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yamasa.org / home / hcjs / english / programs / winter   -    Sapporo City  -   Skiing in Hokkaido: Niseko / Furano   -    Ní thuigim thú

Alert Box: Applications for winter are now open. The Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from February 5th to 11th 2010. Please contact admissions@yamasa.org if you have general questions. Regards Declan.

Location(s) Start/Finish Code Fee (Yen) Applications Sapporo Center JAN/12-JAN/22 A from 159,000 yen Open Sapporo Center JAN/12-FEB/05 B from 229,000 yen Open Sapporo Center JAN/12-FEB/05+Tour(FEB/05-09) B from 318,000 yen Open Sapporo Center JAN/12-FEB/12 C from 319,000 yen Open Sapporo Center JAN/12-FEB/26 D from 336,000 yen Open Sapporo Center JAN/12-MAR/12 E from 384,000 yen Open Sapporo then Okazaki JAN/12-FEB/25 F from 398,800 yen Open Sapporo then Okazaki JAN/12-MAR/18 G from 459,800 yen Open     Arrival Registrations: After completing fee payment, please click here to register your arrival details. This activates accommodation booking.

Intensive Japanese immersion, skiing on some of the world's freshest powder snow, Susukino's nightlife, brilliant snow festivals, historic sites, hot springs, winter sports and resorts & the most extensive wilderness areas in Japan. A winter Japanese program in Hokkaido provides the opportunity to not only improve your understanding of modern Japan and your language skills, but also your snowboarding or skiing!

The program is best suited to those who have studied at least 50-100 hours of Japanese. (Beginners are advised to study in Okazaki, and can attend the Sapporo Snow Festival via Japan Discovery). You can commence studies in Sapporo from January 12th with a total of 7 length options available, including a unique customized program combining studies in both Okazaki and Sapporo that can include an extensive range of study options plus optional trips involving skiing in Hakuba and a visit to the snow monkeys in Nagano.

The Sapporo programs are less intensive than the SILAC & Acceleration programs offered in Okazaki. Sapporo Japanese programs involve four classes per day, each of which are of 45 minutes length. Your textbooks are included in the program fee, all you need is a dictionary (these can be purchased in major stores in Sapporo), something to write on and write with. The overall result is a program that is more laid back, giving you plenty of time to explore the city. The Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from early February with most events centered on Odori Park and the Susukino district. Since you are in Hokkaido, it is worth travelling as much as possible. Otaru City and Jozankei Onsen are good day trips from Sapporo. The historic treaty port of Hakodate would require at least an overnight stay as it is about 3 hours from Sapporo by train (as Hokkaido does not have a shinkansen), but usually the accommodation costs are actually cheaper than the train fares. If you choose Option B1 (JAN/12-FEB/05+Tour FEB/05-09) you can enjoy Hakodate, along with Noboribetsu Onsen and skiing enroute.

Skiing in Hokkaido

Ski & Study: Hokkaido is a winter sports paradise. This program provides exciting new options where you can enjoy the opportunity to learn Japanese along with world class skiing and snowboarding at Furano and Niseko, as well as resorts close to the HCJS such as Sapporo Teine. An extensive range of weekend and after-program tours can be arranged, including skiing and snowboarding in Furano, Niseko, Kiroro & Rusutsu. Fun in Hokkaido is not just about groomed powder snow - you can experience and enjoy back country tours, heliskiing, iceboating, fun on snowmobiles or snowshoes and much much more. Winter sports are easy to learn, and lessons can be provided in Japanese or English. For backcountry fun, qualified English speaking guides can be arranged for those unable to pass the Japanese language requirements for avalanche safety. For less vigorous and more graceful fun, Nakajima Park provides well groomed and easy gradient cross country ski courses good for ski-walking or skiing. If you are interested in ice skating, regardless of whether you are a beginner or an experienced skater, it is possible to skate outdoors in many locations (including in the Olympic stadium at Makomanai) which are open to the general public. Outdoor sports events such as the "Big Air" pro-snowboard jumping are also fun, with a wide range of live music acts entertaining the crowds during the breaks in the competition.

Minimum Entry Requirements: For the winter programs the major consideration is your current level of Japanese. For January 12th, you need to have studied Japanese for approximately 50-100 hours, read/write hiragana/ katakana, read a minimum of 50 kanji. Beginners are advised to commence in Okazaki. Minimum age limit is 18 at the time of enrolment. There is no maximum age limit. Places in the programs are limited and early application is advised. If you are unsure of whether your level is sufficient prior to application, please contact our Admissions Office.

Conversation class during winter session

Airport transfer: The program fee includes a free transfer between Shin-Chitose airport or the JR Sapporo train station and your accommodation. This free transfer involves reimbursing the costs of train and taxi fares. For students transferring between Sapporo and Okazaki, the full cost of door-to-door travel is included. Students who do not need an air ticket for travel between Sapporo's Shin-Chitose Airport and Nagoya's Centrair Airport are able to receive a 25000 yen cash refund.

Facilities: Good insulation and heating is essential for comfort during the Sapporo winter, and our center and the various accommodations are well equipped. Compared to accommodation and office space in Tokyo, Okazaki and other southern areas, you will usually be warmer inside when in Sapporo. All classrooms have double glazed windows providing natural light, are well heated and include drying space for overcoats etc - essential during snowfalls. Compared to the larger Aichi center in Okazaki, internet access is limited in the Hokkaido center. PC's are available for checking email. Internet is available in the accommodations on request for all but late applicants.
Photocopying facilities and a limited range of printing services are available.

Okurayama Ski Jump - Nordic events

Tips regarding the weather: The winters in Sapporo City are cold, and cold weather clothing is essential. It is cold. Read that again. It is very cold. Unless there is a very early spring or abnormally warm winter, it should be about minus 4° Celsius or 25° on the Fahrenheit scale. Snowstorms are of course not uncommon. It is not really possible to enjoy the city without spending a lot of time outdoors, so layer your clothing. Thermal underwear is a good investment. Make sure you have gloves or mittens, a warm hat, a hooded jacket (preferably windproof and water resistant). For footwear you need shoes that don't leak water, or preferably boots.

Make sure that whatever you wear on your feet, that your footwear has excellent traction. There is ice on the roads, pavements, steps and just about every other surface in Sapporo in February. Almost everywhere you go is going to be slippery, and even the locals experience falls. You can easily obtain shoe spikes (either clip on or strap on) at the airport or JR Sapporo station, good shoe shops and even many of the souvenir shops, but for overall comfort boots are probably your best bet. If you arrive in Sapporo without good footwear, you may wish to visit an excellent outdoor shop called Shugakuso near "Kita-12-jou" (north street #12) station on the Nanboku (north south) subway line. They also run the Patagonia outlet just down the street.

Dialect & Language: Unlike Okazaki, unless you look Japanese you will probably be spoken to initially in English as Sapporo is a tourism oriented city. This means you may need to be pro-active in speaking Japanese to practice outside class. There is a local dialect, however it is not sufficiently different from the hyoujungo spoken in Okazaki or Tokyo to present any problems.

Please choose a program that suits your needs and schedule - we hope you can join us and enjoy winter in Japan. If you are unsure of which program to choose, please write to Mr Declan Murphy. All of the winter programs are extremely popular - so apply early - well before the various deadlines.

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