Grand Hirafu, Higashiyama, Annupuri, Kokusai,Open!!!


Last weekend brought the day everyone had been waiting for, opening day ! Mother natures timing was perfect, just a few days before things were looking a little sketchy, snow was a little, as they say thin on the ground but about Wednesday last week it began to snow again, and when Saturday came around the mountains that were planning to open opened, and opened in style.

In Niseko, Hirafu was the first of the big 3 to open and skiers and boarders were treated to an unforgettable first day, more than 50cms of fresh powder was there for the tracking and although there wasn't much off piste skiing and snowboarding due to the unescapable sasa (a plant in the bamboo family) there was still plenty of fresh dry powder to be had.

Over the hill in Sapporo, Kokusai ski area was also loaded with powder and the ungroomed olympic downhill course provided superb fresh turns all day Friday and Saturday. Both the Niseko areas and Kokusai offered discount tickets making opening day just a little more special. All in all it was a great opening day and hopefully a sign of more great days to come.

http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resortdetail.php?resid=128