Snowboarding & Soba [スノボ&そば]　(Daniel) Guess what! Not too long ago, I was surprised to find  this   while roaming the streets of Japan: It's springtime! The trees are blooming and Cherry Blossoms are beginning to sprout. BUT, before winter is officially over, I have another winter story I would like to share... My friend Tango, who took me up three mountains in the  Okutama adventure  back in November, invited me to go snowboarding in Niigata. The cold Siberian winds from Russia cross over to Niigata, hit the mountains, form thick rain clouds, and pour down snow all day long. That is why Niigata Prefecture is the best place for anything snow-related. Tango's younger sister and last's years HIPPO intern, Sakkun, also came along on the adventure. The four of us met at Shinjuku late at night to catch the bus that would arrive in Niigata the next morning. The moment we stepped off the bus in Niigata, we were transported into a winter wo