Was it really? What ever you are doing at the time, you always start to second guess what is going on! You always start to think to yourself, "Is that me or not?", "I don't think I am feeling dizzy, so why is the PC screen a little fuzzy and moving".
What ever it is that you start to think, it is always your first thought when you live in Japan, not sure what I'm talking about?
Well my first thought was, "Is that an earthquake or tremor that is making the building feel like it is moving?"
At 2.29pm today Niseko was shaken by a tremor! Most people would not have even felt it as it was fairly minor, but pretty weird to feel a building move no matter how small the shake!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Abu - Cha Bakery
A sad day in Niseko!
Today in Niseko Abu - Cha bakery baked its last chocolate croissant for the season! In true Abu - Cha style they went out with a perfectly baked assortment of bakery goodness! If you are still in town the restaurant is open till mid april! They will celebrate with a half price night in the restaurant as well, you will have to visit Abu - Cha for more details.
Out of respect for everyone that visited and worked in Niseko this season, the members of Niseko Webzine exhausted all efforts to stuff ourselves to the point of not being able to walk for the remainder of the day!
All we can say is, damn it was good! It was well and truly worth spending the day on the couch out of respect to everyone!
See you next season Abu - Cha!
Today in Niseko Abu - Cha bakery baked its last chocolate croissant for the season! In true Abu - Cha style they went out with a perfectly baked assortment of bakery goodness! If you are still in town the restaurant is open till mid april! They will celebrate with a half price night in the restaurant as well, you will have to visit Abu - Cha for more details.
Out of respect for everyone that visited and worked in Niseko this season, the members of Niseko Webzine exhausted all efforts to stuff ourselves to the point of not being able to walk for the remainder of the day!
All we can say is, damn it was good! It was well and truly worth spending the day on the couch out of respect to everyone!
See you next season Abu - Cha!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Jam Bar & Mina Mina = Jamina
Need something to fill in the 31st of March? Check out the two coolest bars in town for the event of the season! Jamina!
One fee of 1500yen for all you can drink at either bar! The cost of the ticket also lets you check out some live DJs!
Start the night off at Mina Mina and then move onto to Jam Bar to pay your farewell respects to the old Jam Bar and toast the arrival of the new Jam Bar for next season! Yep that is what we said, the current Jam Bar will undergo a face lift over the summer and be bigger (not to big) and better then ever ready for you to get down with the best pizza in town!
See you at Jamina!
One fee of 1500yen for all you can drink at either bar! The cost of the ticket also lets you check out some live DJs!
Start the night off at Mina Mina and then move onto to Jam Bar to pay your farewell respects to the old Jam Bar and toast the arrival of the new Jam Bar for next season! Yep that is what we said, the current Jam Bar will undergo a face lift over the summer and be bigger (not to big) and better then ever ready for you to get down with the best pizza in town!
See you at Jamina!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Niseko Night Sessions
We have found a lot of people ask us when and where we like to go riding? When we answer, people seemed shocked and dismayed that we like to lurk in the shadows of the trees after hours! Well not after the resort has closed, but after the normally accepted times that people spend on the mountain in the rest of the world – night sessions!
When you mention night skiing to the majority of the snow junkie enthusiasts people automatically imagine a skiable area of maybe one or two runs that have poor lighting covering terrain that is as interesting as listening to your grandfather talk about mowing the lawn on the weekend! Not here in Niseko!
With a vast amount of terrain open to riding across the Grand Hirafu (highest point of access for night sessions is just over 1000m of altitude!), Higashiyama and Annupuri areas it is surprising so many visitors to Niseko don’t pucker up and venture out into the darkness to get amongst the night powder sessions.
If you are feeling imaginative you will be surprised at how many areas have enough light for you to ride in. Add in a full moon you have what we call the “Blair Witch Project” factor! If you haven’t seen the movie “Blair Witch Project” get with the program and go and get it from your local video store, you will get the idea!
Next time you are planning on heading out for dinner or going for a few drinks in Niseko, just think for a moment, what would the Niseko Webzine be doing right now? Where would they be riding? I wonder if they are getting sick photos? Are they balls deep or even nipple deep in powder right now? Well no matter what your question, consider going for a night session while in Niseko, you will enjoy the uncrowded slopes and epic times you and your friends and family will have jibbing around on the beginner slopes or being deep into the world famous Niseko powder!
You can always go out drinking at home after all!
When you mention night skiing to the majority of the snow junkie enthusiasts people automatically imagine a skiable area of maybe one or two runs that have poor lighting covering terrain that is as interesting as listening to your grandfather talk about mowing the lawn on the weekend! Not here in Niseko!
With a vast amount of terrain open to riding across the Grand Hirafu (highest point of access for night sessions is just over 1000m of altitude!), Higashiyama and Annupuri areas it is surprising so many visitors to Niseko don’t pucker up and venture out into the darkness to get amongst the night powder sessions.
If you are feeling imaginative you will be surprised at how many areas have enough light for you to ride in. Add in a full moon you have what we call the “Blair Witch Project” factor! If you haven’t seen the movie “Blair Witch Project” get with the program and go and get it from your local video store, you will get the idea!
Next time you are planning on heading out for dinner or going for a few drinks in Niseko, just think for a moment, what would the Niseko Webzine be doing right now? Where would they be riding? I wonder if they are getting sick photos? Are they balls deep or even nipple deep in powder right now? Well no matter what your question, consider going for a night session while in Niseko, you will enjoy the uncrowded slopes and epic times you and your friends and family will have jibbing around on the beginner slopes or being deep into the world famous Niseko powder!
You can always go out drinking at home after all!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Who's Been Chillen In Niseko? Part 2.
As a follow up to who's been chillen in Niseko, we thought we should let you know the latest big star to blow in and out of town!
So where does the great Shaun White go to get the best powder?
To all the sceptics that think Niseko can not possibly have powder as dry as Colorado, take a lesson from one of the greatest ever snowboarders!
Niseko is the place to be!
Apologies for the poor quality of this interview, Harmony and Powder TV at their worst again.
So where does the great Shaun White go to get the best powder?
To all the sceptics that think Niseko can not possibly have powder as dry as Colorado, take a lesson from one of the greatest ever snowboarders!
Niseko is the place to be!
Apologies for the poor quality of this interview, Harmony and Powder TV at their worst again.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
It's ok Terje, everyone does it!!
Terje Hakonsen, the great Norwegian snowboarding legend has shared the feelings that the majority of the snowboarding community feels everyday they spend on the mountain. Terje himself described it as embarrassing as slipping over in the shower!
While recently boarding in Japan, Terje caught an edge while getting on the lift, fell and had the wind knocked out of him; later examinations in Norway revealed he had injured his shoulder.
With the Arctic Challenge just days away, Terje’s own event, has commented he does not think he will set any new world records like last year (9.8 meters out of the quarter-pipe) and will stick to basic tricks!
Welcome to our world Terje! You are still a god on our webzine!
Terje in action at the 2007 Oakley Arctic Challenge.
While recently boarding in Japan, Terje caught an edge while getting on the lift, fell and had the wind knocked out of him; later examinations in Norway revealed he had injured his shoulder.
With the Arctic Challenge just days away, Terje’s own event, has commented he does not think he will set any new world records like last year (9.8 meters out of the quarter-pipe) and will stick to basic tricks!
Welcome to our world Terje! You are still a god on our webzine!
Terje in action at the 2007 Oakley Arctic Challenge.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Who's Been Chillen In Niseko?
Niseko really has earned its world wide reputation as a powder paradise!
Over the last month or so if you have a well trained eye, you could pick many pro skiers and snowboarders ripping it on the mountain and chillen around town!
The guys from Poor Boyz Productions have been back in town to film for their new movie, as well as the Scandinavian Ski Team and the Volkl Snowboard Team, also filming for their new DVD, check out the teaser!
Over the last month or so if you have a well trained eye, you could pick many pro skiers and snowboarders ripping it on the mountain and chillen around town!
The guys from Poor Boyz Productions have been back in town to film for their new movie, as well as the Scandinavian Ski Team and the Volkl Snowboard Team, also filming for their new DVD, check out the teaser!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Northern Fox
It has been a while since the Niseko Webzine has reviewed a restaurant or bar so we thought it was time to venture out from under our rocks and check out The Northern Fox.
The Northern Fox (the old Lodge Ronde entrance) is a new addition to the Niseko night scene this year and was labeled to be the live music venue for Niseko. It is positioned right in the middle of town on the 343 (main road), giving it unsurpassed amounts of foot traffic and potential for a Niseko Hot Spot!
It seems that the decision to turn the old Lodge Ronde into The Northern Fox was a late decision as renovations to the building started very late in the year. From our first encounter with The Northern Fox it seems that the renovations was the only thing they had planned as we were very disappointed with the establishment, well that is not totally true, the renovation has turned it into a great looking bar with the highest level of potential in Niseko! It is just a shame that the purpose of the bar does not match the cliental they are trying to attract!
Traditionally a live music venue is targeted at the "mass" of the demographic in a location; however, The Northern Fox has gone out on a limb! The prices of drinks and snacks of this establishment reflect a high end up market bar, for example, the devil water we like to consume is Jack Daniels with a splash of Coke; The Northern Fox charges 1000 yen or the equivalent of $10 Australian!! Yep and that is only for 1 drink!
Our next point that gets us a little upset besides ridiculous drink prices is service, if you are looking for service just do NOT go to The Northern Fox!! Sitting at the bar (as from our experience this is where you get the quickest service) our first round of drinks took in the proximity of 10 minutes! I would like to mention we were sitting at the bar and the place was far from busy with no more than 50 people inside at the time with 8 staff that we could see on the floor (yes we started to count them after the first 5 minutes of not having a drink in front of us).
So where to go?? Well if you are after an up market bar you can not go past J-Sekka! The service is first class, friendly, quick and the establishment matches the products! J-Sekka also has the advantage of having multiple restaurants on-site! Not just bar snacks that you will find at The Northern Fox! Want some live music? Your best option is to check out bars such as Wild Bills and Barunba to see what is playing at the time!!
Last words of advice - Do not go to The Northern Fox!
The Northern Fox (the old Lodge Ronde entrance) is a new addition to the Niseko night scene this year and was labeled to be the live music venue for Niseko. It is positioned right in the middle of town on the 343 (main road), giving it unsurpassed amounts of foot traffic and potential for a Niseko Hot Spot!
It seems that the decision to turn the old Lodge Ronde into The Northern Fox was a late decision as renovations to the building started very late in the year. From our first encounter with The Northern Fox it seems that the renovations was the only thing they had planned as we were very disappointed with the establishment, well that is not totally true, the renovation has turned it into a great looking bar with the highest level of potential in Niseko! It is just a shame that the purpose of the bar does not match the cliental they are trying to attract!
Traditionally a live music venue is targeted at the "mass" of the demographic in a location; however, The Northern Fox has gone out on a limb! The prices of drinks and snacks of this establishment reflect a high end up market bar, for example, the devil water we like to consume is Jack Daniels with a splash of Coke; The Northern Fox charges 1000 yen or the equivalent of $10 Australian!! Yep and that is only for 1 drink!
Our next point that gets us a little upset besides ridiculous drink prices is service, if you are looking for service just do NOT go to The Northern Fox!! Sitting at the bar (as from our experience this is where you get the quickest service) our first round of drinks took in the proximity of 10 minutes! I would like to mention we were sitting at the bar and the place was far from busy with no more than 50 people inside at the time with 8 staff that we could see on the floor (yes we started to count them after the first 5 minutes of not having a drink in front of us).
So where to go?? Well if you are after an up market bar you can not go past J-Sekka! The service is first class, friendly, quick and the establishment matches the products! J-Sekka also has the advantage of having multiple restaurants on-site! Not just bar snacks that you will find at The Northern Fox! Want some live music? Your best option is to check out bars such as Wild Bills and Barunba to see what is playing at the time!!
Last words of advice - Do not go to The Northern Fox!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Niseko & Global Warming
It is obvious from the crazy atmospheric conditions that have been changing over the last 20 years that global warming is a real concern and not a fictional fairytail that some one eyed scientist has conjured up to give environmentalist something to protest the corporate world about.
Just about everyone knows that the easiest way for everyone to help save the world from turning into a massive pizza oven is to make sure that you turn off lights when they are not needed. How easy is that? Something this small can make a massive difference!
The surprising thing is, in an area such as Niseko that relies on the environment producing epic snow conditions to be the drawcard to attract now thousands of tourists every winter, it seems that development companies have a faily low respect for social responsibility and the surrounding environmnet that they are making a very healthy living from!
It has been brought to our attention, mainly from walking home in the early hours of the morning that one particular development company seems to have external lights that are on from early afternoon when darkness falls till morning! This seems like an excessive waste and damaging the environment that they are profiting from!
Take the future of Niseko into your own hands Niseko developers and turn off the lights on the outside of your ugly buildings! The future generations that will continue to enjoy the epic powder that is produced here will thank you for it!
Just about everyone knows that the easiest way for everyone to help save the world from turning into a massive pizza oven is to make sure that you turn off lights when they are not needed. How easy is that? Something this small can make a massive difference!
The surprising thing is, in an area such as Niseko that relies on the environment producing epic snow conditions to be the drawcard to attract now thousands of tourists every winter, it seems that development companies have a faily low respect for social responsibility and the surrounding environmnet that they are making a very healthy living from!
It has been brought to our attention, mainly from walking home in the early hours of the morning that one particular development company seems to have external lights that are on from early afternoon when darkness falls till morning! This seems like an excessive waste and damaging the environment that they are profiting from!
Take the future of Niseko into your own hands Niseko developers and turn off the lights on the outside of your ugly buildings! The future generations that will continue to enjoy the epic powder that is produced here will thank you for it!
Friday, February 8, 2008
The New Niseko Guide
If it's your first time to Niseko or your a season regular, the Niseko Giude web page is a new and very handy little source of information. It will keep you up to date with all the new restaurants, bars and facilities that are in the area.
The site has a very cool feature of being able to rate restaurants, bars, accommodation etc. so you if it is your first time to Niseko, you can have all the knowledge of a local and know the spots that rock!! ; ) Don't forget to the location map so you know where you are heading; it will save you walking the streets at night when your freezing cold looking for that bar or restaurant that everyone is rating as super hot!!
Check it out at - http://www.nisekoguide.com/
The site has a very cool feature of being able to rate restaurants, bars, accommodation etc. so you if it is your first time to Niseko, you can have all the knowledge of a local and know the spots that rock!! ; ) Don't forget to the location map so you know where you are heading; it will save you walking the streets at night when your freezing cold looking for that bar or restaurant that everyone is rating as super hot!!
Check it out at - http://www.nisekoguide.com/
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