sunstoneadventures.com: January 2012

Well how do you explain skiing & snowboarding in Japan? But more specifically riding legendary HAKUBA?

Getting pow on the South Face! Photo by sunstone.

Steep trees and big mountain lines to compliment epic powder across a range of 7 ski resorts and other secret day trip spots too! Yeah that might be a good start....and more often than not it's snowing!

Unlike many other Japanese resorts Hakuba offers access to huge, open backcountry terrain- the extensive Japanese Alps. The highest mountainous region in Japan. So you can mix up the ridiculously good tree skiing with big, steep burly 1000m vertical lines! Purrrrfect.

The skin track leads the way...welcome to the Hakuba backcountry powder people! Photo by sunstone.

Crew getting ready. Photo by Joona Olkkola.

Mike dropping in some steep backcountry. Photo by sunstone.

Ready, set..... Photo by Joona Olkkola,

GO! Photo by Joona Olkkola.

The Japanese Alps extend a long, long frickin way above the top of Happo-One Ski Resort. Photo by sunstone.

Great bars and restaurants in laid back 'Echoland' area of Hakuba where you can hang out with like-minded powder junkies, find cute girls (or guys) and still have a party any night if you want to let loose....it's a holiday after all right!

The crew having Korean BBQ! Photo by sunstone.

and when it comes to Sashimi (raw) and Sushi you can really go to town.......

They have a great concept in Japan which is Izakaya - a drinking establishment (pub) which serves food to accompany your drinks. A bit like tapas. You can rock up to the bar drink great beer and have a variety of 'food to die for' served up right to you after getting ya face smashed all day!

So we've got powder, we've got great people, we've got killer food and what would top it all off????...maybe some kind of hot natural springs to add to the equation and you have ONSEN! Japanese have become obsessive about bathing in the Onsen and I guess so have I! In fact I plan to post the 'Onsen Diaries' which will have a bit of insight into the 'Hot Spots' around town! Just what the doctor ordered eh!

On the other side of your powder gorging, food hogging and boiling ya bones you can grab some pretty cool local culture too. And while ya here why not check out one of the most incredible mega-cities of the world - big smoke of Tokyo. A great way to start or end your mission!

Yep it's Japan alright!

Snow monkeys hanging out in their own natural onsen - crazy. Photo by sunstone.

Ice sculptures in front of Matsumoto Castle, near Hakuba.

Yep it really is Japan. Laura &Julie steel the kids thunder. Those Alaskan gals I dunno ;-)

Is that some kind of fancy ABS!?!? You do see some sights in Japan! Photo by Mitch.

Yebisu Beer Museum, super presentation of the history of the legendary brew in Tokyo.

The new Tokyo tower will be open in a few months!

The Asahi Flame. Signifies the headquarters of Asashi Breweries Headquarters. It's meant to represent the froth on the top of the beer glass. It's affectionately known to locals as the 'Giant Turd'!

For those less inclined for the Wild West destinations of Gulmarg or Iran, Japan could be the wife (or husband) pleasing deal with all the big resort facilities on offer.....like ski school for the kids ;-)

Right just a few more pics for your viewing pleasure....