Let me start with a Happy Chinese New Year to everybody! 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit
Going to Japan during Chinese New Year break is starting to be a classic for us. From 29th January to 06th February we moved quite a lot around Japan. To make it easier to digest I will split the trip in two posts :)
First step was to fly in. Flying to Kansai (Osaka) was cheaper and allowed us to visit Kyoto on the way back. Then we took a high speed train to Tokyo to meet with Ricard and Asako.
Niseko
As a lot of you know, one of my few real addictions is to ski, but it is not possible to ski in Taiwan. Ricard and Asako recommended to go to Niseko to get the best snow powder in Japan. Niseko is in Hokkaido (north island of Japan) and it is becoming a top worldwide ski destination with huge investments to develop its potential. Before it was only known by Australians and Ozzies but now it was easy to catch French, Italian, Russian or Spanish language on the slopes.
I think we were in Niseko during one of the strongest snow storms of this season. No less than 2 meters of snow everywhere (with 4 meters at the top peaks!), ski lifts open until 21:00 and the chance to enjoy onsens and Japanese food after a hard day of ski …. just THE paradise :) (although a little bit cold sometimes… down to -15ºC).
An image is worth a thousand words, so take a look at these pictures and videos!
Deixades les maletes cap a esquiar
We dropped the luggage and went to ski30-Jan-2011 14:10, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.6, 18.0mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 400
Quasi 4 metres de neu a la zona alta (el dia d'arribada)
Almost 4m of snow at the top area (the day we arrived)30-Jan-2011 14:25, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.0, 20.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 400
Més de 2 metres de neu fresca mentre vam estar a Niseko (el dia que vam marxar)
More than 2m of fresh snow during our stay in Niseko (the day we left)01-Feb-2011 12:22, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.3, 46.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 560
Les primeres hores van ser complicades
First hours of ski were not easy30-Jan-2011 15:25, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.6, 55.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
No estic segur que funcionés bé aquest termómetre… però feia fresca
I am not sure it worked well… but it was cold anyway30-Jan-2011 16:20, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.0, 38.0mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
La cadira tanca a les 21:00! (més de 12h oberta)
The lift closes at 21:00 (more than 12h running)31-Jan-2011 17:18, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.0, 18.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 500
No skiar pel carrer (només a pistes)
Do not ski on the streets (slopes only please)01-Feb-2011 13:30, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 9.0, 30.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
Niseko is not as large as French alp resorts (3 Vallés for example) but you can compare it to the ones in Andorra. In theory there is a nice volcano (Mount Yotei) in front of the station but we did not manage to see it, that means we will need to come back :)
Sapporo
On the way back to Tokyo we stopped for 1 day in Sapporo that was also completely full of snow! We had time to wander around, enjoy the local food that is excellent (we all really enjoyed the famous Sapporo ramen) and to see the preparations of the Sapporo Snow Festival will start a week later (Feb 7th-13th)
Jugant al pachinko (no és gaire divertit de fet)
Playing pachinko (actually not that funny)01-Feb-2011 22:07, Panasonic DMC-FX50, 2.8, 4.6mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Sacs de sorra (gratis) per escampar per terra
Sand bags (free) to use on the street02-Feb-2011 11:29, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 11.0, 22.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
Alien intentant marxar de la botiga
Alien trying to get out from the shop02-Feb-2011 10:44, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.5, 22.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 400
Fan l'apagada analògica d'aquí poc
Analog switch off will take place soon02-Feb-2011 11:43, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.0, 24.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 400
Sapporo està al mateix paral.lel que el País Basc
Sapporo is at the same parallel as the Basque Country!02-Feb-2011 12:28, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.5, 29.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 900
Això és la sopa que mengen els que fan sumo
This is the soup that sumo wrestlers enjoy02-Feb-2011 14:46, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.0, 24.0mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 1600
Patates amb xocolata, típic de Sapporo
Potatochip chocolate, Sapporo souvenir02-Feb-2011 10:45, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.8, 32.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 450
El famós festival de neu de Sapporo (una setmana més tard)
Famous Sapporo Snow Festival (one week later)02-Feb-2011 10:10, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.8, 32.0mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
Que Cab….
Aquí una nevadeta de 20 centímetres i ens pensem que que ens salvarà la temporada.
Mols records.
Jordi Farrés
Feb 8, 2011, 13:10
Envejaaaa!!! Per la neu una miqueta, però molt més pel menjaaaarr!!!! 8O….
Abili
Feb 9, 2011, 9:21
Amb aquestes temperatures no deu fer falta lanevera!!! Haureu de comprar un vestit adequat per al PULPITO o algun dia el trobareu en una botiga de congelats.
Abili i Carme
Ricard
Feb 10, 2011, 4:28
Oleeee!!!! Maques les fotos i quin mareig el teu video esquiant webo! :)
Que Cab….
Aquí una nevadeta de 20 centímetres i ens pensem que que ens salvarà la temporada.
Mols records.
Envejaaaa!!! Per la neu una miqueta, però molt més pel menjaaaarr!!!! 8O….
Amb aquestes temperatures no deu fer falta lanevera!!! Haureu de comprar un vestit adequat per al PULPITO o algun dia el trobareu en una botiga de congelats.
Abili i Carme
Oleeee!!!! Maques les fotos i quin mareig el teu video esquiant webo! :)
Aquí sí que hi ha neu no com Espot!!