RESORT GUIDE NEIL HARTMANN NIKKO - Powderlife

DISCOVERExplore KutchanKUTCHAN is more than just Niseko’sgateway and service town. It’s an interestingplace to walk around, do somegeneral shopping and enjoy a change ofscenery from the ski-resort feelin Hirafu.Kutchan has a very lively entertainmentdistrict and there are dozens of restaurants,bars and other drinking establishments inhigh concentration near Miyako-dori. Busesfrequently run between Hirafu andKutchan Station.01GANBANYOKUGANBANYOKU, whichmeans ‘stone bath’ isvery vogue with healthconsciousJapanese.THIS detoxifying treatment involves lying onheated stones in the provided pyjamas for up toan hour. These heated stones raise your internalbody temperature and radiate about 40˚c ofsweat-inducing heat. It’s recommended that youlie for 20 minutes at a time on your back andINDOOR ROCK CLIMBINGthen your front. The sweat that this produces issaid to be one that is different to that producedduring exercise – it’s a cleaner sweat, andapparently if you lick it it won’t taste salty.Lying on a hard hot rock for up to an hourrequires mental as well as physical stamina.It’s a process that is very sensory devoid, givingyou plenty of time to stop, relax and think. Thereis a Ganbanyoku at the Alpen Hotel at the top ofHirafu Zaka. And after visiting the Ganbanyokumake sure you drink plenty of water.03020401) EATTRY Potato Udon: Kutchan is famous forits potatoes and Daiichi Kaikan Hotel hasudon made from local potatoes.02) DRINKSING Karaoke! It’s a must-do while in Japan.Hire a private room for you and your friendsand find out why Karaoke is so popular here.03) DOTAKE a Japanese Cultural Tour: Tea ceremony,saké-brewery tour, taiko drumminglaido sword demonstration and a Japanesedinner. See p.49.04) SHOPWANDER Walk around the small alleysaround Kutchan Station and find someunique souvenirs in interesting shops.SOUP CurrySAID to be a Hokkaido speciality (and we’re notbrave enough to dispute that), soup curry is a deliciousmeal that will warm you to your very core forquite some time afterwards. It has a base reminiscentof Japanese-style curry, though in a soup-mediumand with a few extra spices thrown in to makeit interesting. Variations and restaurants are plentiful,with most shops offering their own delicious flavour.Most places allow you to pick your level of spicetoo – often this ranges from 0 to 20. Highly recommendedfor a complete Hokkaido experience.ROCK climbing is a great activity that helps youbuild incredible muscle strength. The Niseko AdventureCentre (NAC) has the one and only indoorrock-climbing facility in the area, perfect if theweather is bad, or if you just feel like a break fromskiing or snowboarding. The two-story climbingwall has multiple routes to suit beginners or challengethe skilled. You will be completely harnessedand supervised should you make a mistake whileclimbing. A session costs ¥1200, and climbinggear can be rented for ¥500. Afterwards, you canhead upstairs for a healthy treat at JoJo’s Cafe.11powderlife issue 29 // December 25 - January 7, 2010 www.powderlife.com