From the monthly archives:

August 2010

Kutchan Jaga Matsuri 2010

by glen on August 16, 2010

The weekend before last was a big one here in Kutchan because it was the ‘world famous’ Jaga Matsuri [Potato Festival] weekend in Kutchan.

The potato is the local mascot for Kutchan town and this 2 day festival pays homage to the humble potato…or’ Jaga Kun’ as he know as here – the skiing, snowboarding, hiking ,cycling potato boy.

The main street in Kutchan up from the train station was closed and the festivities took pride of place.

Summer is the main festival time for towns throughout Hokkaido with each district celebrating their own local produce or Shinto legend and generally getting boozed. During the final parade of the festival young and old dance down the main street together in unison while the town song is pumped out of emergency PA system along the street.

With beer flowing and local pride on display it is defiantly a sight to see the whole grooving together. The festival wrapped up with a fireworks display from behind the train station – BAM !

Tagged as: cultural, Hokkaido, Japan, Kutchan, panorama, people, Photography

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Finger Wharf Panorama

by glen on August 16, 2010

One thing about panoramas is that it is much easier and quicker to shoot them than it is to put them together…i have big backlog of un-stitched panoramas.

I guess I have to keep chipping away

So yeah this Finger Wharf pano was shot over 2 years ago, around the same time as the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens Harbor Foreshore Panorama posted here last March.

Finger Warf…amazing.

Labor of love these panos !

Tagged as: Australia, Building, panorama, Photography

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Sekka Dining

by glen on August 14, 2010

I have to say that unashamedly in winter Sekka is my favorite restaurant.
Here’s why !

This panorama of the stylin’ interior was shot during a special private booking. Usually there are more people dining but it is a bit tricky setting up my tripod without raising a few eyebrows while i huff and puff my way through shooting a pano – amongst friends A OK.

So if you are in Hirafu for the 2010/11 season make a booking and enjoy some of the best local ingredients Hokkaido has to offer served up in an inspired delicious menu to suit all tastes.

Tagged as: Hirafu, Hokkaido, Japan, niseko, panorama, Photography, Restaurant

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1st Niseko Hanazono Hill Climb

by glen on August 9, 2010

Yesterday as part of the Kutchan Town festival and in association with the Japan Cycling Federation Kutchan hosted the 1st Niseko Hanazono Hill Climb.

The race was basically a 15 km “sprint” from Kutchan to Goshiki Onsen. I didn’t get to see the race set off from Kutchan because I was at the finish line hoping for a Team Niseko podium finish shot but the 343 team expanded for the event and Owain took a bunch of shots in Kutchan.