Day 11

Today we went to Kutchan- a nearby city.  We walked down main street and went into some of the shops there. We got socks with indivual spaces for each toe and a warm drink from a place called Sprouts.  Fugi Sweet Shop was our next stop. Lauren got an eclair and I got a cream puff.  It was nice to go into town and see new sights besides seeing the inn every day.
- Jordan

Day 10

Today we went tree climbing.  For around a week we have been clearing out a tree climbing park. The tree climbing instructor came today to help us climb the tree with ropes and harnesses. At first it was very confusing but once you got the hang of it, it was very fun and you would be able to climb very high. It was really fun to be up so high.

-Lauren

Interesting Finds #3

Squirt Bottle- home made

There are a variety of toilets throughout Japan.  There are pit toilets at the hostel which the tank needs to be emptied out once in awhile and it is expensive.  There is a flush but it uses very little water and if one needs a bit more water for items to go down, they use this squirt bottle with pin holes in the lid.  

We fill the bottles when they are low.

These are a few pics of the Women's toilet room and the men's has blue slippers.  You are to leave your house shoes or slippers at the door and use toilet slippers only in the toilet room. Both have a small sink in the room too. The bath/shower room is separate and they have another area with Women's and Men's sinks for washing up.

Guests

A group of four retired teachers came through for one night. They were on a ride throughout Hokkaido.  Youth hostels in Japan used to be mainly used by young Japanese but more recently older Japanese are enjoying the peaceful nature of the inn and surroundings of these hostels.

Traveling around Hokkaido by small camper is also popular.  There are campgrounds scattered all over but also small parking lots with restrooms are in many towns and campers can stay for free. I have seen a few set up for the night and cooking their dinner just outside their vehicle.

Work Projects

We have been working on a number of projects since we arrived and we have made a lot of progress.

Lauren painted three white benches and I bush wacked this entire BBQ area.

Jordan and Lauren painted the garbage bin.  Max and nearby neighbors bring their garbage and various recyclables daily to the bin depending on what is being picked up that day.  The city supplied the paint and brushes as they have to be a designated color.

We all cleared this hillside of small trees, brush and bamboo.  There was a lot of hillside to clear and we went up about 15 feet.  Max needed it cleared because he has to remove snow from around the building all winter with his small bucket loader.  He needs to get to the back of the building and it is narrow between the building and this steep incline. The building would have snow up to the roof if he did not clear it away.
In the next picture we cleared the Tree Climbing Park which we could not see at all. A teacher is coming today to show us what this tree climbing technique is all about.
The next two pictures are the types of rooms here that we clean and prepare for guests.

Mt. Yotei Hike

After much discussion we decided to hike Mt. Yotei on Tuesday, a nearby volcanic mountain resembling Mt. Fuji, just not as high.  This was our one full day off and we all agreed to hike and make a day of it with Chef Max as our leader. It was his first time up the magnificent mountain.  It is a 6-10 hour hike which we accomplished in 10 hours with 1 1/2 hours hiking and eating lunch at the rim.  We had rain, hail, clouds, snow and mud to traverse.  Jordan was great at rationing the chocolate, gum and life savers.  I am so glad I put those in her pack and not mine or Lauren's pack.  There were markers along the way to let us know how far we had come and alas how far we had yet to go. The girls voted for further ascent at each marker even when the going was tough.

It rained and hailed some between markers 7 and 9 and we dried out at the rim eating the best onigiri ever made by Chef Max.  Girls tried umeboshi inside their rice balls for the first time. That is a pickled plum inside a rice ball. Sort of the equivalent of a pb and j sandwich.  They loved the tart flavor with the brown rice and seaweed paper covering the rice ball. We are at the rim and dried out our clothes.  It was cool and we wore everything we brought.  We were the only ones at the rim for a time as it had been raining moments before and hikers began their descent as there was no visibility and poor conditions.  We were fortunate to have it clear up and breezy enough to dry off.

We spent over an hour at the top and the girls tried to catch the moving clouds that were moving right at them! 

We headed down which I knew would be hard in our tennis shoes but never did I imagine it would be as treacherous and as grueling as it was.  We were lucky to be standing in many areas and fortunate enough to have fallen only a few times and to not have experienced any serious injuries.  I am not sure what motived Lauren to make it down the mountain headed from marker five to zero but she lead the whole way and did not stop at any markers except once to wait for us.  She persevered through blisters on each ankle.  Jordan enlightened us with the plot from Walking Dead series about zombies.  Bring on the zombies!  I did not care the topic but to have someone talking was pure joy in that it helped us all down some very slippery slopes.  We were all extremely exhausted and energized for having finished our trek!  I was so proud of my girls and I was sure to tell them that (along with shedding a few tears) once I caught up with them at the parking lot.

Mt. Yotei: 6227 feet

Level of difficulty: 4 out of 5 (Hiking in Japan website)
Unable to post other pics right now. Three cameras and syncing things is complicated.
Just got a few pics...

Interesting Finds #2

I would be more inclined to air dry clothes if I had cool gizmos like this that could be used indoors or out.
This is closed for easy storage.

Open for quick drying many items.

 Laundry area.

Day 7

There is something new everyday here with the food.  Every meal is spectacular even though you have to wait 2 hours for dinner.  They put so much effort into every thing they do, from big things to small.  -Jordan

The girls have loved the food and especially Chef Max's food which we have recently nicknamed him.  Before we came a couple of people asked the girls what they were going to do about the food and what they were going to eat.  They have loved every meal so far.  They commented that the only 'fishy' tasting things have been the fish.  Go figure.  Once in awhile there is a mushroom or vegetable that Lauren leaves on her plate but other than that food has been delicious!  Chef Max is used to making dinner for guests and often times up to thirty guests during ski season!  The girls have been helping in the kitchen with some meals, doing dishes after each meal and making a meal to share with everyone.  We made chicken pot pies which were yummy.  Putting away dishes has been a sort of game as to finding the correct spot for each dish, utensil, or pan.  Japan kitchens are complex with a large assortment of many kinds of objects.  Once in awhile we come across a dish that is difficult to find it's correct home. We have been rotating through washing (all done by hand), drying and putting away.  The girls would like me to cook more like Chef Max when we get home.  They even agree on helping out in the kitchen in Minneapolis.  We will have to see if they truly mean that.

Day 6

Yesterday (day 6) we had a day off so we hiked a mountain for 10 hours. It was straight up with a lot of rocks so it was very hard hiking. Then it started to rain and hailed which made it worse. We Split a Snickers bar 4 ways and it was the best one I ever had.  It was all okay though because of the beautiful view.
The mountain was Mt. Hotel and it is in a previously posted picture in this blog.
-Lauren

Interesting Finds #1

One thing I find fascinating in other cultures is new ways to use a common object.  There were about five of these scattered above a row of small shops where customers would order food.

Can you see the baby birds in the nest?  At least the customers were spared a surprise.

Thoughts

When you enter a home, school, inn or many other types of businesses in Japan you remove your shoes and put on guest slippers or your own work or school shoes if it's your work or school. On the first day we removed our shoes and placed them on the shelves for guests at this hostel.  We then slipped on the slippers for guests as we did not come with house shoes or slippers.  The next day when we were preparing for guests, I asked Max if we should move our outside shoes to the family side of the shelve as we are not guests but we are also not family either.  We had been cleaning and putting out clean linens for the guests so we were allowed access to all the doors marked 'Private' or Staff Only.'  Max hesitated in answering my question and then said, 'Yes, please move them.'

We have been treated not as a foreigner but as a member of the staff from the beginning.  This is a unique experience in Japan as it usually takes awhile to get beyond fomal relationships.  It has been extremely helpful that both Max and Yuko speak good English and know how to give directions and feedback and answer all the girls' questions.  We will continue to get to know one another as we work together on projects and in preparing for hostel guests.

Family side in entryway:

Guest side in entryway:

Day 4

Yesterday we went to an onsen and it was really nice. We fell asleep right after we looked at the stars. Today I painted a bench. Then we ate twizzlers under this really cool area that has trees over it and the ground is cleared off and so we put a blanket down. Now we will eat dinner soon because it's almost 6 pm here and the food is really good so I can't wait because I'm really hungry.

-Lauren

Photos

A few photos of the renovated schoolhouse that is now a hostel and our surroundings.

Day 2

Jet lag is wearing off so getting up and going to sleep is much easier.  For work today we started at 9:00 after a breakfast of toast, wild strawberries, and leftovers form yesterday's dinner. We did a light cleaning of the house and we also remade the rooms after the 5 guests left this morning.  Max then showed us the yard work he wanted us to start on.  The list is very long and contains some painting, planting, weeding, and removing bushes and trees. We started with removing some of the bushes and trees. We worked until 12:30 to have a lunch of pasta and mushrooms. Max got a phone call after lunch that 3 guests wanted to stay tonight.  Yuko took us to the farmers market and brought Shiho and Seiji.  We bought ice cream from dairy made locally, a ceramic mug, red been cakes, postcards, and lemon gum. Before we left town we stopped at a Buddhist shrine. When we got back we did some more yard work and then helped with dinner. We will head to bed early to finish our second day.
                                                                         -Jordan

 

Day 1

              Today we cleaned in the morning after eating toast and eggs for breakfast.  We washed all the floors, scrubbed the bathrooms and bathtubs.  Next we dusted and straightened up the rooms. Finally we restocked everything and put new bed linens on for the guests coming at 6:30.  Soon we will start making dinner and prepare for the guests.  After we cleaned we took a walk and then ate lunch.  Then we rested and will take showers soon.  I can't wait until I can take another walk and go even further.  The veiw here is amazing.

-Lauren

WWOOF Host #1

Well, we've arrived at our first host establishment near Niseko Village on Hokkaido. We were in transit for 27 hours yesterday and slept very soundly in Sapporo at a beautiful Best Western. We took trains along the ocean and through the mountains to reach our destination today. The further into the mountains the more the girls got excited. They could smell the mountain air and feel the cool breeze on the train. Our host picked us up at the train station and brought us to their place. We Had a tour of their place and had dinner with the family.  They have three children ages 8, 6, and an 8 month old. We will fit right in!

This establishment is a Registered Japan Youth Hostel and called Niseko Fugiyama Karimpari. It's an old elementary school building converted into an inn.  The ski season is their busiest so tonight  and this time of year is very quiet. We had a fine meal and really need a good nights rest.  Off to an Oruro and cozy bed.

WWOOF Japan

WWOOF Japan Here We Come!
(Willing Workers On Organic Farms)

Three Hiedeman's are getting ready for our WWOOFing experience in Japan.  We leave on June 15th, 2015 and have many things to accomplish before we can sit on that airplane.  I found WWOOF Japan after many months of looking for a program where the girls and I could work alongside others internationally.  We will be working about six hours a day in exchange for our room and board.  I joined WWOOF Japan and then had access to numerous hosts throughout Japan.  During previous visits to Japan, I fell in love with northern Japan on the main island.  I immediately emailed the few hosts in that area to inquire about them hosting three people.  I was turned down and started looking in Hokkaido, Japan.  I gave a few details and asked many hosts if they would like to host us for some time this summer.  I had an overwhelming response in that many people were willing to host all three of us!  I initially intended to stay in one place for a month but later decided that three places would be a good mix for us.  Host #1 is near Niseko Village and it is an old school building turned into an inn near a famous ski resort.  We will be there two weeks and it is their off season.  Host #2 is a farm and they have many chickens for eggs.  We will be there one week and I assume collecting eggs.  Host #3 is a farm near the ocean and we will be there for one week.  We hope to learn many things about their businesses.  Stay tuned for further details and updates.
Hope you enjoy our musings.
-Nicole/Nicki

An excerpt from WWOOF Japan website:
When visiting Hosts, you are neither a guest nor a worker, but a part of the Host's place - like friends and family members are. Based on the rhythms you see at the Host's place you'll be thinking about what you can do to help-out, and what you can learn and experience in doing so. The Host will give the same back to you. Living chores are often a part of the day: ie., preparing meals and cleaning up.  Open your heart.  Listen to your friends' instructions.  If misunderstanding occurs, tell the Host of your needs directly and sincerely.