RESORT GUIDE AKIO SHINYA DANJIRI MATSURI - Powderlife

AFTER THE MELTphoto // ross cole-hunterphoto // glen claydonphoto // ross cole-hunterphoto // glen claydonBARBEQUE TRIATHLON SHIKOTSUKO JAGA MATSURIDOSANKO (people from Hokkaido)love their barbeque. This is becauseof the the brevity and beauty of thesummer here. A normal JapanesestyleBBQ is different to Western-stylein several ways. Instead of a smallgroup of people slaving away roastinggiant slabs of cow over a gas-fuelledgrill, a Japanese BBQ is a much moresocially inclusive event. Here guestssit around grilling bite-sized pieces ofmeat over a charcoal fire.THE climate in Hokkaido duringsummer is ideally suited to endurancesports. This is just one of thereasons people are starting to cometo Niseko to participate in Triathloncamps. Swimming is done in theAlpen Hotel’s indoor heated pool, orLake Hangetsu and Lake Toya. Thecombination of sparse traffic anda mix of flats, rolling hills and mountainsprovide ideal cycling terrain.Scenic running trails are also plentiful.ANOTHER one of the many sceniclocations surrounding Niseko that isabsolutely perfect for a few nightscamping is Lake Shikotsu. This areais probably familiar to many visitors toNiseko as the bus between ChitoseAirport and Niseko passes it. There areall the usual lakeside activities to do,plus two fabulous mountain hikes, includingone that takes you to the blacksteaming core of Tarumae-zan, or themore challenging Eniwa-dake.THE Potato Festival is Kutchan’s biggestsummer festival and a huge tasteof Japanese culture. There are manyevents over the weekend-long festival,including taiko drum performances,fireworks, yosakoi dancing, giantilluminated paper floats, potato baggingcompetitions as well as sometraditional music and singing. To satisfyyour non-aural, non-visual senses,there are dozens of street vendorsselling an assortment of festival foods.Summer // raftingWHAT happens to the metres of snowthat falls on the mountains in Hokkaidocome springtime?IT MELTS, but fortunately it isn’twasted. This sudden and protractedsupply of water turns the ordinarilyplacid rivers into fast-flowingrapid-filled monsters, perfect for anexhilarating rafting experience.Rafting is the biggest attractionin Niseko, outside of skiing andsnowboarding, bringing in busloadsof (mostly domestic) tourists everyweekend. School groups especiallylove the thrill of rafting – busloads ofchildren during the summer maketheir way to Niseko for whitewaterfun. The busiest period, however, isduring the end of spring when thewater levels in the rivers and tributariesare at their highest and most frantic.Even though the temperaturesare quite pleasant at that time of year,the waters can still be frigid, even tothrill seekers with anti-freeze flowingthrough their veins.No need to worry about being coldthough, before you set off on yourvoyage down the river, you’re givena dry suit that tightly seals aroundyour neck, wrists and ankles to keepwater out, and you dry and warm.Of course, rafting doesn’t have tobe an adrenaline-fuelled ride throughviolently engorged rivers, calmer optionsexist for those who would ratherjust gently glide along and take in thescenery that is rarely seen bythe average person, such as secludedbeaches, hidden woodlands,cliffs with waterfalls andunsuspecting wildlife.There are several local tour operatorsin and around Niseko, includingNOASC, NAC and SAS who can catera journey to suit your requests, beit an adrenaline-fuelled ride throughwhite water rapids, or just a calm dayout floating down a river.photo // niseko photography59powderlife issue 31 // January 22 to February 4, 2011 www.powderlife.com60powderlife issue 31 // January 22 to February 4, 2011 www.powderlife.com