Family fun on the slopes of Hokkaido

By on November 29, 2008

Racing to fame at the age of 23, Annie Famose captured a silver and bronze medal in both the Woman’s Giant Slalom and the Woman’s Slalom events during the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. Retiring from professional racing in 1972, Famose’s success followed her into business as she opened her own, highly successful and popular ski-schools, independent sport shops and mountain restaurants across France, which lead her to winning the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year Award for 2005.Now she brings her winning ways to Japan when her newest family-oriented ski school opens this month as part of the Kiroro Ski & Snowboard Academy (KSSA). Located in Akaigawa, Yoichi, just 40 kms west of Sapporo, the Kiroro Ski & Snowboard Academy is described on the japanspecialists.com website as ‘…one of the most modern and comfortable ski resorts in Japan.’

And Annie Kids Ski Academy fits in perfectly.

Offering a smattering of age-specific programs from 8:30 – 5:00 daily, parents can drop off their kids at the specially designed children’s ski area and then take the rest of the day off to hit the slopes themselves, or relax, shop, eat or sight-see without worry. Taught and supervised in a friendly, fun environment by licensed instructors who play ski-games, children and teens from 3 to 16 learn to enjoy this beautiful winter sport and sharpening their skills to boot! There are colorful obstacle courses, snow teepees and twice weekly skills-contests where everyone is a winner, as well as a Kids Haven for those who would rather play indoors or rest rather than hit the gentle slopes.

And while the kids are busy getting their ski on, parents can either do some shushing of their own, or try one of Kiroro’s many other inviting diversions, including telemark skiing, backcountry tours, tubing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and even Japanese pottery/ceramic classes. Whew! But that’s not all.

With two uber-comfy hotels, one slope-side and the other just a mogul-hop away, Kiroro takes everyone’s desires into consideration; there is a Nature Center where everyone can learn something new and interesting; Kiroro Esthetique where one can relax for apres-ski, or just while away some hours chilling out, getting a massage or bathing in their onsen; a winter fireworks display, hotel lobby piano concerts and a variety of delectable gourmet restaurants to choose from. You can even get married there if you’re feeling amorous enough.

So take the chill off winter by visiting Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island and its largest prefecture, and let both Annie Kids Ski Academy and Kiroro Ski & Snowboard Academy make your escape fun, easy, comfy and cool!

INFO
vital stats

•  610m top to bottom
•  1 gondola
•  4 quads
•  4 double ski lifts
•  30.3km of skiable slopes for advanced, intermediate and beginners (longest run 4 km)

prices
1day lift tickets   adult/children
¥5,000/2,500
5hours lift tickets  ¥3,900/1,900
full day ski instruction
    ¥5,800

operating hours
8:30 – 20:00  Saturday, Sunday,
Public holiday, New year(12/27-1/4)
8:45 – 20:00  Monday-FridayKIRORO ANNIE KIDS SKI ACADEMY
Akaigawa Village, Yoichi-Gun, Hokkaido
0135-34-7128 http://www.kiroro.co.jp/en/winter/academy/annie/www.kiroro.co.jp

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