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Ausies come to Furano and Asahikawa ?

http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/Php/kiji.php3?&d=20060316&j=0043&k=200603162063

A council of promoting Ausie toursits for Furano/Asahikawa invited two Ausie journalists. The council plans to promote sightseeing tours combined with snow packages. Kate Gibbs(29) and David Horbenden(35) visited Asahikawa zoo and Sake makers on March 14, and Kamui Link ski resort on March 15. They said the lift was not crowded than Aus. They will go to Furano ski resort and Tokachi Onsen, and will be back on March 20. They will make their trip reports on two Ausie magazines. Viva! Ausies.

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Hey guys, been having a quick read over your forum tonight, i too was just in Niseko last season and found that there was an exceptional amount of westerners compared to recent years. I didn't find that the locals nor the area had actually lost it's charm, but has adopted some aussi agrigance. This season was the first time i actually wasn't that fussed about going out all that often to some of my fav hang outs due to the copious amounts of aussi (western) men, that behaved like dogs on serious heat! Apart from this though i still enjoy my time there and will return next season...

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Whats the major complaint here? You see some foreigners enjoying themselves on the slopes and it ruins your totally unique Japan experience?

 

Do people that invest in an overseas holiday have to behave in the way the local gaijin population expect them to?

 

I think that it is rather obvious that people who embark on an overseas vacation skiing or boarding are going to party hard and get their moneys worth. So far there hasn't been any complaints from the locals about the money flowing in to the local economy.

 

Who are the 'real' arrogant people here then?

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OK, so what percentage of Australians are wrecking, thieving and causing trouble?

 

What exactly are they wrecking? What shit do they steal? And what trouble? Is this the majority of people? Or the minority?

 

Lets get the facts straight.

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Why don't you have another read Dorikin. There are some varying opinions in here about what seems to be a problem, though I do tend to think it's probably fairly minimal in the greater scheme of things. I'm sure most of the tourists visiting Niseko have nothing but a positive effect.

 

 Quote:
Do people that invest in an overseas holiday have to behave in the way the local gaijin population expect them to?

Not at all, and resort package holidays being what they are, it's only natural for people to want to get drunk, rowdy, and want to have a good time. You have to accept this as a consequence of the demographic you're promoting to. However as a local anywhere, gaijin or no, you've got a right to take issue with unacceptable behaviour. Investing in an overseas holiday is not a passport to create havoc, the tiny minority of people who do should be dealt with.

 

Having said that, Niseko's apparent problems are the problems that come from being successful, it just needs to be managed properly to benefit everyone. There have to be clubs where all those tourists can go to drink, dance, and try to hook-up. Also, it's inevitable that places change as a result of tourism, just look at Koh Samui in Thailand. While tourists shouldn't create mayhem it's unrealistic to not expect a bit of this as a result of tourism. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

 

I wonder if the local sex industry has leveridged the situation yet by pimping girls to the horny tourists. This may sound crass, but I'm only being realistic, and the sex industry in this country is as big a part of life as it is in Thailand.

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We are proud of our criminal and anti-authoritarian cultural heritage. Getting loaded and stealing stuff in foriegn countries is normal behavior for us, not for the benefit of personal gain, but because it is fun. I once stole a police motorbike in Manilla and got chased around by the local cops armed with sawn off shot guns. It was a good hoot, I enjoyed it and offer no apologies.

 

And for the record, the reason Australians are coming to Japan to ski is because Japan itself has been marketing heavily to Australia via Japan yokoso. It means they want and need the money, and are....well, ummmmm somewhat prepared for the side effects of our jovial behaviour. If we are that much of a problem, then they can always stop the invitation.

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 Quote:
We are proud of our criminal and anti-authoritarian cultural heritage. Getting loaded and stealing stuff in foriegn countries is normal behavior for us, not for the benefit of personal gain, but because it is fun. I once stole a police motorbike in Manilla and got chased around by the local cops armed with sawn off shot guns. It was a good hoot, I enjoyed it and offer no apologies.
Ha ha! An Aussie tradition as seen here , actually one of those guys is a Kiwi, so he'll probably be deported back there. Not exactly the reversal of the brain drain Helengrad is looking for.....but I digress.

Anyways Dorikon, I nominate you for the new position in Niseko as the International Tourism and Cross-Cultural Liason Officer. It offers endless snowcat hiesting opportunities and the chance gain access to free accomodation for years at an exclusive retreat, which is renowned for comprehensive instruction in the art of seiza lol.gif lol.gif
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ummm, no. The way I look at it, why should people have to kiss the arse of the local inhabitants of the place they visit? Thats not what tourism is about. We Australians know this, because we recieve lots of foriegn visitors, especially a lot of Japanese.

 

As for the problem of Aussie hooliganism spoiling peoples experiences on the slopes, then all I can say is go somewhere else.......There are so many places to enjoy winter sports in Japan.

 

Personally, as a boarder I rarely see foriegners at all. Had Hida Kawaii all day today pretty much with me and just a few locals. And thats what its all about.

 

So, pulleez stop the aussie bashing.

 

australian%20flag%20header.jpg

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lol.gif

 

Yeah, I'm already acheing Davo! I just find it amazing that Dorikin justifies it all with that attitude that Aussies love to steal shit, etc. for fun. The great Aussie larikin, and all that. Mate, I'm the first to muck around and do stupid shit, but there IS a time and a place. It has nothing to do with Aussie bashing. If you had read some other threads in this forum you'd see I am far from taking that point of view. The Japanese just don't have that blatant disrespect for other people's property that many Aussies do. So the thought of stealing something that isn't yours just for a laugh generally (almost never) enters their mind-set. I remember seeing a man-hole in the ceiling of a shopping center here with a rope hanging down for easy access to it. On the end of the rope was a little card that said, "For emergency use, do not pull"! lol.gif It was all I could do to keep myself from pulling the damn thing! In Oz it would have been pulled immediately by some kid having a laugh, but here, it was left completely alone. I think that shows a lot about the mind-set of the people here. And it is actually nice to live in a country where you know you stuff is not gonna be messed with or ripped off if you leave it somewhere.

 

Dorikin, I bet, like any other bloke, you don't mind letting off a few good farts and having a chuckle when you are at home. Right? So do you do the same when you go and visit someone who you don't know all that well? If so, then I'm not asking you over for some beers :p Mate, I am not against Aussies coming here and having a laugh and enjoying themselves, but a little restraint would go a long way to helping the situation. Also, are you saying that in Australia we accept all foreigners as they are? How many times have you heard people say something along the lines of "If they come to our country they should speak our language and try to fit into our lifestyle and culture."?? I heard this endlessly as a kid. Doesn't this apply for us going overseas too?

 

As for your comment that if we don't like it then we should just go somewhere else, well, isn't that kind of what many of us were saying on this thread?? ie. that I WON'T be going back to Hokkaido for the time being because of this. I am choosing to go elsewhere now. It is a shame though, because I loved Niseko. I would probably still love it, but I choose to go somewhere less foreign-ed out now.

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I agree with you, I just came back from there a couple of weeks ago, and I actually felt a bit disapointed in the Aussie toiurist, Although I was one myself. It was me & two friend,walking around the village at night, loudy Aussie arn't hard to find. Don't get me wrong thought It wasn't every one we met a lot of visitors that were in the same boat as us. It only takes a handful to wreck it for others. I can see why everyone is getting annoyed.

 

I loved the snow and the place, although my japanes e is pretty bad, I tried to respect everyone around me by trying involve myself, anf leave the aussie attitude behind. The poeple there are so different, it made me open my eye's to our abrupt culture. By the time I got off the mountain I was to tired to go out and be loud, even if I tried I didn't have the energy.

 

Anyway, I did have a good time, got awsome snow, meet some cool people & tackled some interesting conversation, which we recieved lots of laugh's, I was struggling. But I think I will try somewhere else maybe next time, a bit more quieter. I could feel a bit of aniosity from the locals but at the same time I understood why, from reading this post before I went. It is a bit os a shame.

 

Enough blabber. But the snow was awesome...... \:\)

 

Cheers all

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Although I don't agree at all with Dorkin's views on criminal activity I do empathise with some of his sentiments. Niseko is a ski resort and people will party at ski resorts.

 

I have posted my views previously about how I do not believe that drunken, loud behaviour is in itself disrespectful to local Japanese and their culture. Just live in Japan awhile and you'll see plenty of drunken, loud Japanese roaming the streets late at night as well.

 

If the behaviour of some Australians offends other Aussies well as Dorkin advises go elsewhere. I just get sick and tired of people who've only been to Niseko for say 1 week who suddenly think they are specialists on Japanese culture and how gaijin should act in Japan. Believe me none of my local Japanese friends and aquaitances have ever complained to me about the behaviour of some tourists in terms of it being offensive to their culture. The behaviour of some is just plain offensive no matter what culture you come from.

 

How do we stop the truly offensive characters from coming here? It's not easy.....I do know that some tour operators are looking at increasing their prices so that only a more upmarket clientele can afford to come here. Reduce numbers and make more profit per person. We'll see how that works.

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GN I think people should be able to party all they want, thats what resorts are there for. I love a good party. I cant stand fighting, general bad attitudes (this happened to me here this new years) or Theft. I you get caught stealing something then sayonara. I say lock em up. We would lock them up in our own countries.

 

PS

how did this thread find new life?

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