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Snowboarding Sushi Style!
where_ur_at : step-on
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> snowboarding sushi style
The Truth is Out There
There is an age old misconception that Japan
is a) expensive, and b) crowded. While a trip
here is obviously going to cost more than a
jaunt to Andorra, the general cost of living
is on par with the UK, with many things being
considerably cheaper. Petrol for instance is
about half the price of the UK, a pack of twenty
ciggies will set you back just £1.50 and
eating out is a generally a bargain. Accommodation,
and lift passes are on line with European prices,
but the cost of public transport will sting
a little. However – saying that, you get
what you pay for; a highly efficient, bang on
time network, and it’s worth riding Japan’s
bullet train, (which is the worlds fastest),
for the experience alone.
Whilst Japan does have a population density
higher than that of Europe, this doesn’t
mean that the slopes are crowded. In fact, the
Japanese tendency to work insanely long hours
(e.g. 12 hour days, 6 days a week) mean that
apart from Sundays, resorts are often very quiet.
I have personally experienced a one man powder
session where I was the only person to rip the
pow all night which adds a new slant to the
mantra “There’s no friends on a
powder day”.
Many of the smaller ski areas in Japan offer
night riding sessions till 10 or 11pm, which
are perfect for those who may have risen late
due to over indulgence. Whilst the illuminated
area is often small, you can still hit freshies,
ride the park or just practice your switch riding
at night.
Off the Slopes
You may have heard that the Japanese are a shy,
reserved race, which is true to some extent.
However, get out of the big cities to the more
remote areas and you will be treated with genuine
kindness and generosity. As one of the most
homogenous countries on the planet, foreigners
are generally viewed with great curiosity, especially
outside of the well worn tourist zones.
Bust out a simple “konichiwa” (good
day) or display your chop stick talents and
you will be viewed with jaw dropping amazement
by the locals. Many Japanese will be keen to
try out their English on you, as they rarely
get a chance to do so on a real live foreigner,
so you can often find yourself the centre of
attention, which normally works in your favour.
bustarhymes: Woo Haa -
I got you all in check. There's more to karaoke
than "I will survive".
Males of the species will be pleased to hear
that it’s true the J-girls dig western
men. Perceived as being exotic, interesting,
and apparently known for treatin’ the
ladies right, (don’t know where they got
that one from) if you’re a gaijin (forienger)
you’ll attract attention from the opposite
sex without even trying. Western females can
find a J-boy to take home if they go to the
right places, but in this country the tables
are turned, and it’s the guys who’ll
be turning heads, rather than the girls. So
if you’ve got an eye for the Japs, or
just a japs eye, you’ll love this country.
The Japanese love to drink, and the availability
of beer and sake (Japanese Rice wine) in vending
machines in ski resorts, and indeed the streets
is testament to this. There are plenty of bars
and clubs to get friendly with the locals and
once the alcohol starts flowing, the Japanese
lose all trace of their stereotypical shyness,
so expect to be questioned about anything, from
the length of your dong to the colour of your
pubes.
One of the best things about Japan is the abundance
of both indoor, and outdoor public hot springs,
known as Onsens. With so much geothermal activity,
Onsens are everywhere, and many ski resorts
have them on site. This is the perfect way to
relax those aching muscles after a day on the
slopes. These are almost all single sex affairs,
as it is Onsen law to bathe in your birthday
suit. The standard procedure is to shower down
first, and then take a dip in the tub; bombing
is most certainly a faux pas. For those that
have ink, a word of warning: in Japan, tattoos
are generally frowned upon by the older generation.
This is because until recently tattoos were
the trade mark of Japanese Mafia (Yakuza) members.
Many Onsens do not allow those with tattoos
to enter, and some even display signs to this
effect.
Aside from snow, Japan has tonnes to offer the
traveller, from magnificent ancient temples,
to the neon bustle of the cities complete with
karaoke bars and love hotels. Even the humble
supermarket with its octopus tentacles, pig
intestines, and unidentifiable vegetables, becomes
a tourist attraction for the wide eyed westerner,
so it’s worth taking a few days off from
riding to lap up a little eastern promise.
So, if you want to ride somewhere off the beaten
track, see a country which is wildly different
from the west, which offers some of the world’s
best powder riding and most importantly, visit
a country that sells beer from vending machines,
it’s gotta be Japan next season.
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