POWDER
SNOW
HOKKAIDO
SNOW
HOKKAIDO
Hokkaido Snow Travel Expo 2019 in KAMUI
HOKKAIDO SNOW TRAVEL EXPO 2019 in KAMUI was held in Asahikawa, Hokkaido from February 26th to March 2nd .
43 representatives of travel industry/snow sports industry/media from 15 countries were invited and attended to this expo. All guests had enjoyed ski/snowboard, snow activities and cultural experience in Asahikawa area.
And also constructive exchanges of views and information between overseas guests and local suppliers at the business meeting certainly help us to create new ski packages or unique packages in winter season for near future.
After having lecture about each characteristics of each region in Hokkaido, we all guests had been divided into 8 groups for the inspection of other ski area. We believe that everyone could find infinite potentials of Hokkaido as one of the best snow resort in the world through this Expo!
43 representatives of travel industry/snow sports industry/media from 15 countries were invited and attended to this expo. All guests had enjoyed ski/snowboard, snow activities and cultural experience in Asahikawa area.
And also constructive exchanges of views and information between overseas guests and local suppliers at the business meeting certainly help us to create new ski packages or unique packages in winter season for near future.
After having lecture about each characteristics of each region in Hokkaido, we all guests had been divided into 8 groups for the inspection of other ski area. We believe that everyone could find infinite potentials of Hokkaido as one of the best snow resort in the world through this Expo!
Orientation & Presentation about Asahikawa and its environs
For Overseas Participants
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Date : 26 FEB 09：15～09：45
History of Hokkaido Snow Travel Expo was introduced and overview/schedule for this expo was informed to overseas participants at the orientation.
Place : Snow Crystal Museum
After that, attractive characteristics of Asahikawa city and its environs including basic information/transportation/tourist attractions were presented.
This program was held at Snow Crystal Museum, which became one of the most popular tourist spot in Hokkaido after “Disney’s Frozen” scored a big hit since the European castle-like building reminiscent of the world of the movie
Participants also enjoyed taking pictures and shopping in crowd of tourists in this museum after the presentation. 
Local Inspection Divided into 7groups
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Date : 26 FEB 10：00～16：30
Course
- CourseA / Winter vegetable harvesting & Winter driving experience
- CourseB / Pottery experience & Confectionery making
- CourseC / Snow banana boat & Snow shoe walk
- CourseD / Japanese cultural experiences(Soba noodles cooking ＆ Tea ceremony）
- CourseE / Dog sledding ＆ Horseback riding
- CourseF / Bag making with recycled materials & textile-dyeing
- CourseG / Snow activities at Sounkyo gorge / http://www.sounkyo.net/english/
Opening Ceremony and Welcome Party
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Date : 26 FEB 18：00～20：00
Since Asahikawa is well-known for furniture and wooden crafts, Opening ceremony and welcome party took place in Asahikawa’s symbolic facility “Asahikawa Design Center”.
Place : Asahikawa Design Center.
Mayor of Asahikawa city and director general of Hokkaido Transport Bureau had a speech in English at the opening ceremony to give an address of welcome and to introduce about Hokkaido such as history of ski in Hokkaido, current situation of inbound tourism.
Welcome party was started with passionate speech by the chairman of Hokkaido Ski Promotion Council. All guests enjoyed Hokkaido’s specialty food, local wine or Sake with watching traditional Ainu performance. 
Ski/Snowboard Inspection and Lesson
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Date : 27 FEB 09：15～16：00
Enjoyed Japow Hokkaido in a perfect condition with blue sky and fresh powdery snow fallen during the night before the day!
Place : Kamui Ski Links
Professional instructors of Kamui Ski Links and other ski resorts gave ski/snowboard lessons to first timers and beginners.
Participants practiced diligently as we could hear that someone from Southeast Asia was saying like “I’m sweating in this cold place while I’m skiing! I feel like it’s hotter than my country!”
Advanced skiers and snowboarders tried variety of slops with instructors and looked very happy with deep, fresh snow around top of the mountain. 
Local Food Tour
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Date : 27 FEB 18：00～20：30
Divided into 5 groups to explore “San-Roku Gai”, Asahikawa’s center of wine & dine. Each teams visited two restaurants in two hours and enjoyed Hokkaido’s specialties such as fresh seafood, char-grilled chicken, Jingisukan(Hokkaido-style lamb BBQ) , typical Japanese tapas. Regarding “Asahikawa Dinner Passport”, which was used for the local food tour, we could hear the opinion from participants that “This Passport will be a big help for tourists because many of them love to explore the town by themselves to find local-loved place for real food/cultural experience instead of staying at hotel or tourist sight all day long.”
Place : SAN-ROKU entertainment area / Asahikawa City downtown 
Hokkaido Snow Resort Presentation
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Date : 28 FEB 09：00～09：30
Presented overview and potential of Hokkaido as a snow resort. Explained why Hokkaido attracts many skiers and snowboarders with showing some data of temperature in winter, amount of snow etc. Also introduced well-equipped facilities & activities in each ski resorts, attractions for after-ski. At the session after the seminar, overseas participants asked some questions regarding secondary transportation around Asahikawa and all over Hokkaido, preparation to host tourists with range of food cultures. Members of Hokkaido Ski Promotion Council explained current situation and their plan or outlook for the future for the given questions.
Place : Banquet room " HOKUTO" 2F, Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa 
Business Meeting for Tour Agent
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Date : 28 FEB 9：40～16：00
Snow resorts, hotels and accommodations, transportation companies, travel agency, activity providers attended as suppliers at the business meeting. Through 14 business sessions, suppliers and overseas tour agents exchanged their each information and requests each other and had constructive conversations to create attractive packages for the next season.
Place : Banquet room " SAIUN " 3F, Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa 
Media Fam Tour around Mt.Asahidake
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Date : 28 FEB 09：45～16：00
■Tour Course
Asahidake Onsen(Hotel Bearmonte) === Lunch === Asahidake Ropeway === Skishoe hike through snowfield === Higashikawa Sentopyua === Hotel
Two experts of media joined this Fam tour. Although the weather wasn’t perfect, both of them enjoyed this unique experience especially SkiShoe hiking. 
Shopping Experience in Local Shopping center
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Date : 28 FEB 16:30～18:00
33 overseas guests attended this program. Brochure (English ver. & Chinese ver.) and e-money card was supplied to the guests.
Place : AEON mall Asahikawa station 
FAREWELL PARTY
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Date : 28 FEB 18：30～20：30
Casual style stand-up party with excellent buffet. The video of participants during this expo was played on a screen. The party was liven up with a live performance. Ended with heartwarming speech by Mayor of Asahikawa city.
Place : "Sky Banquet room" 17F,
Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Asahikawa 
Snow Resorts TOUR
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Date : 1 MAR－2 MAR
Guests were divided into 8 groups Inspected ski slops, rooms and other facilities of hotel in each ski resorts.- Route1 / Furano
- Route2 / Yubari
- Route3 / Tomamu
- Route4 / Sahoro
- Route5 / SAPPORO
(TEINE, BAN-K, KOKUSAI ski resort / Overnight stay in Jozankei Onsen) - Route6 / KIRORO
- Route7 / NISEKO
- Route8 / RUSUTSU
