8 Sports Sports 9 AnAn aadventuredventure ssportsports pparadisearadise – Mountain biking Niseko’s mountain trails have the added appeal of there being fewer bears here there’sthere’s somethingsomething forfor eeveryoneveryone inin NisekoNiseko than many other areas of Hokkaido, There’s no better way of enjoying the natural surroundings than by making it an ideal region for trekking and involving them in your activities. Here are a few of the adventure sports mountain biking. From single-track available in and around the Niseko area that will leave you in no doubt that downhill trails with views of Mt. Yotei, to you’ve experienced Hokkaido at its breathtaking best. cross country routes in its foothills, there’s something to suit all levels of ability and fitness. © NACNAC NISEKONISEKO ADVENTUREADVENTURE CENTRECENTRE Sea kayaking Lake Toya 30 km long, used in the trail running Not far from Niseko is the Oshoro coast of Lake Toya, famous for hosting the G8 meeting held every September. Why not Otaru, where the calm, clear waters of the Hokkaido Toyako Summit, is less than an take the gondola and combine a bit of Sea of Japan invite sea kayakers to enjoy hour away from Niseko. With many hot sightseeing with cheering-on the runners? the marine life from its surface. In the springs and the active Mt. Usu volcano, But only think about entering the race, with shallower waters, swimming fish, sea the area is a popular tourist destination, its vertical difference of 1000 m, if you’re urchins and starfish seem within touching but the clear and comparatively warm confident your legs (and lungs) can handle it! water of the lake also makes it a top water distance, and caves and sheer cliffs only Niseko Tourist Association accessible from the sea provide cool shade leisure spot. Canoeists and jet skiers can Tel: +81-136-44-2420 and a chance to view the birds that nest be seen on the water, and every July one http://www.niseko-ta.jp/en/ there. There’s no better way to define the of Japan’s northernmost open swim meets Niseko Adventure Centre (NAC) is held in the lake, and swimmers from Tel: +81-136-23-2093 words exploration and adventure! http://www.nac-web.com/e_index.htm throughout Japan gather to take part in the and 1,500-m events. Δঔ྽۞វរ̝ॠ 800- Δঔ྽ሄ኷۞ྖĂѣЧёЧᇹ۞វរ̝צNidom Classic Course ࡶຐࢋႽଐֳ © ҐھצҐཟٕߏ፛ϩཟֳھܜॠΞֻᏴፄĄညߏӱ඾௟ ଣᐍĄБ඀ౌѣགྷثNiseko Annupuri ̝኷Ă˵ΞͽЗ඾፾͢Ґд̈ፒঔ Famous for its powder snow in winter, រᖳಱ۞ጱྼᐌҖĂߏឰˠщ͕۞Җ඀Ą ໛Ⴕቐ଍ولNNACAC NNISEKOISEKO AADVENTUREDVENTURE CCENTREENTRE Niseko Annupuri’s range of relatively ҽ߽ © ໛ႵቐوჅޕ෷ޕࡨLjᅘو੤ഢلaccessible mountain trails are ideal for ൲࿻ეॳഉ࿽ถҽ߽ ች໻ࢪกက౦໻࿽ถ౱ૣቐۺၭᇗă൥֓ዸ࿈լޥtrail running. Piste trails and trekking ଍৹ ܡᅘॿႵڞRafting ഢLjნ৹ჾᇀဏᥳ߽Ѥ༺߽ණ౦ࡦ໻ăഩ֔ ှ֔ăوᅖ๾ှLjกു൉ѠဲـوSeicomart courses combine to create courses up to ݙ Originally developed for military use and experience, as everyone pulls together to can sometime get quite cold, with said to be unsinkable and puncture-proof, harness the strength of nature for their participants wearing long-sleeved these virtually indestructible rubber boats own enjoyment. clothing and long pants under the special are now used in whitewater activities Hokkaido’s most famous areas that dry suits that are provided – a style of throughout the world. Even those with no link rafting with tourism are the rafting pioneered by the Niseko experience of rafting can enjoy the raw Shiribetsu River in Niseko, the Sorachi Adventure Centre (NAC). In spring, the excitement of shooting the rapids under River in Furano, and the Mu River in rivers swelled by the snowmelt are not for the watchful eye of professional guides Shimukappu, Hidaka, which is said to be the fainthearted, and even the Toyohira and crewmembers. Hokkaido’s abundant one of the top three whitewater rivers in River in the suburbs of Sapporo becomes natural surroundings and wealth of clear Japan. It goes without saying that a popular rafting spot. However, in fast-flowing rivers supplied by the although the snowmelt-boosted river summer, the slightly more sedate rapids in mountaintop snowmelt make it an ideal water in April and May make the rafting Niseko make rafting an enjoyable activity location to take part in this great bonding dynamic, it also means the experience for all the family – kids and grandparents included – and an ideal way to escape the mid-August heat of summer. Ducky A great summer rafting experience for © NACNAC NISEKONISEKO ADVENTUREADVENTURE CENTRECENTRE those seeking the thrills of shooting the rapids – a ducky is a small rubber boat for Games in August one or two people, enabling you to be responsible for controlling your own craft. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (baseball) Consadole Sapporo (football) Navigate the same waters as the rafting Games scheduled in Hokkaido in August © 1996 H.F.C. teams – but don’t rule out a soaking or Aug. 2 18:00 vs. Chiba Lotte (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 19 18:00 vs. Orix (Sapporo Dome) Games scheduled in Hokkaido in August Aug. 3 18:00 vs. Chiba Lotte (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 20 15:00 vs. Orix (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 17 19:00 vs. JEF United (Sapporo Dome) even capsizing! Boats made from the Aug. 4 18:00 vs. Chiba Lotte (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 21 13:00 vs. Orix (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 21 13:00 vs. Kyoto Sanga (Hakodate) same tough materials as the rafts ensure Aug. 12 18:00 vs. Softbank (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 23 18:00 vs. Rakuten (Sapporo Dome) Consadole Sapporo http://www.consadole-sapporo.jp/ Aug. 13 14:00 vs. Softbank (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 24 18:00 vs. Rakuten (Sapporo Dome) participants enjoy thrilling adventures, Aug. 14 13:00 vs. Softbank (Sapporo Dome) Aug. 25 18:00 vs. Rakuten (Sapporo Dome) safely. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters http://fighters.co.jp/ © NACNAC NISEKONISEKO ADVENTUREADVENTURE CENTRECENTRE 8 Sports Sports 9 AnAn aadventuredventure ssportsports pparadisearadise – Mountain biking Niseko’s mountain trails have the added appeal of there being fewer bears here there’sthere’s somethingsomething forfor eeveryoneveryone inin NisekoNiseko than many other areas of Hokkaido, There’s no better way of enjoying the natural surroundings than by making it an ideal region for trekking and involving them in your activities. Here are a few of the adventure sports mountain biking. From single-track available in and around the Niseko area that will leave you in no doubt that downhill trails with views of Mt. Yotei, to you’ve experienced Hokkaido at its breathtaking best. cross country routes in its foothills, there’s something to suit all levels of ability and fitness. © NACNAC NISEKONISEKO ADVENTUREADVENTURE CENTRECENTRE Sea kayaking Lake Toya 30 km long, used in the trail running Not far from Niseko is the Oshoro coast of Lake Toya, famous for hosting the G8 meeting held every September. Why not Otaru, where the calm, clear waters of the Hokkaido Toyako Summit, is less than an take the gondola and combine a bit of Sea of Japan invite sea kayakers to enjoy hour away from Niseko. With many hot sightseeing with cheering-on the runners? the marine life from its surface. In the springs and the active Mt. Usu volcano, But only think about entering the race, with shallower waters, swimming fish, sea the area is a popular tourist destination, its vertical difference of 1000 m, if you’re urchins and starfish seem within touching but the clear and comparatively warm confident your legs (and lungs) can handle it! water of the lake also makes it a top water distance, and caves and sheer cliffs only Niseko Tourist Association accessible from the sea provide cool shade leisure spot. Canoeists and jet skiers can Tel: +81-136-44-2420 and a chance to view the birds that nest be seen on the water, and every July one http://www.niseko-ta.jp/en/ there. There’s no better way to define the of Japan’s northernmost open swim meets Niseko Adventure Centre (NAC) is held in the lake, and swimmers from Tel: +81-136-23-2093 words exploration and adventure! http://www.nac-web.com/e_index.htm throughout Japan gather to take part in the and 1,500-m events. Δঔ྽۞វរ̝ॠ 800- Δঔ྽ሄ኷۞ྖĂѣЧёЧᇹ۞វរ̝צNidom Classic Course ࡶຐࢋႽଐֳ © ҐھצҐཟٕߏ፛ϩཟֳھܜॠΞֻᏴፄĄညߏӱ඾௟ ଣᐍĄБ඀ౌѣགྷثNiseko Annupuri ̝኷Ă˵ΞͽЗ඾፾͢Ґд̈ፒঔ Famous for its powder snow in winter, រᖳಱ۞ጱྼᐌҖĂߏឰˠщ͕۞Җ඀Ą ໛Ⴕቐ଍ولNNACAC NNISEKOISEKO AADVENTUREDVENTURE CCENTREENTRE Niseko Annupuri’s range of relatively ҽ߽ © ໛ႵቐوჅޕ෷ޕࡨLjᅘو੤ഢلaccessible mountain trails are ideal for ൲࿻ეॳഉ࿽ถҽ߽ ች໻ࢪกက౦໻࿽ถ౱ૣቐۺၭᇗă൥֓ዸ࿈լޥtrail running. Piste trails and trekking ଍৹ ܡᅘॿႵڞRafting ഢLjნ৹ჾᇀဏᥳ߽Ѥ༺߽ණ౦ࡦ໻ăഩ֔ ှ֔ăوᅖ๾ှLjกു൉ѠဲـوSeicomart courses combine to create courses up to ݙ Originally developed for military use and experience, as everyone pulls together to can sometime get quite cold, with said to be unsinkable and puncture-proof, harness the strength of nature for their participants wearing long-sleeved these virtually indestructible rubber boats own enjoyment. clothing and long pants under the special are now used in whitewater activities Hokkaido’s most famous areas that dry suits that are provided – a style of throughout the world. Even those with no link rafting with tourism are the rafting pioneered by the Niseko experience of rafting can enjoy the raw Shiribetsu River in Niseko, the Sorachi Adventure Centre (NAC). In spring, the excitement of shooting the rapids under River in Furano, and the Mu River in rivers swelled by the snowmelt are not for the watchful eye of professional guides Shimukappu, Hidaka, which is said to be the fainthearted, and even the Toyohira and crewmembers. Hokkaido’s abundant one of the top three whitewater rivers in River in the suburbs of Sapporo becomes natural surroundings and wealth of clear Japan.