changed the international wine scene,

so it would be interesting to see what

Hokkaido can contribute if it develops

in a Japanese way.

Our tour would not have been

complete without a trip to Hokkaido's

main city of Sapporo. Sapporo's

modern look and neon lights were a

great contrast to Otaru's history. After

checking into our hotel, we wandered

the Sapporo station area and on to

Odori Park which stretches several

lthough cricket has taken me

with many of the historic buildings

blocks along the city centre. It was

overseas  on  many  occasions

which had been restored into galleries

filled with a colourful variety of people

over the years I never expected

and shops. I was strongly reminded of

enjoying the sun. We had dinner with

the game would be responsible for

Fremantle and Perth. Along the way

some of Sapporo's expat community

my first visit to Japan. In summer, I

we ate delicious sushi straight from

in the evening and sampled the

was invited to take part in the first

the boat in a local restaurant and tried

nightlife. The food alone made it easy

RidgeRunner  Niseko  International

to resist the urge to buy too much

to see why there are so many expats.

Cricket Competition that was held

glassware.

This part of Hokkaido has such a lot to

on 15-17 September. That gave me

Soon after we had arrived in Japan,

offer...the mountains, seaside, a clean

the opportunity to see some of the

people were advising us to visit the

environment and smiling people.

Hokkaido sights and the people at

hot springs, or `onsen' as we started

Niseko Property Press thought that

The cricket in Niseko was the

picking up a few words of Japanese.

winter visitors might be interested to

highpoint of our visit. Hokkaido also

We didn't have far to go to find them.

hear what the area is like without the

has its own team, the Ezo Cricket Club.

Our hotel in Otaru, the Neuschloss,

snow.

The event was held for a charity called

came equipped with a private onsen in

The Tyler Foundation for Childhood

Let me start by saying, as first

our room and we had a treat soaking

Cancer and included cricket and a gala

time visitors, my wife Helen and I had

in the hot water and gazing through

dinner. I'm happy to say that thanks

a view of Japan as big cities, temples,

the hotel windows at the sea view.

to the tremendous support of all those

sushi...and baseball. Outside that,

Next time we might spend a weekend

who participated, a significant amount

we had absolutely no idea what to

without leaving the hotel at all.

was raised for this good cause.

expect in Hokkaido, although we had

Another thing we were told is that

heard of Niseko. So we were struck by

While rain played a major role in the

Hokkaido is slowly developing into

Hokkaido's fantastic wilderness, the

weekend's outdoor activities, it did not

a wine region, something we hadn't

friendliness of the people and getting

stop our group of diehard players from

anticipated. During our tour we could

to know Japanese culture.

taking to the pitch, which also included

see the vines growing in the region

New Zealand international cricketer,

One of the highlights for us was

around Otaru and Niseko. As a fan

Matthew Hart. The cricket dinner and

our trip to Otaru, a port city one-hour's

of fine wine, I'm hoping that it does

auction were a great success and I had

drive north of Niseko. The city wants

take off. There is certainly ample land

the pleasure of meeting a wide variety

to be known as the Venice of the north

for growing and I hope to tour the

of people to talk cricket and wine and

and we signed up for a tour of the

vineyards on my next trip here. We

dine with.

glassblowing area. It was wonderful to

all know how much

see how the old warehouse area near

New World

I had heard of Niseko's reputation

the canal had been preserved, along

wines  have

as a ski destination before I arrived

from my son who had raved up

the slopes here. It was good to

see what all the fuss was about.

Now that I've seen it in summer

I can see myself coming back

to see the snow and ski the

slopes.

In fact by the

time you've read this I will

have been back to Japan in

November to promote cricket

again. You might be surprised

to hear that there is a growing

interest in cricket here and a

national league is in the works.

I'm also planning to be

back in Hokkaido next

summer for the Niseko

competition ­ why

don't you join

me.

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