Thankfully after an 18 hour slumber, I was able to curb whatever illness I had felt from the day prior. Japanese powder snow is esteemed as the best in the world, and I’ll be damned if I let an illness hold me back from enjoying one of my life’s passions in a place like this. We only had 4 full days in Niseko, and I was determined to ride every single one of them.
It was still snowing, which meant even more fresh powder! Upon entry to buffet, temperature check returned results of no fever. After breakfast, Joseph and I finalized plans for Thailand post Bangkok, securing our transportation and lodging accommodations. We heard the mountain calling, and we answered the call.
I have been a snowboarder since switching from a skier around 14. I learned how to ski around 7 years old and enjoyed it thoroughly until making the switch. Will I ever get back on skis? Time will tell. For now, I enjoy riding a board too much to feel like I’m wasting time back on skis. Since my high school, I mean, college days, friends and I had a tradition of drinking beers on the first chair lift of the day. If you know me closely, you’ll know that I’m a man of traditions. I shared this tradition with Joseph and thoroughly enjoyed my Sapporo while Joseph had his first, first chair beer. It won’t be his last.
The powder was noticeably improved from the day before! Post private lesson Joseph had a confidence and swag to his skiing that wasn’t there the day before, when we rode together before his lesson. There was a smile on his face, more speed under his skis, and more wooing and yooing than the day before. Joseph’s improvement was very clear! We enjoyed some easy and intermediate lines together. For those beginning or interested in learning how to ski or snowboard, I highly recommend taking private lessons! Friends can teach friends too, but really it comes down to getting a couple pointers then feeling it out through repetition. I’ve seen partners try to teach their partners how to ski or ride, and from my observation there is significantly more frustration from the learner than with an actual instructor. Hmm…
After enjoying more runs on Hirafu and yet another ramen meal at King Bell Hut, (nope, still not tired of ramen yet), I called it a day around 4:00PM. There are limited certain runs with lights along the way that are open for night riding until 7:00PM, but since we didn’t have dinner reservations ahead of time, our best bet was to walk in before the main dinner rush around 5:00PM.
We had dinner at a lamb barbecue place called Sanroku Jingisukan, and this meal was truly tasty! We enjoyed various cuts of lamb meat. It was served to us raw, but each table had a small dome grill at the table to cook the meat yourself.
After our taste buds were happy and bellies left satisfied, the multiple consecutive days of riding started catching up to me. We went to different spas and treated ourselves to sports massages. I had a 60 minute sports massage at a Physio health clinic, and it was definitely more painful than pleasurable. All worth it in the end though, as my body felt completely rejuvenated afterwards. A massage of less pressure that feels more pleasurable in the moment doesn’t provide the necessary pressure and discomfort needed for actual lasting relief and improvement. Perhaps there’s an abstract metaphor one could draw between a life of convenience and ease creating fleeting satisfaction versus moderate suffering that creates space for more prolonged fulfillment? Hmm…
After massages we joined our American friends (Hawkins, Dom, Rick, and Chris) we met up with our last night in Tokyo and shared the shuttle from Sapporo to Niseko with at a bar called Wild Bills. We had a few rounds of beers, a couple rounds of shots, then bar hopped to Freddie’s. Freddie’s came recommended to us by a couple of Australian friends we made a few nights prior at Music Bar Mina Mina, and it did not disappoint. The decor was trendy, and they had a live DJ. Of course I spoke to the bartender about mixing the next night, and they let me know there may be a slot. We connected via WhatsApp and shared my SoundCloud mix, hoping the moment I break out my USB and put on a set abroad would come sooner than I expected!
We hopped from Freddie’s to bar Half Note, where I expected to find trimmings from Joseph’s haircut the night prior on the ground. Instead we found the Australian barber who cut his hair there once again. We also reunited with our Australian friends we met at Music Bar Mina Mina two nights prior. The bar closed down shortly after we arrived, and our American friends went back to their Air BnB. Joseph and I returned to Freddie’s for a couple more drinks. I made friends with some local Japanese riders, and Joseph met fellow travelers who were also Nashville, TN natives.
When I’ve traveled abroad in the past, the first word I learn in the local language is “Cheers!” Alcohol can be a social lubricant, and is enjoyed in most common places around the world. If you can smile at a local and say, “cheers,” in their language, you’re almost guaranteed to be reciprocated with warmth and the clink noise that resembles unity and celebration. Cheers in Japanese is “Kanpai” (pronounced con-pie).