Sarah’s powder day in Furano - Japan
Just reporting in from the slopes of Furano….although considered early season here on this island of Hokkaido, today have just experinced some of ehe infamous Hokkaido Powder. I can honestly say it was UNBELIEVEABLE to ride every run in fresh powder……dry light snow…..something many of us dream about.
Our travels so far have taken us from the fabulous authentic Japanese ski village of Nosawa Onsen with 13 natural hot springs to the vast slopes of Hakuba and Shiga Kogen. The locals were worried that snow would be late coming but coming from the Southern Hemisphere and arriving here in Japan in December it is a winter wonderland.
Highlights of my first trip to Japan have been, so far, the powder, the karoke and meeting Steve Bradbury the gold medeal olympic speed skater from the very famous win at the 2002 winter olympics. He has recently opened a lodge in Hakuba with his business partner josh. Japan so far is execeeding my expectations, many of us worry that it cant offer what we perhaps have come to expect in North America, I know I did having lived in North America for 15 seasons. Japan is a whole new experince in the sense it is not just the skiing and boarding it is also the amazing culture that adds an extra dynamic to your time spent here.
Backcountry skiing and boarding is developing fast, with many ex heli ski guides from North America now basing themselves here in Japan. They rate Japan with some of the best powder in the world and I would tend to agree with this. I have been a bit slow to try some of the more interesting local food options but there is always a western dish on hand should you choose to eat something a little more western, but I am pleased to say my chop stick eating skills are improving day by day.
More soon…. off to the Onsen,
Sarah Headifen - talk to me about your next Japan ski holiday!!!
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Tags: furano ski, hakuba ski, niseko ski holiday, nosawa onsen ski holiday, Shiga Kogen, ski furano, ski hakuba, ski hokkaido, ski japan
