Travel to Niseko with ski insurance from Essential Travel

One of Japan’s best kept secrets, Niseko ski resort encompasses three excellent ski destinations on the northern island of Hokkaido, where attention to detail is second to none. The beginner slopes here are well groomed, while advanced sliders get mogul runs and off-piste artists can take advantage of masses of powder and tree-lined runs. Annupuri is the quieter, beginner resort of the three, while Hirafu sees more crowds and has tougher slopes.

The resort base at Niseko is located at around 1,000 feet above sea level. Facilities and services are really good and there are ski schools and plentiful equipment rental stores.

The three Niseko ski resorts offer more than 60 slopes for all skill levels and each resort has a snowboard park, with the exception of Annupuri. Hirafu also boasts a 328-foot half-pipe. There are 37 ski lifts altogether, half of which belong to Hirafu, with a capacity to carry more than 40,000 people per hour to the slopes and off-piste trails. The vertical is nearly 3,000 feet and each resort has a lengthy run.

Accommodation at Niseko ski resort is at hotels, pensions and bed and breakfasts, and there are about 30 establishments in all, with Hirafu offering the most beds. The majority of hotels offer excellent facilities and you will find very friendly hosts, not to mention superb food, both traditional Japanese and Western, while après-ski can best be enjoyed at Hirafu.

If you fancy a break from the slopes of Niseko ski resort, Hirafu village has some fantastic, open-air hot springs in beautiful settings at the southern end of the village. Farther afield is the town of Sapporo, which was host to the 1972 Winter Olympics and is the centre of many fine ski resorts. Just outside Sapporo is the Hokkaido Historical Village, which is well worth a look if you have a spare day.

Niseko ski resort’s ski season runs from November to May, with ideal snow conditions in February and March when the powder is at its driest. The most convenient means of transport to the resort is to fly to Sapporo-Chitose Airport and then hire a car to get to the resort.

Skiing in Niseko

Situated in southwestern Hokkaido, Niseko is a collection of three highly-rated ski resorts that are favourites among foreigners and locals alike. They are best known for their amazing off-piste powder, but also have a good spread of pisted runs. Visitors have the choice of staying at laid-back Annupuri or Hirafu, with their lively après-ski.

The 61 slopes at Niseko ski resort are well distributed among various skill levels, with 30 per cent suitable for beginners, 40 per cent for intermediates and 30 per cent for experienced skiers and snowboarders. The longest slope is at Hirafu and measures 3.4 miles, while the same resort also boasts a half-pipe. The well-serviced ski lifts are plentiful and include quads.

Other winter activities at Niseko ski resort include awesome night skiing and trekking, while those who enjoy more relaxing activities should head to Hirafu, which has a number of soothing hot springs and hotel wellness facilities. Hirafu is also the place to go if you are looking for some après-ski entertainment, while Annupuri and Higashiyama are a lot quieter.

Together the three resort villages offer about 30 different accommodation options, half of which belong to Hirafu. Services and friendliness from the locals is generally outstanding. The villages are also well equipped with ski and snowboard facilities.

February and March see the most favourable skiing conditions of Niseko’s November to May ski season and cheaper rates can be had at the beginning and end of the season. Flying to Sapporo-Chitose Airport from Tokyo and transferring to Niseko by train via Sapporo, from where buses and taxis run to the resort, is the most practical way of getting to Niseko ski resort; hiring a car is the most convenient.

Transportation to Niseko

Located about 600 miles north of Tokyo on the southwestern arm of Hokkaido Island, Niseko ski resort is straightforward to get to, with regular flights to the island from the capital and good rail services. Options from Sapporo-Chitose Airport include taking the train via Sapporo and transferring to the resort by hire car.

If you plan to drive to Niseko ski resort from Sapporo-Chitose Airport, head south towards the town of Tomakomai via the expressway and then northwest on highway 276 to Kimobetsu, from where route 5 runs to Niseko and the resorts. Alternatively, you could go via Sapporo, highway 230 and then take route 5.

By train, there are regular connections with Sapporo from the airport, from where the 2-hour, 30-minute Niseko Express train runs to the town of Niseko. From Niseko Station the three resorts are an easy 20-minute journey by bus.

Sapporo’s Chitose Airport receives flights throughout the day from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and trains to the city of Sapporo are frequent and fast, with a journey time of about 40 minutes.

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