Osechi (traditional New Year’s dishes)
I laid out a variety of dishes.
It was quite filling.
Everything is homemade except for the kamaboko and datemaki.
New Year’s Party
This is the New Year’s party at our senior residence.
Everyone is very energetic.
We are grateful to the concierge staff.
1月1日:福袋:
お隣りのららぽーと柏の葉の新春大売り出しです。
Tour Stageの福袋を買ってしまった。
超お買い得でした。
Lucky Bag (Fukubukuro)
It’s the New Year’s big sale at the neighboring LaLaport Kashiwa-no-Ha.
I ended up buying a TourStage lucky bag.
It was an incredible bargain.
1月3日:早朝の雪景色:
少しの降雪だったけれど富士山もスカイツリーも奇麗でした。
Early Morning Snow Scenery
Although the snowfall was light, both Mount Fuji and the Tokyo Skytree looked beautiful.
ChocoZAP
I joined a two-month free ChocoZAP campaign.
I visited a neighborhood gym for the first time.
Even though it was New Year’s, it was almost empty, so I could work out comfortably.
I also received startup gifts: a smartwatch and a body weight/body fat scale.
They connect to my smartphone via Bluetooth, making it easy to manage and track my health.
Tokyo Dome Fitness Club
A large-scale fitness club will open next door to my home this spring.
I’m really looking forward to it.
1月5日:白馬は大雪:
白馬長期滞在の初日です。
吹雪で雪山は視界が悪いので今日は滑りません。
Heavy Snow in Hakuba
It’s the first day of our long stay in Hakuba.
Because of the snowstorm and poor visibility in the mountains, we won’t be skiing today.
Iimori Slope
The weather today is sunny.
However, due to strong winds, the upper lifts at Happo-One Ski Resort are not operating.
So we headed to Iimori Ski Area instead.
As you can see in the photo, there are very few people on the slopes.
The snow conditions are excellent, and my spirits are high.
Ski resorts are great after all.
Happo-One Ski Resort
On the 7th, the weather is sunny and the wind is calm.
The Hakuba Three Peaks, rising over 3,000 meters, look magnificent.
Today marks the first time this season that Happo-One has fully opened across the entire mountain.
Obukko
A local specialty at the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Nakajō, called “Obukko.”
It’s similar to hōtō noodles.
It really warms you up and leaves you feeling nice and full.
Matsushiro
I’m in Nagano City for the weekend.
Staying at the huge hot spring hotel, Mercure Matsushiro, near the Nagano Interchange.
Apparently, these monkeys are the local mascot characters here.
The Northern Alps seen from Matsushiro, Nagano City
A severe cold wave is forecast to arrive starting tomorrow.
On the 10th, the weather was perfectly clear, and the Northern Alps looked stunning.
From left to right: Mt. Kashimayari, Mt. Goryu, Mt. Karamatsu (with Happo-One extending below), and the three peaks of Hakuba.
We’ll leave the long weekend to the younger crowd and take a well-earned rest ourselves.
ChocoZAP
I joined with a zero-yen enrollment during a guerrilla campaign in November.
I’ve been actually working out since the New Year.
The gym at Hotel Shinanji has a laundry area.
I can do my laundry and exercise at the same time. Nice.
Tsuruya
A supermarket in Nagano.
It’s famous for being inexpensive and delicious.
The bread is freshly baked, and the prepared foods are incredibly tasty. Even the one-coin sushi is amazingly fresh and delicious?hard to believe for a landlocked prefecture.
Japanese macaques
There are wild monkeys living in the mountains of Hakuba.
On warm days, troops sometimes come down to the villages.
Individual monkeys don’t seem to cause much trouble.
Inbound ski tourists are absolutely delighted by them.
Rime Ice
The branches of trees on snowy mountains are dyed pure white.
It is not snow.
Water vapor in the air freezes directly onto the branches.
Needle-like ice crystals densely cover them.
It truly is a work of art created by nature.
Kamakura (Snow Hut)
A kamakura had been built on the North Ridge.
Everyone was free to play around it.
It would be nice if, one day, we could have tea inside and grill rice cakes.
Hakuba in Strong Winds
Outside, fierce winds whip up blowing snow in the Northern Alps.
Most of the ski lifts have been shut down.
We headed back to the hotel early and enjoyed a warm café latte?pure bliss.
The fireplace makes it even better.
Frozen Foods
Frozen foods have become really delicious.
The words “Unbelievable!” caught my eye, and I couldn’t help buying it.
Three different dishes for just one coin (500 yen).
With prices so high in Hakuba, eating out can be tough, right?
Lawson’s 50% More Campaign
This is an event I really look forward to.
They’re doing it properly even at the Lawson stores in Hakuba.
The pork cutlet on the katsu curry is doubled.
Nice!
Morgenrot
The Northern Alps are dyed a deep crimson.
It’s a clear, sunny morning.
The ski slopes are in perfect condition.
Days like this are why snow mountains are simply the best.
Ski heil!
Happo-One Ski Resort ? Urakuro
Urakuro is a self-responsibility course on the back side of the Kurobishi slopes.
You ski through the trees.
Steep pitches, moguls, icy patches, bushes, and drops?
it has everything.
Isesaki Natural Hot Spring Hana Hotel
We’ve finished the first half of our Hakuba ski stay and are spending just one night in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture.
It’s an incredibly affordable and enjoyable hotel?11,400 yen for two people in a twin room with two meals included.
The food is amazing too. We’re absolutely stuffed!
Snowfall on February 8
After returning home, I wasn’t feeling well.
This photo shows the snow in Kashiwanoha Campus.
It was the first heavy snow warning in quite a while.
October 4 ? Nagareyama Fireworks Festival
We were able to watch it from our balcony.
At the same time, it was being broadcast live on J:COM.
An interesting experience.