Hakuba Connect Winter 2014

DECEMBER21-22 DECEMBER

XMAS @ HAKUBA GORYUFind Santa and engjoy choco fondu at Hakuba night of fireworks & food.

31 DECEMBER

NEW YEAR COUNTDOWNAt Happo, Goryu and Iwatake. Welcome 2014!!

JANUARY11-13 JANUARY

Gelande Jack @ 47Anime characters and costume riders at Hakuba 47.

15 JANUARY

Nozawa Fire FestivalBuses leave Hakuba in the early evening and return late at night.

18 JANUARY

Minekata Fire EventFire torch skiing and sake at Minekata Ski Area.

FEBRUARY1,8,15,22 FEBRUARY

Omachi Snow FestivalTake the Omachi-go bus to Omachi every Saturday in February for taiko drums, fireworks and igloos.

The Hakuba ski jump will be lit up with thousands of candles. Enjoy fireworks.

15 FEBRUARY

Happo Fire FestivalHappo-one Nakiayama slopes is the place to be for an evening of fun.

22 FEBRUARY

Tsugaike Kogen FestivalSnow and Ultra Thanksgiving festival at Tsugaike Kogen.

MARCH1 MARCH

Red Bull in HakubaFreestyle Snowboard contest at the Snow Jump Stadium

1 FEBRUARY

Kashimayari FireworksParticipate in the annual Kashimayari. Take the Omachi-Go Bus.

7-15 FEBRUARY

Yuki-koi FestivalWe Love Snow Festival.

7 FEBRUARY

Iwatake Thanks FestivalJapanese taiko drummers, raes and pounding mochi!

8 FEBRUARY

Happy Valentine NightChocolate fondu at fireworks at Hakuba Goryu from 6pm.

9 FEBRUARY

Snow Illuminations

WHATS HAPPENING

1 MARCH

Snow SplashDont miss the party of the year at The Pub in Wadano.

6-7 MARCH

Riesen Slalom68th Annual downhill race on Happo-one. Dare you enter?

8-9 MARCH

Snow Ball FightThe First annual Hakuba snowball fight competition. At Happo-one.

8 MARCH

Goryu Snow FestivalFireworks, Japanese drums, torch lit skiing. A great event.

www.hakubaconnect.com 13

Come and pick up your in resort guide at anytime at the Liquid Snow Tours office next door to the Hakuba Springs Hotel

FULL RANGE OF INRESORT SERVICES

Every visitor to Hakuba is welcome to join us for a weekly welcome event and informationsession at Jack's bar every Tuesday between 5 and 6pm + Apres house music evenings at the Marillen Hotel and Restaurant everyWednesday and Saturday.

Call or email us for information and bookings.+ 81 (0) 261 75 50 33, [email protected]

www.ski-resorts-japan.comFollow us on Facebook for daily snow and event

updates + more www.facebook.com/liquidsnowtours

EXCLUSIVE TO LIQUID CUSTOMERS:- Bus and train station pick up/drop off- Restaurant/bar shuttles to certain venues- Day tour bookings- Ski hire and lesson bookings- Tokyo accommodation and transfer bookings- Onsen shuttles from a range of hotels- Arrange packages to Nozawa Onsen, Myoko Kogen and Shiga Kogen

Retail Therapy

First Snow in Japan


Even though your vacation is short, dont you wish your kids could stay longer on the slopes? Well now they can. My First Snow in Japan is aimed at kids from 10 to 17 and is based in a new refurbished lodge on the slopes of Iimori at Hakuba Goryu. This ski in-ski out location adjacent to beginner and intermediate slopes will get the kids skiing like champi-ons in no time at all. Different groups from school trips to individuals with everything

taken care of by the First Snow in Japans rendly staff which includes airport to Hakuba transportation. Special evenings are planned such as ninja disguise, kimono dress up and sushi making. Children already in the resort are welcome to join the camp, and make new everlasting friends. More details can be found online at:

http://myrstsnowinjapan.weebly.com/

For those of us who enjoy shopping as much being on the snow, there are some exciting new developments to report this season in Hakuba. While Hakuba has always had a range of gear shops, including the old favourites such as Yamatoya, the village has been somewhat lacking the retail experience that international guests are accustomed to when they visit a ski resort. This season should see that change for the better!

A great addition to the retail menu is a new ski specialty retailer called Three Peaks. Three Peaks is based in the Springs Hotel arcade in the center of Happo village. They offer all the latest skis from Liberty, the Colorado based free-ski brand known for its range of backcountry and powder skis made from bamboo. Demo skis are available for those who want to try before they buy. Three Peaks also carries an extensive range of mens, womens and kids ski wear from Obemeyer, the world famous ski wear brand also from Colorado. They also stock big sizes for those struggling to nd gear that ts in Japan and also a great range of eeces, inners and other essential winter items.

www.hakubaconnect.com30

apanese people love kitsch. Whether its frilly maids in Akihabara, grown women spending all of their holidays at Tokyo Disneyland, Pokemon or Hello Kitty painted fteen feet high on the body of an airliner, nothing can be too

kawaii or cute. Such concept just does not exist.

A new form of kawaii has developed in recent years in the shape of Yuru Kyara, literally loose characters. Yuru Kyara are mascot characters who promote businesses, local areas, or regional produce. Their looseness lies in the quirkiness that comes from the things they are trying to promote, which can be anything from towns to leeks to towels, and in their naivety and amateurishness compared to professional creations like Mickey Mouse and Miffy. The boom in mascot characters has been led by regional communities whose Yura Kyara often incorporate the areas special product, culture, or history. The only rule is that the cuter, the better! Such mascots try to build a brand that a town can market through souvenirs like stationery, toys, and boxes of cookies. Life-size mascots also make appearances at events and festivals.

Some of the more famous characters have become household names, rivaling Japanese television and sport stars in popularity. There are an estimated 1,000 mascots throughout Japan and a competition called the Yuru Kyara Grand Prix is held annually to select the most popular. King of the Yuru Kyara is Kumamon, a black bear with a stunned smile who represents the Kyushu town of Kumamoto. Despite being a cartoon, Kumamon is active on social media and has nearly 300,000 followers on Twitter. He has also made overseas trips promoting tourism to Japan.

Not to be out-done, here in the Hakuba Valley the villages of Hakuba


and Otari have taken the plunge and created their own characters, Victoire Cheval Blanc Murao 3rd and Tari Tari. Please take a look and make the big decision, which one is the most kawaii?

Hakubas character, Victoire Cheval Blanc Murao 3rd, was born in September 2012. He was designed in a competition by a local eight-year-old and is a white horse reecting the well-known Chinese characters in Hakubas name. His name was the winner in a further competition. The rst part is Victory White Horse in French, Murao is a Japanese name that means village boy, and the 3rd is, well we dont really know! Maybe its a takeoff from the popular Japanese anime Lupin the 3rd. Though suitably cosmopolitan, his full name is a bit of a mouthful, so locals have taken to calling him simply Murao. Murao featured as part of Hakubas 100th anniversary as a ski town last year. Hes a procient skier, but has also started

snowboarding. He once sat in an onsen for over two hours. He realized he was scared of heights when he visited the observa-tion deck of the Hakuba Jump Stadium. One day, he is looking forward to becoming Hakuba mayor.

Otaris character, Tari Tari, or more affectionately Tari Tari Kun is a woodpecker. He was also designed by a local boy and named by a local girl. Woodpeckers are found, or should we say

heard, throughout the Hakuba Valley. Tari Tari Kun changes his color with the seasons. In spring, he is pink to match the cherry blossoms. In summer, known here as the green season, he becomes light green. Like the leaves, he changes to orange in autumn, and then becomes blue in winter. I dont think we would be able to see him if he were white.

In winter, Tari Tari Kun sports a pair of goggles and is a great snowboarder. He can ski too, and last year ski-jumped through a ring of re at the Tsugaike Fire Festival. After a hard day on the mountain, Tari Tari Kun likes nothing better than to relax in an onsen and then enjoy a drink of his favorite Japanese sake. Being a woodpecker, Tari Tari Kun also enjoys tweeting (in Japanese) on Twitter at @taritariotari.

Keep your eyes open and you may see Murao and Tari Tari Kun on the slopes or out and about in town.

OUT OF BOUNDSEXPLORE THE BACKCOUNTRY SAFELY


rental option in the upper Wadano area for all local visitors. With attentive service, excellent equipment and competitive prices Koharu are delighted to be able to make such a genuine recommendation to their guests.

In-house Videographer:During the peak season months Koahru are excited to present to their guests their very own in-house videographer who will be available for private hire. Guests will have the opportunity to take home a personalized mini lm from which to remember their Hakuba holiday. We all know how hard it is to capture those holiday highlights, so they are very excited to be able to offer this service option and hope it will provide happy memories for years to come. Restaurant:As with any trip to a foreign country, one of the big boxes to tick is the chance to sample some of the local cuisine. The onsite restaurant open throughout the season will be providing visitors with this opportunity. With a strong focus on Nagano produce including Hakuba pork customers will be presented

with a menu that combines the best of Japanese food and delicious local ingredients with a Western twist. In such a prime location near the slopes, the afternoon tea service will allow for a chance to refuel after a day on the mountain perhaps with a local Sake or beer as well!

Hakuba:With the number of international ski resorts developing these days, as a new property Hakuba Connect asked why Hakuba?Abundant snowfall, incredible skiing terrain and slopes for all levels in the midst of a friendly, welcoming and humble Japanese community, the winters speak for themselves. But as a year round operation, here at Koharu Resort Hotel we wanted more and, as we soon found out, Hakuba does not fail to deliver. The spring, summer and autumn seasons each have their own unique charms and are, for many locals, a favored time of the year.

As the winter air warms the beautiful Japanese cherry blossoms burst into life and the winter slopes transform as wild mountain owers appear from beneath the snow. Spring turns


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

Misorano

Echoland


The Largest Izakayain Hakuba

Wide selection ofgreat food

Party and Karaokerooms are available

Good Variety ofJapanese Sake


Misorano

Echoland

Open everyday to end of Februarythen closed on Tues/Wed

GORYU

AREA



SKIAREADINING

The prettiest ski area in the resort

Hakuba Sanosaka

On the south border between Hakuba and neighbouring

Omachi, Sanosaka is a small family resort with more than


initially meets the eye. In addition to the slope visible on approaching the resort, a further two areas are tucked away higher up. Youd never think the resort had 450m of vertical or five lifts.

The emphasis is on beginners with a number of a wide smooth pistes and none of the trac that can be found at Happo and Goryu. The resort overlooks the magnificent Lake Aoki and spectacular views can be enjoyed from the higher slopes. A large jump is normally built near the resort base, and further up a number of beginner-level jumps, boxes and rails provide an easy and pressure-free intro- duction to freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

Sanosaka also has SAJ-certified mogul runs, but the bumps are kept o to the side for those who want to ride them.

For parents, Sanosaka has an adult and child ski all day for 5,500 yen with a 2,000 yen

lunch coupon and a rental discount

thrown in. The resorts restau-

rants have also updated their menus, so you can now make your own pizza or have a Thai curry, or bakery

goodies. For those with

toddlers, there is a kids area at the

base and a day room where you can have some

fun inside away from the cold. People who drive up to Hakuba overnight should note that Sanosaka oers a full breakfast buet from 7:30am.

Still a good option if you want to avoid the weekend crowds at the larger resorts. or simply want a quiet day with dier-ent scenery. When high winds have stopped operation at the larger resorts, the more sheltered lifts at Sanosaka will often stay open, meaning you dont have to miss a day.

Lifts 5Courses 10Elevation 460mBeginner 40

Intermediate 40

Advanced 20

Longest course 2100m

www.sanosaka.com0261-75-2452

OrientationHakuba 47 the name

comes from four seasons, seven days

a week has a single base area with a large, free car park. From here, the d i s t i n c t i v e d a r k - g r e e n gondola takes

you on a short journey alongside

the kickers and the half-pipe to

midmountain. A short run to skiers right takes

you to the quad lift, Line C and from there, its a final

The linked resorts of Hakuba 47 and Goryu form Hakubas most popular hill in terms of visitor numbers. Both resorts can be ridden using the same lift ticket. Hakuba 47 is Hakubas newest resort and a young, snowboarder-friendly vibe emanates from its excel-lent terrain park. At the top, it links to Goryu, named after the four diamonds-in-a-diamond peak of the majestic

Mt. Goryu in the distance. Goryu the resort has great views, wide intermediate slopes, and plenty of choice for beginners. With numerous events throughout the season and lots of customer-friendly touches (yes, cowgirls!), we think youll see why these resorts have grown in relative popularity even as the Japa-nese population as a whole has moved away from skiing.

Hakuba 47 & Hakuba GoryuBig Mountain Skiing

Lifts 19Courses 23Elevation 926mBeginner 35Intermediate 40Advanced 25

http://goryu47.comGoryu 0261-75-2101Iimori 0261-75-2636Hakuba 47 0261-75-3533

Longest course:Hakuba Goryu 5000mHakuba 47 6400m


sized park for freestlyers and shred fashioners to strut their stu. The parks number one feature is the half pipe, which can get a little corwded and very colorful on the weekends.

Norikura shares Cortinas mighty snowfall and extends for a very respectable 600 meters of vertical up the ridge it shares with Cortina. A number of shorter lifts are also aligned along the wide

foothills. Theres a great choice for beginners and those who may not have ridden fresh soft snow before. Hakuba Norikura is a week-end warrior kind of place,

thus making the combination of

lots of space, lots of snow,

and the lack of crowds that can be found at the l a r g e r r e s o r t s providing

a great stage for

building up confidence.

Many visitors to Hakuba do not give Norikura much of a thought, but we think it could be the valleys most underrated resort. When combined with Cortina, it certainly oers a lot of dierent options.

Lifts 10Courses 14Elevation 600m

Beginner 30Intermediate 50

Advanced 20


www.hakubanorikura.jp0261-82-3187


Hakuba Norikura is linked to its neighbouring resort, Hakuba Cortina, which can be ridden using the same pass if you buy the combined resort ticket. We think this is a must

as it doubles the terrain that you can enjoy. Make sure you ask for the combined ticket when purchasing.

Hakuba Norikura has a good

Hakuba NorikuraA great day out


Hakuba CortinaSteep, deep & one big hotel

At the north end of the valley, Hakuba Cortina Ski resort rises behind the imposing Bavarian-style Green Plaza Hotel with its criss-crossed black beamwork and large red roof. You will never lose your bearings while skiing here!

As the closest resort to the sea, Cortina regularly records the highest amount of snowfall in the valley. It doesnt just snow at Cortina, it dumps! When Happo-One and Goryu up the valley will report 20cm of fresh snow, Cortina will probably receive about 50cm!

Not content with having the valleys largest hotel and heaviest snowfall, Cortina is also famous for having the steepest pistes, one of which averages 36 degrees and touches 42 degrees in places. Above the hotel itself extends a long central beginner run. However, steep slopes rise to encircle this run, making the upper part essentially a huge bowl. This is why you may have heard about the resort in hushed tones.

The resort operates a self-responsibility code with

resort visitors riding the trees at their own risk. At Hakuba Connect, we applaud this progressive approach, we love riding their terrain, and we urge all readers to respect the few rules they have. If they mark an area as out-of-bounds or closed, it will be for a reason.

For the more adventurous Cortina also has three gates to access the backcountry, though standard backcountry rules apply. For lunch, the mountain has five restaurants to choose from. Warabi dishes up large helpings to satisfy the hungriest of skiers and riders. Best known is the hotels ground floor restaurant where they give you a pizza base and let you pile on the toppings yourself to make your very own pizza. Kids will love it.

Lifts 7Courses 16Elevation 530mBeginner 40

Intermediate 30

Advanced 30


www.hakubacortina.jp0261-82-2236

s the snow slowly recedes to higher altitude and the winter weather changes to spring sunshine, the cherry blossoms come out, the rivers ow 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 Evergreen

Come and Enjoy HFor those of you who love Hakuba in the w

needs to be seen to be believed.


A

0261-72-3001

Outdoor Centre, Lion Adventure and Sweet riders which specialise in Mountain biking.

Of course you could also take it easier by just enjoy the tower-ing alps, take a leisurely stroll or cycle around town, work on your photography skills or even just catch up on a book or two.With ights to Japan being as cheap as they have ever been, Hakuba is the perfect place for your adventure holiday and once you are here Hakuba off ers a genuine adventure holidayexperience at the right price.

We look forward to seeing you in Hakuba over the warmer months to try your hand at some of the great adventures offer.

Hakuba in Summernter there is another side to Hakuba whichhe locals call it the Green Season.


Hakuba Tourism was formed in June 2005 by accom-modation providers in the Wadano area. Following the Olympics in 1998, the number of Japanese skiers and snowboarders visiting Hakuba had been falling year-by-year, and our initial goal was to prevent this from causing a decline in ski and accommodation services. At that time, Hakuba was also starting to gain international attention as a ski destination. Helped by a weak yen, an increasing number of foreign skiers began visiting Hakuba every winter. Hotels in Wadano therefore decided to join together to actively promote the beauty of the Hakuba area.

Since forming, Hakuba Tourism has appeared at trade shows in Australia, the UK, and Hong Kong to intro-duce Hakuba, and has made active use of local media and advertising in those countries to tell more people about our town.

With the help of Hakuba-based travel agents, resort staff, and the Nagano Prefectural Government, we have made great progress in getting the name of Hakuba out to skiers in a great many countries.

Along with overseas promotion, Hakuba Tourism is committed to the stable development of Hakuba the resort. By introducing the Genki-Go night shuttle bus and Hakuba Essential Guide booklet, and employing staff who can speak English, we wish to develop Hakuba into a destination that international visitors can enjoy to the full.

By improving their English capability, providing better Internet access, and running more shuttle services, the hotels that participate in Hakuba Tourism now offer overseas guests a comfortable and stress-free stay. Our hotels have a high reputation among travel agents throughout the world.

With hotels in the Happo area also joining forces, a total of ten accommodation providers now work as Hakuba Tourism to make Hakuba a truly global resort. Though we still face many challenges, we will continue in our efforts to make Hakuba the best resort in the world!

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Hakuba Connect Winter 2014