As I’ve been learning how to ski, I thought it would be great to finally experience how different it is to ski through the famous powder snow in Hokkaido. Flying to New Chitose Airport, you can rent a car or simply take a bus that will take you to Niseko and the different districts. It roughly takes 3 hours to get there and if you’re lucky, you might even be greeted by Yotei-san, the famous mountain the area.
There are four famous resorts: Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, Hanazono and Annupuri. These areas are connected through the chair lifts, and you can ski from one place to another. If you don’t catch the lift times on time, you can also take the bus to move around through the different areas. It’s a huge playground to explore and ski along all the slopes running around the mountain.
I skied a lot in Grand Hirafu, and if you’re staying in one of the lodges at the bottom, you can take the bus. I had a bit of trouble figuring out the schedule so I would just walk all the way up. It’s not bad, for a morning warm up before skiing but I think some people might find the hike up a bit difficult if you’re wearing ski boots and lugging your gear. The other year I skied in this area, we rented a car and there is a big parking lot, but spots are limited.
If you’re searching for restaurants, there are a lot of restaurants and stores around. You can ski in the morning, finish early and just take a stroll around the area. Of course, you’re there to ski and enjoy the mountain but it’s nice to have alternatives, especially those who want to take a breather and relax. Recently the area is encouraging lots of food trucks in the area to increase the places to eat and drink there. It’s a bit pricy, I think. If you’re not into it, there is always the ever-trusty Lawson, which is not 24 hours btw! There’s also a supermarket if you can cook in your rental lodge.
I’ve skied a lot in different areas in Japan and the snow in Niseko is very different. There’s a reason why many people from all over the world travel to Niseko and experience the coined powder snow, japow. The snow is quite light and fluffy, very much different than the high moisture content you’d find in mainland Japan. Thats another story for next time. I love all kinds of snow, powder, slushy, or ice. Niseko japow is one you should definitely try to ski in. It has its own fun appeal, so I recommend diving into it if you’re curious.
When you arrive in Niseko, you’ll really feel you’re not in Japan. Except for one ski resort, Annupuri. I love this ski resort as it somehow retained a Japanese feel. For casual skiers who want to enjoy the snow with friends, I highly recommend this place as the slopes are mostly beginner friendly. I went there with friends at the end of our trip, and I think that was a very good decision because we were all wiped out from skiing around Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village.
There’s a cute cafe there and you should try to check it out!
Lastly, if you’re pretty flexible in terms of your schedule (or if you live in Japan), I suggest to just send your skis, gear and luggage. It saves you the trouble of travelling with a large luggage. And you get to save on airline tickets if you fly with LCC’s.