What’s it like living in one of the snowiest places in the world? Find out the pros and the cons of Niseko life and improve your vocabulary along the way! Suitable listening activity for intermediate and above.
To improve your vocabulary, watch the whole series and learn the vocabulary in Parts 1-7 before watching the full video. This will help you learn the meaning and pronnunciation of the words a few at a time. Try only learning a few words everyday to help you remember them!
VOCABULARY BUILDING and listening
LIFE IN NISEKO
Read the transcript below and test your vocabulary.
Do you know all the underlined words?
If not, watch the vocabulary videos and let’s get learning!
Part 1
What are the pros and cons of living in the internationally acclaimed Niseko ski resort? Situated in Hokkaido, in northern Japan and 2 hours from Sapporo city, Niseko is a small town of about 5,000 people, with a tight-knit community.
Part 2
Undoubtedly, the main advantage to living here would have to be the proximity to the legendary ski slopes, which are just a 15 minute drive away. We can just pop up to the resort and ski or snowboard for an hour or two and be home again for morning tea.
Part 3
Another advantage is living in such a pristine natural environment, with wide open spaces and plenty of outdoor activities. Winter or summer, there is so much to do in the great outdoors. The local hot springs also provide relaxation and the abundance of local produce and delicies keep us well-nourished and healthy.
Part 4
Living in a cooler climate also brings cool summers. Niseko enjoys mild summers compared to much of Asia, with a much lower level of humidity. The luminous green glow of the forests is a welcome contrast to the long white winters and the summer scenery is exceptional.
Part 5
On the downside, living in one of the snowiest places on earth does have its disadvantages. Clearing snow from your car, driveway, house and work is almost a second full-time job. The average snowfall here is 15 metres, and even though the driveway is cleared daily by a professional, there is plenty of manual clearing that still needs to be done.
Part 6
Living in a small rural town also means that there are few shops as well as limited facilities and educational institutions. Many older local students move to Sapporo or other cities to further their education, which leaves a shortage of young people in the community. However, due to the fame of Niseko, many seasonal workers flock here for employment during the winter months and then end up living here permanently. This makes Niseko one of the few rural communities in Japan that is actually growing in size.
Part 7
For me, I like living in Niseko. I can enjoy an easy commute to my day job, go snowboarding or hiking on my days off, eat well and keep well away from the rat race.