Niseko Resort Guide

Niseko's deep and plentiful pillow-soft powder, extensive backcountry, and top guiding programmes are a calling for anyone yearning to advance their off-piste skiing. Our Resort Guide will show you where to ski and the best way to experience Japan’s distinct culture.

Niseko sits adjacent to the enormous Mount Yōtei on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Throughout the peak season, colossal amounts of dry, fluffy snow falls continually here, irresistible to eager powder fanatics. The vast backcountry terrain and quality of guiding programmes in Niseko are second to none. All the while, unique and authentic Japanese experiences await.

Since 2011, we have regularly skied and stayed in Niseko - some Ski Safari staff have worked there too - so we know first-hand what makes it such a special skiing destination. Our Niseko Resort Guide taps into our collective knowledge and provides a flavour of where to ski in Niseko and what to expect from your stay.

Read on for our recommendations on the best accommodation, where to dine and what to do at Japan’s number-one ski resort to really get the most out of your Niseko skiing holiday.

Niseko has four interlinked resorts that wrap around the mountain: Annupuri, Niseko Village, Niseko Hirafu and Hanazono - collectively called Niseko United Ski Area. Upper slopes are connected by lifts and a ski bus connects them at the base. All four areas are covered by your ski pass.

Niseko is the place to progress your skiing, whatever your ability level. It's a playground with a wide choice of groomed and ungroomed terrain. And the snow - oh the snow! It’s reliable, voluminous, feather-light, and falls almost daily from mid-December to mid-March. Snowfall averages between 10 to 12 metres at the base and up to 20 metres at the summit. For powder season, January and February are the optimal months to visit, where it’s common to see around 25 snow days each month.

Annupuri is typically the quietest of the four resorts. Farthest left on the piste map, you can access it via Niseko Village’s Wonderland Chair and ski diagonally down, or take the shuttle bus, which is about 15 minutes from the Green Leaf Hotel in Niseko Village. The upper slopes of Annupuri resort consist of black and red runs, and the lower half is largely cruisy greens, with a few playful black tree runs thrown in for good measure. The wide-open terrain lets you duck and dive in and out of the treeline, all the way down.

Our favourite Annupuri runs:

• Beginners (green): From the Jumbo Hooded Quad Lift #1, take the long, wide Family run then join 'Junior' to the bottom.
• Intermediates (red): 'Utopia', 'Panorama' and 'Silver' offer long and wide terrain.
• Expert (black): 'Challenge' is steep and tree-lined, perfect for dipping and weaving, and is a hot spot for untouched powder.

Niseko Village is one of the two central resorts, with runs to suit all ability levels, an international ski school, two beginner areas and substantial tree skiing options. Its gondola will whisk you [almost] to the top of the mountain, just above the treeline. From here you can ski down any combination of green, red and black trails (groomed and ungroomed) that wiggle and weave through the trees. Lapping this a few times is great for warming up. Then, when you’re ready, you can continue up to the summit or move across to Hirafu.

Our favourite Niseko Village runs:

• Beginners (green): A range of short greens link to Beginner Areas 1 and 2 and can be accessed from the Village Express Gondola or the Community Chair. The Banzai Chair area also has some lovely gentle terrain.
• Intermediates (red): Start at 'Debasa' (a winding green tree run) then cross to 'Nekko no Kabe' or 'Junkyard' which are wider and steeper but give you a smooth ride. If you want to try the upper slopes, start with 'Wonderland'.
• Expert (black): Dive down 'Snorkel' at the very top - it is great fun and best experienced after a fresh flurry.

Hirafu is the second central resort on the piste map and has the largest number of hotels and restaurants at its base. Like Niseko Village, Hirafu has a diverse choice of runs and the most routes out of the four ski areas but is best suited for skiers looking to progress and try something new. There are beginner greens here, powdery black runs with nice gullies and tree skiing options - proper ‘go anywhere’ terrain.

Our favourite Niseko Hirafu runs:

• Beginners (green): In front of the Welcome Centre, choose between the King Pair Lift and the Holiday Pair Lift - both service an area of short greens if you're looking to start some practice laps. For longer, wider runs, use the Ace Family Quad Lift #1, which is tucked to the side of the Hirafu ski area and services 'Sennoki'.
• Intermediates (red): Head up to The Ace Pair Lift #3 and start your cruisey descent from ‘Center’ before joining ‘Kokitai’ or ‘Furiko’. For powder practice, start at the King Hooded Quad Lift #3 and plough through the fabulous ungroomed ‘Rinkan’ gulley before joining the cruisy ‘Green’.
• Expert (black): Follow the trail of King lifts to the summit and dive down 'Large' for a vast expanse of powder. Miharashi is another brilliant black tree run, which you can reach by making your way down to the King Bell Hut.

Hanazono (right on the piste map) may have fewer runs than the other ski areas but it's not to be underestimated - the terrain is really good fun. To get to Hanazono, either take the shuttle bus at the base or, if all the lifts are open, navigate to the King Hooded Quad Lift in Hirafu, then from the top ski over and into Hanazono. There's a beginner area here and a tube park.

Our favourite Hanazono runs:

• Beginners (green): Take the Hanazono Symphony Gondola to the middle station where you can join the nice, straight ‘Juicy Fruit’ down to the Beginner Ski Area.
• Intermediates (red):  From the top of Hanazono’s Hooded Lift #1 is a huge area called Strawberry Fields which has incredible off-piste inbounds free-ride terrain - you could easily spend a lot of time playing about here, polishing those turns.
• Expert (black): The ‘Legend of Shinya’ butts up to the resort boundary - it’s wide, tree-lined, plump with powder and usually quieter than many other slopes in Niseko.

For powder skiing, it doesn’t get much better than Niseko. The quality and quantity of snow is unparalleled.  Within the resort boundaries, the powder is exceptional with plenty of tree skiing and the top lifts give access to huge un-groomed bowls.

The famous Niseko gates provide access to further terrain but care must be taken when entering these areas. You will need to take the correct avalanche equipment and taking a guide is advised. Fortunately, Niseko has one of the best guiding programmes in the world. We highly recommend making the most of the conditions and booking an instructor or guide to show you where to find the best pockets of snow in and out of the resort.

Night skiing is available across all four resorts, with Hirafu offering the largest choice of runs. Night skiing operates until 7pm every night (sometimes as late as 9pm).

The ‘powder months’ are considered to be January and February, but you’re likely to experience great powder from mid-December to mid-March. Bear in mind that the busiest periods in Niseko are Chinese New Year and Australia Day at the end of January.

The slopes are at their quietest in spring if you'd prefer to avoid the crowds. From mid-March, there’s still ample snow, more bluebird days, and the slopes are generally less busy. If you time it right, you will also overlap with the start of the cherry blossoms that emerge in late March each year, which you could see with a city add-on. See our Taste of Japan Ski Safari for inspiration.

When it comes to accommodation in Niseko, most accommodation is centred in Hirafu, with some outliers in Niseko Village.

Most hotels in Niseko are on or close to the slopes of Hirafu and trust us, you are spoiled for choice! Each hotel prides itself on comfort and quality and they range from 3*+ and 4* boutique hotel apartments to luxury 5* hotels with all the trimmings.

Being based in Hirafu, you will be within easy access to the busy bustle of the Hirafu Village, where there’s an abundance of excellent restaurants from traditional Japanese to fine dining, bars, live music and nightlife.

The premium, award-winning 4*+ Vale Niseko offers something a bit special, with spacious, modern rooms and suites, plenty of storage and several interconnecting options. Self-catering is possible in the Studio Apartments, Suites and Penthouse, but if you want a night off cooking, then the hotel restaurant serves excellent Japanese meals. The Vale has its own supply of thermal spring water feeding its shared and private onsen, so at the end of a long day on the slopes, they are a wonderfully inviting treat and amazing for the muscles.

Right in the middle of town is the 4* Setsumon, with a selection of apartments from studio to three-bedrooms, complete with full kitchen, dining area, sofas and a cosy fireplace. You can also take advantage of the allocated ski storage and laundry facilities too. This is a popular choice because the village restaurants, convenience store, and the Ace Chairlift are all in strolling distance.

The 5* Skye Niseko has 105 elegant studios, suites and apartments, complete with full kitchens, and floor-ceiling windows overlooking Mt Yōtei. This modern hotel also boasts a spa with both shared and public onsen, a gym and an excellent on-site restaurant. Hirafu village, with numerous restaurants and bars, is only a couple of minutes away by car as well.

The apartments at 4* The Freshwater certainly fall into this bracket. Located in Hirafu, just off the main street, you’ll be within walking distance of restaurants, bars and shops. One or two-bedroom apartments are available, fitted with an open fireplace, living and dining area, full kitchen facilities and balcony - all furnished to a high standard.

Niseko Village is a vibrant hub during the day but is quieter than Hirafu by evening. Whilst there are fewer hotels here, this is a popular area for families and newbies. It is the perfect location for access to the beginner areas, Niseko Gondola (Niseko’s longest), a great shopping area and incredible restaurants, including the recently opened Niseko Yo restaurant area. It’s also where many of the non-ski activities are run from.

4* The Green Leaf is located at the base of Niseko Village and is a great ski-in ski-out option, being a stone’s throw from the chairs that service Beginner Areas 1 and 2 and those easy greens. A free shuttle travels between The Green Leaf, the nearby Hilton Hotel and the Hirafu slopes, so you can explore both resorts easily, and experience their restaurants and facilities into the evening. The Green Leaf straddles a natural spring that feeds mineral-rich water into its thermal water ‘Beauty Bath’ and heated swimming pool - be sure to have a soak while you’re here. Meanwhile, rooms are simple but modern Double, Deluxe King and Corner Suites. This is a good all-rounder which is why we love it and why the customers keep returning.

Wherever you are on the mountain, there is somewhere to refuel. Each resort has a selection of cafés and restaurants, and these are our top picks:

Annupuri

• Bears Café - a small, cosy cabin serving sandwiches and sweet treats, including steamed buns and warm cinnamon rolls. Open 10am to 4pm.
• NOOK Annupuri - a large cafeteria-style restaurant serving Japanese and international dishes open from 11am to 8pm.

Niseko Village

• The Lookout Café - also known as ‘Valhalla’, is a perfect spot to recharge, with a welcoming intimate atmosphere, warming bowls of noodles and chowder and of course, excellent views! Open 10.30am to 3.30pm.

Grand Hirafu

• Bo-Yo-So - a handy halfway house, with self-serve curry and ramen bowls for a quick pick-me-up.
• AceHill Café - this cantine near the top of the Hirafu Gondola is a welcome retreat after a morning on the slopes, serving hot comfort food from stews to burgers.

Hanazono

• Hanazono Edge - this ski-in café and bar is located at the base of Hanazono (one of a handful of restaurants and cafés in this area) and it serves healthy portions of ramen, katsu, pizzas and burgers.

Niseko Hirafu and Niseko Village are renowned for offering some of the best off-mountain dining in the world. From simple Izakayas (a Japanese pub) to pizza joints, to gourmet French restaurants - there is something for everyone. If you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help separate the wheat from the chaff and point you towards our must-visit picks. Bear in mind that because dining out is so popular in Niseko, places fill up quickly, so we highly recommend that you book your table reservations ahead of your visit.

In Hirafu Village

Afuri @ Setsu Niseko, Hirafu Village - ramen and dumpling pros! From traditional recipes to international fusion, dishes for all tastes are available.

Bang Bang, Hirafu Village - serving yakitori meat, seafood and veggie skewers, cooked on hot coals in front of you.

Niseko Sakura, Hirafu Village - this is the place to go for dipping fresh seafood, Kobe Beef in shabu-shabu hotpot and dipping sauces.

In Niseko Village

Gogyo by Ippudo, Niseko Village - for Izakaya-style dining and a selection of small plates and signature ramen, head to the Niseko-Yo area for a laid-back evening meal.

Yan Shu Ten, Niseko Village - from fresh, thoughtfully created sushi to the crisp crunch of lightly battered tempura, there’s an incredible choice of beautifully prepared dishes to be found here.

Niseko has a thriving food truck scene, giving you the chance to tuck into some comforting street food across a whole range of cuisines. They are largely concentrated in the centre of Hirafu and are surprisingly good!

Mame Niseko, Hirafu Village - expect an unforgettable ‘omakase’ experience - which means ‘I leave it up to you’. Local Chef, Endo Hideki, set up Mame and will surprise and delight you with his seasonal menu.

HakuSteak, Hirafu Village  - this intimate a la carte restaurant blends Hokkaido's finest produce with an international twist. This is a top spot for trying Wagyu Beef and other seasonal mouthwatering dishes.

Kamimura, Hirafu Village - a sophisticated dining experience brought to you by Michelin-star chef Yuichi Kamimura, serving beautifully prepared French-inspired dishes for lunch and dinner.

Niseko has hundreds of restaurants and not all serve only Japanese and sushi. For anyone not keen on fish, avoiding meat or who has dietary needs, there are chefs in Niseko who can rustle up some incredible grub, inspired from around the world.

In Hirafu

The Barn by Odin, Hirafu Village - this stunning building has floor-to-ceiling windows to create a wonderful dining atmosphere whilst offering a medley of Japanese and Western cuisine (a la carte).

Luke’s Alpine Club, Hirafu Village - serving American-inspired dishes, expect to find burgers, steak, schnitzel, chowder and mac and cheese (limited vegetarian options).

Melt Bar & Grill, Niseko Village - for an all-you-can-eat buffet and grill, head to the Hilton hotel. Expect a range of international dishes, made using locally sourced ingredients.

In Niseko Village

Baby Crosta Pizzeria, Niseko Village - winner of World Pizza of the Year 2023 and Japan’s Best Pizzaiolo 2022, you’ll find a surprising selection of sliced pizza here - there’s even a unique chef’s table, offering omakase pizza.

Moka, Niseko Village - serving up Italian cuisine with a Japanese twist. By day it's a buzzing lunch venue, by night an ambient dinner setting.

No matter where you finish at the end of the day, there are great après options at all four resort bases in Niseko. The widest choice however is in Hirafu Village and Niseko Village.

In Hirafu:

Bar Gyu+, Hirafu Village - nicknamed ‘the fridge door bar’, you walk through a fridge to enter. This popular cocktail bar can get very busy so is worth visiting early.

Half Note, Hirafu Village - live music venue and Vietnamese street food - what a combo! Happy hour runs from 3pm to 5pm, closes at 11pm.

Niseko Taproom, Hirafu Village - try craft beer from across the Hokkaido region, in one relaxed and ambient location.

Musu, Hirafu Village - last but certainly not least, Musu is a fabulous ambient cocktail bar and bistro with an inviting open fireplace.

In Niseko Village

Mandala Club Niseko, Niseko Village - near The Green Leaf Hotel, this ski-in ski-out clubhouse has its flagship restaurant - POPI’s - on the top floor serving Asian-Western fusion, and an adults-only bar/lounge downstairs, where you can pick from an extensive cocktail list and party late into the night.

Tomioka White, Niseko Village - located in The Green Leaf, it’s a brilliant après location - great atmosphere, good beers and wine, comfy seating, low lighting and a beautiful fireplace. You will also see vending machines selling beers, mixers and snacks. So, if the bar closes at 11pm you can carry on so long as you have some loose change.

One of the best ways to relax off the slopes is to visit one of the many onsen, which are plentiful in Hirafu and at the hotels. Onsen are baths or small pools supplied by mineral-rich spring water from deep underground. They are naturally warm and incredibly soothing - enjoying a soak is a quintessential experience when skiing in Japan. All public onsen are split into men’s and women’s baths.

Our favourite hotel onsen include:

• 4* The Green Leaf's outdoor thermal pool
• Private (suites and penthouse) and shared at 5* Setsu Niseko
• 4*+ The Vale Niseko's indoor/outdoor onsen, and private balcony onsen
• All suites at 4*+ Niseko Kyo have a private onsen

Niseko offers one of the top ski touring programmes there is! Beyond the resort boundaries, you’ll explore the extensive backcountry terrain on skis whilst learning about mountain navigation. The guides know the area inside out, so you’re in the best hands to safely track down the best pockets of pristine, untouched powder. We highly recommend Whiteroom Tours for guided backcountry excursions in and around Niseko, as well as day trips to neighbouring Rusutsu and Kiroro.

Discover pockets of fresh, untouched snow inside your own private area, through organised cat-skiing and heli-skiing at the resort. We recommend Niseko Weiss Powder Cats who will take up to 12 people on an incredible ski and snowboarding adventure, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide and photographer to capture all your amazing memories. These sessions run from mid-December to mid-March.

Tubing/rafting - at the foot of the Hanazono slopes, the Hanazono Tube Park is lots of fun for the whole family - enjoy a 60-minute session of sliding down the lower slopes on a big inflatable doughnut!

Snowmobiling - both Niseko Village and Hanazono offer guided snowmobile rides.

Snowshoeing - venture out into the Niseko countryside with your guide, and explore the local woodland, blanketed by snow. Snowshoe tours can be booked in Hirafu.

Shopping - at the foot of Niseko Village and Hirafu you'll find plenty of shops to browse around, offering winter clothing and gifts.

Most hotels across Niseko offer either family rooms or interconnecting rooms for family groups, such as The 5* Setsu Hotel (and it has a play area with a ball pit too).

There are a handful of clubs and creches when it comes to keeping the kids entertained, especially if they’re too little for the slopes. Not far from the Tube Park at the base of Hanazono, is the Hanazono 308 Sports Centre and the location of Galaxy of Kidz - a fantastic indoor adventure playground complete with climbing walls, ball pits and climbing nets.

In the same building as Hanazono 308 you’ll also find the Niseko Kids Club which offers daycare and babysitting services, as well as playful learning, exploring nature, crafts and games.

Ski tuition is offered to children by all schools in Niseko, but Niseko International Snowsports School (NISS) tailors all aspects of their lessons for little learners. The Strawberry Bells and Kamp Kitsune trails are great for creative skill development, plus nowhere else in Niseko will you find kids-only private lessons and bathroom facilities sized for 3 to 6-year-olds.

Niseko has excellent ski schools across all four resorts, offering lessons for beginners to improvers, from age three to adult.

Annupuri - Niseko Annupuri Snow School (NASS) runs both English-speaking and Japanese-speaking lessons with Japanese instructors. Private and group lessons run from morning to evening.

Niseko Village - Niseko Village Snow School caters to all needs, whether you’re a first-timer or need a refresher, ski and snowboard private and group lessons are available for adults and children. Instructors are multilingual and internationally qualified.

Grand Hirafu - There are two ski schools in Hirafu: Niseko Grand HIRAFU Snow School and GOSNOW. Whether you are a total newbie or you want to try powder skiing for the first time, Niseko Grand HIRAFU offers a range of kids and adult lessons, including early powder lessons and nature hiking. Whilst GOSNOW, who are located near the main gondola, has on-snow beginner and children’s facilities. They also offer powder-guiding tours and workshops.

Hanazono - Niseko International Snowsports School (NISS) is Niseko’s premier snowsports school and offers a wide programme of lessons for children and adults.

UK to Niseko is a long journey but well worth it! It takes about 13 hours to fly from the UK to Tokyo where you’ll hop on an internal flight to Sapporo for one hour 40 minutes. When you arrive in Sapporo, you’ll meet the driver of your transfer to Niseko. We recommend adding another day for travel when planning your Japan visit, as Japan is nine hours ahead of the UK.

The ski bus is free with your lift pass and loops around all four resorts. You can cross over into neighbouring ski areas from the mountain by skiing down from the upper slopes but in high winds, these lifts will be closed. Therefore planning ahead is key, and we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the bus timetable so you have a fall-back option.

There are no taxi services in Niseko but regular local buses run from Niseko to the nearby Kutchan Town, where there are a few more local restaurants to try out, and the large Maxvalu supermarket for supplies if staying in a self-catering apartment.