Ski Japan 2010

I knew I was in another world when I saw the ground staff at Narita airport bow to the ANA plane as we arrived at the gateway.
It is that graciousness that permeated the experience throughout the nine days I was in Japan. They bow to the buses, they bow to the cars. When I left they would bow until the doors of the elevator closed.
Bowing is a custom and one should bow back. it is a greeting, shows respect
The older the person is the deeper the bow should be. An informal bow is about 15 degrees. More formal bow is 45 degrees so you are looking at your feet.
Casita Pacific Rim food Sigirino colorful owner electric blankets on the deck for chilly nights. Dining room, private rooms with video screens and even a karaoke room.
ANA is the way to fly to Japan. If you can get a first class seat it is an experience only rivaled by Swiss First and Air France First. Krug champagne, endless sushi I had all the caviar and sea urchin I wanted, and amazing, gracious service. It is a 12 hour flight from LA to Narita, and I wished the flight could have been a little longer. Even the restrooms are roomier, with cobalt blue sinks, body wipes and all the amenities one could need. I also flew ANA business class and economy and each category of service was above most of the competition. They are a star alliance member and fly from San Francisco and Los Angeles.
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You can Fly from Haneda the airport closer to Tokyo or Narita to Sapporo and it takes about 1 hr 20 by ANA or Air DO.
The Hilton Niseko Village is about a 2 hour drive from Sapporo, where it is still snowing right now (according to their operations manager Itoh-san) It snowed every night I was there sometimes as much as a foot of fresh powder. Although it was cold outside, it was toasty inside the Hilton. There is a big fireplace and bar in the lobby and people working up a sweat in the Precor gym. There is also a natural hot mineral spring at the hotel which is a great way to sooth sore muscles. The natural mineral water is a combination of sulphur, iron and other minerals and there is both an indoor and outdoor hot spring bath about 107 degrees F (42 centigrade). There is also a great spa next door with massage technicians that specialize in shiatsu. This therapy removes the lactic acid in tight quads and calves.

The Hilton Niseko has a number of restaurants including the Melt Bar Grill which serves a buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. I loved the Japanese breakfast which had seaweed, pickles, grilled fish, miso soup, natto, yama and even a poached egg that had been slightly cooked in the hot mineral water. At dinner I had some of the best raw salmon I have ever tasted.
There is also a sushi restaurant at the Hilton as well as teppan yaki and even a pub that serves pizza.
The hotel is ski in and ski out with a gondola that whisks one up to the upper reaches of the volcano. The snow is unique almost like skiing on satin. Storms come across the Sea of Japan from Siberia and the cold temperatures keep it crisp even in March. There are dozens of lifts connecting different towns around the mountain including Annepuri, Hirafu, and Higashiyama. It took five days of skiing to discover all the runs on the mountain.
There are runs from expert to beginner, tree skiing and wide open slopes, groomed corduroy and lots of powder. When the sun comes out the scenery is breathtaking like no other place on the planet. Snow covered volcanoes dont exist in the European alps. And the Japanese are extremely polite. and gracious.
In Tokyo we checked in to the Ritz Carlton at Tokyo Midtown. This stunning hotel with soaring windows and a lobby that is on the 45th floor was decked out with cherry blossoms. There are a number of elegant restaurants including a sushi bar and teppan yaki. On the 46th floor is a full gym with sweeping views of Tokyo and an indoor pool and Jacuzzi. The rooms are super luxurious. There is user friendly cutting edge technology like bedside controls to open or close the curtains, control the lights. And the view of Tokyo keeps one staring out the window. Also great is the bathroom with tub, separate shower marble sinks and a Toto toilet that I wanted to take home with me. This wasnt just any ordinary flusher it had built in warm bidet, warm air, and it warmed me from the bottom to my heart!
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