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Cultural Hotspot: Six Ways To Experience “The Real Japan” In Niseko

By 1st March 2013May 31st, 2021Things To Do

Undoubtedly Niseko is defined by its bottomless talc-like powder. However, to judge Niseko by snow alone is to do the resort an injustice.

Often referred to as ‘the Whistler of Asia”, the resort’s cultural offerings are very much underrated. It’s a common misconception that the influx of foreigners to the area has somewhat pushed traditional Japanese customs aside to make way for a more westernised culture.

But, before you scratch it from your ‘must do’ holiday list for fear of missing out on an ‘authentic experience’, consider this. Niseko is in Japan, a country that has been populated to some degree since the first century A.D. It’s the birth place of geisha, samurai, tea ceremonies and sumo. The cities, towns and countryside are overflowing with symbols of history and heritage so, no matter which part of the country you’re in, you’d have to be walking around with your helmet on backwards and headphones bolted to your ear canals to miss out.

If you need more proof of Niseko’s cultural kudos, here are just a few of the experiences that will have you out of your comfort zone and knee deep in Japanese traditions in no time at all.

Pictured: The Daibutsu is just one of dozens of temples and shrines in Kutchan. It’s not always possible to see them in winter, but drop by the Kutchan Tourist Information Centre (see map p94) and if you’re lucky they may be able to help you get access to a traditional place of worship like this. Photo Glen Claydon.

 

1 Hirafu Art Gallery and Cultural School

For the most authentic of Japanese cultural experiences, you need look no further than the centre of Hirafu. You know the Seicomart convenience store? Cross the road towards Tamashii Bar and walk 50m down Momiji-Zaka Street and you will find the Momiji Art Gallery and the Niseko Cultural School. The gallery specialises in Japanese art and antiques, both from contemporary fine art practice as well as cultural artefacts from as far back as the Edo period – with some items for sale if you want to take a piece of Japanese history home with you.

Right upstairs, Niseko Cultural School offers classes in tea ceremony, calligraphy, sushi making and more. From ¥4500. Reservations for classes are necessary. Drop in or phone 0136 55 8585.

 

2 Japanese Cultural Tour

If you’re in town on the right dates, this tour is a must. You’ll get picked up at Seicomart and bussed to nearby town Kutchan to experience a tea ceremony, Iaido sword demonstration, watch a taiko drum performance and then have a go yourself. The tour finishes with a traditional meal all for ¥5000 for adults or ¥3000 for kids.

Tours run 3.30-7.30pm (you have to make your own way home) on January 13, January 25, and February 3.

Bookings essential. Call 0136 23 0222.

 

3 Sake and Dine

Niseko has dining options to suit every palate and budget. For even the laziest tourist (or exhausted skier), finding an authentic Japanese meal is easy. However, those who wish to indulge in something truly unique may need to explore a little further. Recently acknowledged by Michelin Guides (see article page 20) Rakuichi is a soba noodle restaurant located on the road from Hirafu Village to Annupuri but, with little signage and not a lot of street lighting, it can be tricky to find. This can only be a good thing considering the restaurant seats a maximum 10 people and is hosted by only the soba noodle maker and his wife. There is no choice when it comes to the menu because the couple know exactly how their soba should be eaten and what should accompany it. The soba is freshly made, chopped right before your eyes and served alongside local produce. This really is a traditional Japanese experience, so like the Japanese, be sure to bring a set of good manners.

Six courses, including duck soba, shabu shabu, sashimi, tempura, a varying ‘hot dish’ and dessert will cost you just ¥5000. Booking not necessary, waiting might be.

 

4 Big Sapporo Lights

While it isn’t Tokyo, Hokkaido’s capital Sapporo still has that high-tech, bustling, big Japanese city feel to it. With a population of almost two million people, you can definitely get a taste of that ‘small fish’ feeling. Visiting Sapporo is an experience not to be missed. Luckily it’s only a 2.5-hour train ride from Kutchan, just a short bus or train ride from Niseko. If shopping is on the agenda you need look no further than the city’s main JR train station. Flanked by two large towers, both full to the brim with boutiques and brand-name stores, ‘dropping coin’ is easier than finding fresh lines in the backcountry. Head underground and you’ll find tunnels lined with even more shopping options. After you’ve shopped, but before you’ve dropped, it’s essential you visit the local entertainment district of Susukino. This is where the young people hang out, complete with spiky hair, space-cowboy get ups and an enviable cool. There are restaurants aplenty, many of them offering ‘tabehodai’ (all you can eat) and ‘nomihodai’ (all you can drink) that have been the downfall of many an over-indulging westerner. Finally, if you can stomach it, jump on the Sapporo Noria (Ferris wheel). This 45.5m-wide, 78m-tall ride offers a birds-eye view and the perfect end to your big city experience.

Take a tour with Skybus (book at Skybus.co.jp), or for a real adventure try your luck on the regular daily trains between Kutchan and Sapporo that cost about ¥2000.

 

5 Niseko by Night

Japan is a country that comes alive after dark. Just think of Tokyo’s famous neon-lit Shibuya Crossing. Every inch of wall-space is adorned with flashy advertising so bright it should technically be offensive but, instead, the garish excessiveness leaves you awe-struck. Obviously Niseko doesn’t shine in quite the same way but it has retained that custom of providing an ‘other worldly’ experience once the sun goes down. In fact, the resort has managed to create a night-time tradition of its very own. Night skiing has become customary to Niseko not because it was invented here, but because this is where it’s been perfected. Every evening giant, high-intensity lamps are switched on and fingers of yellow light spread just far enough to reach the off-piste. Riding powder through deathly quiet trees in the almost-dark is an eerie but thrilling experience and one that’s hard to replicate anywhere else in the world. But the fun of Niseko by night doesn’t stop there. From lavishly decorated Singapore style basement bars to rowdy Austrian beer tents, the small village of Hirafu is home to an array of quirky drinking holes. And, finally, make sure you book into the Alpen Hotel for a karaoke session because no trip to Japan is complete unless you’ve performed a drunken rendition of any 80s rock ballad or completely destroyed My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

Niseko Pro Powder offer two-hour guided night skiing tours for ¥15,000/person. Karaoke at The Alpen Hotel is ¥3000 per hour.

 

6 It’s time for an onsen

There’s a certain contradiction associated with visiting an onsen for the fist time. For centuries the Japanese have used these nude bathing houses for meditative purposes, healing the body and relaxing the mind. Western inhibitions mean we rarely appear naked in front of anyone except lovers, family and, at a stretch, our closest friends. So stepping across the threshold of an onsen can send us reeling into fits of nerve-rattling awkwardness, rather than a state of Zen. However these feelings only last until you take a deep breath and immerse yourself in the silky smooth hot water. From there it’s easy to chill out and let the mix of earthly minerals work their magic. Submerged to the neck, gazing across a dreamlike snow-covered landscape through a veil of steam while snow falls silently all around, is a unique Niseko experience. The total mind and body relaxation experienced in the hours after leaving an onsen is perhaps the only thing that can beat it. Being able to soak your tired muscles and body in a 40C+ onsen after a long day skiing is one of the most amazing things about Niseko. Most onsens in Niseko have a ‘rotenburo’ (outdoor bathing area), magnifying the experience and offering stunning views of the Niseko landscape. Wherever you stay in Niseko, there will be an onsen nearby. But as every onsen offers a different experience, we recommend you try as many as you can. The Yumeguri Onsen Shuttle Bus goes past most of the area’s popular onsens and costs ¥500. Entry is generally between ¥500 to ¥1000.

We recommend:

Hirafu: Yukoro Onsen, Hirafutei, Alpen Hotel, The Vale Niseko

Hanazono: Weiss Hotel Onsen

Niseko Village: Hilton Niseko Village, Green Leaf Hotel

Annupuri: Yugokorotei, Hotel Ikoinomura

Moiwa: Kanronomori Hotel, The Grand Hotel (mixed sex onsen)

Off the beaten track: Yukichichibu, Goshiki Onsen (pictured right)