The white birch trees ”Shirakaba”, commonly seen in Niseko, are properly called "shirakanba".
These trees prefer cold climates and are commonly found in Hokkaido, but in Honshu island, they are only seen in mountainous regions. The season for collecting sap from these birch trees has arrived! It can be experience only about a month in a year.
Before the snow melts and new buds start to sprout is the time when sap can be collected. The collected sap can be consumed as nutrient-rich water, or enjoyed in various ways such as mixing it with shochu or using it in birch sap shabu-shabu hot pod. It truly evokes the arrival of spring in Niseko.
When drill a hole in the tree, the sap flows out like water, sometimes filling up a one-liter bottle only in overnight. The fact that some trees yield more sap than others adds to the natural intrigue. Enjoying spring skiing while experiencing this local tradition is what spring is all about for the locals.
