CLICK HERE to see photos, courtesy of 360Niseko.

It’s managed to warm for a few days since, but as this post is being typed, the 22nd of November 2011 has already seen 23cm of fresh snow in the last 24hrs with more to come before the mountain opens on the 26th of November.

Overnight parking

Fun for the owners…

Mom’s love the Trampoline too…

Country Resort Long Term Guests BBQ

カントリーリゾートに長期ご滞在のお客様同士や、スタッフとの交流会を兼ねたランチBBQを行いました。

We hosted a BBQ lunch for the guests staying in CR for more than one month. The objective of this even is to give the guests an opportunity to get to know each other and share information with others, including us CR staff.

天候にも恵まれ、約20名ほどのゲストが参加して楽しい午後の交流会になりました。

About 20 guests came to enjoy another beautiful summer day’s afternoon.

ニセコグリーンファームの有機野菜、新鮮な肉や魚介類をスタッフがグリルしてゲストのみなさまに振る舞いました。

Organic veggies from Niseko Green Farm (they are incredibly juicy!), fresh meat and fish fresh from the grill were served to the guests.

ゲストのみなさまからは、ご近所の方を知る機会になった、いろいろな情報が手に入った、スタッフの方とカジュアルにお話できてよかったなどと言った感想をいただきました。来年は、このような交流の機会をできれば月に３〜４度程度、定期的に設けたいなと思います。

Some of the guests gave us feedback, saying the event gave them a chance to know other people staying in CR, to get more info on Niseko and Hirafu, to casually chat with CR staff. It went so well that we hope to make this kind of event (fireworks, BBQ, tea party) happen regularly during summer time next year.

From the Brisbane Times.

Skiing in Japan is a head rush. The lightest, dryest powder imaginable served up with slopeside vending machines serving hot coffee in a can, private karaoke rooms, hot thermal spring onsens, wild monkeys and Japanese food.

With the northern winter soon rearing it’s head I am receiving emails asking about the safety of Japan since the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant ‘mishap’.

Here’s the deal. According to The Australian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) it is safe to ski in Japan. The DFAT Smart Traveller website has ARPANSA saying that ‘the current risk of radiological releases to the atmosphere is small’. The airlines are all flying into Japan and DFAT only suggests exercising caution when travelling to the coastal areas of northern Honshu due to ongoing clean up operations and the 30-80kms zone around the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Neither of which are close to the ski fields.

Japan ski resort infrastructures remain fully operational so it’s ‘good to go’ for 2011/2012 snow season. For more information visit the DFAT site.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/blogs/snow-it-all/resort-price-war-breaks-out-for-next-ski-season-20110922-1klvg.html#ixzz1YjXI1MFh

Jul 20th, 2011 Cherry Picking in Niki and BBQ at Country Resort

ニセコから車で45分の仁木町では、春から秋まで様々な果物狩りが体験できます。初夏のこの時期には、甘くておいしいサクランボが食べられます。大人一人1000円で、何種類ものサクランボが食べ放題。

Niki town which is about 45mins drive from Niseko is famous for producing fruits and you can enjoy picking the fruit of the season from June through October. Admission for an adult is about 1000yen, and you can eat as many cherries as you want! At the farm our staff went to, there were three kinds of cherry trees all well ripened.

そしてこの時期のお楽しみが、野外でのBBQ！お肉やお魚、それに採れたての地元野菜を炭火でジュージュー。カントリーリゾートのスタッフも仕事後に楽しくBBQです。

One more fun thing for summer time is going to be BBQ! Local veggies from Niseko are just awesome to be grilled with fish and meat.

Swimming in the river

北海道ニセコにもようやく夏がやってきました。気温が上がった日には、カントリーリゾート近くの尻別川でも、本気の川遊びや水泳ができます。
The short but beautiful summer has finally come to Niseko, Hokkaido. On warm sunny days, we can swim in the Shiribetsu river near Country Resort.

羊蹄山の残雪も解け、絶好のハイキングシーズンの到来です。
Snow on top of Mt. Yotei is almost gone and it’s the perfect season for hiking.

半月湖も緑でいっぱいです。
Hangetsu Lake surrounded by green.

ハイキングの後、楽しみなのはもちろんご飯ですね。ルピシアニセコのランチのパスタの写真です。
After a morning hike, what you want for sure is some of Niseko’s great food… (Pasta from Lupicia Niseko)

Gardening in progress in Country Resort

ガーデニングと家庭菜園

Country Resort staff do some gardening in one of our chalets’ backyard.

カントリーリゾートのスタッフ、シャレーのお庭でガーデニング中です。

We sowed sunflower seeds about 3 weeks ago in front of our office.

３週間程前にオフィス前の畑に植えたひまわりです。

Eggplant (there are some buds but still don’t see a flower…)

なす（つぼみはいくつかありますが、まだ花は咲きません）

Tomato and some lettuce in the back (see the yellow flowers?)

トマトとレタス（トマトの黄色い花が見えます）

And we also seeded Japanese basil Shiso, various kinds of lettuce, beans and Japanese medlar Biwa. Can’t wait to have huge bowls of salad for our lunch this summer!

他にもシソ、ミックスレタス、豆、ビワなどを植えました。お昼にサラダを食べられる日が待ち遠しいです！

Shibazakura (Moss Phlox) in the garden of Mr. Mishima.

倶知安駅近くの三島さん邸では、今年も芝桜がキレイに咲きました。

Shibazakura’s pretty pink flowers are so beautiful this year as well. This garden is just north of JR Kutchan Station and is owned by Mr. Mishima.

芝桜でできた羊蹄山！山頂の雪まで再現されています。

Mini Mt. Yotei covered by the pink flowers is snow capped with white flowers.

2011年5月6日　お花見 in 函館

北海道の桜は例年GWに見頃を迎えます。今年は、函館の五稜郭公園へ行ってきました。

Cherry blossom season in Hokkaido usually begins during Golden Week (the first week of May). Country Resort team drove to Hakodate for a spring day out.

天候に恵まれず、例年より遅めの開花でしたが、きれいに咲いています。
Although the cherry blossoms are late blooming this year, finally on the day, they were in full bloom.

五稜郭タワーと桜。
Gryokaku Tower and cherry blossoms.

カモメのカップルもお花見中のようです。
A sea gull couple is enjoying the view too.

そして函館といえば、ラッキーピエロのハンバーガー（写真はチャイニーズチキンバーガー）。美味しくいただきました。
And Hakodate is well known for Lucky Pierrot Burger! Yum yum…