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 JapanBeyondTokyo 

TRAVEL JOURNAL

Winter in Tokyo is quickand short. For a full

experience, get away

from the hustle-bustle

of the capital city. By

 JOANNE VILLANUEVA

Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera (“Pure Water 

Temple”) takes its name after Otowa 

Waterfalls where it was built. No nails were 

used in the making of this temple. P hoto b y  

Mi chael  C hand l er .

BRRR-EATHTAKING

ICE SCULPTURES IN SAPPORO, HOKKAIDO

(12-13 HRS FROM TOKYO VIA TRAIN)

In 1950, a group of high school students

exhibited ice sculptures in Odori Park. Little

did they know, they were starting an annual

celebration of artistry which will draw in over

2 million visitors every February.Loads of

snow are sourced in time for the Sapporo

Snow Festival, highlighted by a competition

between national teams around the world.

TIMELESS BEAUTY IN KYOTO

(3 1/2 HRS FROM TOKYO VIA

TRAIN)

Smores and hot drinks by

the fireplace come to mind

when you think of winter,

but Japan’s snowy landscapesare begging you to go

outside. Especially in Kyoto,

where falling snowflakes

emphasize the grandeur of

imperial palace architecture.

Kyoto alone has 17

UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 Photo by Michael Chandler.

K ani  hav e 

 some?  

Hokkaido is well-aware of its 

fresh seafood, and the snow 

festival provides an arena to 

showcase just that. Sapporo 

becomes an exhibition space 

for the finest kani (crab), 

hotategai (scallops), and 

other produce in town.

58 Mabuhay Magazine / January 2016

Spot the difference: Monumental ice sculptures

mimic life in Sapporo’s urban atrium.

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Enter a hotel, a cafe, a school, and a restaurant—all

structures made of ice.

NAKED, Inc. brings you the Tomamu Ice Theatre 

presented with 3D pro jection mapping. 

Travel north for about an hour and you’ll find 

another winter wonderland in Furano Kan 

Kan Mura (“Furano’s Good Cold Village”). 

Ningle Terrace shops dot the path towards Furano Ka

n Kan entrance.

While waiting f or the dusk to bring you Furano Kan Kan Snow Night Fantasy, explore the village’s list of  novelaccommodations and you will never run out of  things to do. Go paragliding f or a more adventurous tour. 

YOUR OWN COZY LITTLE PLACE

IN TOMAMU AND FURANO

(HOKKAIDO)

When you feel like retiring for

the day, illuminated villages made

of either ice or snow give you a

warm welcome. Tese villages

are open from December to Mid-

March.

Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU 

uses ice instead of snow, giving

the houses a soft glow.

 snowball fi ght , 

an y one?

Ice  gla s se s f or  the 

 per f ect cold  d r ink  – 

 sta y  s chilled  without 

the d iluted  ta ste.

59 www.philippineairlines.com

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TRAVEL JOURNAL

BATHING MONKEYS AND SNOW

ADVENTURES IN NAGANO

(2 1/2 HRS FROM TOKYO VIA TRAIN)

Japan is the farthest up north that

monkeys can survive in, and it is in

Nagano where most of these curious

creatures convene. When the coldest of

the cold comes, the hot springs (Onsen)

along Yoyoku River Valley become a

solace for the Japanese macaques.

 Photos by Tony Burns.

Snow monkeys share our love for hot

springs. While they can be as playful

and social, we still do not expect them to

abide by Onsen etiquette. However, it is

a must that you do. Some notes to keep

in mind:

• Onsen hotels have alternating female-

only and male-only hours.• No swimming or scrubbing in the

springs. Te Onsen is merely for soaking

and relaxation.

• Bringing in any fabric in the bath is

seen as dirtying the water. You can put

the towels on the rim of the springs or on

 your head.

A snow monkey 

unknowingly (or so we think) leaves a trail with its paw prints.P hot o b y  R a y mond  P at r ic k .

Get 11 ski resorts in one 

destination at Hakuba. Elevation 

reaches up to 3,000 m. P hoto 

cour te s y  of  Hak uba T our i  sm.

After hosting events during the 1998 Winter 

Olympics in Nagano, Shiga Kogen (Shiga 

Highlands) and Hakuba Valley became snow 

adventure hotspots. 

60 Mabuhay Magazine / January 2016

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A MUST-SKI: NISEKO

(13 HRS FROM TOKYO VIA TRAIN)

o leave out Japan’s most famous ski

resort would be treacherous, particularly

for the Australian frequenters.

What it lacks in elevation (1,200m),

Niseko makes up for in lodging. Head to

the foreigner-friendly town of Hirafu to

find something closer to home.

Or you can try authentic Japanese cuisine

in an Izakaya, a pub serving food to

accompany your drinks. Te chef inside

Rin’s open kitchen will treat you with a

lights and scents show while you wait.

 Shig a Koge

h a s  about 71 lift 

from gondol a s 

two- se ater s up t

ropew a y. Photo 

R a ymond P atr

Have a break with meals-on-wheels.

P hoto b y  Ra y mond  Patr ick 

Hirafu’s laid-

back streets 

are great for an evening 

stroll. Photo 

b y  Ra y mond  

Patr ick .

Try takoyaki and other dishes cooked home-style atWabi-Sabi.

 Shiga Kogen is one of the largest ski resorts in the world

(1.64 sqmi). It also has one of the longest ski seasons, 

starting from November until the first week of May.

Elevation reaches approximately 2,300 m. 

61 www.philippineairlines.com

PAL flies between Manila andTokyo (in Haneda and Narita)twice daily. For more information,call PAL reservations office at(+632) 855 8888 or visit www.

philippineairlines.com.

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