A lookback into 2000-2002 Dot.com Bubble & Cryptocurrency Thoughts?

The post today will be about another study on the financial crisis that had happened 17 years ago.

Not long after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, a historic economic bubble was formed and excessive speculation is hovering around the market. Many of which are speculating about the internet companies and the booming technology companies.

Background
Back in the 1993, when the internet world wide web was founded, information and communication is a luxury to people. The rapid growth of internet has allowed many people to readily access information with ease. Not long after, the IT had became a necessity from humans.

During that period of time, where many internet companies are formed, investors are very eager to invest in the companies, considering on how their future "prospects" would be, and how well they believe their investments will turn out.

Investors are very willing to invest in any companies at any valuations which has internet prefixes in their name. Now, a bubble is formed.

The bubble is caused by:
Over speculation/confidence: The rapid rise of stocks with association to the Internet Technology had caused investors to overlook and neglect many investments metrics.

Greed: Venture capitalist, eager to profit from the investment demands. As such, they're very aggressive in raising capital without caution.

Low interest rates: Interest rates between 1998-99 is relatively low. As such, this has provided investors with the ease in obtaining funding for their capital. With a combination of greed, over speculation, confidence without due-diligence and the ease in obtaining funds, many people back then, felt that it is really easy to make money from the stock market. In fact, it is reported that there is a great number of people that resigned from their full-time job to be "traders"!!

During that period of time, the dot com companies operated at a net loss due to their believe in rapid expansion, and the willingness to advertise (by providing discount and giving out freebies and certainly paying a big advertising fee) to further stretch their companies' public awareness.

They believe that when they've built a healthy brand-awareness, it will be profitable for them in the future with the services they're providing.

The dot com companies felt that they belong to the "new economy" and rewarded themselves and celebrate whenever a new services/product is launched called the "dot com party". Dot com party is a very lavish and expensive event.

The equity market began to surge from 1995 before crashing in 2000-2002

Aftermath - The Dot Com Crash:
The NASDAQ peaked at 5048 in 2000 and that's when top IT companies like Cisco and Dell placed a sell order on their own share which triggers a panic sell down by the public. The investment capital of the dot com companies also began to dry up from their lavish spending and advertising. Not long after, the market crashed. After the dot com crash, majority of the dot com companies that is publicly traded folded and trillion of dollars evaporated from the market.

Now, let's take a look at some chart, shall we?

First, let's take a look at some successful companies that are survived the dot com crash, and how they're affected by the dot com bubble.

Cisco, a high-tech standard bearer, driving the organic growth too experience the tremendous gain from the market back in the 90s before the dot com bubble! However, after the dot com crash, Cisco's drop to a new low at 10.51 in 2002, shredding 86% of it's value from it's peak at 79.38!!

To the peak in 2000 at 79.38, a 1302.47% gain!

Now, let's take a look at some other companies that are still around like Amazon and eBay.

Amazon, the largest online retailer in the world had it's IPO at $18/share in 1997 and subsequently, the booming dot com bubble has caused Amazon's share price to rise to $85 with 3 shares split! Impressive isn't it? Following the dot com crash, Amazon is trading below $10!

eBay, the online auction platform previously and an e-commerce platform had it's IPO at $18/share and during it's first day of trading, the price shot up to $53/share, before closing at $47. A 163% gain in a day!! Wow.

Read: eBay return of the IPO by CNN money

Time for some bad example?
Many companies did not survive the dot com crash and had declared bankrupt. I will highlight some prominent examples such as WorldCom and Pets.com

WorldCom is a leading telco back in the 90s, the operator of the world largest internet provider back in the 90s folded and was involved in some accounting scandal. The bankruptcy of WorldCom was the largest till 2008 before the bankruptcy of Washington Mutual and Lehman Brothers in the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

Read: WorldCom files largest bankruptcy ever

Pets.com is a online enterprise which sells pet supplies. It is short-lived and only survived 268 days in the market before filing for bankruptcy. Pets.com have their IPO price at $11 before tumbling to 0.19 and forced liquidation in 268 days.

Pets.com mascot found from the net

 

Does this situation looks familiar? 
Over speculation? Confidence? Bubbles?
Buy on news and sell on facts? How about it's fundamentals?

How about cryptocurrency?
On a side note, the cryptocurrency market today bears some resemblance towards to dot com bubble. However if we take a closer look into both the situation. The dot com bubble in the early 2000s has melted down $1.7 trillion, whereas as of today, the entire cryptocurrency market capitalization is merely touching the 300 billion mark. To reach 1.7 trillion, there still some way for the crypto market to travel.

Having that said, it's also good to remember that the world today in 2017 is much richer than it is in early 2000 when the dot com crash. As such, this might pushes the bracket up more, before the actual crash starts to kick in. 

Take note: I'm not recommending anyone to invest in Cryptocurrency.

Read:
A lookback into 1987 Black Monday
A lookback into 1986 - 1991 Japanese Asset Price Bubble
A lookback into 1997 Asian Financial Crisis
Cryptocurrency for Dummies Series

USD Tethers Seriously?

Ok wait. Just a moment. What is Tether? 
 
Please pardon me for my strings of crypto post recently. But let me simplify it, so what on earth is Tether?? Tether is a cryptocurrency that has the representation of 1 USD and "backed by a U.S Dollars held in the reserevs of the Tether Limited and can be redeemed through the Tether Platform" is used for transaction.

Using USD to buy USD..? What??

Now, it is said to be backed by U.S dollars held in the reserves of Tether Limited??

Please take a look at this:















Now here's a joke. The market capitalization of USD Tether is standing at $646 million, a 43x increment since January 2017. Which in another words, 630 million (43x) more USDT are created in this short duration.

To my knowledge, USDT are used in some exchanges like Bitfinex. A number of customers actually cashed out from their trades, and receive USDT instead of USD! The best part that I've not known anyone that has successfully cashed out from USDT!

This is Tether's response towards the issue mentioned above:

Incoming international wires to Tether have been blocked and refused by our Taiwanese banks?! On April 18 2017?! And the supply of USDT is still growing? Does it mean the issue had been resolved? 

Or people are willingly pumping in money knowing that they won't be able to cash out? Wait. Or is this printing money out of the thin air? 
Maybe their "Taiwanese Bank" has a really high interest and is offering 4300% interest rate for their deposits!! I don't know. But sounds really fishy here. 

Fortunately, I have not been in any encounter with USD Tethers so far. However, I've find that this is a ridiculous joke in the crypto market. Why would anyone take USD to buy a representation of USD when all of the coins here can be represented by USD??

Printing money from thin air, then injecting it into other crypto to inflate the market capitalization of the coins? Many today are starting to realize this thing about USD Tether. Will Tether blow up? I don't know.

But should Tether blow up now, I do not think that the impact will be that big at this moment as $600m is actually a small sum in the crypto market. I don't think that it will be affecting the big coins much (Tho, I hope that it will actually cause the market to blow up!)

Let's assume that most of the Tethers are pumped into almighty big daddy Bitcoin and with BTC's market cap today is standing at $136.645 billion @ at price of $8,183, with a circulating supply of 16,698,075 BTC. If I were to strip 600m off it's market cap, it will barely shave anything off Bitcoin. The revised price after shaving 600m off BTC will stands at $8,144. Nothing much isn't it?

Now, let's assume only half of it is pump into some other coins. Let me take ZCash (ZEC) for example.At a price of $306.22 with a circulating supply at 2,688,006, it's market capitalization stands at 828m. Shaving 300m off it's 828million will mean that the price would be tumbling by 37%. 

How about the other coins like DogeCoin with a market cap of 200m? Just half the tether in and evaporated, it will send them straight to hell!

So will a market crash because of Tether? I don't think so. But I actually believe that there is a chance. This is coupled with investors' mentality towards it. Once scared, everyone is rushing to sell their coins, worrying that their holdings/life savings will turn worthless soon and inevitably spark off a big sell down, just as how it's reflected in the multiple financial crisis! But well. That's just be 2 cents. Who knows? This is a completely different world we're in today, and this is the all-time-famous cryptocurrency yea? Maybe it's time for some taste and look into the dot com bubble?

For those holding USDT, the best way to cash out, is to change your Tethers to another coin (Bitcoin/Ethereum) and cash it our from the fiat-crypto exchanges.

Earlier this week, it's also announced that Tether got hacked and lost $31 million , just after GMGH's post on Tether.

Let's take a look what Tether is saying about it

Alright, alright. You're a privately held corporation with significant asset and has one of the big fifty auditors to audit for you. Nice point there you've got for yourself.

"Printed" due to the demand. Alright. Blame me all you want :(


Read:
The BIGGEST risk in crypto right now
A week as a cryptocurrency trader - Results
Cryptocurrency for Dummies Series

Note: Investing in cryptocurrency is very risky. Please do your due-diligence before any actions. Having that said, I'm prepared to lose every cents that I've input into the crypto world should anything fall through. I do not recommend investing in cryptocurrency. 

A week as a cryptocurrency trader - Results

Yes. Trader. As mentioned earlier, I've not exactly been a trader and not very well versed in TA. To prepare myself, I've taken plenty of time recently to understand the crypto market, technology behinds it and picking up various TA skills, discipline and risk management before my foray into the crypto world.

Hopefully, that this will be a rewarding journey. The initiation of Crypto-investing/trading comes with 2 intention - to build a bigger war-chest and at the same time learning from the crazy and volatile alternative market. (Though, there's no guarantee that it will be assisting me with building a bigger war-chest.)

The week had been a really interesting week for the crypto world. Seeing BCH battle out with BTC earlier and the rise of several alt coins.

Earlier this week, I've made plans to devote some time into crypto-trading after weeks of practicing and monitoring. And hereby, now, I'll be writing about the results, thoughts and lesson from based on the trades executed. Do note that for the trades executed in the past week, 95% of the analysis done is based on TA, and I will not go into detail of showing/explaining with charts for the transactions that had already been executed.


So how's my week in "timing the market" ?

Here's the transactions done in this week:

Note: Transaction fees are factored into the price of buying/selling.

I've executed 2 day trades for USD/BTC and BTC/ETC and a short term trade for ETH.

Summary of transactions
Do note that I've no stop-loss as I'm prepared to lose every single cent. 
A fluctuation of 10-20% in an hour is pretty common for cryptocurrency.

Traded pair: USD/BTC
Entry Price: 5,750.00
Target Price: 6,250.00

Entered at 5,750 with a TP of 6,250. As I believe that BTC will be bouncing around and might settle for a lower price. However, just after I've sold, Bitcoin actually rallied and moving towards the 7000 mark.

If anyone realize, BTC today is hovering around the 8000 mark and this will translates to about 39% gain if I'm holding onto BTC.

Traded pair: BTC/ETC
Entry Price: 15.01
Target Price: 17.80

Entered at 15.01 with a TP of 17.80. TA was done on ETC right before exiting position with BTC and heavy support was seen at 15 range with positive divergence. Another note to add on, is a small speculative flavor for the ETC Summit that is taking place back then.

Traded pair: ETC/ETH
Entry Price: 316.96
Target Price: 360.00

Entered at 316.96 with a TP of 360.00. Ethereum is something that I had been monitoring for some time and with several attempt of breaking the 310 and 315 resistance earlier, they finally succeeded in breaking the wall and went as high as 320. Consolidation can be seen at the 315 range and symmetrical triangle are seen prior to entering the trade. ETH seem to be awaiting for a breakout. A day after the trade, ETH is looming around 33X range. Was planning to take profit and move onto LTC, which is displaying a similar pattern at the 6X range. However, I stayed onto Ethereum, believing that there should be another breakout in days. Exited at 360.00 on 19/11/17 after another breakout.

1. Lessons learnt: Be discipline. If you miss the boat, so be it, do not chase after the boat.

In the process, I've lost several opportunities to buy into others rising pairs spotted as I'm rather hesitant. And quite honestly, there's this few moments, I actually had the thoughts to chase after the boat that had left the port! Fortunately, I remained discipline and reminded myself to hold onto my pants. Hours later, the boat started rowing back. Some even knock onto the pier and sank!

Thinking back now, if I were to really chase after the boat. I would have probably drowned or get smacked by the boat when the boat is coming back!

2. Lessons learnt: Having a game plan, do not be greedy.
Have a game plan. Set your target price. Hit and run.

I've received a notification from Blockfolio on Sunday morning that ETH had crossed the 345 mark. Shortly after, I've set my selling order at 360.00 for ETH. However, after I've sold it, ETH continued to rally to the 370 range, before a small correction to the 35X range, and currently it's hovering around 360.

How nice would it be if I set my selling order at 370? 

Do not fall into the trap of waiting for the highest point to sell and lowest point to buy. There will always be a better moment to buy or sell. 

3. Lesson learnt: The Bull helps, and be less emotional towards your trades
This week had been a bull-market for the crypto world. Should the bear come out, I do not think that I will be getting the same results. 

At a point when ETH dived back into the 32X range, correcting from the 34X range on 15/11/17. I was actually contemplating to lock my profit and jumping onto another ship, fearing that the sell-down is actually coming. 

Ethereum continues to be a good candidate to hold onto for the future of technology. However, as this is a short term trade, it's best to take my profit.

Just as I wanted to jump into for another trade.. a sentence flashed pass my mind.
"If we don't take money off the table, unrealized profit will soon turn into losses very quickly!"


Now time for some results:

I've remitted 500 USD to my Gemini account via DBS on 27/10/17 at a rate of 1.3694 before the execution of any trades this week. As such, my capital in SGD is $684.70.

The spread is pretty high for banks. Rates for buying back today stands at 1.342









As such, converting my ending funds to SGD. 

I'll be receiving S$979.73 worth which translates to a gain of 43.09% or S$295.03 over the week of trading! To be honest, my performance is not impressive at all when being compared with many out there. However, I'm still contented with the performance and lessons learnt this far. 

Beginner's luck I believe, and definitely the bull does play a big part in helping me.

And yes. You can see right on top that the Forex spread is actually eating into 3% of my profits. Really bad rates yea?

You can check on DBS forex rate here. 

Note: Investing in cryptocurrency is very risky. Please do your due-diligence before any actions. Having that said, I'm prepared to lose every cents that I've input into the crypto world should anything fall through. I do not recommend investing in cryptocurrency.

Read:
Transaction cost - Are you a trader or an investor? 
Cryptocurrency? I'm in too
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 1 and a short story
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 2 (Rules for crypto-investing?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 3 (When do you start?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 4 (Guide to start investing in Cryptocurrency)

Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 4 (Guide to start investing in Cryptocurrency)

Ok... Now you've breeze through the past 3 parts and got yourself mentally prepared. And you want to get started? Alright. Let's waste no time.

Step 1: Get your wallet ready and make a game plan
Just like your chosen hero, do remember to hatch a plan! If you're healer, please do not go charging to your enemies! Likewise, if you're a charger, please do not hide behind a healer >.< 

Ah yea. Just before I forget wallet. There's many wallets available in the market. You may wish to google more about it. I feel that the safest still, is still Hardware Wallet like Trezor and Ledger which cost $200 and $110 respectively. There's also software wallet available like Jaxx, Exodus etc. whereby you can download the application onto your desktop and smartphone and that's where you store you coins! 

Step 2: Fiat to Crypto Exchange
What's a Fiat-Crypto exchange? It's just like any brokerage houses out there, which serves as an exchange for you to change your cash into stocks. In this case, you're cashing in not for stocks, but for cryptos. 

There's quite a range of Fiat-Crypto exchange that you'd be able to find online such as CoinHako, Coinbase, Luno, Gemini and more. Do check on the fees for the various exchange, some exchanges are charging their customers a big price tag for each transaction (I'll be kind to not name them out)

Personally, I'm using Gemini and among the other contenders they're currently offering the lowest charges. However, deposits are only allowed in USD. This also means that you'll have another step in between, which is to remit USD to your Gemini account, which personally I'm using DBS for the remittance. It's also really fast, taking less than a day for the sum to be reflected in your Gemini account.

Gemini allow you trade with USD/BTC, USD/ETH, ETH/BTC, BTC/ETH, ETC/USD, BTC/USD.

How to read XXX/XXX?
Example 01: USD/BTC
In this case, it means that you're selling USD and buying BTC

Exmaple 02: ETH/BTC
This means that you're selling ETH and buying BTC

Here's a simple guide for you if you're planning to use Gemini and have no idea on how the remittance can be done!

1. After you've created your account on Gemini, select "Transfer Funds" on the top and click on "Deposit into Exchange, USD (Bank Transfer)

Do check your email as Gemini will be sending you an email on the account to transfer to and the reference number to key in for your remittance.  

2. Login to your DBS/POSB iBanking. Hover your cursor around "Transfer" and select "DBS Remit and Overseas Transfer"  

 3. Key in the details as follow. 

**(EDITED: 22/12/2017 - Clearing Code is changed from 121042484 to 322286803)

(EDITED: 26/11/2017 - Thank you Foolish Chameleon for the input!)
*Do remember to add in the unique code given by Gemini during your transfer under "Reference"

Please revert to the email sent by Gemini. 
Here's a snapshot of the email sent to me earlier from Gemini when I'm doing the deposit. I've omitted the my code out to avoid confusion.

Gemini charges only 0.25% as exchange fee

4. Wait! Give them some time. Once it's ready, Gemini will send you an email to inform you when your funds are ready! If you've deposited in the morning or early afternoon, you should be receiving your funds in your Gemini account by 9 or 10pm when the US bank opens.

Here you go. There you'd be able to find yourself with some BTC and ETH to kickstart your journey!! It's best to start with ETH/BTC to 'feel' how it is like in the crypto world before venturing into some alternative coins!


Step 3: BTC/ETH - Alternate Coins
Once you're ready to venture into the alternate coins like ETC, Ripple, Monero, Dash, IOTA, NEMS etc. Similarly, there's a wide range of exchanges that offers such services like Bitfinex, Bittrex, Shapeshift.

Personally, I'm using Changelly.
It works by sending your ETH/BTC to their wallet. Next, provide your alternate coin wallet address and once it's ready, they'll deposit it into your alternate coin wallet.

Bonus:
You may wish to visit websites like
Coincap.io, CryptoCompare for the list of crypto, volume, price movements, market cap.
Blockfolio on App Store. I personally find the portfolio function pretty useful.
CryptoWatch for live charts

As the week is ending, I will soon write about my experience as a crypto trader for the past week. The journey thus far has been rather interesting, rewarding and I've learn pretty much stuffs, that I would have never learnt as an investor. So which hero did I choose?

P.S: I've an affiliate link for Changelly.

Another very good crypto-crypto exchange that I'm using is Binance (link here)

Note: Investing in cryptocurrency is very risky. Please do your due-diligence before any actions. Having that said, I'm prepared to lose every cents that I've input into the crypto world should anything fall through. I do not recommend investing in cryptocurrency.

Read:
Cryptocurrency? I'm in too
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 1 and a short story
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 2 (Rules for crypto-investing?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 3 (When do you start?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 4 (Guide to start investing in Cryptocurrency)
Buying Alt Coins - Crypto-Crypto Exchange (Binance)

Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 3 (When do you start?)

So part 1 and 2 seem too easy? Alright. You've planned to get yourself started and bought into the theory that it's just the start of cryptocurrency? Or you felt that there's some magical internet money here for you to grab, and why not grab some?

Now, It's time to decide your path. In every investment, there's 3 type of heroes for you to choose.

1. The Trader
2. The Investor
3. The Punter 

Do you enjoy looking at graphs? How about charts and a huge chunk of numbers? Support & Resistance? Indicators and Oscillators? MACD? RSI? Fibonacci Retracement? You know who you are :)

How about those who feel that there's ample of room for crypto to grow? Those who believe that there will be no more fiat and BTC will probably hit 100,000? Ha. I solved your problem. Now you know who you are!!

Those that like to read from others without doing your own homework? Posting and reading in forums? Buying into others belief? Here you go!

Wait a moment. Just before you decide whether to embark on this adventurous journey let's take a quick look back first!

BTC Price over the years:
Price for 1 BTC in 01/01/2011: $0.30
Price for 1 BTC in 01/01/2012: $5.87
Price for 1 BTC in 01/01/2013: $13.56
Price for 1 BTC in 01/01/2014: $761.11
Price for 1 BTC in 01/01/2015: $313.92
Price for 1 BTC in 04/01/2016: $431.73
Price for 1 BTC in 01/01/2017: $1,016.04

Price today: $7,194.03

When BTC is trading at $10, many are speculating that upon reaching the $100 mark, this bubble is gonna burst. Similarly when BTC crosses the 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 mark and now, possibly the 10,000 mark soon.

So is it too late now for you to join in the fun?

Remember Rule 01?
Rule 01: Invest in crypto with what you can afford to lose. 
This also mean that whatever you've invested in cryptocurrency, be prepare to lose each and every cents of it. No leverage. No CFD. Nothing. $500 invested? Prepare to lose that $500 invested. That's the mindset to have :)

If you're able to get through the past few parts, willing to lose each and every cents you've "invested" in the crypto world and chosen your hero.

Now, you'll be able to decide if it's time for you to enter the crypto market :)

Are you ready?

Note: Investing in cryptocurrency is very risky. Please do your due-diligence before any actions. Having that said, I'm prepared to lose every cents that I've input into the crypto world should anything fall through. I do not recommend investing in cryptocurrency.

Read:
Cryptocurrency? I'm in too
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 1 and a short story
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 2 (Rules for crypto-investing?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 3 (When do you start?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 4 (Guide to start investing in Cryptocurrency)

Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 2 (Rules for Crypto-investing?)

Aha. So now, you know about the basics of cryptocurrency. And you've read from many articles that many many many people has made tons of money by investing in cryptocurrency. Ready to get started?

Rule 01: Invest in crypto with what you can afford to lose. 
This also mean that whatever you've invested in cryptocurrency, be prepare to lose each and every cents of it. No leverage. No CFD. Nothing. $500 invested? Prepare to lose that $500 invested. That's the mindset to have :)

Rule 02: Don't forget Rule 01!
This may sound familiar to many. It is the that same 2nd rule as what said by the the Oracle of Ohama. Not difficult yea?

As mentioned in Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 1 and a short story, the example cited between BCH and BTC, does it look familiar to anyone? From 6XX USD to 2XXX USD, and now 1300 USD! Can you imagine how those who bought at 2000 USD will feel after a sharp 35% decline in a day?

Ouch!!

Having that said, be reminded that in the cryptic world of cryptocurrency, a 30-40% drop/increase in a day is pretty common. Some even happen in hours! Catching the bull at the wrong time, might be a painful lesson. 

How about a few other scenario apart from the ones who bought at 2000 USD for some thinking :p

1. Bought at 600 USD (Wow. I'm still raking on a 100% gain!")
2. Bought at 1,000 USD ("Argh.. I could have had a 'multi bagger'")
3. Bought at 1,300 USD ("Now should I sell?")
4. Bought at 1,700 USD ("I believe that BCH will rebound! Time will prove it right!" BTC will soon collapse!")

So how now?

Bonus Rule: Be disciplined and not be greedy. 
"If we don't take money off the table, unrealized profit will soon turn into losses very quickly!"

Many different individuals are expressing different views towards the world of cryptocurrency.
A good number are saying, "Bitcoin is in a gigantic, enormous bubble!" 

Yet, there's also a great community that are saying, "It's just the start of cryptocurrency. One fine day, people will understand that fiat are useless! When you see auntie and uncle having cryptocurrency in their 'wallets', that's when you know that your coins now are worth a lot of money!"

Note: Investing in cryptocurrency is very risky. Please do your due-diligence before any actions. Having that said, I'm prepared to lose every cents that I've input into the crypto world should anything fall through. I do not recommend investing in cryptocurrency.

Read:
Cryptocurrency? I'm in too
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 1 and a short story
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 2 (Rules for crypto-investing?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 3 (When do you start?)
Cryptocurrency for Dummies - Part 4 (Guide to start investing in Cryptocurrency)

Self-Drive - Niseko, Hokkaido (Autumn 2017)

Hello once again! This is a mini-continuation from the previous self-drive trip to Onuma and Lake Toya.

Niseko is the most famous ski resort in Japan, known for having tons of light powder snow and it is one of the best winter adventure spot in Japan! But wait.. It isn't winter yet. It's only autumn! Not to worry here.. Niseko has it's own beauty during autumn too!!

I've decided to visit Niseko the next day after Lake Toya. The weather is cold despite the fact that it is still autumn! 

Niseko is located just 40km away from Lake Toya and driving there from Lake Toya will take probably just an hour with no toll charges. This trip to Niseko is just a short drop-by and some sight-seeing before returning.

Google Maps (Lake Toya - Niseko)

Let's begin with the short-trip shall we? 

Niseko Ohashi Bridge
Address: Soga, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun 048-1522, Hokkaido
Well.. This is just a beautiful yellow bridge that connects between Niseko town and the ski-area. 

Niseko Ohashi Bridge

Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area
Address: 485 Niseko, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
Here.. this is the skiing paradise in December. This is how it looks like just before it's covered with snow in the Winter. Be sure to drop by this place during the winter for your winter adventure!

Shrine in Niseko

The Torrii

 


JR Niseko Station 
Address: 142 Chuodori | inside JR Niseko Station, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun 048-1512, Hokkaido
This is the station that lies on JR Hakodate Hokkaido Main Line. Just as Halloween is around the corner, the station is filled with pumpkins!

Niseko View Plaza
Address: 〒048-1544 77-10, Motomachi, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido

The Niseko View Plaza offers the best locally grown vegetable in Niseko. There is also a variety of food you'll be able to find and have there, that are made with locally produced ingredients. The Niseko Cheese Cake is nice!! Similarly, this place is filled with pumpkins as well for the Halloween.
You'd also be able to see Mount Yotei from here!

Delicious Niseko Cheese Tarts!