Japan’s Ultimate Ski Destination: Niseko
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Are you a skier or snowboarder? If you are, did you know Japan has some of the best slopes in the world? If you’re overdue for an international trip and looking to do your favorite winter sports in a new country, check out Niseko in Sapporo, Hokkaido!
When some friends of mine suggested we go to Japan to ski, I was pretty skeptical, I didn’t know much about Japan. Once I started researching winter sports in Japan, I discovered this is one of the best places in the world to get your ski and snowboard on. I spent a week exploring this beautiful winter wonderland, also known as Sapporo, and want to share my thoughts on why skiing/snowboarding here should be on your bucketlist!
Transportation to Niseko
Transportation in Japan can be frustrating when there are so many different train lines and buses owned by multiple companies. It can be hard to purchase a ticket at the ticket offices unless you speak some Japanese or the ticket seller knows some English.
In my experience getting to Sapporo was a piece of cake, I flew into Sapporo from Tokyo, which only took about an hour and a half. Once I had arrived in Sapporo, I took a bus to Hokkaido, which was roughly three hours long.
If you want to take the bus, you can take the JR Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (4 hours) and then switch to the Hokuto limited express to Sapporo (3.5 hours). A one way trip costs around 29,000 yen (245.40 USD) or is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Which Japan Ski Resort and which Ski Pass?
There are over a hundred ski resorts in Hokkaido so how do you even begin to pick just one? If you’re interested in browsing all 117 ski resorts you can do that right here.
After a little bit of research, I came across Niseko Ski Resort, which apart from being Japans top-recommended ski resort, is extremely popular for tourists, especially Australians. This snowy winter wonderland has something for the whole family to enjoy, whether that be hitting the snowy slopes, playing around in the snow, enjoying a relaxing day at the volcanic hot springs or chowing down on some of Hokkaido’s delicious dishes served at one of the many restaurants and bars to choose.
There are several different options for Ski Passes, which are a great idea if you’re looking to hit more than one ski resort or ski numerous days.
Niseko Ski Resort
Niseko Ski Resort has 4 zones (Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village and An’nupuri). The Niseko All Mountain Pass provides access to all the zones, as well as the Niseko United Shuttle service. You can also purchase a lift ticket for the specific mountain.
The lifts are open until 8:30 pm every day from the middle of December to late March and night time slope access is included on full-day and consecutive day lift passes.
The surrounding area of Niseko Ski Resort Village is filled with bars, restaurants, shops, onsens and bars that will guarantee a good time!
Accommodations for Skiing in Japan
When it comes to finding a place to stay, I ultimately want to find a place to stay that’s close to the excitement, yet far enough for a little peace and quiet and reasonable. In Niseko, I was able to find a private room at the Hokkaido Lodge, which was perfect! It was just a few minutes of walking distance to the Niseko Ski Lodge and cost $80 USD per night. The rooms and lodge are super basic but all you really need if you’re simple like me! The beds here are your typical Japanese futon beds, which lay on the floor and the room was heated by a Kerosene heater (not the healthiest but hey, it’s all about the experience!)
What to Pack for Skiing in Japan
One of the best hacks I’ve found when packing for winter trips is to pack layers, not bulky items. The snow jackets nowadays are super thin but warm, so I’d recommend bringing a sweatshirt to wear underneath it, if necessary. Don’t forget to pack some gators (some type of face protection) to bring on your trip, they will be your best friend on a cold snowy day!
I recommend renting snow gear instead of bringing your own to save the extra room and especially if you plan on traveling through warmer parts of Japan before or after your snowy getaway! The ski resorts carry all the gear you’ll need but bringing your own gloves and gators might be a good idea if you’re picky.
Getting ready to spend the winter in Japan? Save and share this with a friend! (:
