Paralympic sports in Japan

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Para olympics

Paralympians from around the globe will converge on Hakuba for the Asian Cup in March.

Each winter Hakuba holds official IPC paralympic events and this season we have the Asian cup starting on the 22nd of March through to the 25th.  Athletes from around the world will come and compete in numerous events on Happo One which is where they held the downhill events for the 98 Nagano Winter Olympics.

Athletes in Alpine Skiing events must combine speed and agility while racing down slopes at speeds of around 100km/h. There are five events on the Paralympic Programme: Downhill, Super-G, Super Combined, Giant Slalom and Slalom. Paralympic competition accommodates male and female athletes with a physical disability such as spinal injury, cerebral palsy, amputation, les autres conditions and blindness/visual impairment. Athletes compete in three categories based on their functional ability, and a results calculation system allows athletes with different impairments to compete against each other.

It is amazing to watch these guys and girls fly down the mountain as a spectator. If you are visiting Hakuba in March then make some time to check them out. If you are involved in the sport or just want to come and watch these inspiring athletes then contact the White Horse Hotels for assistance with accommodation.

For more information on the IPC check out their website here

 

 

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Yaki Niku in Hakuba

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Yaki Niku

Meat and Beer along with some BBQd cabbage just to balance your diet.

Miyama is one of my favourite restaurants in Hakuba. Unfortunately I don’t get there often but then again I would end up with weight issues and heart problems if I did. Yaki Niku is Korean BBQ. Eating meat and drinking is what it’s all about. The menu is easy as there is a map of the inside of a cow for you to ensure you get exactly what you want. Your hosts will bring out a clay bbq with hot coals to cook up the food yourself.  There is all sorts of cuts of meats from expensive wagyu beef to intestines. This is the type of place where you should be trying new things that you would normally pass up. The restaurant gets lively and is probably not recommended for kids or a romantic dinner. Vegetarians would be happy with a couple of the dishes just in case your group has one in tow. Smoking is allowed in restaurants in most of Japan but this place is so smokey from the cooking that you won’t be able to tell the difference. Cold beer and warm sake compliments the night.

restaurant menu

You can just point at the menu when ordering.

You can check out their website here

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Avalanche training in Hakuba

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Hakuba

Do you know a safe place to drop in?

The dates are out for avalanche safety and training courses in Hakuba for this coming season.  If you are wanting to expand your horizons and head out into the vast abyss of the Hakuba backcountry then the AST1 course should be your starting point. It will open up a new world  – one that should be treaded on carefully. 

Avalanche Skills Training I 2011-2012 
January 7-8
February 4-5
March 10-11

Avalanche Skills Training II 2011-2012
January 7-11
February 4-5 & 11-13
March 10-14

Check out the details here 

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Snow on trees

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Snow covered trees

When the domino effect occurs it can whiten out everything.

The trees in Hakuba can become so loaded with snow that they actually become a hazard. When the top falls it cascades down knocking the snow from the branches which in turn will hit the next tree like a domino effect with the whole load eventually landing on the ground and creating a white out.  It’s always a bit of fun to knock a low branch when one of your friends is walking under it. A good reason to wear a hood if you don’t trust someone.

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Hyotei Restaurant in Kyoto

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Hyutei

This is a Japanese experience everybody should treat themselves to.

Many people who come to Hakuba from overseas will fly into Osaka. I usually recommend to jump straight onto the train from the Airport and head to Kyoto and spend a day there before hitting the snowfields. For an amazing dining experience I tell everyone to try Hyotei. This 300-year-old restaurant first opened its doors as a teahouse to serve pilgrims and visitors on their way to Nanzenji Temple. Dinner is going to be expensive and a real Japanese experience but for a chance to enjoy this gastronomic haven on a budget you can book in for breakfast. You will be seated in your own tatami room that opens up to  a beautiful, perfectly manicured garden with a pond and maple trees. The food is brought to you by kimono-clad women which accentuates a complete feeling of being in another era. The food is full of complex flavours and textures and for those who are visiting Japan for the first time it will open your eyes to a new world of dining.

Hyotei was recently awarded the highest accolade of 3 Michelin stars. For bookings you can go to their website here or if you are staying with the White Horse Hotels in Hakuba they can help you arrange everything. Beware though as it’s the type of experience that could bring on a marriage proposal.

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Sugi tree

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Huge trees

There is no way to climb this beast. It's a long way up

There are many temples and shrines here in Japan and commonly you will see some huge trees growing around them. The one in the photo is at the Iwatake shrine on the back road to Tsugaike. If you get a chance you should stop there and get a close up view of these mammoth monoliths. You will be impressed.

From wikipedia. The Cryptomeria is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae; it includes only one species, Cryptomeria japonica (syn.: Cupressus japonica L.f.). It is endemic to Japan, where it is known as Sugi (Japanese:杉). The tree is often called Japanese Cedar in English, though the tree is not related to the cedars (Cedrus).

It is a very large evergreen tree, reaching up to 70 m (230 ft) tall and 4 m (13 ft) trunk diameter, with red-brown bark which peels in vertical strips. The leaves are arranged spirally, needle-like, 0.5–1 cm (0.20–0.39 in) long; and the seed cones globular, 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) diameter with about 20–40 scales.

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Melons

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Expensive Melons

10500 yen for a melon makes for an expensive fruit salad.

The perception that Japan is expensive still exists even though it originates from their economic boom time in the 80s. Prices have not moved much for the last 20 years and they actually have an issue with deflation.  Living in Japan can be quite cheap. Why then does a melon cost 100 bucks. This is not just any ordinary melon. This is a melon that has been nurtured but also branded and marketed to buy as a gift for someone on a special occasion or a big thankyou. I have had the pleasure of tasting one of these expensive fruits and I have to say that it was in fact the most delicious melon I have ever had but I certainly would not buy one for myself. I much prefer to buy mine when I see them for $5.  Talking about fruit, make sure you try the strawberries when you are here in Japan. The taste is amazing.

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Mogul skiing

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Moguls

There's a lot of bumps in this area of Happo. Choose your path carefully.

The Japanese love their mogul skiing and you will find some great courses on all of the resorts in Hakuba. The run in the photo is a great spot on a deep powder day but beware when it has only snowed a foot or so. The moguls will be under there and I have seen many people thrown about the place. After a few days of no snow they end up the size of volkswagons and have caught out the unsuspecting many times as they traverse across the ridge from the right side

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Foot onsen

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
onsen for the feet

This foot onsen is situated right on the waters edge up on the Japan sea.

Onsens are great here in Japan but sometimes there is just not enough time to strip down so the next best thing when you are on the move is a foot onsen. You will find them all over Japan and there are a number of them in and around Hakuba. They are usually free to use and are a great way to relieve the pain unleashed by our ski and snowboard boots.  Sit down and relax.

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Sun rise from the gondie

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Hakuba Blog
Sun rising

Rising to the heavens on a powder day. Get up early for the best stuff.

Getting up early for first lifts is always rewarding.  If I know the conditions are going to be good then I round up anyone who is keen and organise for them to be outside at a certain time with the aim of first tracks. If they are not there when I’m going then they will probably get there when I’m gone. I let them know that I will leave on time as the Japanese do. It usually gets everyone there and fired up in anticipation for some of the best runs of their life. Hit me up if you are staying with one of the White Horse Hotels as I am always keen for an early session.

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