[via cynicalc]
Jason van Marle spent his summer vacation in Japan. He took lots and lots and lots of photos, and he assembled the 2400 best ones into this excellent little video. Check it out: Japan in 4 minutes, 43 seconds — including credits.
Love it.
Japan first flaunted its skiing potential during the 1972 Winter Games. However, the popularity of the sport in the country declined during the 1980s (thanks largely to an aging population coupled with a downturn in disposable wealth). Since then, Japanese and foreign investors looking to capitalize on the country’s powdery resource have been peering across the country’s borders to grow the sport. It seems to be working. In addition to massive freshies, of course, there’s the lure of Japan, itself. According to Anthony Mellowes, a property developer from Sydney, “It’s fantastic because you’ve got great skiing plus the different culture.”
Today, Japan boast 620 ski resorts, an average of 45 feet of snow per year, lengthy ski seasons, and reasonable prices. Yes, reasonable prices! In Hirafu, for example, a one-day ski pass allowing you access to 61 runs, 38 lifts, and 29 miles of groomed slopes, costs only $42. So much for China’s indoor ski park.
Never thought of Japan as a killer destination for shredders? Check out this footage captured in western Japan from a helmet-mounted cam. Awesome.
If you want to learn more, check out these resort destinations:
Alternatively, browse some skiing in Japan videos to pick your own destination. See ya on the slopes!
While you’re in Japan watching fatties bump bellies, be sure to stop at a “sushi-ya” and eat some hand-rolled heaven. Don’t know all the tricks to eating sushi? Check out this excellent, informative, and completely serious clip about how to eat it the right way! Among the important topics covered in the video are:
Now you know. You’ll look just a local.
[Via Pink Tentacle]
In years past, local tourist boards saw generous spikes in traffic after popular movies featured the locations they tout. For example, both Alberta and Wyoming enjoyed gobs of slack-jawed, cash-carrying visitors last year after Brokeback Mountain won all those accolades. If you want to travel to the locations in which this year’s Best Picture-nominated films were set, here’s where you’d have to go.
The nominees for best picture are:
Personally, I’d like to visit Uganda, but The Last King of Scotland didn’t get a nod for Best Picture. Nevertheless, the 79th Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday. You can book your travel any time you like.