december-2011

The ski resorts of
Japan are unlike any
others in the world
and plenty of onsen in which to soak your
weary body.
BEST FOR: Families and those who prefer
the snow to the nightlife.
NEARBY: Zenkoji Temple in Nagano is a
Buddhist temple built in the 7th century
with a secret hidden Buddha statue.
HAPPO ONE, HAKUBA
Hakuba Valley is home to 10 ski and
snowboard resorts and it was here, in
Nagano, that the 1998 Winter Olympics
was held. Most people base themselves in
Hakuba Village in either the Wadano or
Echoland areas. It provides easy access to
the ski and snowboard slopes of the most
popular Happo One (pronounced oh-nay)
resort from Wadano and excellent après ski
options in Echoland.
The Japanese Alps provides a stunning
alpine backdrop that serves up more
than 200 super groomed runs in the 10
resorts combined, plus some of the best
backcountry skiing in Japan for the more
advanced skier. There are a number of
guiding companies that take small groups
for backcountry ski days off the back of
GETTING THERE
MYOKO KOGEN Take the
bullet train from Tokyo
to Nagano and then the
local train to Myoko
Kogen. The journey takes
about three hours.
HAKUBA The Hakubus
takes guests from
Narita Airport outside
Tokyo direct to Hakuba
daily. The journey is
approximately six and a
half hours.
NOZAWA ONSEN is easily
accessed by bullet train
from Tokyo to Nagano,
then local train to Nozawa
Onsen train station. The
journey takes about
four hours.
SHIGA KOGEN is 250km
from Tokyo and easily
accessed by Shinkansen
train to Nagano City and
shuttle transfer bus to
the resort.
LEFT/RIGHT: Hakuba
village provides easy
access to the slopes
of Happo One;
family-friendly terrain
at Happo One
Happo One, including the crew at
the Evergreen Adventure Centre.
Most restaurants are family
friendly so try Eclipse for Italian,
Double Black for international
cuisine and the Whitehorse if
you’re missing Aussie steak.
Emu, across the road from the
train station, is one of the best
okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury
pancake) restaurants around.
Australian chef Michael Ryan
— who owns The Provenance in
Beechworth, Victoria — is behind
this season’s menu at The Phoenix
Hotel’s Mimi restaurant, so
expect exceptional cuisine with a
Japanese twist.
BEST FOR: Families will love
Happo One for the mix of
beginner and intermediate terrain.
Advanced skiers will prefer the
backcountry and snowboarders
are well catered for with
state-of-the-art terrain parks.
Singles, this is the party place.
NEARBY: Built in the 1500s, the
ADRENALINE //
057