Hakuba

During January our friends Gavin and Hayley came to visit. While they were in Japan we went away for the weekend to Hakuba, a ski resort in Nagano prefecture to see some mountains and snow. It did not disappoint.

On the first morning we went snow-shoeing. It was a rather short expedition, but the weather was very nice, and there were good views over the area.

This structure was known as the "Sake Dome". We became regular visitors.

The hotel had a giant barrel of hot water which served as an onsen. Although it was in a shed, the snow still came in through the slats. In the water -- too hot. Outside -- too cold. Quite enjoyable none the less!

Obviously in a ski resort in Japan you should have mexican food. So we did. Margaritas were a bit on the sweet side.

Somehow we ended up back at the Sake Dome for a pre-dinner refreshment.

And I got a pina colada for my post dinner cocktail!

The next day we went cross country skiing on the same course as used in the Nagano Winter Olympics of 1998. Considering all of us except Ingrid were beginners, this was not an olympian performance!

The snow started to come down hard.

... but the taco truck kept going through it all.

That evening we went out in a different village, which seemed to be enirely populated by foreigners! Met two scottish girls, one working in a bar, the other in a pizza restaurant! That's more scots than we met in 10 months in Tokyo!

The next morning was glorious! But we had to go back to Tokyo.