hokkaido
Niseko snowed under
THE most sustained snowfalls to hit Niseko in years have relentlessly belted the Hokkaido ski town with close to 3m of accumulated powder in the past week.
Niseko signs up for international film exposure
AN award-winning snow movie made predominantly in and around Niseko last year has been carving its signature identity into film circles around the world.
The Ainu: Hokkaido's hidden indigenous people
THE little-known Ainu, Hokkaido's first inhabitants, for the most part remain unknown, hidden in the shadows of today's Japan. Their existence was even categorically denied by the government until last year. However, these are an indigenous people steeped in history, and remain vastly culturally different to their Japanese neighbours. Guest reporter
Kurodake: Black Mountain Calling
WHILE Niseko offers a dream-like landscape of lift-accessed, fluffy powder runs for the masses, beyond the bright lights there are mountains of consequence to be found in Hokkaido. Standing above them all is Kurodake – Black Mountain. Long-time Niseko and Hokkaido local Dale Riva is one of many die-hard mountain men who has been seduced by
Kurodake skiers, boarders rescued safely
ALL six foreign Niseko skiers and snowboarders who were stranded on Mt Kurodake have been found safe and well after spending the night in a snow cave.
A 50-person search and rescue party set off early this morning and the missing people
Snow, winds hit Niseko
Snow storms and bad weather disrupted trains and planes in Hokkaido on Saturday as a low pressure system developed in northern Japan.
In Hokkaido, more than 270 train runs connecting Sapporo, Wakkanai and Abashiri were suspended
Interview with West Canada Homes president Paul Nikel
HE moved to Japan from Canada in the 90s and has been bringing pieces of his home land here ever since. Powderlife chats with West Canada Homes president, Paul Nikel.
How did the decision to start building Canadian-style homes in Niseko come about?
I came to Japan in 1991, and after a couple of weeks in Tokyo and Osaka I realised
Shiretoko Ice Floes
THE Japanese archipelago was once a part of the Asian mainland. The connecting bits have vanished over countless millions of years, but if you look to the north of Hokkaido, the island of Sakhalin – whose northern tip is just off the coast of Siberia – stretches to the south to fall just short of Wakkanai, Japan's northernmost town.
Hokkaido's most popular souvenir
IF you’ve been into a souvenir shop in Hokkaido you will no doubt have come across a wall full of Marimokkori souvenirs. Marimo are rare algae balls found in only several lakes in the world, one of which is Lake Akan in eastern Hokkaido. Mokkori is a slang term for an erection. Put the two together and you get Marimokkori, a little green
Hokkaido: powder snow Disneyland
ON its own, Niseko is an amazing place to go skiing. So much so that since it has been ‘discovered’ by the outside world in the past 10 years or so, it has gone from sleepy, locals’ ski hill to world-renowned international ski resort. The four interlinked resorts provide enough terrain to keep many locals from ever wanting to
