RESORT GUIDE NEIL HARTMANN NIKKO - Powderlife

AFTER THE MELTphoto // niseko photographyphoto // niseko photographyphoto // glen claydonPURE ACTIVITIES IN NATURE SURFING NISEKO VIEW PLAZA CLIMBING MT YOTEIDO you remember all those funactivities that you got to do as achild at school camp? Walkingthrough elevated boardwalks andropeways through trees, flying outof trees on a zip line, games of minigolf,beach volleyball, horse ridingand more. Niseko Village has theseactivities and more as a part of itsPure Activities in Nature, which issure to thrill adults and children alikeduring the summer months.WHILE not a surfing mecca,Hokkaido still has its fair share ofgreat surf locations, and when theweather conditions are right, surfinghere can be quite enjoyable.And, for those of you who think itmight be too cold to surf here insummer, spare a thought forNiseko’s diehard winter surferstrudging down through the kneedeepsnow before getting into thefrigid waters in a full-body wetsuit.THIS is Niseko’s michi-no-eki (meaningroad station), which is one ofmore than a thousand throughoutJapan generally used by towns tohelp promote tourism and commerceof the local area. Here you can findfreshly grown local vegetables andproduce direct from the farmers.By shopping here you can bypassthe delays and expense of shoppingin supermarkets and get the freshestpossible produce.THE most unmistakable natural landmarkin the vicinity, Mount Yotei criesout to be climbed in summer andwinter. While it’s only half the heightof Mt. Fuji, it’s a heck of a lot tougherto climb. The car park is at the base,and from there you climb, and climbcarrying your own food and drink, forclose to four hours. The hike doesn’thave to stop at the top, you can alsocircumnavigate the crater for full 360˚views before heading down.Summer // GOLFSURROUNDED by mountains, MountYotei and flowing creeks, the Niseko areais an ideal spot to hit a few golf balls.IMMENSELY popular in Japan,Niseko’s golf resorts not only letgolfers bask in the natural beauty ofthe area, but they also offera break from the oppressive heatand humidity found on greens onthe main island of Honshu.There are 172 golf coursesin Hokkaido – a third as manyas Scotland, the home of golf.Five of these courses are within15-minutes drive of Niseko. Localfavourites include Niseko VillageGolf Course, Niseko Golf Courseand Hanazono Tokyu.Weekends are prime time for golfespecially for business-men andwomen catching up with their golfingfriends.The Japanese love golf and takeit seriously, especially the groundskeepers. In the Niseko area, thegreens are immaculate and fairwaysare smooth and plush.Due to the lack of developmenton the outskirts of Niseko, eachgolf course makes you feel likeyou’re deep in the Hokkaido wilderness.Huge trees line the fairways,the grass is a deep green in colourand buildings can rarely be seen.As the Niseko summer seasongains popularity, there’s no doubtingthat the area will soon becomea popular golf hub in Asia.Comparatively, the rates aren’toverly expensive and the conditionsare excellent. There are many dealsand packages available duringsummer that cater to golfers, aswell as season passes, which are aviable option when used wellWhether it’s for a friendly or businessgolf holiday, keep Niseko inmind – it’s beautiful, not as hot asthe rest of Asia and quiet.photo // niseko photography55powderlife issue 29 // December 25 - January 7, 2010 www.powderlife.com56powderlife issue 29 // December 25 - January 7, 2010 www.powderlife.com