Lost in Confusion
Seki Onsen, Niigata, japan
I’ve always felt at home on my board, especially when in deep powder, and the powder of Seki Onsen is possibly the best homecoming I could have ever wish for.
Yet the moment I unclip my board, I'm lost in a world of strange characters and menus that, well quite simply, are all Japanese to me.
Yes, you'll say, "You're in Japan after all! What did you expect, numbnuts?"
But rarely have I felt so lost as when crossing the maelstrom of Tokyo, which was invigorating and a painful joy at the same time.
Wow, is that underground system hard to navigate, but once mastered it's like having a rotten tooth pulled, a load of stress and pain followed by great relief.
At night every meal seems to come with fried fish flakes sprinkled on top, a real pain in the proverbial for a vegetarian.
Fermented eggs and roasted crickets for breakfast just ain't my thing. And for crying out loud, do bananas really need to be individually shrink-wrapped?
But isn't all the confusion the real reason to leave a safe space?
I think so, as I turn off google maps, disconnect, and throw myself headfirst into a cultural time-bomb of Tokyo’s ancient temples and brash neon lights, only to eventually be spat out of a high-speed train at the correct station for a good serving of sulphur stinking volcanic powder slopes.
After some soft but restrictive turns in Akakura Onsen - where you can't duck the rope - I hit Seki Onsen, a tiny resort with only two chair lifts, the highest being a one-person seat that's powered by a thumping diesel generator.
Swung slowly to the top, you're free to explore anything that takes your fancy. There's no rules here, just an Austrophile owner, wearing lederhosen who’ll throw you out of his resort if you do something too stupid.
Otherwise anything goes, as long as you've taken note of the rescue fees when you buy the lift ticket.
Laps of powder reinforce my love of Japan, and yes, even the bloody fish skin sprinkles!
