Singing & Dancing in the Rain - Kanronomori Summer Festival

Kanronomori Summer Festival

When ever you come to Niseko there will always be something to do that you did not plan to do. Even though I live here this is still true and it wasn't till after watching the All Blacks beat the Wallabies last Saturday that a friend told me about the Kanronomori Summer Festival or kanronomori natsu matsuri.

So off I went to Kanronomori, a boutique hotel at the western end of the Niseko resort area tucked away at the foot of Moiwa Ski Area in the mori [forest]. The festival was small and relaxed and had all the usual Japanese food stalls from Okonomiyaki to barbecued hotate [scallop]. Japanese singers entertained the mostly seated crowd as they ate, drank and talked or just soaked up the atmosphere.

But then unexpected and in show of the Japanese great acceptance and adoption of good things a large group of drummers appeared and before we knew it the whole court yard was full of amazing samba sounds and dancers, an awesome and totally energizing experience. Not to any ones surprise the night was finished off with hanabi [flower fire] or fireworks

Japanese love their festivals so no matter what time of year you are here you will sure be treated to one somewhere on your travels and don't forget if you are around Hokkaido during summer to drop by the Odori Beer Garden which is part of the Sapporo Summer Festival.

Odori Beer Garden kicks off tonight 21 July 2009

Kanronomori Samba an awesome atmosphere for all the family