ACCORDING to Wikipedia.com, it’s been 3060 years since Niseko’s iconic volcano Mount Yotei last erupted. That was in 1050BC, from a cone emerging from the north-west flank of the mountain at Lake Hangetsu. Prior to that, an earlier eruption was also recorded at 3050BC. So with 2000 years separating the previous two eruptions, are we 1060 years overdue for our next one?
SPEAKING of Yotei, it seems the little brother of Mount Fuji has inspired a local artist. Seasonal worker Sarah King from England recently sent a unique piece of art in to Powderlife. It’s a typographical drawing of Yotei, abstractly illustrated with snow-themed words and sentences. Go on, take a closer look! For more of Sarah’s art, check out www.sarahaking.com.
FOR those with a taste for wine and cheese, here’s a hot local tip that should keep you happy. Pop into Seicomart and try their G7 range of Chilean wines (a bargain at only ¥500), and also check out the cheese section for some tasty (and cheap!) camembert. A ¥1000 note should easily cover it!
IF you’re sticking around for some spring riding, Grand Hirafu has already started moving the park to its lofty new home at skier’s right of the Ace Pair Lift #3. The park is moved up higher because the altitude means cooler temps, but we recommend waiting until the snow has softened up by about mid-morning, then heading up there with some good friends, food and drinks. The mountain’s usually open until the first week of May, so who knows, you might even get to rock the Ray-Bans, don a hoodie, or even get a goggle tan!
NISEKO has got to have one of the longest winters in the world. After swinging open the gates of Mount Annupuri in late November, Grand Hirafu will finally close on May 5; Hanazono’s open until April 6; Annupuri will close on May 5; Niseko Village will shut between April 7-28, then reopens until May 5; and Moiwa will be open until mid-April. All night-skiing will finish on March 27.Happy spring skiing!
WHEN you’re next in Max Valu (Kutchan Map G3) in Kutchan doing a shop, try a sweet taste of the sea with taiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped cake in the small bakery located near the registers. For those who are a little more experimental, try the takoyaki – dumplings made from fried or baked octopus balls. They always say never go shopping on an empty stomach, right?
SNOWBOARDING and skateboarding tend to go hand-in-hand, so for those skaters out there, why not visit Niseko’s only bar with a skate bowl and mini-ramp, Loaf Lounge (Kutchan Map B3). Everyone is welcome, and they’re open daily from 4.20pm until midnight. Drinking and driving is for losers, but drinking and skating at Loaf Lounge… well… that’s a different story!
A LEADING Niseko bar owner told us earlier in the season that he was looking into bringing Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes over for a ‘black tie and ski pants’ gig this winter. That didn’t quite eventuate this year, but apparently Barnesy’s a huge fan of Niseko’s pow pow, and we may just see him rocking out here next season!