Kansai Snow Club

By Ken Aichi

No false advertising here: The Kansai Snow Club is, well, a snow club based in Kansai. Expertly organized by Mathew (a former world cup speed skier himself), people who are up for some fun with the white stuff get together on weekends and other holidays and head to Japan's mountainous regions to have a kickass time.

All skill levels are catered for, and equipment hire is available. The club rents a house in Hakuba, and trips are planned so that you will arrive in time to have a rest and then party hard before getting up in the morning to hit the slopes.

In addition to skiing and boarding, club members are able to check out some of the other attractions the Japan Alps have to offer. Following are some examples (they vary depending on the time of year, so check the schedule on their website) of what The Kansai Snow Club get up to...

The club visited Nozawa for this year's Fire Festival, where 42- and 25-year-old men (unlucky ages in Japan) with nothing but booze courage for protection, cling to a wooden shrine and try to defend themselves from other men armed with flaming bundles of sticks. A slightly tamer form of entertainment was provided by the famous hot-spring-dwelling onsen monkeys of Jigokudani.

The club also heads down to Nagano for the Onabashira Festival, where trees are cut down and used as a kind of natural sled. Unlike the Nozawa Festival, where participants emerge relatively unscathed, here the high-speed, low-tech mode of transport practically guarantees casualties.

Thankfully, club members are just spectators at this particular "cultural experience". Injuries on the slopes aren't a problem, either - the club will take care of hospital costs if you wipe out on the day. You are, however, required to have your own insurance.

powderlove 2010

Following hot on the heels of this year's Reggae Snowsplash at Hakuba, The Kansai Snow Club will be running buses up for Powderlove 2010, a huge party and festival. Popular J-reggae band Bagdad Cafe will be making an appearance, as will badass rapper Shingo Nishinari, who takes his name from the Nishinari area of Osaka - notorious for its day laborer riots.

In addition, there will be top DJs from all over Japan, including Oasis Radio spinning things up, as well as a "chill zone" where you can take a breather.

Kansai Snow Club's bus package costs (¥25,000) and includes entrance to the Powderlove 2010 party. Buses from Osaka and Tokyo have been confirmed, and a Nagoya one is also possible - check www.kansaisnowclub.com for more details.

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