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Niseko Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • World-beating powder
  • Japan's premier ski resort
  • Gourmet East Asian cuisine

Great for

  • Snow sure
  • Off-piste
  • Foodies

Ski Holidays in Niseko

Since hitting the big time in the nineties, Niseko’s quickly found a spot among the titans: it has some of the best backcountry on the planet, and is one of the world’s snowiest resorts. The powder hasn’t gone to its head though, and half the charm here's the chilled, culture-rich Japanese character it’s long been loved for.

Niseko Stats

Top Altitude
1,308m
Bottom Altitude
300m
Resort Altitude
300m
Total Piste
48km
Longest Run
5.6km
Slope Orientation
N
Vertical Drop
900m
Skiable Vertical
1200m
Night Skiing
Yes
Glacier Skiing
No

Niseko’s famously the capital of the “potato kingdom” - North Japan’s island of Hokkaido - but we don’t just ski here for the spuds. It also reigns supreme in the snow department, receiving a mighty 50ft (the length of a bus) of ridiculously dry, light fluff each season.

Overlooked by the formidable silhouette of Mount Yotei (an extinct volcano, Hokkaido’s answer to Fuji), Mount Niseko-Annupuri is the home of all this wonderful white stuff. Its ski area, ‘Niseko United’ is split into 4 sectors and wrapping around the bottom of the mountain, each sector has a resort base of the same name.

At one end is Annupuri - the peaceful one - where alpine-style chalets, steaming onsens and a few high-end eateries edge into the wonderful wilderness of the National Park.

Niseko United’s most central is ski-in, ski-out Niseko Village (‘Higashiyama’, back in the day). This is a funky hub of traditional wooden Machiya townhouses, laden with boutiques, galleries, spa hotels and chic Asian restaurants.

The largest is Grand Hirafu, a town where clusters of chalets, restaurants and shiny apartment blocks draw skiers off the slopes and onto the main après-ski stage. Neighbouring Hanazano (at the far end of the ski area) is on the smaller side but has big offerings, including an adventure park, multiple snow parks, a 3 Michelin star restaurant and the 308 Snowsports Centre.

Gondolas and chair lifts directly link each of the villages with its ski area, and more lifts and trails seamlessly connect the 4 ski areas on the mountain. You can also get from village to village by a shuttle bus (usually included in the lift pass) and a fifteen minute bus ride from Hirafu takes you to the city of Kutchan, home to more restaurants, a bigger nightlife and urban accommodation.

Wherever you stay, the main event’s up on the mountain. The green, red and black pistes that snake down the sectors mightn’t have the mileage of the 3 Valleys, but their powdery make-up is a delight to ski. The backcountry – well it’s like nothing else on earth: seemingly bottomless and heavenly light.

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Niseko Transfer Times

120 km from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport 2.5 hours by public bus

The nearest airport to Niseko is Sapporo Chitose at 110 km or about ? by car

What's the ski area like in Niseko?

All areas have fantastic facilities for beginners: in Niseko village, after conquering the basics on the beginner area, do the rounds on the cleverly named ‘Next Stage’, then follow a confidence-boosting succession of greens from the Country Road chair, all the way back to base. Hanzano has less by way of green runs, but it does tend to be quieter – the 3.3km ‘Silver Dream’ beginner run is the longest run in resort, ideal for building up a rhythm. The other sectors have their fair share of greens too, with favourites including the tree-lined ‘Holiday’ in Hirafu, and ‘Paradise’ at the bottom half of Annupuri.

If you’re a red run skier or snowboarder, the mountain’s yours. Head straight to the peak where you can ski in any direction - ‘Wonderland’ starts a trail of reds (and greens if legs need a break) back to Niseko Village or ‘Youtei Sunset’, ‘Crystal Garden’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven’ snake down to Hanzano along the edge of the ski area. If you’re prepared to delve into expert territory, go to the top of Annupuri: after a short-ish black, the route down gets progressively easy via reds, then greens (with a detour via black ‘Challenge’ if you fancy it).

Experts can dart down the short blacks from the top of the mountain, then link reds and blacks down to each of the villages. We love the ‘Misoshiru’ in Niseko Village – also known as Miso Soup, it somehow seems to be different every time you’re on it.

Hanazono’s your place if you’re into freestyle, with three terrain parks – easily the best in Hokkaido. Put simply, Niseko has some of the best off piste on the planet. Easy-to-reach gates serve as entry points here, for hours of divine, floating descents. Get the Hanazono Power Guides to show you the Niseko Back Bowls from the top of the Hanazono ski area - it’s a 15 minute climb to the peak but that’s soon forgotten - the northeast bowl is crammed with 600ft of powder, while the north and south faces have 1200 and 1800 vertical feet of the fluffiest white, untainted by rocks or hollows. The Blueberry and Strawberry fields are a thrill-hunter’s heaven - head through the forest for steep gradients, sharp turns and more quality snow.

Ski Area Facts

LocationSouthwest Hokkaido, Japan
Established1923
Downhill48km
Lift Pass£173 (adult 6 day)

Beginner Slopes

18km30%

Intermediate Skiing

25km40%

Advance & Expert Terrain

18km30%

Snowboarding Trails

48km100%

Niseko Restaurants

Where to eat in Niseko and on the mountain

Niseko Après Ski

Bars Late Night Clubs and Cafes in Niseko

Niseko Activites for Non-skiers

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

Niseko Package Skiing Holidays

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Best Time to Visit Niseko

Niseko’s clearly in Mother Nature’s favour – every year, Eurasian winds gather moisture from the East Sea, forming snow clouds that drop some of the lightest, driest and deepest powder on the planet. Peak time to enjoy the white stuff is December through to February, when barely a day goes by without a dusting (if you’re caught in the middle of a snowfall, birch-lined runs like ‘Silver Dream’ should provide shelter).

Combine this with a trip for the Chinese New Year, and you’ll find yourself joining in with Japan’s biggest annual party.

March brings the sun and while children will prefer the milder climate, the powder can be a bit more temperamental. As a result, the focus shifts to skiing hard in the morning and retiring to an Onsen for the remainder of the day (you won’t hear us complaining!).

What's Niseko like at Christmas?

Christmas in Niseko is epic – Santa’s been known to deliver incredible snow in recent years, and we’re hoping Niseko stays on his ‘nice list’ for many years to come.
Christmas Ski Holidays

What's Niseko like in the New Year?

Ring in the New Year in Niseko, with a varied schedule that transforms this peaceful island into one big celebration.

New Year Ski Holidays

What's Niseko like in Half-Term?

February Half Term in Niseko's a blast, good snow, good food and the biggest blow-out in the calendar – if the dates coincide, Chinese New Year here is unmissable.
Half Term Ski Holidays

What's Niseko like at Easter?

You're likely to see some unforgettable sights during Easter in Niseko, when the sunshine brings out the magnificent Mt. Yotei in all its glory.

Easter Ski Holidays

Niseko Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Niseko snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Niseko snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Niseko snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Current snow depth at top
    N/A
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  • Current snow depth at base
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Ski Accommodation in Niseko

We have 183 ski holidays in Niseko. Search all Niseko ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:

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Climbing in popularity, Niseko is without a doubt a family favourite. 30% of the mountainside is labelled green, with runs in this category at both ends of the difficulty spectrum. Niseko’s tiniest residents can spend the day in the patient hands of one of the resort’s babysitting and childcare services like Niseko Nannies, and big brothers and sisters will love the Hanazono park with its winter-rafting, snow-shoeing and snowmobiling. For the daredevils, a zip line as long as the Times Square Tower is high gives a sweeping birds eye view of the area. In the same place is an array of half pipes, quarter pipes and jibs for a budding freestyler. With school schools in the same place, conveniently accessible from Hirafu hotels by a shuttle bus, all the kids can be kept together – taking the pressure off – so everyone can enjoy the holiday.

Thanks to multiple designated beginner areas, it couldn’t be easier for the littlest of people to find their ski legs, learning the basics in an atmosphere that’s laid-back and encouraging. Before long you’ll be watching as they take to the mountain on Hirafu’s magic carpet, popular among kids and adults alike, to barrel down a green in perfect group formation.

Christmas in Niseko is worth a visit if you’re bringing kids, as the village has put on festively-themed activities in the past, with sleigh-rides a firm favourite. New Year is also welcoming to families here, with the midnight celebrations mirrored at child-friendly times, so everyone can ring in the New Year Niseko style.

The right choice of hotel can keep everyone happy, so give us a ring for helpful advice on the best hotels in Niseko for little ones.

Thanks to a piste layout that sees runs interconnecting and skirting each other, Niseko’s a smashing resort for groups. Agree a meeting place (it works well if you like good wine/beer/sushi) in Niseko Village and everyone can be back to base at the same time from anywhere on the mountain thanks to a network of lifts that connects all the skiing areas. Mt. Niseko has a glorious mix of slopes and off-piste skiing, with an almost equal percentage of greens, reds and blacks across 4 different areas, with access to the famously powdery Niseko Back Bowls for powder seekers.

Any non-skiers coming for the ride will find plenty to do. A shuttle connects the four villages for days spent discovering quaint Japanese cafes and galleries and you can also catch the bus into Kutchan to explore the city. In cases where the white stuff isn’t completely off limits, Niseko has a wild snow activity scene, from snow rafting to snow shoeing.

For a group night out, head for Wild Bill’s in Hirafu, Niseko’s resident nightclub where a DJ will guide you through the night. A 15 minute bus or taxi ride will take you into Kutchan, for a taste of Japanese city nightlife. If you’d rather have a more relaxed evening closer to home, settle down for a quiet whisky on the rocks at The Cigar Pub.

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Niseko
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5
out of 5
Blessed with a gargantuan average snowfall of 15m per season, Niseko has more fresh powder dumped on its slopes than any other resort on Earth. Blistering in straight from Siberia, the pow here is the lightest, driest, fluffiest you’ll ever experience. Previously bound by strict laws which kept all visitors wi... + more
Bryony,
5 out of 5
The cool kids call this place ‘Ni-sick-o’, and the rest of us know it as a powder paradise – but we’re all in agreement that it’s a hop, skip and a jump ahead on the snowboarding scene. Racking up the numbers, this Japanese gift sits on its own pedestal, seeing 15m of dry, feathery snow each season. Making... + more
Rory,
5 out of 5
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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Niseko

Maximum and minimum adult Niseko lift pass prices ranged from Japanese Yen26900 to Japanese Yen38400 for 6 days access to the Niseko ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Niseko holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price Japanese Yen3100 - Japanese Yen4500 Japanese Yen5100 - Japanese Yen7400 Japanese Yen3900 - Japanese Yen5600
6 Day Price Japanese Yen16100 - Japanese Yen23100 Japanese Yen26900 - Japanese Yen38400 Japanese Yen20200 - Japanese Yen28800
Age Range 7 - 12 16 - 59 60+
Niseko Packages + Extras

Getting to Niseko

Most of our ski holidays to Niseko packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Niseko from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Niseko from the UK?

This table shows approximate transfer times to Niseko from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance to Niseko Transfer Time
Sapporo Chitose 110 km ?
Packages with Plane Train or Car

How long is the transfer from nearest Japan train station to Niseko?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Niseko transfers.

Station Distance to Niseko Transfer Time
Niseko ? km ?
Ski Train Holidays

Niseko Maps

Niseko piste map
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More Niseko Information

View Niseko Ski Deals

Niseko Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Niseko ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!

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Similar Ski Resorts to Niseko in Japan


Every Sno holiday packaged with flights is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. All our suppliers are ATOL bonded, so your money is safe. In addition to this, payments for your holiday are held in trust, by NatWest bank and the Travel Trust, who insure every booking against supplier failure.

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