Chanko Nabe with a couple of beers and/or sake. A great way to refuel for the next day on the slopes.

Sumo wrestling is something that everybody coming to Japan should experience. If your dates don’t match up with one of the big tournaments this time, don’t despair as this year you will be able to come and meet Tanimoto san in Hakuba. He is an ex sumo wrestler who has decided to set up a Chanko Nabe restaurant in the middle of Echoland. Chanko Nabe is the renowned food of the sumo and is basically a hot pot of beef, chicken, pork or fish and lots of fresh vegetables, tofu, egg, rice and noodles.
There are no rules for what goes into a nabe. Sukiyaki, the best-known hot pot, is made with beef and a sweetened soy sauce base, while lshikari nabe, consists of salmon and vegetables in a miso-kelp broth. Tanimoto san will be the chanko-ban (the person in charge of preparing the meals). There are no recipes, you just taste as you go along. I am looking forward to this one opening up. My problem is that I will have to try and walk past it everyday when I come home from the gym.