30 October 2010

first tracks 2010/11


First Tracks Hirafu
photo: Glen Claydon http://studio343.jp/2010/10/
The e-mail sent  to members and friends of AAC Niseko this week was just in time for the first snow (“hatsu yuki”) in Niseko.  As we predicted, it wasn’t long before a few of the locals would be making the rest of us envious by photographing their first tracks (“hatsu torakku”?) for the White Season. 

Admittedly, there is not yet much of a snow base and it is still likely to be a few weeks before the ski lifts start spinning in Niseko.  We’ll start counting the flakes from then.

20 October 2010

aacniseko competition

We have plenty of people visiting our website, but we would like to keep in contact with them and expand our list of potential lodge guests and prospective members.  We are therefore having a competition to help build our contact list of people who are interested in Niseko snowsports.

the prize
The prize is seven nights accommodation for two people at the Australian Alpine Club Niseko lodge (currently worth up to A$600 per person in peak season).

how to enter
Send an e-mail to us at aacnisekocompetition@ozemail.com.au, CC-ed to the e-mail addresses of two or more friends (over 18 years of age) who are interested in snowsports in Niseko. Paste this link http://tinyurl.com/2cvkb2b to our competition into your e-mail, so that they know why you are sending it and so that they might enter too.

the rules
You must be over 18 years of age to enter or claim this prize. One entry (e-mail address) per person. The winner will be selected by computer randomisation from the e-mail entries received by 12:00pm JST on Saturday 20 November 2010. The winner will be notified by e-mail on Monday 22 November 2010. The accommodation prize is to be taken in either the 2010/11 or 2011/12 Japanese winter seasons, subject to our mutual best endeavours and the prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash. You and your friends will receive the occasional e-mail from us, mainly promoting lodge accommodation and other Australian Alpine Club Niseko related news, but we won’t misuse your e-mail address and you can opt out of receiving e-mail from us. By entering this competition you accept these terms and conditions.

more information
More information about Australian Alpine Club Niseko is available through http://www.aacniseko.com/News and updates are published on http://aacniseko.blogspot.com/ and you can also follow us on http://twitter.com/aacniseko.

UPDATE: 20 November 2010
The competion has now closed and the winner has been advised. 
Thank you to everyone who expressed an interest and participated.

11 October 2010

takkyubin

One of Japan tourism's best-kept secrets is the nationwide delivery service Takkyubin.  Fast and reliable, it delivers almost anything; skis, suitcases, snowboards etc within 24 hours.  It is the reason why Japanese tourists often seem to 'travel light'.

Takkyubin can save you from hauling luggage such as snowsports equipment, particularly if you want to do other things such as spend time in Tokyo or other tourist attractions.  Pick-ups can be arranged from hotels, airports or convenience stores and the cost is reasonable.  An average-sized suitcase can be sent from Kanto (Tokyo area) to Hokkaido for ¥2,210 (about A$28). 

Takkyubin contact details.
Website: www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/english
Telephone: +81 3 3541 3411

03 October 2010

first snow competition

Predicting each winter's first Niseko Hirafu snowfall has become something of a tradition at The Kutchannel. This is their 3rd Annual 'Niseko First Snow' contest, and this year they have a sponsor, The Barn, and a new system for tracking entries.

You can now use a Kutchannel username and password (you may need to register first) to log into http://NisekoFirstSnow.com/ and make your prediction for when there will be the first sustained snowfall in Niseko Hirafu at village level.

If your prediction proves more accurate than anyone else's, than you will receive a free world class dinner for two at the new French bistro, The Barn, offering all-season alpine food and wine fare in Hokkaido's warmest authentic bistro atmosphere.