Out in Hirafu

Yuki Bar - Great place, can get a little rowdy, sweaty and nasty, but when its good busy, great atmosphere. Fusball and pool table.

Paddy's Irish Pub - Can't leave home without one and Hirafu is no exception. Opened new for the 2008/2009 season. Good meat pies and mash, open all summer which is why I didn't really spend much time there in the winter.

Barumba - Small, late night place serving Jet Li's, still not really sure what's in them. Barcardi, vodka, cranberry juice, limes, soda. Tastes so good.

Splash - Reggae music, darts and pool. Not such a fan of this place, you can smoke inside which always makes my clothes wreek.

Wild Bills - Popular bar with lush cocktails and yummy Mexican food. Darts and good atmosphere. 

Blo Blo - Top of the hill, chilled place to have a drink. Tiny venue, they refurb-ed one of the rooms over the 2009 summer, with a pole dancing pole and shiny things on the wall. Would have gone to it more if it was lower down the hill.

Ice Bar - Novelty bar made completely of massive blocks of ice on Momiji Street, glasses made of blocks of ice that have been drilled out. 

Northwind - Revamped in season 2009/2010 as a karaoke bar, the best move. Funny Japanese characters behind the bar. All you can sing karaoke is great, drunk or soba. Free pool table on the second level and about twenty meters from my house.

Lars Longcocks - New for 2009/2010 season, run by the same guys who run the Vale Bar and Grill. Cheap drinks, nothing special, good for a big group.

Drunk Hirafu 2010

Spring, what spring?

There was a massive dump of fresh power this week bringing winter back to Hirafu. Went out for a sick night ride, went on super ridge, got a little freaked out riding over a crack. Went up this morning and it was so lovely. Just what I needed, a good power day on my board, which I am getting more and more used to.

The ski school is pretty much winding down as we are approaching the spring ski season. It has been interesting to watch the clientele change over the last four months. From Asian's to Australian's then back to Asian's and the expats from Asia. All totally different in their approach to skiing. Below are some gems that I've heard from people over the season.

‘Do I need a snowboard for a snowboard lesson?’

‘Yes’

Can you go skiing when it’s snowing?

‘Yes’

‘My daughters were late for their snowboarding lesson because their clock was set to Hong Kong time, can we have a free one?’

We re-scheduled their lesson.

And my favourite one:

‘I would like a refund.’

‘What would you like a refund for?’

‘I took my kids out of the ski school up the hill.’

‘That ski school is a different company to us.’

‘I still want a refund.’

‘So, you want me to refund you for lessons that you didn’t take at a different ski school?’

‘Yes’

‘I’m sorry, I can’t authorize a refund for a different company.’

What people will try to get away with is amazing, we are no different from any other company who provides a service, you have to pay for services you receive, it's not a hard game.

Skye comes to Hirafu

Four days, four onsens, one hotel, heaps of eating and drinking, lots of fun. Has been a lovely few days having Skye in Hirafu. 

Went to J-Sekka to have a fine dining, catch up time. Back to mine for drinks with the okonomiyai party then karaoke at Northwind. Everyone loves a bit of karakoke.

Saw Paul in the Niseko Property office and had a coffee, he was kind enough to be our little chauffeur for the evening and took us with him to Niseko Onsen and dinner at the last night at The Brick.

Little ski on Monday, onsen at Prince Hirafutei, dinner across the road at Fuji-Izakaiya, where I had among other things, a delicious yuzu sorbet. Live music at Full Note and a Jet Li at Barumbar.

Took a mini break to Rusutsu Resort, with a beautiful day on the big, wide slopes. Snow was a little hard but fun on the groomers none the less. Girls night in the hotel room, face masks, girly movies and a cream filled pastry.

Back to Hirafu and more eating at Jo Jo's then onsen at J-First, stopping at Umbrella bar and Paddy's for a little drinky before going home, catching up with Paul and watching the season finale of The Bachelor. Final dinner at Wild Bills, so so full, then more drinking at Splash and Barumbar with Gavin and Wade.

Back to normal again on Thursday, working late at NBS and a chilled out night at home.

Local Ski-jo