Blog NISEKO – The Obligatory Why it’s Amazing List

March 2nd, 2012


So Japanese…

Blog | Tessa Cook

The brief, one week in Niseko with those gentlemen of snow Chris Booth and Joey Corcoran to investigate just what it is about this small Japanese town, erstwhile famous for potatoes, that has made it the phenomenon of Australian snow tourism.

The Obligatory list: Why Niseko is amazing…

1. Snow. Not just snow, but almost 100 per cent guaranteed fresh, dry pow in enormous quantities. Locals here have a very different expectation when it comes to snowfall, at the height of winter going three days straight without a significant top-up is so uncommon it’s talked about all over town, it literally snows all the time. So think about your snow holiday priorities list, if good snow isn’t at the very top, even if all you like to do is ski groomers, why are you planning a snow holiday? Niseko is a safer bet than anywhere else, you’d have to try very hard not to get multiple opportunities at fresh tracks.

2. Powder for ‘dummies’. Thanks Chris Booth for this one, textual reference to the —- For Dummies ‘how to’ guides here. This place has the perfect snow on the perfect terrain for making you feel like a super star – gorgeous pitches with perfectly spaced trees filled with bucket-loads of dry, yielding snow; it’s a joyful place to ski. The mountains here certainly don’t have anything on the monsters that are the European Alps, or Canada’s higher peaks but there is challenging terrain if you want it and oh-so-much of the stuff that just makes you feel good.

3. Proximity. I’ve had drives to Australian ski resorts that have taken me longer than it took to get to Sapporo. Ok, maybe that’s not true – but I’ve certainly had far more stressful ones. Nine hours to Tokyo and only two hours forward on the clock – no jet lag thank you – then a quick stopover, make it an overnight and check out the city if you feel like it, then a quick jump across to Sapporo. Too easy. Undoubtedly the ease of getting here is part of what made it enticing in the first place, and that enticement still holds. While a direct flight to Sapporo would be nice – airlines, are you reading this? Having a Tokyo stopover is good fun.

4. Culture. Why do we travel? To experience new things? To meet different people? To discover ourselves? This place is ticking all those boxes. Japan is a seriously interesting country with an amazing culture, just being here is an eye-opening experience.

5. Food. It would have been fine to slot food into culture, but the eats here needs to stand alone. Sushi and ramen are just the tip of a very delicious iceberg of amazing local cuisine that includes yakitori, okonomiyaki, soba, nabe and so much more. The region is Japan’s food-basket and the local produce is amazing, especially when it’s been whipped into a delicious feast. The idea that Japanese eating is about small portions and never feeling full seems to be a myth, but even after stuffing yourself stupid a stomach full fresh fish and soba is much more pleasant than one filled with fries and a burger…

For arty-style Japan picks check out Chris’s blog