We wake up early in our bed in Niseko Village and realize we made it, we are finally here. It’s a chilly December morning, our first day in the famed Japanese ski resort, Niseko. From our hotel window, we...
We wake up early in our bed in Niseko Village and realize we made it, we are finally here. It’s a chilly December morning, our first day in the famed Japanese ski resort, Niseko.
From our hotel window, we see nothing but white, fluffy, powdery snow. It’s 7 a.m., and it’s been dumping all night with no signs of stopping over the next few days.
We didn’t know it yet, but we’d soon come to realize that for any ski or snowboard powder enthusiast, skiing in Niseko Ski Resort is a dream come true. It only took one day to realize that and our planned week at Niseko Ski Resort was going to be legendary.
We’re already planning our return back next season, and the season after, so if you decide to join us in Niseko here are some things you should know about skiing at the famed Japanese ski resort.
Table of Contents
All About Niseko Ski ResortThere Are Six Resorts and One MountainNiseko UnitedNiseko Ski Resort is Not HugeNiseko is the Powder Capital of the WorldYou May Never See the Sun at Niseko Ski ResortGet Up Early for Mt. Yotei viewsLift Tickets Are Reasonably Priced at Niseko Ski ResortBut the Rest of Niseko Ski Resort is Not A Good DealThere Are Ways to Save at Niseko Ski ResortThere is Better Value in KutchanBook Early for the Best DealsGrand Hirafu is the Main Town CenterThere is a Free Shuttle to Get AroundYou Can Go Night Skiing Every Night at Niseko Ski ResortYou’ll Need to Get Altitude to Avoid the CrowdsEarn Your TurnsNiseko Ski Resort Isn’t Very JapaneseCash is King in JapanYou Must Onsen While at Niseko Ski ResortDress Warm!Wear a HelmetEnglish Is Widely Spoken in NisekoHire a CarThere’s More to Niseko Than Skiing and SnowboardingHow to Get to NisekoWhere to stay in NisekoFinal Thoughts on a Ski Trip to Niseko Ski ResortNiseko Ski Resorts FAQAll About Niseko Ski Resort
Resort Overview
Season: December — April Closest Airport: Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport Avg Ticket: ¥9,500 Average Annual Snowfall: 15-18…METERS Vertical: 940 meters Top Elevation/Base elevation: 1,200 m/260 m Total Lifts: 32 Ski Area: 325 hectaresHighlights
Epic Powder, Open Terrain, Alpine and Tree Skiing, Large for Japanese standards, Great side country, English speaking, Lively village, Heli Skiing, Cat Skiing, Ikon Pass, Night skiing, reasonable lift tickets, good resort.
Negatives
Crowded, Ikon Pass, Not much expert terrain, expensive accommodation, old lifts near top, Not much for Japanese culture,
There Are Six Resorts and One Mountain
Niseko often refers to Niseko United which is a collection of four ski resorts that are connected on the same mountain. They are Grand Hirafu, Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Hanazono, and Niseko Village.
Each resort is individually owned, but they have all come together to create Niseko United on one mountain, Niseko Annupuri. To make it even more confusing there are two more resorts not a part of the collective on the same mountain, Niseko Weiss and Moiwa.
Most visitors pick up the Niseko United All Mountain lift pass which provides access to all four of the Niseko United resorts lifts and services. A one day All Mountain lift pass is ¥9,500 per day. If you only want to ride one area of the mountain for the day it’s possible to purchase an individual lift pass at each resort for about ¥2000 cheaper.
Niseko United
Grand Hirafu
If the mountain had a “main” area it would be Niseko Hirafu. Hirafu is where most of the action takes place off the ski hill. It has a bus station, information center, bars, hotels, hostels, restaurants, coffees shops, and ski shops. All of this is within walking distance of the gondola. When someone refers to the town of Niseko, they’re likely referring to Hirafu.
The Hirafu Ski Area is the largest of the four resorts and is of course supplied with amazing powder and terrain. You’ll find night skiing every night in Hirafu, meaning you can do a few laps before heading into town for some sake.
However, all of this action means that Grand Hirafu is the busiest and most popular of all the mountains. Since it’s the most accessible you’ll find crowds at the base, lift lines for the gondola, and plenty of ski schools. To break away from the crowds keep going higher, into the trees, or to one of the other resort areas.
Niseko Village
At the base of Niseko Village are Niseko Green Leaf and Hilton Niseko, all owned by YTL Resorts. We stayed at the amazing Niseko Green Leaf Hotel and spent many days hanging out on this side of the mountain. Niseko Village is serviced by a long gondola and provides visitors leg burning long runs down to the bottom or access to the neighboring resorts.
Niseko Village has incredible off-piste powder and some epic black runs. It’s a short hike up past the ski patrol building and old gondola station to access one of our favorite areas.
The Niseko Green Leaf has a ski school in the hotel and a fantastic learners’ area. Like Hirafu, Niseko Village offers night skiing on the lower half of the mountain.
Next door to the Hilton Niseko is a small shopping and dining area in traditional Japanese architecture. We enjoyed a few good meals at Yang Shu Ten for lunch.
Niseko VillageNiseko Hanazono
Niseko Hanazono has a variety of terrain for everyone. There are great beginner and intermediate runs, but also fabulous tree runs for when the powder hits. Hanazono also has a terrain park for park riders.
It’s also home to one of the most famed powder areas in Niseko Strawberry Fields. It’s not so much a field, but a run through some epic trees that hold plenty of the snow.
When Hirafu felt crowded we found ourselves exploring the off-piste offerings of Hanazono for a much quieter experience. Although, with the opening of the new Park Hyatt Hanazono, the area has gotten a bit busier.
Niseko Annupuri
Annupuri is known for being a quiet, family-friendly resort with mellow runs. Most runs are mellow and easy, but there are great glades that would be the perfect place on a powder day.
It’s particularly popular with Japanese visitors. On a busy weekend day this is definitely where I would want to go. However Annupuri is not as well connected to the rest of the resort, and getting there may involve a crowded shuttle bus.
Niseko Ski Resort is Not Huge
Although there are four resorts bundled into one here at Niseko, and it is one of the the largest ski resorts in Japan, the whole resort area itself is not that big by international standards. Niseko Annupuri is 1,308 meters above sea level and 2,191 acres of skiable terrain.
Compared to other famous resorts like Whistler Blackcomb (claims a skiable area of 8,171 acres), Lake Louise ( 4,200 acres), and Zermatt (2337 elevation, 322 km of piste) Niseko is quite small. This means it gets tracked out very quickly.
However, Niseko is the largest ski resort in Hokkaido, and quite large compared to many other Japanese ski resorts. There are still 48 kilometers of groomed slopes, 11 gates to the backcountry, 70 runs, and 29 lifts to keep any ski lover occupied for weeks, if not months if there’s fresh snow.
Niseko is the Powder Capital of the World
What Niseko lacks in size, it makes up for in the powder. Think of it as “Deep Not Steep.” It’s true that Niseko is not world-renowned for its crazy terrain or scale, but it is internationally known for the epic snow dumps it receives from December to April.
Because of its northern location, Niseko is slammed with weather fronts that come over from Siberia. The result is ridiculous amounts of fluffy goodness almost every day. This isn’t just regular powder either, it’s JAPOW! Or in other words very light dry fluffy snow that is perfect for riding.
Seriously, the quality of this snow is unlike any we’ve ever seen before. It’s hard to make a snowball sometimes because it just doesn’t stick.
Niseko receives an average of 15-18 meters of snowfall a season making it one of the snowiest ski resorts in the world.
Don’t believe me? Take a trip out for yourself!
*Update February 2020: While we had an amazing pow time here in 2018/2019 we returned for a visit in 2020 and the snow was…some of the worst we’ve ever seen anywhere in the world.
Of course, this can happen at any ski resort at any time and it’s hard to predict the weather. But when there’s no snow at Niseko things can get ugly. Massive crowds and no snow making abilities are a recipe for an underwhelming time.
You May Never See the Sun at Niseko Ski Resort
Well, you didn’t think the snow fell from the sun, did you? Yep, with all this snow means lots of cloudy days.
We rarely saw sunshine during our time in Niseko and when we did it was very brief. So when the glorious sun does make an appearance get your camera out and start snapping away. For the other days make sure you have your low light ski goggles on.
The Best Ski Goggles For The Ski SeasonGet Up Early for Mt. Yotei views
Mt. Yotei is an active stratovolcano and referred to as Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido. We only got a good glimpse of Mt. Yotei twice while visiting and it was only for a few brief minutes when the clouds cleared around sunset. For the best-uninterrupted views wake up early for sunrise.
Lift Tickets Are Reasonably Priced at Niseko Ski Resort
A one day all mountain pass at Niseko United will only run you ¥9500. Compared to resorts like Whistler, Aspen in Colorado, the Salt Lake City Resorts, or Big Sky in Montana we find this to be a pretty good deal.
The more days you buy the more of a discount you get. If you’re staying for an extended amount of time but not the whole season Niseko United also sells the 50-hour pass, which is good for 50 hours spent on the lifts.
But the Rest of Niseko Ski Resort is Not A Good Deal
While the lift tickets are a good value, just about everything else at Niseko is not. I found almost everything from accommodation to food to be extremely expensive, even for Japanese standards. In the high season, a hostel bed can run you as much as ¥7000+/night. Basic hotel rooms that would cost you $200 USD in the rest of the world go for $700-$800. It’s ski town robbery at its finest here, folks.
If you want to eat out at a Japanese restaurant you can expect to drop at least ¥2000 per person on the low end. We went into the board shop to look at buying a new snowboard and the retail price was 30% more than what we would pay back home in the US or Canada.
I could go on and on, but the fact of the matter is if you want the powder you gotta pay the price. Niseko is greedy foreign-run ski resort pricing to the max, think Colorado or Whistler prices, but a tad bit worse. Save up some money for this trip because it is not going to be a cheap one.
There Are Ways to Save at Niseko Ski Resort
That being said, we did find a few grocery stores around Niseko to get cheaper food here. The best one with a good selection and reasonably priced is Hirafu 188, located just a few steps away from the Hirafu Gondola.
There are also a couple of convenience stores like 7-11 and Seicomart in town where you can find pre-packaged meals and frozen food to make back at your hotel.
In addition, in Niseko Hirafu there is also a food truck corner where you can find Indian curry, pizza, and wraps going for ¥1000-2000.
If you want to find the best prices on accommodation it’s best to book as early as possible when you still have options.
There is Better Value in Kutchan
The town of Kutchan is a short drive away from Niseko and is a working Japanese town as opposed to a resort town catering to tourists. For better value and more options on everything, this is where you’ll want to head.
There is a full-service grocery store, plenty of restaurants, and more accommodation options. Yes, you’ll be further away from the ski hill, but Kutchan is accessible by road and there are public buses that will take you in/out of the resort every day.
Book Early for the Best Deals
The early bird gets the worm when it comes to booking a Niseko ski vacation. The earlier you plan and book your holiday the more options there will be and therefore more competitive pricing options.
We had originally planned on living in Niseko for the season, but then came to the realization that it was simply too expensive (and moved to Canada instead). Since we made a last-minute change of plan, we were presented with very few accommodation options, even early in the season.
My advice is to book as soon as soon as you know that you want to go to Niseko and have dates in mind. We are already trying to sort out next years ski plans to Japan almost a full year in advance.
Grand Hirafu is the Main Town Center
food trucks in HirafuWhen people talk about the town of Niseko they are really referring to Grand Hirafu. Hirafu is a walkable town that has everything you need to make a ski holiday complete. Delicious Japanese restaurants, beautiful hotels, ski and board shops, and a few boutique artisan stores. It’s walkable and just a five minute walk away from the Hirafu Gondola.
Hirafu is also where the Apres ski party happens every night. Or really where you can find half the world’s Australians aged between 18-30 as they drink the night away. Yes, there is quite a big international nightlife scene in Grand Hirafu.
There is a Free Shuttle to Get Around
There are numerous free ski resort shuttles (free for All Mountain Day Pass Holders) that float around the town of Niseko every day taking skiers and snowboarders to the lift. This is handy as most visitors to Japan don’t have their own car and rely on this transport.
Shuttles run approximately every 15 minutes from 8 am to 6 pm, and then every 30 minutes until 8:30 pm. If you plan on being out late at the bars or at a restaurant you may want to plan to either walk home or grab a taxi.
You Can Go Night Skiing Every Night at Niseko Ski Resort
Niseko Village and Niseko Hirafu offer extensive night skiing. Unlike other resorts, it’s not just one beginner run open to night skiers, but there’s actually a pretty good selection for everyone to enjoy.
It’s perfect for those that want to avoid the day time crowds, try a new experience, or want to save some money on a reduced nighttime lift pass.
You’ll Need to Get Altitude to Avoid the Crowds
We visited Niseko Ski Resort in mid-December, which is typically a quiet time in terms of ski life. However, we were a bit shocked to see how crowded and busy Niseko Hirafu was during this period.
Like other resorts around the world you’ll need to get off the beginner runs and do a little exploring of your own to find the quiet and less tracked parts of the mountain – I promise you they are there so don’t let the base deter you!
*Update 2020: The crowds only got worse upon our return in mid February 2020. Groomers are crazy crowded and get skied out fast. You’ll need to get creative to find the pow pow in the resort. Advanced riders should consider crossing the gates into backcountry territory for fresh(er) tracks.
Earn Your Turns
Like most ski resorts the best snow is typically found at the top where others have not tracked it out. Inbound freshies here don’t last long, and you’ll need to be an early riser to ride powder on the piste. The good thing is you won’t have to wait long for another bug dump in Niseko.
Off-piste, backcountry, and out of bounds riding is allowed in Niseko, which is unusual for traditional Japanese ski resorts. You’ll have to cross through the back gates which typically don’t open up until after the holiday season.
If you are experienced it’s possible to get into the backcountry yourself or you can go with Niseko Adventure Center and Niseko Black as they both offer backcountry tours.
It’s also possible to go cat skiing and heli-skiing in Niseko!
Niseko Ski Resort Isn’t Very Japanese
If I had one complaint about visiting Niseko in the winter, it would be that it is not the Japan I know. Quiet? Reserved? Culturally unique? Nope, nope, and not exactly. Over the last ten years, Niseko has seen a huge boom in tourism, particularly in the Australian market. Australians escaping their hot summers and in need of a good winter holiday head here to enjoy the pow-pow and work the lifts.
Many have even settled in the area and opened businesses. While there are definitely Japanese restaurants I found the town to have much more of an international flair going on and few Japanese owned establishments. Many young Australians have also come over on a working holiday visa to enjoy an epic ski season of a lifetime – and who can blame them? The snow is incredible.
It’s not just the Australians though. Niseko has gained worldwide fame over the years and has frequently been named one of the best ski resorts in the world. The result is an explosion of international tourism. A growing Asian market is now seeking snowy vacations close to home and more North Americans are making their way over the Pacific.
This isn’t a bad thing, and don’t think that I hate Australians. The international market in Niseko means that more accommodations, restaurants, and services have opened up. It makes life easy for English speakers to vacation.
BUT it is worth noting that those after an authentic Japanese experience won’t get it in Niseko. I like to say this is an international ski resort located in Japan, not a Japanese ski resort in Japan.
Obviously you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Those after a more authentic Japanese ski hill should check out Furano, Rusutsu ,and the many other small Japanese ski resorts. It’s not a full-on resort with amenities like Niseko, but the powder is world class and you’ll be skiing among more Japanese people.
Cash is King in Japan
Eating at one of the best restaurants in Niseko, Sushi Kato (make reservations) First-time visitors to Japan may be surprised to learn that Japan is a predominantly cash society and this is true for Niseko. While more and more businesses are accepting international credit cards with the rise in tourism I still can’t stress the importance of having a little cash on you enough while here. If it’s your first time abroad check out our tips to travel banking.
You Must Onsen While at Niseko Ski Resort
Getting ready to onsen at Niseko Green Leaf!One of the greatest things to do in Japan is to soak in an onsen – especially in the winter – and especially after a day on the mountain. Visiting a Japanese Onsen while in Japan should be at the top of your things to do in Japan list!
An onsen is a Japanese hot spring where visitors are typically separated by sex and can soak naked in the warm geothermal water, usually outside. It’s so relaxing especially during the winter months and a unique cultural experience. You’ll find onsens all over Japan as it is a volcanically active country and there are thousands scattered throughout Hokkaido and Honshu.
Don’t be shy! Everyone in an onsen is naked and no one cares. You may not wear a bathing suit in an onsen and some traditional onsens even ban tattoos, due to Yakuza, so check accordingly if you have tattoos. Onsens are separated by sex and you are required to wash your body before entering. Watch some YouTube videos before visiting if you are concerned.
There are a few sublime onsens in Niseko. We frequented the onsen at Niseko Green Leaf as we were staying there and it is free to hotel guests. Other great onsens in town include Niseko Prince Hotel Hirafutei Onsen, Hilton Niseko Village Onsen, and Ikoi-no-mura.
Japanese Bath House: A Foreigners Guide to Sauna & SentosDress Warm!
This should go without saying, but remember to dress for the occasion on your ski holiday. I would recommend bringing all the winter gear you think you will need with you as you will pay a premium for winter gear in Hokkaido. (Take it from two people who bought Sorel boots in Hokkaido).
It gets pretty chilly on the mountain, especially at the summit. February is the coldest month with an average daytime mountain temperature – 10°C while night skiing can get down to – 20°C.
Items that should be in your suitcase are:
Wear a Helmet
I hate to sound like a nagging mom, but wear a helmet when you ski and snowboard kids! There’s no telling what could ever go wrong when you ride and a helmet could save your life.
Even if you are an expert rider who never falls someone else could come crashing into you. Plus helmets are good for those times when you get hit in the head from the chairlift bar.
Besides keeping you safe, my helmet also acts as a head and ear warmer. If you have a helmet I would recommend bringing it with you to Japan. We had to buy one in Furano and had trouble finding sizes that weren’t “Asian fit.”
Our Favorite Helmet – the Smith Quantum Helmet
English Is Widely Spoken in Niseko
It’s true that many Japanese people do not speak English, and there is a language barrier when traveling in the country. However, in Niseko, we never had trouble anywhere. First, you have all the international workers who will be able to communicate with you easily. But even most of the Japanese here speak English pretty well.
Hire a Car
If you are comfortable driving in a foreign country then I would strongly recommend hiring a car for your trip to Niseko. This was the greatest mistake we made while touring around Hokkaido as it would have made our trip much easier and cheaper. While Japan has a great public transport infrastructure with Shinkansen trains and buses that always run on time, it is much more limited in Hokkaido.
Once in the smaller towns sometimes the only option to get around is with your own car and having one will make all the difference in your trip. Public transport in Japan is not cheap and if you are traveling with a group you will definitely save money by splitting a rental car.
For us not having a car determined everything. We had to stay in central places around Japan, we couldn’t go and leave places as we pleased, and we could not get to some beautiful parts of Hokkaido that we would have liked to visit.
Unfortunately for us, Japan has very strict rules on foreign drivers. All foreign drivers must carry an International Driving Permit (IDP). Note that this is not the same as in International Drivers License that many countries allow for foreigners to rent a car (depending on your license).
As Americans, our American driver’s license is our international driver’s license and we have never had an issue renting a car in of the 40 or so countries we have rented. However, in Japan, it is different as you need this permit. Permits are not issued in Japan and should be obtained in your home country in advance. They are usually issued through your country’s national automobile association for a small fee, if you are an American citizen and have AAA they should be able to complete this for you.
There’s More to Niseko Than Skiing and Snowboarding
Definitely eat ramen in Niseko – this was at Niseko RamenNiseko is a great resort town for all to enjoy. If you get tired of skiing or snowboarding, or it’s your first time and you decide it’s not for you rest assured that there is a lot more to do. Snowmobiling, snow tubing, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing are all other popular winter activities.
If you are looking to stay warm there are two yoga studios in town, Zen Yoga and Powder Yoga. Or you can take the gang to try delicious Hokkaido ice cream at Milk Kobo, sing karaoke at Nozomi II, or enjoy the many restaurants and bars in town.
How to Get to Niseko
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