HOKKAIDO

For those of you who aren’t aware of it yet, Hokkaido is A M A Z I N G.

Phil, Tim and I travelled up there for the Sapporo Snow Festival (it’s obviously important – it has C

aptial Letters), to visit Phil’s friend Mads (also Capitals) and to Do Some Snowboarding (Naturally).

I’m sorry to say it, but Sapporo was so-so. I know I was only there for 24 hours or so, and it seems like a pleasant enough place,

but I have to say I’d be VERY disappointed if I had travelled halfway across the world (or even halfway across Japan) to see some dirty, chunky snow sculptures. Tough, but fair.

The following day, we drove up to Asahikawa – Hokkaido’s second city – whose snow festival was waaaaay better. It was much less crowded and more spectacular. And they had barbequed meat on sticks. Mmmmmm. Tasted my first lamb in Japan, and I liked it! Also, slightly less interesting for me… biomass toilets. Well, it got Timmy going, anyway.

The following day, we moved on to Aibetsu machi – Mads’ hometown, where snow is measured in metres, not centimetres. Which is famous for mushrooms. So naturally, the town mascot is Aichan man, a flying mushroom, with a big A on his chest. All I can say is lift your game, Shirakawa. Where’s our damn mascot?!?

Then it was on to POWWDEEERRRRR snow. Hokkaido is famous (especially amongst Aussies, apparently) for having amazing POWWDEEERRRRR snow. And I have to say that the POWWDEEERRRRR at Furano was fantastic. For one thing, it makes it much more difficult to hurt yourself when you fall over, and I’m all for that. I think that I should also point out that as I can now get down a ski run without falling, I am officially a snowboarder. And that means that snowboarding is now, officially, uncool (yes, even when it is -12). POWWDEEERRRRR!

Hokkaido was heaps of fun, and I hope I get the chance to go back when it’s a li

ttle warmer and attempt to get the sports of cycling and hiking off the cool list. If they were ever on it, or are currently. See – I don’t even know. That’s how uncool I am. POWWDEEERRRRR!