The best places to ski in Japan

Chasing powder in Japan’s hottest ski spots.

In January and February of the 2014 ski season, 63,967 Australians flocked to Japan for a taste of its famous snow, endless groomed runs and epic scenery. Up 21% on the previous year and with a bumper season predicted for 2015, skiing and snowboarding in Japan has become a booming tourism draw card.

Let’s zip around the three main ski regions to find the most popular resorts and what they can offer for snow bunnies.

Hokkaido area

The holy grail of skiing in Japan, Hokkaido is the country’s northernmost island and its second largest. The dropping off point for air or train travel from Tokyo is its capital, Sapporo. Try to time your travels to catch the city’s annual winter snow festival in February, where snow sculptures, snow slides and Sapporo beer fill the streets. From Sapporo, ski resorts are within easy reach and excellent nearby options include Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Furano. Niseko is made up of a handful of smaller resorts and is a low altitude destination, making it less susceptible to whiteouts. Hugely popular with tourists, it offers deep powder, plenty of groomed runs and Japan’s famous night skiing. For those travelling with a range of boarders and skiiers of varied abilities, its plentiful options make it a great choice. Don’t miss a day trip resting tired muscles in the local onsen and soaking up the beautiful scenery.

Rusutsu is another very popular choice and is around 90 minutes from Sapporo’s international airport. With an abundance of natural terrain features and second-to-none tree skiing, it’s a snow-lover’s delight and an easy day trip from Niseko. Lesser known Kiroro is a good option for those after a quieter experience and family-friendly atmosphere. With a kids club and day nursery, it’s great for little ones and has 21 runs catering to all abilities.

Spoilt for choice, another excellent option is Furano, a three-hour bus ride from Sapporo. Gaining a reputation for fantastic groomed runs, it has a great mix of terrain options, speedy lifts and is known for having the most blue sky days in Hokkaido.

Nagano and Niigata area

The home of the 1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano offers skiiers and snowboarders plenty of options and is located within easy travelling distance from Tokyo. Shiga Kogen became a popular destination for tourists following the Games and is made up of 21 resorts, interlinked via slopes and lifts. Further north, Nozawa Onsen, known first and foremost for its hot springs, is a popular ski resort. Experience over 30 hot springs in the area, soak up the charming traditional village atmosphere and enjoy plenty of variety on the slopes.

Myoko Kogen, found on the border of Nagano and Niigata, is home to some of the deepest, longest powder runs in the country. Made up of three separate resorts, it’s rich in culture and history and with world class powder to boot. Hakuba Valley is another local destination offering 11 ski resorts and an average of 11 metres of snow each year.

Tohoku area

Resorts in the Tohoku area include APPI, Zao and Hakkoda. APPI is around 5.5 hours from Narita airport and is known for its well-groomed runs and generally light, dry conditions. There’s excellent accommodation and plenty of high-end facilities for guests.

While its signature fir trees clumped with snow give Zao resort, around 3.5 hours from Tokyo, a distinctly otherworldly feel, this onsen town offers excellent runs in a medium sized resort. It’s less touristy than APPI, and has a more traditional Japanese atmosphere. 

Snow lovers will delight in a trip to Hakkoda, a ski area found in the northern most part of Japan’s main Honshu island. With epic snowfalls, fewer people and plenty of variety, it’s a largely undiscovered spot for snow bunnies visiting Japan and promises plenty of soft landings. 

Source: medibank.com.au

A Guide to Awesome Skiing in Japan

Carve Your Name in Asian Powder

When I’ve told people I’ve been skiing in Japan the usual reply is: “I didn’t even know you could do that there.” Neither did I at the end of 2014, but after a week spent sampling the slopes of the land of sushi this January I’d place it firmly at the top of my must-ski list.

I’d planned a trip to Tokyo to start my four-month tour of Asia and knew I wanted to see the weird and wonderful side of Japan, as well as the action and adventure. One search led to another and before I knew it I’d planned to ski at three different places in Japan: Nozawa Onsen, Mount Zao and Niseko. With the help of the gapyear.com message board community who I thank for inspiring my incredible Japan trip I’d narrowed it down to these three as the must-dos.

Which resort is best?

Of course if you’re going all the way to Japan to ski you want to go straight in for the kill and strap those snow boots on at the best resort the country has got.

Nozawa Onsen had great powder, was only a few hours from Tokyo and a good selection of run abilities. There was also a great vibe in the village with all the onsens (hot springs) available and the nightly karaoke at Heaven Bar. I really liked it here and on a weekend in January it was just busy enough to have some atmosphere but there was plenty of room for me to flex my skis without feeling the pressure of a compact resort either. There was so much snow here I actually ended up on a black run because they’d had to close the red runs I was planning on and I hadn’t read the signs properly. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

I wanted to see the Snow Monsters of Mount Zao AmberMarie had talked about on the gapyear.com message boards. When I found out you could fit in some skiing too I was all for it. The snow here was a lot different to Nozawa Onsen – at least when I went. It was icy and more difficult to traverse. I fell over a lot at Mount Zao! There wasn’t quite so much going on here during the day or evening in terms of après ski either. Mount Zao is a great place to go for a day on the way up to Niseko from Tokyo to see the snow monsters but I wouldn’t go back next time I go skiing in Japan.

I would definitely go back to Niseko. It’s the most famous ski resort in Japan for good reason – it’s huge and the pow pow is amazing.  I was actually only planning on skiing for a day here, thanks to the budget, but that soon turned into three and a steaming credit card in my purse. The Niseko Mountain is divided into four ski resorts and once you’re at the top you can walk/ski/board across to the others, or you can take the public bus along the bottom.

The powder here is just incredible – it makes you realise what you’re missing at other resorts. I’ve skied in Canada and Slovenia and neither come close to the feeling of skiing the powder of Niseko. There were loads of different slopes, new challenges, plenty of backcountry powder to try (not for me!) and plenty of green and red runs too.

The cost of skiing in Japan

Skiing in Japan did end up being more expensive than I thought but mainly because I wasn’t prepared. Take as much equipment as you can – trousers, jackets, thermals, goggles, gloves and hats can all be found fairly cheaply from discount sports stores or TK Maxx in the UK. Even if you leave them after a few days of use it’ll still be cheaper than paying to rent. I was paying 1000¥per day just for the goggles, over 5 days that’s £25!

On average it cost around 10,000¥ per day (£60) to rent the skis, boots, trousers, jacket, goggles and helmet, and then the ski pass was on top of that. I had a hat, scarf and gloves already.

If you have your own equipment you can send it between ski resorts using the highly refined delivery service, which is great value and saves you carting it about on the busy public transport. Some of the Tokyo residents I met didn’t even bother ever having their stuff at home but just directed it between ski resorts. Accommodation near the resorts averaged £20 per night, and that was for the cheapest I could find without going too far out.

How to ski Japan

The best way to get around Japan for skiing depends on what your other plans are in the country. I had a three-week Japan Rail Pass so could use that as much as I liked to get around, although it wasn’t always the quickest and most convenient option for the resorts. I’d recommend the following:
Nozawa Onsen

Get a train from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Nagano and then the ski bus to Nozawa Onsen. To save money but spend a little more time you can also get a bus from Shinjuku Station to Nagano, and then jump on the same bus from there. There are plenty of ryokans available in the village near the slopes that will also provide your food while you’re there too, or there are cheaper villages nearby connected by the ski bus.
Mount Zao

I took a train from Tokyo Station to Yamagatawhere I stayed in a decent hotel for pretty cheap (£20ish a night). From here I could get the ski bus 40 minutes to Mount Zao, which dropped me off at the bottom of the slopes.Alternatively you could look for accommodation at Mount Zao as there were plenty of guesthouses there.
Niseko

I used my Japan Rail Pass to get to Chitose Airport and then picked up a ski bus from there, which took a few hours to get to Moiwa where my hotel was. On the return I took a train from Niseko to make the most of my rail pass but with the cost of the taxi I needed from the Niseko Ski Resort to the Niseko Rail Station I spent just as much as I would for the ski bus to Chitose, and it took more time. I’d recommend you choose somewhere in Hirafu as that’s where the best resort is and it’s easier to access there.

Skiing in Japan

My time skiing in Japan has been one of the main highlights of my time travelling in Asia. Sure it’s more expensive than partying on the beaches of Thailand or cruising the Mekong Delta in Vietnam but it’s worth every yen.

Source: gapyear.com

5 Accounting Mistakes that Put Your Small Business at Risk

Accounting mistakes can put your small businesses at risk. Unfortunately, mistakes are all too common, especially for new or budding businesses.

We have the top 5 common accounting mistakes that places small businesses at risk and how to avoid them.

1.) Not Staying on Top of Receivables
Always keep track of your receivables. When you issue an invoice, a receivable is recorded—meaning that a customer owes you money. As soon as you receive payment from that customer, it should be applied against the invoice to mark it as paid. However, this is easier said than done.

If you want to lessen the work needed to be done in fixing your receivables and avoid the hassle during tax season, use a combination of cloud accounting software and accepting online payments. This process will automate your receivables process, helping you get paid faster.

2.) Not Keeping Expense Receipts
Most small business owners fail to save copies of business expense receipts. This can result in a series of tax, accounting, and cash flow issues. Not having receipts with the actual details of the purchase can result to serious errors in your tax report expenses and a high tax bill if you’re ever audited.

Save yourself from the hard work and keep all receipts of every business purchase. Here are a few tips to make this task less time-consuming:

• Use your business bank or credit card only in paying for business expenses

• Keep an envelope in your bag/car where you can put all your receipts

• Every month, go through the receipts stored in the envelope and file them to your tax folder or save digital copies in the cloud.

3.) No Records of Cash Expenses
It is essential for business owners to track all expenses related to running a small business so these costs can be deducted from total income at tax time and to have better grasp of overall profitability throughout the year. Generally, most of these expenses are not recorded and thus forgotten. This causes the business owner to overstate income for the year! Create a system wherein you can track all of these cash expenditures. Ask for a receipt from the vendor to enter into your accounting software or notify your accountant.

4.) Not Hiring a Professional to Handle Taxes
Many small business owners try to save money by doing their own taxes. Truth be told, not hiring a professional can cost you more down the road as compared to hiring one. There’s a risk that of not claiming all the deductions you qualify for or you underpay your tax bill thus, leading to penalties and other fees.

5.) Not Getting on the Same Page as Your Accountant
Communication is important between you and your small business accountant. If you can’t understand something that your accountant tells you, you should raise that immediately so you are on the same page with them. While jargons are inevitable, you want to have a deeper understanding of your accountant’s analysis as it is your business after all that he/she is taking care of.

Lawyers embrace fixed-price fees

One year on from implementing a 100 per cent fixed-fee billing structure, Perth law firm Bowen Buchbinder Vilensky says the move from traditional time-sheet billing to the new model has transformed the firm’s relationships with its clients.

“Clients love the certainty of fixed-fee pricing and knowing that they are not effectively writing a blank cheque,” BBV managing director David Vilensky said.

BBV said there were no hidden charges associated with fixed-fee pricing, which also included all incidental expenses such as telephone calls, postage charges and printing.

“Our experience has taught us that clients of law firms dislike the hourly rates regime, which most lawyers still use,” Mr Vilensky said.

“Instead, they prefer the certainty of fixed fees, which is fairer and promotes efficiency and effectiveness.”

The practice of time billing and hourly targets, in particular, was criticised by WA Supreme Court Chief Justice Wayne Martin late last year.

“It discourages the active and detailed supervision of junior staff, it discourages collegiality and mutual cooperation between colleagues and it reduces quality of life,” Mr Martin said.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques solicitor Michael Robbins told a Law Week seminar last month billing targets caused lawyers to view their worth in six-minute increments.

“In order to be profitable, the young lawyer must make enough money, not only to cover their own salary and their own overheads, but also make money for the firm,” Mr Robbins said.

Other WA firms, such as Lavan Legal, are adopting the fixed-price billing approach for some practice areas, to achieve greater profitability and relieve lawyers of time-billing pressures.

Lavan Legal managing partner Greg Gaunt told WA Business News timesheets could promote inefficiency among lawyers.

“You often find that people will spend an inordinate amount of time on a particular job because the perception is that they need to fill up their timesheet,” Mr Gaunt said.

Mr Vilensky agreed that there was too much of a focus by law firms on the time spent on a particular matter. “There is little incentive for lawyers to be efficient when they are financially rewarded for the length of time taken to complete a task … charging by the hour promotes inefficiency and not outcomes,” he said.

BBV assigns a fixed fee to each case after it has been discussed by a value-pricing committee, comprising at least four lawyers from the firm. Jackson McDonald and Lavan Legal have appointed pricing committees, with others using cost consultants to help them tackle the issue.

Source: businessnews.com.au

5 videoconferencing fears (and how to overcome them)

More than half (54 percent) of employees regularly take part in work-related video conferences, but not all of them are eager participants, according to a recent report.

In the survey of more than 230 full-time U.S. workers by West Unified Communications, 23 percent of the respondents said that videoconferencing makes them feel uncomfortable, and three-quarters said they still prefer audio to video.

“There’s a definite fear factor among employees when it comes to using videoconferencing,” says Dennis Collins, director of marketing at West. “Just like listening to a recording of your voice makes people uncomfortable, many are uncomfortable with seeing themselves on camera.”

That unease is a major roadblock for many companies that are trying to adopt videoconferencing software and hardware and increase usage among their employees, Collins says.

“You don’t want the tech usurping the attention of video calls. Tech should enable better results, not inhibit it,” he says. “As workplace dynamics shift — with more millennials and fewer [baby boomers] — the use of video will grow.”

Millennials, perhaps unsurprisingly, are most comfortable with videoconferencing tools, according to the report. Of the millennials polled, 61 percent said they frequently use the technology, compared to just 44 percent of Gen Xers and 47 percent of baby boomers.

The differences in how employees react to videoconferencing in the workplace aren’t just generational, nor do people’s videoconferencing fears revolve solely around their concerns about how others will judge their appearances, according to West’s report. Employees worry about everything from public speaking (a concern expressed by 42 percent of the women polled and 34 percent of the men) to the background setting (a preoccupation for 15 percent of the male respondents and 25 percent of the female respondents).

Collins says both individuals and businesses can do things to ensure that people feel more comfortable — and more empowered — when using videoconferencing tools. Here’s a look at users’ top fears, plus tips for overcoming them.

1. I don’t look good on camera

“There’s an old adage that says the camera adds 10 pounds,” Collins says. “Overcoming the fear of seeing yourself on camera takes time and boils down to just getting used to it.”

In addition to just hoping that you grow more comfortable with the idea of seeing yourself on-screen over the course of several video conferences, concentrate on what you can change. For many people, it starts with wardrobe, Collins says. On the “no” list: stripes and busy patterns, which he says don’t translate well to video. Instead, go with solid, neutral colors.

Style of dress may also be a concern — though, compared with their colleagues in the office, people who work from home are probably more likely to fret about what to wear.

“Some people, especially remote workers, are afraid that others won’t think they’re working if they show up wearing a sweatshirt,” he says. “In many workplaces, that stigma [of working outside of the office] seems to have eroded, but if you’re worried about it, then dress up a bit for the meeting.”

2. Everyone can see what I’m doing

It’s not uncommon to multitask during conference calls — you might message others, check email or continue to work on the side. If you’re just on the phone, your fellow attendees likely won’t be aware of what you’re doing. But when you’re participating in a video conference, your actions are on display. This might appear to be a disadvantage of video vis-a-vis audio, but Collins says it may make videoconferencing a better medium for a meeting.

“When you’re on video, it’s clear what you’re doing. On conference calls, you’re probably not doing anything well — listening, working, whatever,” he says. “Generally, people who participate in video conferences are more prepared than they are for conference calls.”

In the West survey, 92 percent of the baby boomers polled reported an increase in attentiveness on video calls, compared to 78 percent of Gen Xers and 68 percent of millennials. If you’re worried about how others might perceive you, it’s best to eliminate all distractions beforehand, Collins says. Log out of messaging apps, silence your phone and tune out email alerts.

3. My house is too messy to be on camera

Three-quarters (76 percent) of the respondents said that distractions such as background noise or clutter in their colleagues’ home offices are major videoconferencing annoyances, according to West. If you’re logging on from home, consider staging your background. This means choosing a location that’s quiet, well-lit and free from clutter, Collins says.

“You need to become aware of your virtual presence,” he says. “Are there dirty dishes behind you? Is your dog running around? Most people aren’t video producers, so they’re unaware of how their surroundings can be distracting to others.”

You should also consider the context of the call when choosing a background. If it’s a quick status update of an internal team of colleagues, your setting can be more relaxed. If it’s a call with a vendor, consider staging the background, Collins says.

“And whether you’re logging on from your home or the office, make sure your window blinds are closed if it’s sunny,” he says. “You don’t want the camera to blast out from the background light, leaving you as a shadow.

4. I hate public speaking

One-third of the men polled and 42 percent of the women reported that their fear of public speaking makes them uneasy during video conferences, according to the report.

“People are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death,” Collins says. “I’ve seen CEOs who are passionate and energetic in small groups, but they’re not that way when they step onto a podium. It’s all psychological.”

As videoconferencing continues to grow more common, Collins says companies need to consider offering professional coaching to help employees overcome their fear of public speaking. However, just 23 percent of the respondents said they had received video etiquette training.

If your company doesn’t offer training in public speaking, consider seeking it out on your own. And until you become more comfortable, remember that there should be no stigma attached to calling in over the phone instead of logging on with video, Collins says.

“If you’re totally uncomfortable with speaking on video — to the point where video conferences are a speed bump instead of something that expedites progress — it shouldn’t be an issue to call in,” he says. “In the end, it’s about getting your work done efficiently, however that may be. This sort of thing takes time.”

5. I’m worried it won’t work

Many people are plagued by technical concerns — the audio or video not working, or the software not connecting properly, for example. Collins says the best way to conquer this fear is to familiarize yourself with the technology by testing it beforehand.

“Test the software, test the hardware, and test everything else, too,” he says. This includes performing a dry run to check on lighting, camera angles, audio quality and any other factors that could create distractions for fellow attendees.

“Take some time to visualize what others will see,” Collins says. For example, “make sure you don’t have confidential information written on a whiteboard behind you and that your lighting looks good,” he suggests. “This will help you feel more comfortable when it’s time for the real thing.”

Source: cio.com

Accountant vs. Bookkeeper: What Do They Do for a Business?

Small businesses live and die by their cash flow and accountability. Accurate recordings of transactions, coupled with proper assessment and processing, give small business owners a firm base on which to make decisions and create plans for growth.

Recording and understanding the sales, expenses and other basic business data should be easy enough for small business owners. But understanding the accounting needs of a business is not always so simple. What type of activity is considered bookkeeping, and when do you need an accountant instead? Is there even a difference between the two?

There is, and it is a simple but important one: Bookkeepers record a company's day-to-day transactions, while accountants verify and analyze that information.

Bookkeeping versus accounting

A bookkeeper's territory is daily financial transactions, which include purchases, receipts, sales and payments. Recording these items is usually done through a general ledger or journal. Many small businesses use software such as QuickBooks or Peachtree to keep track of their entries, debits and credits. Their efforts culminate in a trial balance, which means the final total of debits and credits match.

"Bookkeeping is designed to generate data about the activities of an organization," said D'Arcy Becker, CPA and chairwoman of the Department of Accounting and Finance at the University of Wisconsin. "Accounting is designed to turn data into information."

The role of an accountant, therefore, is to verify the data entered, and then use that data to generate reports, analyze the account, perform audits and prepare financial reporting records, like tax returns, income statements and balance sheets. An accountant's analysis of the financial information can provide information for forecasts, business trends, opportunity for growth and when to restrict spending to manage cash flow.

 "Accountants look at the big picture," wrote John Tracy in his book, "Accounting for Dummies" (For Dummies, 5th edition, 2013). "[They] step and back and say, 'We handle a lot of rebates, we handle a lot of coupons — how should we record these transactions? Do I record just the net amount of the sale or do I record the gross sale amount, too?' Once the accountant decides how to handle these transactions, the bookkeeper carries them out."

Hiring a financial professional

Regardless of the size of your company, it is critical for ongoing success to ensure the financial accuracy of daily transactions and use that data to make decisions for the future of your business. If you feel your business is growing too quickly for a "do-it-yourself" approach to finances, you should look into hiring someone to help you keep track and make sense of your business transactions. Business News Daily has published a guide to choosing a business accountant if you're not sure where to begin.

While many small businesses hire an accountant outside the company, bookkeeping is more diverse. Some small business owners do their own bookkeeping on software recommended or used by their accountant, providing it to him or her on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis for action. Other small businesses are large enough to employ a bookkeeper, or have a small accounting department with data- entry clerks reporting to the bookkeeper.

Source: businessnewsdaily.com

Qualities your best bookkeeper should have

The primary task and responsibility of your bookkeeper is to keep track of the financial records of your business. And so, what should you look for in a bookkeeper?

• They must be registered.

  • A bookkeeper performs basic accounting and is not technically a qualified accountant. They undergo a formal bookkeeper or accounting training and is preferably a registered BAS agent. Being a BAS agent means that they are skilled and qualified to do the job and they only need a minimum experience to account for GST and prepare BAS according to legislation.

• They think like an accountant.

  • Hiring individual accountants and bookkeepers can cost you more since you are paying two different people to do different tasks. But having a bookkeeper who can think like an accountant can save you heaps. Like for example, if they can already do the necessary changes in your account then there is no need to consult an accountant.

• They are charged on a fixed basis.

  • In our experience, it is better paying your bookkeepers on a fixed basis rather than paying them on a per hour basis. They are more efficient in this way and get their work done on time. No need to worry about getting your bills with fluctuating amounts.

• They must be knowledgeable and experienced.

  • A more experienced bookkeeper may always seem to have higher rate compared to a less experienced one – this is not true, as the experienced one can work significantly faster and better than the bookkeeper with less experience. Having a bookkeeper with great knowledge and great experience will let you not worry about your bookkeeping. Great experience results to great results, therefore, hiring a good bookkeeper is not only what you want and need. You need a great one to perform a great job!

Now, here are the signs that tell you that your bookkeeper is doing a great job:

1. Your bookkeeper knows the operation of your business. Of course, they must know the ins and outs of what you do in your business.
2. Your bookkeeper helps you simplify and make your processes more efficient.
3. Your bookkeeper asks you questions to ensure transactions are correct.
4. Your bookkeeper knows what is legally within their scope. As BAS agents, they are not permitted to give any income tax or FBT advice – and they should know about this.
5. Your bookkeeper does their own research. They know the latest updates in bookkeeping, accounting and technology. They should be able to explain to you and encourage you the use of cloud accounting packages such as MYOB Essentials or MYOB AccountRight.
6. Your bookkeeper has good relationships with his/her clients. A reliable and trustworthy bookkeeper can help you get the most out of your accounts.

If you want to focus on your business operations and not worry about your bookkeeping, then hire a great bookkeeper.

Source: wadvisory.com.au