“I like Coach Iku…she stayed with me to help me and makes sure that I learn.” Just like that, Buddy, all 5 years old of him, summarized his ski experience at Hanazono as we were having dinner on our final night in Niseko. It’s obvious that this has been on his mind. We enrolled our kids, Buddy and Dana in the children's ski programme at Niseko International Ski School (NISS) in Dec 2019. Our cautious little guy is not as gung-ho as his older sister. As parents, we know that ever … [Read more...]
Skiing with NISS – Diary of a Ski Girl
When we first started our daughter Dana in skiing 4 years ago in 2015, we had no idea she would come this far. After all, coming from sunny Singapore, our kids only get a chance to ski once a year perhaps (if we can afford a trip to a snowy country that year). However, we were pleasantly surprised. What started out as a recreational activity for our daughter then has turned out to be a sport she has taken to quite seriously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK6od6uVH0w&t=2s She … [Read more...]
How to Dress Kids for Winter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwzJbrqUiOg&t=21s Thick and big won’t do the trick Believe it or not, I’m not naturally inclined towards winter vacations, in particular trips involving snow due to the sheer amount of ‘logistics’ involved. But once there, when we see so much joy on our kids’ faces, all these inhibitions just melt away. From trial and errors, we realized that wearing copious amount of thick puffy jackets will only add weight to our family’s luggage yet they may not pro … [Read more...]
Hokkaido Ski Resorts – A Comparison
'Niseko', ‘Rusutsu’ or ‘Tomamu’ Which one? Hokkaido is one of the top Winter destinations for many families. Travellers come from all over the world to experience a white winter filled with ‘Jap Pow’ – the famous fine powder-like snow in Hokkaido. Top among the ski resorts in Hokkaido are Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, Rusutsu and Tomamu. Since we have many readers writing in to ask which is the ‘best’ place to ski, we have summarized our recommendations of 3 resorts which we've stayed in this … [Read more...]
Rusutsu Resort – Best of Hokkaido, Under One Roof
A Chance Encounter With a 2-Storey Carousel We first stepped into Rusutsu Resort by chance. During our Hokkaido trip in Dec 2016, we took the airport shuttle bus from Niseko en-route back to New Chitose Airport, and it made a quick stop at this resort to pick up passengers. We took the chance to come down and stretch our legs but what greeted us left us awestruck – a two-storey high carousel (free for in-house hotel guests) complete with a warm, inviting, almost Disney-like ambience. I w … [Read more...]
Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU with Kids – The Complete VLOGs
Post Alert! Tons of Tips for Families headed to TOMAMU: This is an extension of our first post on our recent unforgettable winter trip to Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU with two lively young kids in early December 2017! When travelling with children, there are so many things we have to pack and prepare. It gets more challenging when you travel in Winter! In order not to forget these precious lessons we’ve learnt from our trip, we compiled them in 5 VLOGs complete with itinerary and tips! 1. G … [Read more...]
Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU, Hokkaido 星野リゾート トマム
Hokkaido, Japan boasts one of the world’s best snows in the world! Skiers come from all over the world to experience the pristine ‘Jap Pow – Japanese powder snow every winter. Families too, are drawn to Hokkaido for its amazing scenery and gourmet food. However, not many know that Hokkaido has more to offer than just snow sports. Our recent 4D3N stay at Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU – a popular family resort shows how diverse and memorable a winter vacation in Hokkaido can be. From learning skiing … [Read more...]
WhereTo Eat in Niseko, Hokkaido
In 2016 December (yes Winter), we did our very first free and easy, self-drive trip to Hokkaido with 2 young kids (age 8.5 and 2.5 years old)). As it’s a DIY trip, knowing where to get food is important. Moreover as it’s Winter, where to get WARM cooked food is even more critical. Unlike Singapore, eateries in Niseko are not located near each other and one has to sometimes brave sub-zero temperatures to drive/catch a shuttle bus/walk there. Some eateries require reservations while others wo … [Read more...]
Hokkaido: The Complete DIY Itinerary
Creating Unique Core Memories: We believe in travelling together as a family because of the global exposure it provides for ourselves and the kids. Despite the hassle and costs involved in travelling with children, many of these can be mitigated through early, careful holiday planning. We’ve travelled the world with our daughter since she was 7 months old and she's since gained a travel buddy in her brother three years ago. We’ve heard so much about the powdery snow in Hokkaido; bes … [Read more...]
Hokkaido: Asahiyama Zoo
“This had better be good…” I quipped while standing outside the entrance of Asahiyama Zoo 旭山動物園, waiting for it to open, in the cold of winter with rain pelting down. On all accounts, it was a dreary, overcast Winter's day. After a short walk to the Sapporo train station from Keio Plaza Sapporo Hotel, we took a 1.5 hour train ride to Asahikawa Station. From the Asahikawa Station, we had to catch a public bus to the zoo. The entire journey took 2 hours+ on public transport complete with 2 young … [Read more...]