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Alpen Ridge

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Alpen Ridge 40385,000,000

Ski-in ski-out, luxury, three bedroom apartment. Huge apartment with uninterrupted views of Mt Yotei from 2 balconies and the finest finishes. LOCATION: Upper Hirafu VillageFLOOR AREA: 122m

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12 Niseko Nocturne

PreludeIts four oclock on a winters day in Niseko. The

sun has dutifully completed its work for the day and is fading gracefully down, beyond the snowy mountain caps saying Mata ne! to the people down below. The bright, sunny sky gives way to the dark sky of night and the stars begin to get their twinkle on one by one. On the mountain skiers and snowboarders are making their final turns of the day, heading down towards the mountain base where some will retire to their accommodation and others will call their friends and head out for dinner.

Whilst it might seem to be the end of another great day in Niseko, on the contrary, it is just the prelude, marking the beginning of a great Niseko night.

AllegroThe night lights of yellow and white fill

the air as the stage curtain on nocturnal Niseko rolls up. What you will see is a quiet, snowy wonderland revealed against the inky night sky. Looking down from the top of the mountain, out across the village rooftops towards Mount Yotei you will witness the spectacle that is Niseko After Dark. What you are seeing may not be far from what Van Gogh once saw that night over Saint-Remy when he was inspired to draw The Starry Night (De Sterrennacht). Fields of powdery snow softly glowing in the light of the moon, gentle fires burning in the windows of the houses and bars and shadows flickering beneath the muffled glow of the street lamps.

Skiing after sundown can be an exhilarating experience, quite possibly unlike anything you will have experienced before. Thrill as you ride the night, flicking in and out of the shadows. Relax and let your cares slough away as you float across fields covered in diamond dust and the world falls into silence. Let the night air refresh your soul and feel yourself grow more confident as you merge with the night.

You may be surprised to find that there are actually less people competing for that perfect line at night. The fact is that many skiers and snowboarders have already had a full day on the snow and by late afternoon theyre ready to call it a day and spend the night in quiet camaraderie with family and friends. On a night when the snow is falling this can be a great opportunity to enjoy Nisekos untracked powder with far shorter lift lines!

On a night when the snow is still falling this can be an opportunity to enjoy Nisekos untracked powder with far shorter lift lines!

by Helen Fung & Ben Tredinnick

PHOTO: NISEKO PHOTOGRAPHY

13Niseko Nocturne

AdagioDining OutWhile night skiing is an experience not to be missed

neither should you forget to partake in the Niseko nightlife. Hirafu is no doubt the best area for aprs-ski activities as restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs are conveniently located only a short distance from your accommodation and the ski hill. For a unique snow town experience make sure to visit the ice bar outside Blo Blo or easy to slip out of the resort and try something different. Just a fifteen-minute journey away and you will be able to experience a whole other Hokkaido. Buses run between the Hirafu Welcome Center and JR Kutchan Station everyday from 5pm to midnight until March 31, 2011. You can purchase a weeks pass for 200 yen or, better yet, a season pass for 500 yen. These passes can be purchased when you board the bus or from Machi no Eki Plat in Kutchan.

OnsensThe best thing about Japanese snow towns is the

convenience of nearby onsens. Many skiers and snowboarders rank a visit to an onsen after riding the mountain all day as one of the most memorable experiences. The naturally soothing spring water and tranquil setting make for a perfect finale to a perfect day. Each onsen is unique and so you should try as many as you can. If you leave Niseko without taking the opportunity to sit naked in a warm bath with snow falling about your head then you will have missed one of Nisekos signature night time experiences. The chilly wind is a counterpoint to the heat of the onsen water; snowflakesdance their way to oblivion as they melt in the hot vapour. Some recommended night time onsens are:1. Popolo: Located in Scot Hotel behind Welcome

Center (opening hours: 10AM 10PM)2. Prince Hirafutei: Located on Hirafu-Zaka

(opening hours: 1PM 10PM)3. Yukoro : Located in Hirafu lower village

(opening hours: 2PM 9PM)SkiJapan.com offers Private Onsen Tour. For more information and reservations, please refer to page 37.

Coda / FinaleIn Niseko at night there are endless opportunities to enjoy yourself in ways that you can only experience in a snow town. Whether its riding the mountain with the wind at your back, snowshoeing across a powder laden field, marvelling at the night scenery whilst riding a chairlift under the full moon or having a night on the town with friends, I guarantee you, these memories of nocturnal Niseko will not melt away; it may even change your perception of the

phrase a cold, winters night.

See you on the snow!

Mina Mina Popolo Niseko Scot

Prince Hirafutei Prince

Hirafutei

PHOTO: NISEKO PHOTOGRAPHY

14 Niseko Nocturne

Night Skiing TipsSkiing at night is undoubtedly fun and worthwhile

doing while you are in Niseko. But safety is also important, especially if you are new to night skiing. Here are some tips:

DressWarmly:Thetemperaturecandrop5to10degrees when the sun goes down, so make sure you dress in layers and wear at least one layer more than you would during the day. Also, the higher up the mountain you go, the colder it will be.

WearaBeanie:Notonlyarebeaniesfashionable,theyre essential when night skiing as the wind atnightcanbeextremelychilly.Roughly60%ofbodyheatislostthroughthehead.Wearinganeck-warmer is also recommended for those who are not used to minus temperatures.

UseGoggleswithClearLenses:Goodvisibility is the key to safety when night skiing.

DontGoSolo:Skiingwithafriendisalwaysrecommended, especially at night. Make sure your friend knows where you are.

StartoutSlowly:Snowconditionsatnightmaybeverydifferentfromthoseduringthedaytime.Doafew warm-up runs to get a feel for conditions before you let loose.

RefrainfromUsingHeadphones:Listeningtoyourown music while skiing may sound great, but its not recommended at night when you will need your wits about you.

DontDrinkandSki:Itscommonsense,butholdoffhavingthatcelebratorybeeruntilyouvehungupyour skis for the night!

Yukoro HirafuLowerVillage

SkiJapan.com SkiJapan.com

Whilst it might seem to be the end of another great day in Niseko, on the contrary, it is just the prelude, marking the beginning of a great Niseko night.

PHoTo:NISEKoPHoToGRAPHY

By Tadashi Takehara

17Pachinko

Card games, roulettes, horse racing, the dogs, boat racing and mahjong; in every part of the world youll find a different ways to gamble and in Japan Pachinko is number one. Youll not find a town in Japan that doesnt have a Pachinko parlour. In fact many larger towns and cities will have more than one. Kutchan has three Victoria, Dragon and Napori.

Pachinko is big business in Japan with several major franchises. Advertisements for the latest machines are frequently shown on television and printed in newspapers and magazines. Collaborations with popular manga series and dramas like Neon Genesis Evangelion ( ), Fist of the North Star ( ) and Winter Sonata ( ) to produce themed pachinko machines with unique stories to attract new customers are commonplace. Pachinko parlours usually consist of long rows of machines sometimes in multiple floors. Large pachinko parlours often have massage services, restaurants and other relaxation options so that customers basically never have to leave the building.

From the street Pachinko machines look very much like slot machines you might find in your average bar or casino back home but the reality is that theyre very different. Instead of a screen with numbers of pictures flashing by youll find a kind of vertical maze with metal balls falling from top to bottom somewhat like a pinball machine. A round dial on the front can be used to deflect the balls with the goal being to amass as many balls as possible in your tray at the bottom. Whilst the game play is quite analogue the accompanying LCD screen shows manga style movies related to your score or current winning streak.

The game itself is quite easy to play:

Insertyourmoneyandhitthestartbutton.

Asthemetalballsbegintofallyouneedtousethe dial to deflect them with the goal being to get the balls into special holes that will activate the roulette. Three numbers in a row is a win resulting in extra balls or extra spins.

Collectasmanyballsinyourtrayaspossible.Successfulplayers can fill multiple trays in a single sitting.

Thegameisoverwhenyourunoutofballsordecide to cash out.

Ballsinyourtraycanthenbeexchangedatthemaincounter for goods, house credit or special tokens.

Seasoned players will develop their own set of rules for successful play, often going so far as to

analyse a machine in an attempt to determine their success of winning. An important point to note is that gambling for cash prizes is illegal in Japan. So why do so many people play pachinko if they cant win money you ask? It is well known that the special tokens won at these parlours can be sold at pawnshops that are located off premises. The pachinko parlour often runs these shops and exchanges the tokens for money. Pachinko pros have been known to make enough from their winnings to purchase items like computers, TVs and even cars.

As with all kinds of gambling moderation is a must, however, if youre spending a night on the town in Kutchan with your mates why not drop into a Pachinko parlour for an Only in Japan experience.

Black Cat Courier

VALE POOL & ONSEN

PUBLIC ONSENMens & Womens SeparateAdult JPY1,000 Child JPY500

POOL & ONSENAdult JPY1,300 Child JPY650

open daily 7am to 9am & 4pm to 10pm79410

PRIVATE FAMILY ONSEN12pm-1pm & 2pm-3pmJPY22,500

VALE BAR and Grill

Relaxed Apres Loungingwith Sophisticated Cuisine

0136-21-5833

7:00am ~ late7

open daily

Experience Nisekos Finest

Hirafu Village, Niseko 166-9 Aza-Yamada Kutchan-Cho, Abuta-Gun Hokkaido Japan 044-0081web www.nisade.com email reservations@nisade.com telephone +81 136 23 1724

VALE POOL & ONSEN

PUBLIC ONSENMens & Womens SeparateAdult JPY1,000 Child JPY500

POOL & ONSENAdult JPY1,300 Child JPY650

open daily 7am to 9am & 4pm to 10pm79410

PRIVATE FAMILY ONSEN12pm-1pm & 2pm-3pmJPY22,500

VALE BAR and Grill

Relaxed Apres Loungingwith Sophisticated Cuisine

0136-21-5833

7:00am ~ late7

open daily

Experience Nisekos Finest

Hirafu Village, Niseko 166-9 Aza-Yamada Kutchan-Cho, Abuta-Gun Hokkaido Japan 044-0081web www.nisade.com email reservations@nisade.com telephone +81 136 23 1724

OkonomiyakiAs you like it!

Taste the HokkaidofreshnessLocated in Soga, this spacious ramen noodle restaurant uses the Nisekos locally produced food like potatoes and corns in their menu. Niseko spring water is used in their ramen soup. Seafood rice, BBQ beef are also available.

355-2 Aza Soga Niseko0136-44-338011:00 - 15:0017:00 - 21:00

Taste the HokkaidofreshnessLocated in Soga, this spacious ramen noodle restaurant uses the Nisekos locally produced food like potatoes and corns in their menu. Niseko spring water is used in their ramen soup. Seafood rice, BBQ beef are also available.

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Authentic JapaneseSeafood Dinner and Sake

Great QualitySeafood Cuisine and SushiSeafood Cuisine and Sushi*

Fresh, DeliciousA Restaurant For Every One!

senchou.com

Senchou 0136-22-2001

167-10 Aza yamadaKutchan17:0024:00Open daily

Senchou 2nd 0136-22-5454

1F, 191-39 Aza yamadaKutchan17:0024:00Open daily

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*Sushi available in Senchou 2nd only.

Nak and Disco

43Summer in Niseko

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We accept CASH only. Bookings essential. From 12pm to 8pm daily.

Bookings Phone: 0136 23 0788Gnd Floor Java House, Sakura-Zaka St, Hirafu

Sports RemedialRelaxation

30 mins 4500Y

60 mins 8000YFresh Powder - Fresh CafeBrand new takeawy Fresh Cafe is located between the base of the Ace Family Lift and the Alpen Ridge condominiums. Enjoy quality espresso varieties, tasty treats, toasted wraps, soups and snacks. For usy riders on the go!

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The Other Kind of Fresh...The brand-new takeaway Fresh Caf is conveniently located between the base of Ace Family lift and Alpen Ridge condominiums right out the front of NBS. Stop by for quality espresso varieties, tasty treats, toasted wraps, soups and snacks for busy riders on the run. So this winter, remember to grab a Fresh stop when you ski in ski out!

melania kirpichnikov

TROY STIDOLPH

Yoko Homma

DAISUKEOSHIO

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