe, Mexican, steak, and good ol pub grub. All budgets are catered for. You can eat at one of our favorites, Sounds Like Caf, for under 1000 yen! Echoland is definitely the best place in Hakuba to kick back and have fun after spending a day on the slopes.

E isorano is the quiet wooded area to the south of Echoland within easy walking distance. It is home to many lodges and has shuttle bus access to the resorts. A Seven-Eleven convenience store with ATM access has been built at the intersection with the Olympic Road.

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Non-Jae is a large building.

Yes, Non-Jae is the largest Japanese style pub or izakaya here in Hakuba.

What is the difference between say a British Pub and an Izakaya?

Well, in a British pub you usually go for the drinking but in a izakaya you enjoy eating and drinking. Its the best of both worlds.

Some visitors are not used to Japanese style izakaya dining?

For them we recommend a set menu which starts from 2,100yen. This makes ordering easy. After a couple of visits the customers start ordering from the a la carte menu. Fresh local Shinshu salmon are popular with our non-Japanese guests.

What is a special feature of Non-Jae?

Customers can come in from the cold outside and relax in front of our roaring log fire.

I see Genghis Khan on your menu?

Yes, Genghis Kan is named after the Mongolian leader. The skillet is dome shaped to represent the soldiers helmet. The grilled lamb dish is popular in winter.

After dining what do

Documents

Hakuba Connect Winter 2013