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Welcome to Niseko
The first snowfall on Mt. Yotei marks the transition from Autumn to Winter and Niseko prepares for it’s yearly dose of legendary powder snow. The lifts begin to run in late November and continue through the first week May. Guests from around the world travel to Niseko to experience fine dining, Japanese hot springs, unrivalled nature, and of course, bottomless powder.
Niseko Powder
Niseko experiences some of the best powder snow in the world. Winter weather patterns blow across Siberia bring cold air across the Japanese sea. The saturated air releases huge amounts of powder when it reaches the mountain ranges of Niseko, making for ideal skiing conditions. The average temperatures in Niseko hover around -8 C which creates dry, champagne powder with an average snowfall of 15 meters per winter.
The Ski Resort
Niseko is made up of 69 runs consisting of 28 lifts and gondolas and totaling over 47 km in groomed slopes with the longest run being 5.6km. As well as the powder, the terrain offers a good mixture of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs, half-pipes, quarter pipes, table tops, mogul fields, tree runs and lots of natural hits to ensure everyone’s tastes are catered for.
Lift facilities operate without rest for over 12 hours a day – starting at 8:30am and closing at 9:00pm. One of the highlights of the day is night skiing. The illuminated area is huge with fantastic visibility and is available every night of the week; even tree runs are accessible. A powder night session is a must experience!
Niseko’s Hot Springs
Niseko is famous for the abundance of natural hot springs. Within the Niseko area there is over 15 different hot springs to relax in after a day on the slopes. Soaking in an outdoor bath with snow falling around you is an experience that is not to be missed.
Niseko Dining
As a truly international destination, Niseko offers a wide range of dining options. With over 150 restaurants in the resort and nearby Kutchan town, you will be spoiled for choice. Hokkaido is famous for the quality of its produce and seafood and this is seen in all of the Japanese style restaurants. French cuisine, Asian ethnic fare, Indian, Italian, and Mexican are all represented in the Hirafu village as well.