Niseko Powder The 2nd

Our second Lunar New Year since we moved to Korea was once more spent on Hokkaido in Japan - the most amazing place for powder skiing: Niseko.

Niseko claims to be the second snowiest place on the globe, and after being there for a few days, we couldn't help but absolutely believing in that statement. That amount of snow Niseko boasts hasn't been seen by many Europeans in snowy regions for ages.

As opposed to the first time when we stayed in a remote hotel out in Annupuri, we found a cozy lodge in the more exciting Grand Hirafu which was run by Aussies who treated us like family. It was their first season to host guests in Niseko, and they did more than only a good job. For anyone who is looking for a different option than a hotel, but doesn't want to stay in a backpacker's lodge, the Ramat Niseko offers nice and clean rooms with ensuite private bathroom and a wide range of entertainment (Nintendo Wii, pool table, DVD room, evening drinks and gatherings) for all ages: http://www.ramatniseko.com
Your hosts will drive you around, to the ski slopes in the morning, to the ski rental when you need equipment, to the onsen, spa or supermarket in the evening - it's first class service!



What we recommend for anyone going to Niseko is to get a guide the first day who can show you all the powder off-piste sweet spots in the region, which are not always easy to find. We got to know those spots while following some of our fellow Aussie guests of the lodge who had a guide the first few days. We missed those spots last year - quite a pity! So - do invest in a guide at least for a day. It's more than worth it.

The best Korean beef barbecue ever! Restaurant "The Born" (본가), Hongdae

본가 (bonga, Restaurant "The Born") – stands for most delicious Korean style barbecue with most thinly sliced beef (우삼겹 – usamgyeop), loads of fresh vegetable, side dishes and a salad sauce even salad avoiders – like myself – would kill for!

Conveniently located a few meters off Hongdae station, and just KRW 9’000 per person for the most delicious Korean barbecue experience. Immensely popular, therefore, waiting times up to 30 min. or 1 hour need to be anticipated, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
Take exit 5 of Hongik University station, turn left immediately into the street where Watson’s is, turn into the next street on the right. Bonga is on the right hand side, you need to climb a few stairs to the entrance.
Restaurant website
Hongdae branch

Best deal for typical Korean dishes: Restaurant Ddeuraraechae (뜰아래채), Insadong

It can’t get much more Korean when you want to experience the most typical Korean dish: Kimchi Jjigae (김치찌개). There are thousands of places where you can get this dish, but lately, we discovered a real cozy place in Insadong, where you have to sit on the floor, but the homelike ambiance makes up for that somewhat uncomfortable position for most Westerners. Insadong is often crowded with tourists, and restaurants there normally have the reputation of being tourist traps: Expensive and not good.

But in that small cozy restaurant called Ddeuraraechae (뜰아래채), which we haven’t found in any travel guide so far, you get an amazing deal for your money: For just KRW 5’000 per person, you get a Kimchi Jjigae, Bulgogi or any typical Korean dish with meat and loads of delicious side dishes including an egg soufflé (계란찜) in a hot pot. We were even served crispy rice soup (누룽지) in the end. We suppose that the location of the restaurant, which is way back in a small side street, is not found easily by many tourists.
Directions to get there: If you stroll on Insadong main street in direction of Anguk station, you will find on the right side the Insa Art Plaza (인사아트프라자), which is a big grey building you cannot miss. There, turn right into the small side street, and turn right once more when you see the sign with the green tree. The restaurant is in that small dead-end street.
Check out this link for more information (in Korean only).