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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 300m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[3]
Intermediates:		[3]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[2]

Niseko is one of the largest of Japan’s 600+ ski resorts and is located on the western side of the northern island of Hokkaido. Its low altitude by the standards of the Alps or the Rockies is not a snowfall issue in the country, as it receives huge dry powder falls each winter, averaging 12 metres (nearly 40 feet). The area is dominated by the beautiful Mt Yotei, an extinct volcano which towers above the surrounding landscape. The south-facing slopes are generally uncrowded due to the lower population of the north island.

The resort’s skiing is spread over three areas which all meet at the top of the mountain. Each has a separate base, dominated by a giant hotel complex. The Grand Hirafu, Niseko Prince and Nikko An’nupuri.

Beginners

Most beginners will make their first turns on Annupuri, the most beginner-friendly of Niseko’s three mountains, although there are perfectly groomed nursery slopes at the base of each mountain area. We can provide ‘Learn To Ski’ packages which include equipment rental, tuition and lift ticket for half the cost of an equivalent package at some of the top resorts in the Alps.

Intermediates

With 40% of terrain suited to intermediates the greatest share of the terrain is suited to this ability level. The Hirafu area has ski runs suited to all ability levels and some lifts serve floodlit runs right through to 9pm in Japan’s largest night skiing area, so you can get in a very long ski day if you wish. Across all three areas there are long cruising runs, up to 5.6km (three and a half miles) long, and groomed to the highest standard.

Advanced

The main ski area for advanced skiers is Niseko Village where you will find the steepest of the perfectly groomed runs as well as powder fields and steep powder skiing through the trees. Famous tree runs to try include Strawberry Fields and Miharashi. A half hour hike up to the area’s peak, a thousand metres above the base, accesses extensive powder. There are also steep trails such as the Alpen Super Course and the runs beneath the Kogen gondola.

Snowboarding

Snowboarders have a terrain park to enjoy and the ease of uplift provided by predominantly chair and gondola lifts. Boarding experts advise that you should bring or rent a larger board than usual to stop yourself from sinking in to the abundant dry, light powder.

Other Activities and Facilities

Ice skating, dog sledding and snowmobiling are all available. There are also natural Onsen hot pools and a ‘Dancing Waters’ fountain display.

There is a good selection of shops spread across the different resort bases, including a Japanese crafts centre.

Day trips are organized to the nearby city of Sapporo, site of the 1972 Winter Olympics and home to the annual Yuki Matsuri ice festival.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Niseko often has some of the liveliest après ski in Japan’s ski scene and there’s a good selection of traditional Japanese bars, cafes (known as izakaya) as well as karaoke rooms.

There is a mix of both eastern and, thanks to increasing numbers of tourists from Australia and the UK, western style entertainment and dining. The Forester Lounge in the Niseko Northern Resort is an example of the latter, and this newly renovated hotel also has a traditional Japanese Pub. The Niseko Hilton has both a fun pub and a karaoke room but also one of the best Japanese restaurants in the area, the Teppan-Yaki Grill, which serves wondrous sushi.

Families

The new Niseko Kids facility is an all-day care and snow school centre for children ages 18 months to 12 years. It is located on the first floor of the ‘Shi Shi’ Restaurant building at the base of the Niseko Village gondola, approximately 400m from the Hilton Niseko Village and 200m from the Green Leaf Hotel. Children are picked-up and dropped-off by private shuttle. Parents can accompany their children to and from Niseko Kids on the shuttle then ski from the facility. Staff include both native English and Japanese speakers. Niseko Kids has an exclusive indoor playing, eating and sleeping area and is open from 9am to 9pm. The facility also has an outdoor snow-play area with two easy-to-use Magic Carpet lifts and a ‘kids only’ protected ski and board and play area. Ski lesson-inclusive reservations are available.

There is a nursery at Annupuri which operates during mornings only (9am to 12.30pm). Children aged three to six years old may attend and can look forward to attractions that include a mini funfair.

Special ski school classes are available for children with an affordable learn to ski or board option available through us, which include equipment rental, tuition and lift ticket.

Accommodation in Niseko

• Hilton Niseko Village - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Niseko Northern Resort-annupur - 4 star, half board

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