Travelogue
Japan 2015 Part II
17:23Hello, I am back with Part II. If you haven't read Part I, why don't read it first? *wink*
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING OKAY DON'T JUST SCROLL FOR THE PHOTOS. I HAD A HARD TIME TYPING THEM OUT. T.T && PART II IS LONGER THAN PART I EVEN THOU I PROMISED I AM CUTTING DOWN BUT EVERYTHING IS TOO NICE.
Day 4 & 5: 18 March & 19 March 2015
I had my first ski lesson at Niseko Village on Day 4 and Jon had his Level 4 class on Day 5. We attended the 4 hours (10 am to 3.30pm) group lesson with Lift Access which costs us about 10,000 YEN each. It was a good deal for me as i had one to one PM lesson with my ski instructor by scaring my classmates away with my noob skills in the morning (just kidding). We bought one whole day lift pass so one can ski while another one in lesson. The whole day lift pass allows us to take Gondola to the peak of the mountain. They have whole mountain lift pass as well.
#TIPS Try to travel around mid March to early April to avoid tourist crowd and have enough snow to ski.
Basically this was how we spent our two days: Breakfast > Ski > Lunch > Ski > Dinner > Onsen > Sleep
Our free breakfast at hotel before skiing
On our way to Niseko Village
Niseko Village
Featuring our Lunch at Prativo, a short 2 minutes drive from Niseko Village where we had been skiing. Prativo is famous for their milk desserts and local vegetable dishes made with 1550 YEN includes a cooked-to-order main course and a buffet spread which includes local vegetable dishes, dairy dishes, and free flow juices and milk. Overall, it was a light but fulfilling meal to kick-start our afternoon ski session.
Onsen egg, egg plant, potato salad and yoghurt drink all made of Niseko Milk Kobo
We had our dinner at 乌松 for one of the night, about 15 mins drive from Higashimaya. If you don't mind waiting, this is the best yakitori restaurant offering the yummy yakitori at the lowest price (2 for 250 YEN, around SGD 2.84).
We ordered the beer without knowing Japan draft beer is so awesome
The awkward dish which until now we still do not know what is it
Must order: Chicken meat balls with egg yolk
Day 6: 20 March 2015
Finally a day break from skiing and we decided to wander out. Our first stop was Niseko most famous soba restaurant: Rakuyichi 乐一. The queue was madness. We started queuing 30 minutes before the restaurant opens and another 1 hour half all because they only serve 12 customers at a time. Guess what was the saddest part? 天不做美 it started raining when it was already so cold outside and of course we were drenched. T.T
is it me or this handwritten Japanese menu looks beautiful?
The only food that I don't mind eating vegetable // one of the best tempura
Most famous roasted duck cold soba
Before heading to our new hotel Yama Shizen at Hirafa, we went to Milk Kobo for their desserts, right beside Prativo. We grabbed their cream puffs, egg tarts and pudding. Personally I love their egg tarts more than their best selling cream puff as the puff was harder than expected (maybe because we left it in the fridge for too long hehehehehe).
Moving in to Yama Shizen at Hirafa, wasn't my favourite hotel because we have to share some amenities with our next door.
// on a side note this post is getting too long but I only at Day 6 when I gonna finish it T.T
Life is when you are eating yummy food with beautiful scenery
#MUSTBUYMUSTEAT
Day 7: 21 March 2015
Back to skiing on the 7th day, also it was our last day to ski. We decided to split our way after lunch. I went to Annapuri and he went to Hirafu. Annapuri is gentler than Hirafu, suitable for noob like me. What do you expect from someone only ski for 3 days, and suck at skating and roller blading?
While skiing down // trying super hard to stand still and took those photos
We went up to the peak of Annapuri to take photo (for me) and ski down (for Jon). The view was magnificent. Jon asked me to take photo of him and this was how the conversation was like:
Jon: Help me take photo.
Me: From here can? (Super far from the track)
Jon: How to take like this? Come nearer!
Me: *walk a bit closer* Is this okay?
Jon: 这样哪里拍得到东西?
Me: 我不要过去 很恐怖 T.T
I did my best. I need some medical proof to prove I am afraid of height.
We had our lunch at [insert name: I need to ask Jon] and it was one of the unique ramen serving in Niseko. We ordered Spicy Niseko Ramen. This ramen was served with creamy and fluffy potato foam with spicy miso soup, a perfect match with their thicker than usual noodles. Sorry I need some tissue to wipe my saliva off before I continue. I am definitely going back for this or someone please bring this in to Singapore.
Here comes the main lead
I need more tissue
After lunch, we continue skiing at our desired mountain. I wouldn't say I enjoyed skiing at that point of time yet it is something I missed the most now. Best part of skiing: you won't bleed from falling; worse part of skiing: "I can't stop myself from going down so fast! Someone save me!"
Remember I mentioned in Part I that car is an essential at Niseko? LET ME TELL YOU THE REASON NOW. Since I refused to go Hirafu with Jon, so I need to take the bus back with my ski and my ski pole and walked back to hotel with my heavy ski shoes. It was my first time ever sweated in temperature of 10 degrees. I take back my word: "我可以一个人回去的 很容易的." I will never say that anymore, at least not with my ski.
You served me well
Dinner was at Yoteimaru, recommended by Tripadvisor so how can we miss it? Avoid going during dinner time, you will queue up in the cold. I apologised for the lack of photos, I was busy munching my food and putting the sushi into my mouth.
Best chawanmushi // the sweetness was just right not overpowering the egg
The Yumeguri Onsen Pass that we bought allows us to go 3 onsen at 1,440 YEN which is very worth since the average entrance fee was around YEN 800 each. We tried Hilton Hotel Onsen, Grand Niseko Hotel Onsen with the pass and our hotel One Niseko Hotel Onsen. They have both indoor and outdoor onsen, and Grand Niseko Onsen has mixed gender onsen; no worries they have Onsen robe for renting. Hilton Hotel had the most people, mainly China, so if you want to see Chinese naked body you should come here. HAHAHAHAHA I like Grand Niseko mixed gender Onsen because it is bigger and their mesmerizing scenery. To prevent any misunderstanding, we are allowed to cover ourselves in mixed gender onsen.
Before ending, last #TIPS for this post: Lawsons are your best friend in Japan. They sell a lot of yummy microwave food. I had a great time here. Bye Niseko, we will meet again. Everyone should come here at least once in a lifetime.
I shall end my part II here before I bore anyone of you here. I will be back soon with Part III. We are going to Hakodate and Tokyo!
Read other parts here
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING OKAY DON'T JUST SCROLL FOR THE PHOTOS. I HAD A HARD TIME TYPING THEM OUT. T.T && PART II IS LONGER THAN PART I EVEN THOU I PROMISED I AM CUTTING DOWN BUT EVERYTHING IS TOO NICE.
Day 4 & 5: 18 March & 19 March 2015
I had my first ski lesson at Niseko Village on Day 4 and Jon had his Level 4 class on Day 5. We attended the 4 hours (10 am to 3.30pm) group lesson with Lift Access which costs us about 10,000 YEN each. It was a good deal for me as i had one to one PM lesson with my ski instructor by scaring my classmates away with my noob skills in the morning (just kidding). We bought one whole day lift pass so one can ski while another one in lesson. The whole day lift pass allows us to take Gondola to the peak of the mountain. They have whole mountain lift pass as well.
#TIPS Try to travel around mid March to early April to avoid tourist crowd and have enough snow to ski.
Basically this was how we spent our two days: Breakfast > Ski > Lunch > Ski > Dinner > Onsen > Sleep
Our free breakfast at hotel before skiing
On our way to Niseko Village
Niseko Village
Featuring our Lunch at Prativo, a short 2 minutes drive from Niseko Village where we had been skiing. Prativo is famous for their milk desserts and local vegetable dishes made with 1550 YEN includes a cooked-to-order main course and a buffet spread which includes local vegetable dishes, dairy dishes, and free flow juices and milk. Overall, it was a light but fulfilling meal to kick-start our afternoon ski session.
Onsen egg, egg plant, potato salad and yoghurt drink all made of Niseko Milk Kobo
We had our dinner at 乌松 for one of the night, about 15 mins drive from Higashimaya. If you don't mind waiting, this is the best yakitori restaurant offering the yummy yakitori at the lowest price (2 for 250 YEN, around SGD 2.84).
We ordered the beer without knowing Japan draft beer is so awesome
The awkward dish which until now we still do not know what is it
Must order: Chicken meat balls with egg yolk
Day 6: 20 March 2015
Finally a day break from skiing and we decided to wander out. Our first stop was Niseko most famous soba restaurant: Rakuyichi 乐一. The queue was madness. We started queuing 30 minutes before the restaurant opens and another 1 hour half all because they only serve 12 customers at a time. Guess what was the saddest part? 天不做美 it started raining when it was already so cold outside and of course we were drenched. T.T
is it me or this handwritten Japanese menu looks beautiful?
The only food that I don't mind eating vegetable // one of the best tempura
Most famous roasted duck cold soba
Before heading to our new hotel Yama Shizen at Hirafa, we went to Milk Kobo for their desserts, right beside Prativo. We grabbed their cream puffs, egg tarts and pudding. Personally I love their egg tarts more than their best selling cream puff as the puff was harder than expected (maybe because we left it in the fridge for too long hehehehehe).
Moving in to Yama Shizen at Hirafa, wasn't my favourite hotel because we have to share some amenities with our next door.
// on a side note this post is getting too long but I only at Day 6 when I gonna finish it T.T
Life is when you are eating yummy food with beautiful scenery
#MUSTBUYMUSTEAT
Day 7: 21 March 2015
Back to skiing on the 7th day, also it was our last day to ski. We decided to split our way after lunch. I went to Annapuri and he went to Hirafu. Annapuri is gentler than Hirafu, suitable for noob like me. What do you expect from someone only ski for 3 days, and suck at skating and roller blading?
While skiing down // trying super hard to stand still and took those photos
We went up to the peak of Annapuri to take photo (for me) and ski down (for Jon). The view was magnificent. Jon asked me to take photo of him and this was how the conversation was like:
Jon: Help me take photo.
Me: From here can? (Super far from the track)
Jon: How to take like this? Come nearer!
Me: *walk a bit closer* Is this okay?
Jon: 这样哪里拍得到东西?
Me: 我不要过去 很恐怖 T.T
I did my best. I need some medical proof to prove I am afraid of height.
We had our lunch at [insert name: I need to ask Jon] and it was one of the unique ramen serving in Niseko. We ordered Spicy Niseko Ramen. This ramen was served with creamy and fluffy potato foam with spicy miso soup, a perfect match with their thicker than usual noodles. Sorry I need some tissue to wipe my saliva off before I continue. I am definitely going back for this or someone please bring this in to Singapore.
Here comes the main lead
I need more tissue
After lunch, we continue skiing at our desired mountain. I wouldn't say I enjoyed skiing at that point of time yet it is something I missed the most now. Best part of skiing: you won't bleed from falling; worse part of skiing: "I can't stop myself from going down so fast! Someone save me!"
Remember I mentioned in Part I that car is an essential at Niseko? LET ME TELL YOU THE REASON NOW. Since I refused to go Hirafu with Jon, so I need to take the bus back with my ski and my ski pole and walked back to hotel with my heavy ski shoes. It was my first time ever sweated in temperature of 10 degrees. I take back my word: "我可以一个人回去的 很容易的." I will never say that anymore, at least not with my ski.
You served me well
Dinner was at Yoteimaru, recommended by Tripadvisor so how can we miss it? Avoid going during dinner time, you will queue up in the cold. I apologised for the lack of photos, I was busy munching my food and putting the sushi into my mouth.
Best chawanmushi // the sweetness was just right not overpowering the egg
The Yumeguri Onsen Pass that we bought allows us to go 3 onsen at 1,440 YEN which is very worth since the average entrance fee was around YEN 800 each. We tried Hilton Hotel Onsen, Grand Niseko Hotel Onsen with the pass and our hotel One Niseko Hotel Onsen. They have both indoor and outdoor onsen, and Grand Niseko Onsen has mixed gender onsen; no worries they have Onsen robe for renting. Hilton Hotel had the most people, mainly China, so if you want to see Chinese naked body you should come here. HAHAHAHAHA I like Grand Niseko mixed gender Onsen because it is bigger and their mesmerizing scenery. To prevent any misunderstanding, we are allowed to cover ourselves in mixed gender onsen.
Before ending, last #TIPS for this post: Lawsons are your best friend in Japan. They sell a lot of yummy microwave food. I had a great time here. Bye Niseko, we will meet again. Everyone should come here at least once in a lifetime.
I shall end my part II here before I bore anyone of you here. I will be back soon with Part III. We are going to Hakodate and Tokyo!
Read other parts here
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