The Hokkaido Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching
Posts tagged 2009
The 2009 HAJET (MYC) Winter Ball
Nov 3rd
Hey there everyone!
The HAJET (MYC) Winter Ball has been arranged, although the nijikai is still pending.
Here are the details for the Winter Ball:
- Place: Poseidon, Jasmac Plaza Hotel 6th Floor
- Date: Thursday, Dec. 3rd
- Time: 8:00 pm until 11:00 pm
- Price: 5,000 yen
- Food/Drink: A “light” buffet and all-you-can drink service are included in the ticket price until 10 11 pm. Vegetarian dishes will be included in the buffet.
- Theme: 1980′s Prom.
Last year’s Winter Ball was a lot of fun; Jasmac Plaza did an overall great job, especially with the buffet. I think that this year will be a blast as well, and Poseidon isn’t your typical party venue! So go to the nearest Second Street or Hard Off, and find yourself something rockin’!
Important Note: Please purchase your ticket before-hand, as Jasmac Plaza must know our final numbers before the event. A very limited number of tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you would like to buy a ticket, please e-mail social.coordinator@hajet.org.
Ashibetsu’s 17th International Friendship Giant Pumpkin Festival
Oct 6th
On Sunday October 18, Ashibetsu will be hosting its 17th International Friendship Giant Pumpkin Festival!
This year’s festival includes a pumpkin weight-off (with our sister city Charlottetown, P.E.), pumpkin carving, costume contest, face-painting for the kids, candy-eating and other games! It is a time for everyone to come celebrate a Halloween-esque festival with the people of Ashibetsu! This event is FREE!
Find out more after the break!
Read More >
HAJET Fall Meeting 2009
Oct 1st
The Fall Meeting of 2009
Obihiro
The Fall Meeting of 2009 will be held in Obihiro in the Tokachi region, famous for its buta-don, agriculture, temperature extremes and long straight roads. There’s a lot of delicious food to be sampled here, from the nama-caramels that people form long lines for at Hanabatake Bokujo, to the giant sweet potatoes at confection shop Cranberry, to meat products and beyond. There’s also a zoo and racetrack and various other surprises around town and along the backroads.
The Fall Meeting is an important one, as it’s the first for this year’s newbie JET crop, so it’s your first real chance to socialize on a wider scale and become familiar with the activities that HAJET offers. The musical auditions are hosted at this meeting, and other veteran JETS tend to be high in attendance, which provides a great opportunity for asking questions about HEC, the Iwamizawa International Festival, the JLPT exam, and whatever else you might be interested in. Saturday night’s enkai features a costume contest as a special event, with proceeds going to benefit HEC. This year’s theme is the letter O! Start planning your costume ideas now, and make sure to bring any homemade sweets for the Dessert Auction later!
The Fall Meeting of 2009
Sep 10th
The Fall Meeting of 2009 will be held in Obihiro in the Tokachi region, famous for its buta-don, agriculture, temperature extremes and long straight roads. There’s a lot of delicious food to be sampled here, from the nama-caramels that people form long lines for at Hanabatake Bokujo, to the giant sweet potatoes at confection shop Cranberry, to meat products and beyond. There’s also a zoo and racetrack and various other surprises around town and along the backroads.
The Fall Meeting is an important one, as it’s the first for this year’s newbie JET crop, so it’s your first real chance to socialize on a wider scale and become familiar with the activities that HAJET offers. The musical auditions are hosted at this meeting, and other veteran JETS tend to be high in attendance, which provides a great opportunity for asking questions about HEC, the Iwamizawa International Festival, the JLPT exam, and whatever else you might be interested in. Saturday night’s enkai features a costume contest as a special event, with proceeds going to benefit HEC. This year’s theme is the letter O! Start planning your costume ideas now, and make sure to bring any homemade sweets for the Dessert Auction later!
Southwestern Welcome Party 2009
Sep 10th
Southwestern Welcome Party 2009
Higashi Onuma Camp Ground at Lake Onuma
When: Saturday 19th September – Sunday 20th of September.
Where: The banks of Lake Onuma at the free campsite Higashi Onuma Camp Ground 東大沼キャンプ場
Price: 500 yen for non-HAJET members, free for all others (for the Saturday night meal).
-Directions-
Driving (From North/Yakumo-Mori-Oshamanbe): Head south on Route 5 towards Hakodate. After you pass through Mori and a few kms past Lucky Pierot (on your left) you will see a turn off for Onuma and Route 43 on your left. Take it. Follow it for about 3kms. You will cross a trainline just before a T-intersection. Take the left option, and follow the lake around in a clockwise direction for about 5 kms. The campground will be on your right. There is a giant car park. Park your car there, and walk to the camp site (which will hopefully be as far from the car park as possible)
Driving (From South/Hakodate): Head north on Route 5 towards Mori (from Hakodate/Nanae). Travel through the large tunnel and continue heading north. Don’t turn at the intersection directly after the tunnel (You can, but the directions are less straight forward). Instead, travel north for about 4kms until you see a turnoff for Route 43 on your right. Take it. Follow it for about 3kms. You will cross a trainline just before a T-intersection. Take the left option, and follow the lake around in a clockwise direction for about 5 kms. The campground will be on your right. There is a giant car park. Park your car there, and walk to the camp site (which will hopefully be as far from the car park as possible)
Car Pooling! If anyone is driving to the event, and has a spare seat (and a desire to help your fellow car-less JET) post on here, and we’ll see if a car pool can be organised. Eco-get!
-Train-
There is a station that is almost within walking distance of the campground (Choushiguchi 銚子口which can be reached from Onuma or Mori station) but, the trains aren’t very frequent. The simplest (and therefore the most expensive) option is to catch a train bound for Onuma 大沼 station and use a car/taxi from there.
The limited express between Hakodate-Sapporo via Muroran/Tomakomai/Chitose stops at the Onuma station. The limited express takes about 3 hours from Sapporo (and ¥8070) or 20 minutes (and ¥1640) from Hakodate. Trains leave roughly every 90mins-2 hrs.
It is about 6kms from the Onuma station to the campground, so not really walking distance, but I will pick SOUTH-BOUND people up from the station that arrive on the Super Hokuto 14 スーパー北斗14号 at 16:23. I will also pick up NORTH-BOUND people that arrive on the Hokuto 15 北斗1５号 at 15:42 from the Onuma station.
For those that wish to arrive at other times, there it is a 6km taxi ride (which was quoted at less than ¥2000 by the drivers at the rank) that can be shared. Remember that it is a free campsite, so what you save in camp-fees goes towards the cost of transport.
-Bus-
Still researching bus time tables. Please be patient.
-Activities-
Apart from lounging/drinking/eating..
Hiking: Sadly, due to an eruption less than 10 years ago, climbing of Mt Komaga (Komagatake 駒ヶ岳) is not possible. I can’t tell you how much I want to climb this.. but, I guess it wouldn’t be a good thing to get caught (even though the tracks are quite visible, and I SWEAR I could see people on the mountain)
Boating: Being on a lake, means that canoeing/kayaking is on offer. Both are available for hire (for a price ¥3500-¥4500 for two hours with a guide).
Biking: Bicycles are available for hire for those who wish to do a scenic ride around the lake. (there are even tandems!) Not sure of the price
There is horse riding available too for those who are keen (¥5000 45mins, ¥9000 90mins)
Hang-gliding/ Para-gliding! is offered at the nearby Nanae Niyama Ski Resort. Further investigation is underway, but it seems that you must firstly possess your own equipment/skills.
