Snow Season Japan

JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE

• Learn the basics of everyday conversational Japanese
• Interact with friendly locals in Hakuba
• Return home with a new language skill

Our exclusive Japanese Language Course is included in all our longstay 4, 8 and 12 week winter season trips. Taught by a native Japanese speaker, the course is specifically designed for beginners and requires no previous experience of the Japanese language. The course comprises of 1 hour classes, held once per week for the duration of your trip. The focus is on language essentials for everyday situations from greetings and introductions to ordering food at a restaurant and learning to read the basic hiragana and katakana characters. Japanese people are always very impressed when you try to speak their language and our beginner course will give you the confidence and opportunity to try out your new phrases everyday. You'll be impressing locals and making new friends in no time, while gaining a valuable insight into Japanese language, life and culture. Our language course enables you to make the most out of your time in Japan, without compromising on skiing and snowboarding time – with the added bonus of returning home with a new language skill.

NOZAWA ONSEN FIRE FESTIVAL

• Snow, Fire and Sake!
• Experience one of Japanss most incredible traditional festivals

Dating back to 1863, the Dosojin Fire Festival held annually in the quaint village of Nozawa Onsen, is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre and exciting sights you can witness in Japan. Each year on January 15th a huge wooden shrine is constructed by the village men aged 25 and 42 (believed in Japan to be unlucky ages). The 42 year old men, intoxicated from an entire day spent drinking Sake, take their places 18m up at the top of the shrine, while the 25 year old men stand guard at the entrance. There's lots of drinking, chanting and clapping just before the battle takes place. Destroying all illusions of Japanese people as quiet and reserved, the other villagers then charge at the shrine with fire lit torches. As the crowd watch on awestruck by the violent spectacle, the local firemen offer up a free and endless supply of Sake to everyone, which will warm your toes and get you into the spirit of the festivities! Not to be missed – a trip to this festival is included in January 4 week trip, January + February 8 week trip and our full 12 week trip.

SNOW MONKEY ONSEN, OBUSE VILLAGE, ZENKOJI TEMPLE DAY TOUR

• Visit the famous Snow Monkey Onsen
• Traditional lunch at a Sake Brewery
• See the ancient Zenkoji Temple

Aside from the ridiculous amounts of powder we receive each winter here in the Japanese Alps, why else should you join us here for a winter season? To visit the Snow Monkey Onsen of course! Jigokudani Yaenkoen in Yudanaka is home to an entire colony of wild Japanese Macaques, more commonly referred to as Snow Monkeys. Get up close and see them relaxing, playing and bathing in a natural volcanic hot spring or onsen. Next on the agenda is a traditional Japanese lunch at the Sake Brewery in Obuse village, followed by a visit to Nagano City's ancient Zenkoji Temple, which dates back to the 7^th century. This cultural day tour is a top highlight and is included in all our longstay options.

GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY DAY TOUR

• Explore Hakuba's vast backcountry terrain

No other mountain range in Japan really compares to the alpine peaks which line the Hakuba valley, marking it as a true powder and big mountain skiing and snowboarding destination. The frequent big storm cycles blowing in from Siberia hit the Northern Alps range in Hakuba bringing 12m+ of powder per season to the ski resorts and even more to the high alpine backcountry environment. Storms are usually followed by perfectly clear sunny days, which makes for awesome backcountry touring conditions. Qualified and seasoned guides will lead you to fresh lines and terrain suited to your level on this awesome guided backcountry day tour. Less experienced skiers and snowboarders are welcome to exchange this tour for a guided snowshoe tour or ski/snowboard lesson with instructor.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS:

• 8 Week Hakuba Trip – ask us about upgrading your lift pass options to include a mid-week Season Pass for Happo One Mountain Resort.
• 2 Day Avalanche Skills Training I Course
• 5 Day Avalanche Skills Training II Course

All optional extras are subject to availability.