We’re now a week into our ten day stay in Hokkaido and it’s the first (and last) time we’ve hit the slopes. Some may say that I should have been out there every day, braving the elements. But unless you’ve ever frozen yourself entirely in ice whilst standing at the North Pole eating Ice Cream you don’t know what cold means. So it took us a week to muster up the courage (and money) to finally be able to destroy the pistes of Hokkaido.

Matt and I were joined by a couple from Toya headed out in their van on a 40 minute drive over icy roads to the ski resort, later to be joined by one of the Hokkaido volunteer’s reps, Hiromi. The drive itself was scary enough, so much so that the price of a one day lift pass (5,000yen/£25) didn’t seem so outrageous. Now that I can see my empty wallet it does seem a little steep, though…

Matt is a beginner on the snow so he got a lesson from Mr. Hiro, whilst I and Mrs. Yumi went snowboarding in the fine powder snow of Japan. Having traveled half way around the world to know what the ski resorts are like. I can now officially tell you they are pretty much the same as French ski resorts. (Minus the French, duh)

We spent the whole day snowboarding on fantastic snow. It really was worth the trek, and I am confident I have fully made the change from skier to snowboarder. I leave you with a video clip we took at the top of one of the runs. Narrated by yours truly.

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