We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2018
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KAt Hirafu, the largest resort area of Kutchan, visitors can enjoy a dynamic skiing experience enhanced by the grandiose presence of Mt. Yotei (Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji). “Visitors often marvel, ‘What a wonderfully cosmopolitan town amidst such beautiful nature!’” says Kutchan Mayor Eiji Nishie. It is the town’s pride that visitors from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States and many other countries are so drawn to Kutchan.28is located utchan in southwestern Hokkaido, from about a Sapporo or New Chitose Airport. This world-famous destination is the core resort town of the Niseko-Kutchan resort area. Its main attraction is its fluffy powder snow. The easily accessible ski slopes that reach as high as 1,300 meters often receive large dumps of snow from clouds carried by winds traversing the Sea of Japan. Kutchan’s location guarantees a constant supply of virgin snow from December through February. “If you visit Kutchan in the winter, you will certainly be awestruck,” says Kutchan Mayor Eiji Nishie proudly. “Every morning when you wake up, virgin ski slopes are waiting for you. Come and slide down toward Mt. Yotei, Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji! It’s an amazing and thrilling experience! In the afternoon, you can warm yourself by soaking in a hot spring. Then at night, there are bars and restaurants where you can share fun times with people from around the world. The hotels offer high-quality Japanese hospitality, and overall, it is a rare and unique experience.” The number of overseas tourists visiting Kutchan began to rapidly two-hour drive grow from around 2000 onward, and the entire town suddenly began to transform. In winter, roughly 80% of hotel guests are from overseas. It is easy to get around town using only English, even at the hospital or town hall, with English used on road signs, and in bars and restaurants. Of the more than 15,000 registered town residents during winter, a significant portion, which may soon reach 20%, are foreigners comprising 47 different nationalities. Australians were the first foreigners to “discover” Kutchan and its first-rate ski fields. For some time now, the local community has grown accustomed to coexisting with the overseas visitors. The town’s reputation soon reached Europe and North America, UPDATE A wonderland of powder snow, the resort town of Kutchan in wintertime is abuzz with the exuberance of skiers and snowboarders from around the world looking for a memorable winter experienceKutchan: Hottest Winter Town

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