Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Hit the Slopes
Blessed with a mountainous landscape and
some of the heaviest snowfall in the world, is
it any wonder that Japan boasts some 600 ski EAT
resorts? Although the mountains might not
compare to the scale of the Alps or the Rockies,
the region of Hokkaido compensates by offering Kotogaume
the most reliable ski season in the world, with Nabemono, or nabe for
certain resorts averaging 60 ft (18 m) of snow- short, is enjoyed
fall annually. The best-quality powder is throughout the cold
arguably found in Niseko (p319), where you winter months.
can take advantage of the excellent skiing and Traditionally, this
snowboarding conditions, as well as the hotpot is eaten by
buoyant après ski. groups sitting around
the gas burner on which
the dish bubbles. This
A snowboarder turning Tokyo eatery, owned by
on a piste in Furano, one of a former sumo wrestler,
Hokkaido’s many resorts is one of the best places
to sample nabe.
! F4 ⌂ 3-4-4 Kinshi,
Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-
0013 § (03) 3624-7887
¢ L

A little girl,
crafted out
of snow,
at the
Sapporo
Snow
Festival

A sculpture of a
church, Sapporo
Snow Festival

It’s Snow Time!
Japan receives more snow for its latitude than any other country
on earth, and the Japanese celebrate this epic snowfall with
enthusiasm. The most famous snow festival is held in Sapporo
(p320), where hundreds of incredible sculptures, crafted from
ice and snow, punctuate the city. Look around at night, when
the sculptures of global landmarks and sci-fi characters are
Relaxing in a rotenburo illuminated with neon lights. Step inside one of the ice huts – or
overlooking a lake in the kamakura – at the Yokote Kamakura Festival, to enjoy a mochi
Akan National Park (rice cake), chased down with warming amazake (rice wine).

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