Hokkaido February 2011

On Saturday we ventured our way north to the island of Hokkaido for some fun in the snow and indoor swimming pool. This was our trial ski trip in Japan so we only went for a long weekend to test the waters. Overall it was a very good experience for our family. We stayed at a Club Med resort, which was very kid friendly, and preggers friendly. In my late state of pregnancy, only 10 weeks or so left, I needed a place that had indoor activities for Miyako and I (my ski pants are not maternity pants) and that had food included so we did not have to go out in the cold for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As many of you know, Kan is a big ski bunny. He typically goes out west once a year but due to baby Miyako in November of 2008 and a move to Japan in January of 2010, he had not been out west to Colorado in several years. He "HAD" to go skiing this year.

We can see why the Club Med was so full of families. Transportation was completely taken care of. As soon as we landed, we boarded the bus to Club Med. Every meal is included and is right inside the hotel. They have an indoor pool, childcare facilities, free ski schools for kids ages four and up, and it is ski in/ski out. The food, to be honest, was so so - but it was very functional with lots of variety and high chairs at every table. :) Several families we met go there every year. It would be perfect for kids who are old enough to ski as the ski classes are included in your resort price so parents could ski while kids are skiing with instructors. Kan said the snow was okay - we heard Niseko has better powder, but in terms of family friendly places to stay, we really could not have gone wrong with where we went.

Miyako and I spent our mornings either swimming in the indoor pool or watching a cartoon in the movie room. She sat through about 40 minutes of Happy Feet for her first movie adventure. Thankfully we were the only two watching it, so she enjoyed running around the room with the penguins on the big screen for the rest of the movie. Kan got some skiing in, but wishes he had had a ski buddy. We were missing our friends from home who we went to Colorado with before kids! Kan took Miyako sledding one day, but I did not get any pictures as I opted to stay in the room and read a book with some hot cocoa. We did build a small snowman before we left. We did not see much of Hokkaido outside the resort except for the bus ride from the airport and back. However, what I did see reminded me of Indiana or Oklahoma - flat flat flat. It was so nice to see land stretched out before you. I did not see one sky scraper while we were there, but this is also partly due to the fact that we did not fly into Sapporo. Our room was spacious and comfortable and Miyako slept comfortably in her tent. I can foresee us going back in the future.