NISEKO
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
Niseko, HOKKAIDO , JAPAN boasts some of the deepest and most consistent powder snow of all the Japanese ski & snowboard resorts.
Niseko Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain
The Niseko ski and snowboard terrain consists of 3 inter linked ski & and snowboard areas; Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Hirafu and Niseko Higashiyama. Between the 3 areas they provide a good variety of gentle beginner slopes, wide intermediate and advanced trails, great tree runs and wide open powder fields.
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
Advanced skiers and snowboarders flock to the Strawberry Fields area in the Hirafu section which has maze like tree skiing and snowboarding though deep powder snow littered with drops, rollovers and great natural obstacles.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the 3 mountain areas on groomed wide trails. Niseko Higashiyama has some great winding trails and steep terrain. For those who have not experienced ‘real’ powder before make sure to venture of piste into the powder on either side of the groomed trails, you will not be disappointed! Don’t be scared of falling as falling in fresh deep powder is like falling into soft feathers!
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
Beginner skiers and snowboarders are well catered for in the lower gentle terrain of the Hirafu area. Once confidence and skills improve catch the gondola to tackle the green trail leading down to the base area, just look out for speedsters on their way home! Night Skiing and Snowboarding in Niseko
Niseko Night skiing and snowboarding
For those who have enjoyed a little too much of the Japanese hospitality from the previous evening, the night skiing & snowboarding at Niseko is a salvation, fresh powder tracks through falling snow and cool temperatures will cure and invigorate you for another night on the small but lively town.
The night skiing and snowboarding in Niseko is possibly the best in the world, the Niseko Hirafu area lights up a large portion of the mountain, including the more advanced upper mountain terrain, and remains open until 9pm. Skiing and snowboarding through the snow covered trees, often in a foot of fresh powder, in the warm sepia glow of brilliant lights is certainly a surreal experience!
At night the Gondola is your best bet keeping you warm on the way up the mountain and providing plenty of rest after the long run down. From the top of the Gondola you can take your pick of the usually uncrowded terrain, skiing and snowboarding in and out of the trees or floating across magnificent powder topped groomers.
Niseko Terrain Park and Halfpipe
The well maintained terrain park and halfpipe are located at the base of the Hirafu Gondola. The terrain park has it has large tabletops, rails and kickers. During the day it is not too crowded, as the overall Niseko terrain is a free riders paradise, but in the evenings it can get very busy. Other Activities in Niseko
Other activities at Niseko
Other activities at Niseko include; snow tubing, igloo building, snow shoeing and cross country skiing at the Annupuri kids land. You can also go swimming in the indoor swimming pool at the Hotel Niseko Alpen or test your skills with horse riding and snow mobiling in the Hanazono Nature Adventure Park.
After skiing or snowboarding all day make sure you go to an onsen, it is a hot spring (usually located outdoors), nothing soothes your aching muscle better than an onsen. Just be warned that you are not allowed to wear bathers in the onsens and men and women normally bathe separately. There are 10+ onsens to choose from within Niseko alone.
Niseko Restaurants
The food in Niseko is sensational. The local dishes served in the bars and restaurants dotted around the village include wonderful sushi and sashimi, steaming hot bowls of noodles and broths, delicious chicken yakkitori skewers, the yakkitori at Hanks Bar is unbelievable, plus plenty of western style food for the less adventurous.
The Yakiniku Yotei restaurant specialises in Korean BBQ. It is a great fun and social way of eating; you grill your own meat and seafood on a coal grill pit in the middle of your table! Chose from finely sliced fish to great chunks of mutton!
Niseko Nightlife
The night life, once fairly quiet, continues to grow each season catering for the increase in western visitors to Niseko. The "Jam" which looks like an upturned boat is a popular destination, just beware of the Sake or you will wake the following morning feeling like you have spent the night in an upturned boat! Make sure you give karaoke a go at one of the many karaoke bars, it’s a great laugh!
More About Niseko
Your Niseko Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews
Ryan Costa, Perth. 2007 Was a little worried about the Bali-ing of Niseko, but not to worry it's still OK although I did notice a few Aussie idiots. We stayed at Furu-ike-ya in Hanazono area-this place is unreal! can't compare it to anywhere I have stayed yet in Niseko although the guys running it did say it was on par with some of their other properties in Hirafu. For what we paid i was more than stoked-luxury place 5 mins walk from uncrowded lift lines at Hanazono-save the 3x chair required to reach there from Hirafu. Check it out Furu-ike-ya, will be heading back there for sure-great pow, unreal house, great service from these guys -they made sure we had everything we needed and checked on us a few times over our 10day stay.
Andrew Liddell, Australia. Feb 2007 Just come in from an awesome day skiing. Snowing heavily all day and knee deep powder in the trees. Finished off the day with with danish from A-Bu-Cha. Next up, cold beers at Hanks Bar. Staying at Resort House Bab, I cannot recomend it highly enough. Mr and Mrs Bab will make your stay fantastic and help with anything. Cheers!
Mark Reed, Australia. Feb 2006 Niseko totally rocks!!!! I went with a bunch of mates and had the best powder ever!! Everyday there was more and more, it just doesn't stop snowing. The ungroomed off piste riding is awesome. The trees are awesome, although now with all the Aussies heading over you have to share the powder in the trees. Catch the main Prince Gondola up in the mornings, it's the fastest way to get to the top, even when it is crowded, then break right for some fresh ungroomed powder under the Ace chair. With the snow constantly falling even the groomers are good to ride, they get groomed as early as midnight then have a foot of fresh on top - totally RAD... Nightlife rocks too, we drank and ate at Hanks bar before spending most nights squeezed into The Jam. Word to the wise - some of the restaurants are expensive, we just ate lots of the sandwiches and Japanese ready made dishes from Seico Mart (renamed cyco mart!), they tasted good and were cheap too.
Ryan Freeland, USA. Feb 2006 Went to Niseko to check it out after all this hype I was hearing about. Thought the snow was great, light and fluffy like in Colorado without massive crowds. The village is nice, heaps of friendly Aussies telling you this is the best place on earth, don't get me wrong I liked it but would still rather ride Vail after a dump, compare the 2, Vail is 15 times the size and more challenging. There are also better resorts in Japan, like Happo, that haven't got the hype and publicity surrounding them.
Alison Liddell, Australia. Jan 2006 Niseko is now the popular skiing destination for Australians. It's an easy journey and only 2 hours time difference, a huge plus compared with the trip to USA, Canada or Europe. I have been to Niseko three times and the powder skiing was great. It's an original Japanese village but it is quickly being developed as a result of the influx of Australians and becoming more crowded each year. It's a real skiers’ resort so don't expect too much sunshine just lots and lots of fresh powder! There is plenty of nightlife for the young ones and a wide variety of great Japanese restaurants.
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Snowfall |
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12
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Lifts |
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37 |
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Trails |
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Terrain
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Halfpipe |
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1 |
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Terrain
Park |
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no |
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Resort
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