Skiing in Japan – Heavenly Hakuba

With the winter Olympics upon us, one gets the urge to try out some winter sports.

Although skiing is not the first thing I think of when I think of Japan, there are plenty of outstanding ski slopes in northern Japan.

Hakuba is a long valley floor connecting no fewer than ten ski resorts in the Japanese Alps. Some of them have provided recreational skiing for more than 70 years, some have hosted major Winter Olympics events as recently as 1998, many still host World Cup ski races and the region boasts more annual snowfall (32ft to 48ft) than most of western Canada.

Be sure to check out Mail Online for this article on Hakuba, one of Japan’s best kept ski secrets.

Photo Credits: Hakuba monkey by – : : smallfish : :

Japan’s Vitamin Cafes

The latest in Tokyo chic is heading in for a personal vitamin injection. I guess pills are too tough to swallow these days?

These intravenous vitamin “drips” are part of the latest quick-fix, health fad catching on in Japan: the IV cafe.

Each drip pack contains saline solution and specific vitamins and minerals to target a particular health ailment or beauty concern.

Uhh…placenta pack??

Japan’s Latest Supermodel Robot

Leave it to Japan to create a supermodel robot.

Scientists from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology reportedly designed the 5-foot (ish), dark-haired creation to look like an average Japanese woman between the ages of 19 and 29. Unlike the average Japanese woman, however, HRP-4C has 30 motors in her body that allow her to walk and move its arms (somewhat loudly and awkwardly, if the video below is any indication) and 8 facial motors for blinking, smiling, and expressing emotions akin to anger and surprise.

Maybe she could date Robocop? Dead or alive…you’re coming out to dinner with me.

Oki Sato’s Moss House

This post by Design*Sponge caught certainly caught our eye.

ever since i visited japan several years ago i’ve had a fascination with japanese design and its relative simplicity. there is still so much i have to learn, but today is a step in the right direction. this “moss house” sneak peek comes from oki sato who is behind nendo, a tokyo-based firm specializing in architecture, interiors, product, graphic, furniture and event design.

Some really outstanding work.

Hard Day at Work?

I stumbled across this post by Lonelee Planet detailing some of the strange sleeping locations of Japanese salarymen.

It’s some pretty hilarious stuff. Well worth checking out.

More Funny Japanese Commercials

It’s that time again at I Heart Japan. More wild and wacky Japanese commercials.

Here’s a few old and new ones that are sure to leave you laughing, or at very least scratching your head.

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Riding the Rails through Canada

My wife and I are currently taking a train across Canada. And while were riding the rails, it got me to thinking about how efficiently trains work in Japan.

Now don’t get wrong, we’ve been having a great time on the old CPR, but certain things about train travel just seem to be polished to perfection in Japan. Being on time for one thing.

It would be unheard of in Japan for a train to be over an hour late as ours was, and I can guarantee you wouldn’t have to plug your laptop into the bathroom because it was the only charger in your car. Just some of the ways that we lag behind the rest of the world in our train travel. But one good thing it’s done is give me plenty of time to think about my upcoming posts all about train travel through Japan. Stay tuned, you wont want to miss it!

Modern Day Samurai

Looks like there are still a few Japanese that are keeping up their Samurai sword skills.

All Aboard!

This is one of those things you see and know it’s just so crazy that it has to be true. Remind me never to take the rush hour train from Tokyo.

Map of Japan cira 1850

When I saw this map on Tokyomango, I knew I had to share it.

The continents, each assigned a different colour, are generally in the right position vis-a-vis each other, but their contours are very poorly rendered, as if the map was not drawn directly from a contemporary western example, but via a system of Chinese whispers. – Strange Maps

Not sure what a system of Chinese whispers is? Me either :P

Want to see some more old maps of Japan?

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