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Japan 🇯🇵 ski and explore
  • Cathy Sertori
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  • Cathy Sertori

Japan 🇯🇵 ski and explore

A 15-day adventure by Cathy Read more
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    🇯🇵 Shibuya, Japan
    Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    350m up Tokyo Skytree
    450m Tokyo SkytreeTokyo Sky TreeOur hotel bar

    Tokyo queues 🇯🇵

    Yesterday in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Another relaxed start to the morning. Pete and I tried a new cafe this morning and met the kids at check out time at 11am. They had breaky at Starbucks and we had a coffee. We then trekked to the Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest tower at 634 metres. It was about 45mins and 2 metro lines to get there. Once there it was very busy and crowded. We managed to buy tickets online and lined up for 20mins (looked like it would be a lot longer) and made it to the first level. Amazing views across Tokyo, except we couldn’t see Mount Fuji due to the haze. We then lined up for another 15mins to get to the very top viewing level, 450m. Unfortunately we also had to line up to get down as well. We are glad we didn’t know about all the queues as may not have decided to go. It was quite an experience though. We found a supermarket and had a make shift picnic afterwards. We then made our way back to Shinjuku. Liv went shopping, Ted stopped via Maccas and we all met at the bar of our hotel for a relaxed drink before we were picked up for the airport at 6pm. Airport process was seamless and relaxing before we board at 9.25pm. No one looking forward to the overnight flight.Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    Shinjuku Gyoen National GardenCat cafeShinjuku Gyoen National GardenUdon dinner

    A relaxed day in Tokyo

    February 14 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    A relaxed morning today. Pete and I headed to Starbucks for breaky and as we hadn’t heard back from the kids we walked to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, around 15 mins walk. Despite a lot of people visiting the park, it was very peaceful in the gardens and lots of lovely paths, gardens and sections to explore. There was traditional Japanese garden, a Taiwan Pavillion, a greenhouse and many other sections and ponds. Pete decided to head to the National Showa Memorial Museum, memorabilia and stories from WWII. I stayed on at the garden and we both made our way back to the hotel, me arriving ahead of Pete. Pete and I then went for a sushi snack before relaxing back at the hotel. Liv and Ted headed back to the cat cafe and enjoyed more time there and had some funny cat encounters. They went to the same gardens as we did and enjoyed the surrounds. Afterwards we met at the bar for happy hour and wandered to a delicious udon noodle restaurant. We then went to Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane, also known as Memory Lane, it’s a narrow alley in Shinjuku filled with traditional food stalls and izakayas. After some gelato a nightcap at the hotel before bed. Another great day in Tokyo!Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    11

    Tokyo 🤩

    February 13 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We arranged to meet the kids at Starbucks and after a few frustrations as to when we were to meet, what time we needed to leave and one blow up later, we were in the taxi and made it to Team Lab. teamLab Planets is a museum where you walk through water and it’s a 3/4 dimensional creative experience. Hard to explain and amazing creativity. We enjoyed a vegan ramen (doing Amr proud) as was only option, it was surprisingly delicious. We braved the public transport, again Rosie and Amr approved and caught 3 trains / metros to Shibuya crossing and then back to the hotel. I channelled Mum and stopped by Uniqlo, the others went back to the hotel. Ted and Pete via Maccas. After a regroup, Pete, Ted and I braved the trains again and it was a hectic walk and navigation to the correct train and platform to our dinner destination. We arrived and went to an Indian restaurant in Rappongi that I had been to with Dad when I was 19! Delicious and unpretentious. Liv opted for ramen close to the hotel. Another adventure in Tokyo!Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    View from our room
    2Cat cafeLocal pubArrival of ShinkansenSuch a random concept- cat cafeA bit of a hectic view of our hotel room

    Kyoto to Tokyo 🚆

    February 12 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    We agreed to meet in the lobby to head to Kyoto station to catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo. A relatively easy commute from the hotel to the station and we found our platform and ready to go! We sadly didn’t see a view of Mount Fuji, cloudy day. Speeds were over 285km/h. We got an uber to the hotel in a great part of town. What a huge city Tokyo is! After dropping the bags we walked to a cat cafe. Liv went to have a snack so Pete, Ted and I went ahead to the cat cafe. A fun experience. We wandered back via Jess see/ Lewis’s hotel and missed them as they were still out exploring. We stopped at an Irish bar near our hotel for a drink and then we all met for dinner in the hotel bar / restaurant. Welcome to Tokyo 🙏Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    111

    Kyoto and Nara

    February 11 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 4 °C

    Met our driver Akira at 9am in the lobby. We decided to make the most of our day and hired a guide to take us to the temples, shrines and the Deer Park in Nara that we wanted to see, rather than waste time working out how to get to each. A good call as today was a public holiday and a lot of crowds were out. Akira was able to guide us through the day expertly with his inside knowledge. We first had breakfast- important to ensure no one (aka Ted) was hungry as we started. I’d read about this cafe near the Fushimi Inari Shrine. A delicious feast in a tranquil cafe overlooking a pond - except it was too cold to eat outside. Akira then took us through the surrounds of this incredible shrine, stretching up to a high point where the very first original Torii (the orange T-shaped, gate-like structures) built by farmers, established in 711AD! We then drove about 50mins to Nara. I also ignorantly learned that shrines are for the Shinto religion and the temples for the Buddhist religion. Nara was the first capital of Japan, followed by Kyoto and now Tokyo. We first visited the Todaiji Temple - the biggest temple in Japan, it was huge with a 15m Buddha inside. We are in the surrounds pf the Deer Park and saw many deer on our walk to the temple. We got some food to feed the deer and if you do it correctly they will bow at you for food. We tried to capture this in the video 🤣. We stopped for lunch and then made our way back to Kyoto to the last sight for the day at the Sanjūsangendō Temple (of 1,001 Buddhas). This is the longest temple in Japan. It needed to be to fit 500 buddhas on each side of the large statue of Buddha Kannon. All the Buddhas are hand carved out of wood. The surrounding gardens were also beautiful and you see where the zen like gardens originated from. Back to the hotel for a relax before dinner. I wandered off to the Nishiki markets for a stroll and enjoyed meandering. We met in the lobby for dinner an wandered to a recommended ramen place. As is often the case case, you can’t predict the queue or what the place is like. It looked great, except there was a line. We kept wandering and it was Liv’s choice tonight and she found us a great Japanese bbq restaurant and everyone enjoyed it. Liv and Ted went to fond chocolate strawberries and Pete and I discovered a new bar before retiring to the hotel to watch the Winter Olympics. A great last day in Kyoto.Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    Bamboo Forest 🌳Ted reliving his train crossing obsession 🤣1

    Exploring Kyoto

    February 10 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    A relaxed morning. Liv had a sleep in, Pete, Ted and I checked out the hotel breakfast. A bit overpriced and not as interesting so we won’t go again, I did have a lovely omelette though. We walked to Gion, part of old Kyoto where we walked one of the oldest streets in Kyoto and through gardens and a shrine. We wandered back towards the hotel, I left Pete and Ted to find coffee while I went back to the Nishiki markets. Liv had a wander to two cafes and had her best ever matcha. We met back in the lobby for a 12.15pm taxi booked to take us to the meeting point for our Kyoto Bike tour, starting at 1pm. There was us and another guy, Christopher from Mexico. It was great to explore parts of Kyoto on bike, in quieter residential areas around Arashiyama. We first rode to the towering Bamboo Forest, which was quite spectacular. Next we rode to the Tenryu-jt Temple. This covered huge gardens, a pond and a number of temples where monks lived as well as views over Kyoto. We then we rode and parked our bikes and hiked about 160m (20mins) and met playful monkeys at the Arashiyama Monkey Park, which also had stunning views of Kyoto. The monkeys roamed free and you could feed them food within a hut. There were certain rules not to stare at them or get too close. Thankfully Ted adhered to the rules! We then cycled to another temple, again interesting stories and it had a sake museum as well. We rode alongside the river and again some peaceful quieter parts of Kyoto. We finished our tour and enjoyed some rice crackers and ordered an Uber. It was cold by the end. After a short break we walked to a recommended Mexican restaurant and it was tiny and busy. After much debate - we ended up going to an Indian restaurant, the irony of being in Japan known, and it was pretty good. Liv and Ted went back to the hotel and Pete and I wandered to a bar and ended back at the one we were at last night. A fun day! More pics from our guide to come.Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    Jess in taxi Tokyo
    Travelling to KyotoNishiki marketsItalian restaurant1Pup took pole position 🐶1Our roomLocal bar

    Niseko to Kyoto / Tokyo

    February 9 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    Travel day today. Up and mostly packed we had a quick breaky and were picked up at 8am for our transfer to Sapporo airport. Long queues to drop bags and get boarding passes. The online check in and bag drop took about the same time, Pete tried the online method. We said goodbye to Jess and Lewis as they head to Tokyo for a few days before heading home and we have time in Kyoto first. Smooth flight to Osaka. After going to the wrong meeting point, there were two areas marked, Pete back tracked and found our driver. A relief after a couple of calls that were lost in translation. All well when we got in the van, it was about an hour’s drive to Kyoto. Checked in easily to our hotel in a good location and wandered to the Nishiki markets and deliberated where to eat. We chose a ramen and Wagyu place only to discover it was about $150 for a burger. Much to the embarrassment of our kids we left. We ended up at a delicious Italian restaurant owned by an Italian from Turino, served by a Russian waitress and hosted by an Indian. A truly yummy feast. Meanwhile Jess and Lewis made it to Tokyo and enjoyed the best ramen at an authentic Japanese place. Pete and I enjoyed a nightcap at local Japanese bar and had a delicious local gin and tonic. Ready for a new adventure tomorrow.Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    Jess and Ted
    Ted, Jess and PetePeteMount Yotei, Ted and Liv2Ted - snow angelFoxes from our windowLewis

    Last day fever

    February 8 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -7 °C

    As it was the last day everyone was keen to make the most of the day. It was a lovely sunny day and had snowed overnight. Pete, Liv and Ted were on the gondola by 830am and headed to Annapurri, enjoyed “first tracks” and some great skiing. Jess and Lewis headed off to the same mountain. I decided to let the excitement and queues die down and headed out a bit later. I did a couple of runs myself and met Pete, Liv and Ted back at the hotel cafe for coffee, lunch and a break. Pete and I then headed out and did a couple of lovely runs together. It was snowing down the bottom of the mountain and yet sunny at the top with fresh tracks. I decided I was done after a few runs and at the top of King Gondola made my way back down the mountain and Pete kept going for a few more runs. He has been out the longest today. Despite a few stacks all made it safely off the mountain 😅. Our last dinner was down the road at a pub style restaurant. A fun evening chatting about the best / worst of the holiday and where our dream country to ski was and skiing vs Africa trip. A fun evening recounting our week and we all agreed some of the best snow we have skied.Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    Butter chicken for breaky!
    Liv and TedLunch breakFrothy beer 🍻 🤣Ted captured Pete arriving back off the slopes

    Japow

    February 7 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -10 °C

    We woke this morning to a lot of powdery snow, again. Thankfully, the wind had died down a lot. Jess and Lewis were the early birds today, had breaky and were on the slopes by 8.30am and reported “first tracks” on Niseko mountain. The rest of us got organised and headed out soon after. A bit of a queue this am to get the ACE gondola to the top and then we got straight on to the ACE chairlift. We headed over to Niseko village. I made my own way down the mountain, a lovely run weaving down the mountain and met Pete, Liv and Ted at the Niseko gondola. As there were big crowds we opted for three chairlifts to get us back to the top. I skied down again to Niseko Gondola from there and the others took another lift and headed to the other mountain Annupuri. As it was much less crowded I caught the gondola to the top. Spectacular views! I headed back to the apartment for a coffee and break. I met Pete, Liv and Ted at the top of ACE and then lost them again as they took a wrong turn and didn’t make it to the meeting point. I did another run from the top and was happily done. Jess and Liv arrived back with Pete the last one back after going over to Hanazono. Jess and Lewis skied with friends who are working here and enjoyed their day together. I can see why Japan gets called Japow! We enjoyed a meal at a Japanese 🇯🇵 restaurant (surprisingly) and had another delicious feast. Jess and Lewis have gone to meet their friends for a nightcap and Pete, Liv, Ted and I chilling in the apartment. Happy 😊Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    1

    Blizzard snow ❄️

    February 6 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -10 °C

    We woke this morning to quite a lot of snow swirling around the village and slopes. We made our way down to breaky while we watched the weather and apps for which lifts were opening or not. It showed quite a bit of wind gusts at the top of the mountain. The main ACE gondola opened and the queues were quite long. We kept an eye from the apartment and decided to head out a little later. Jess, Lewis and Ted braved the elements calling it chaotic but fun. Ted was back after 3 power runs as his legs were “toast”and he enjoyed leftover pizza and wandered off to the food trucks. Pete and Liv decided to brave it out there. Jess and Ted said it’s not my kind of skiing conditions so I’ve opted for a rest day and have been enjoying reading, relaxing and happy with my decision. Pete and I had a walk into the village. Jess and Lewis visited friends and dinner booked for 5.30pm. We left and the snow was falling and it was a slippery 20min walk. A lovely traditional Japanese restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious feast. We wandered back to the hotel and Pete and I stopped by the Blo Blo bar for a nightcap. Another great day. More pics of the snowy conditions to come!Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    1Mount Yotei1MBC skills handy1

    Bluebird and powder ski

    February 5 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    Kids were all up and beat us to breaky and were on the slopes by 840am, a proud Dad moment! Ted is loving the buffet selections, enjoying butter chicken, eggs and potatoes this morning. Pete and I enjoyed our breaky and were on the slopes not too far behind. Pete and I went to meet the kids and by our 3rd attempt we made our way across to the other mountain, Hanazono. We missed a turn the first time, next we followed a lovely long trail and realised we were still on the same mountain and different side. Lovely sunny day, good visibility and snow. Beautiful views of Mount Yotei, an active stratavolcano, although it hasn’t erupted since 1050 BC, it looks similar to Mount Fuji in shape. We skied down and enjoyed a hot chocolate and coffee. Liv and Ted joined us and had lunch, Ted discovering a parmi. Lewis and Jess came back over to us after we had a run and we caught the chairlifts with them up to the top. I left them to ski over to Annupurri mountain. Liv came with me as she had an onsen booking. We had some lovely runs back to the hotel. All arrived back home and happy with a successful day on the mountains. I wandered down to the village to get some supplies and a map, I get teased about loving my map. I do like to know where I’m going! Jess and Lewis headed out to meet some friends who were in town for drinks and dinner. While I had a massage, Pete and Ted organised takeaway pizza for dinner. A lovely relaxing evening in the apartment.Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    1
    Pre onsen1DinnerGathering ice creamBlo Blo bar1Onsen

    Discovering Niseko

    February 4 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -1 °C

    We all enjoyed a longer sleep and got to breaky around 8.15. Ted piled up on the fried chicken and even the buffet was too much for him and he couldn’t finish it all. We all had a big breaky feast as dinner booked for 5.15, only time other than 9pm available.
    The Sertoris took up the ACE gondola and we were meeting Lewis later who was picking up his snowboard. Jess had a plan and so I skied down and they had taken a wrong turn and I was the only one at the right meeting point. Pete kindly waited for me and we went to the top of the mountain. Amazingly high and not great visibility- much better tho with my new goggles that could fit over my glasses🤓! Pete and I skied down to the original meeting point and he left to meet the kids and I decided to opt my own run down the mountain. Long runs and leg burners, beautiful soft snow though. I had a lovely cuppa and break before heading out again. The kids all enjoyed meeting Pete and had great ski at hanazono. I went to the private onsen and the family arrived off the slopes. We had an excellent dinner cooking our own feasts over the bbq. We all headed to find desserts. Pete and I then had a nightcap at Blo Blo bar and met some lovely Americans. We enjoyed another night cap at our hotel before calling it. What a great day.    Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    Our apartment behind me1Walking to dinnerBlo Blo bar1TED!

    First day on the slopes

    February 3 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -5 °C

    Pete and I woke around 630am and we all met for breaky around 730am. It’s included in our stay and a massive selection of food offered, from sushi and fried chicken to eggs, cereal and French toast. Our ski gear was easy to collect and is in our hotel. We were in line at the gondola by 930am, not bad first day!
    We all went up together and as is what happens on the slopes you get separated and find yourselves on different paths, I was always on the lookout to make sure I wasn’t accidentally going to find myself on a black run. There were a couple of steep parts, overall beautiful and fresh powdery snow. Ted has been a demon on the slopes already knocking Liv into 3 feet of snow as he rushes to get past. Karma had him searching for poles as he came off his skis.
    Pete and I came back to the hotel for a rest and snack. We wandered to the shops and possible restaurant for dinner. Pete decided to head out and meet the kids and I opted to continue relaxing in the apartment. The visibility was worse than in the morning.
    A great first day skiing!
    Dinners needs to be booked and we weren’t organised as much as we would have liked tonight… Jess, Lewis, Liv and Ted opted for food trucks. Pete and I went to a little bar and had a wine / beer and delicious gyozas. We got a call from Ted who was still hungry after the food truck, so Pete and I met Ted and joined him for some sushi and kebabs. Liv relaxed in the apartment and Jess and Lewis enjoyed a night cap.    Read more

  • Cathy SertoriJapan 🇯🇵 ski and exploreTraveler
    Ted enjoying a pre flight snack
    2A nice relax on arrival in Niseko

    Sydney to Niseko

    February 2 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ -5 °C

    It was quite the journey door to door, 17 hours. We got picked up at 6am, checked in and about 10 hours flying. Then a 2 hour drive to Niseko.
    We arrived to our beautiful accommodation overlooking the ski fields! We checked out or lovely apartment and then went down to get a snack and drink in the hotel. Lewis and Jessica wandered off to see the food trucks and joined us later. Showered and ready for a good night’s sleep in our very comfy beds.Read more

    Trip start
    February 2, 2026
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