NISEKO

The Niseko region encompasses the foothills of Mount Yotei and the Niseko mountains, as well as the towns of Kutchan and Niseko. It is located on the northern island of Hokkaido, and is not far from Sapporo. The name Niseko derives from the word for “vertical cliff” in the language of the native people, and the area is recognised for its beautiful seasons and outdoor activities. The Shiribetsu river provides an ideal site for rafting, raft fishing, and kayaking. The lakes and other waterland areas are interspersed with mountains, which make great terrain for hiking.

Hot springs abound in the area, which provides ample opportunity for soaking in health-giving mineral water, a uniquely Japanese past time. The hot springs are so numerous that it would take 6 days to visit each of them. Other activities particular to Niseko include sausage making or ice-cream making, and there are also opportunities to participate in local crafts such as pottery and glass blowing. Culinary highlights include excellent seafood fresh from fisheries on the Shakotan peninsula, as well as a variety of produce including delicious sweet rockmelon, potatoes, corn, and other vegetables. Much of the agricultural produce comes from low-chemical, environmentally friendly farms, and recycling and composting are promoted across the region.

In winter, the skiing is superb. Niseko is a world class resort, where the powder snow is at its best. Resort life is centred around the Hirafu Resort Village, which provides access and accommodation for those skiing on the Niseko Grand Hirafu ski grounds. At the village there are many different types of accommodation, with a broad enough range to suit every need. A shopping mall will provide for all your shopping needs, including many souvenir shops with beautiful memorabilia to take home with you.

The skiing area has a vertical drop of 1,000 meters. There are many different types of ski runs, including open pistes and gladed runs. Over the entire ski season the resort can recieve up to 16 metres of snow! There is even a term for an experience where skiiers are enveloped in falling snow, known as a “white room” . The large snowfalls are mostly due to the northwest monsoon, which brings moisture from the sea. Many foreigners have begun to frequent Niseko. With a flow of almost 60,000 foreign tourists in 2009, the town caters for English speaking people and you can get around without even a smattering of Japanese.

Niseko's biggest selling point would have to be its worldclass powder snow, a natural product of its landscape, latitude and altitude. When snow clouds drifting across Hokkaido's western coastline hit mountain ranges in the area, it is showered with heavy falls of light, high-grade powder snow.

Next, Niseko's excellent after-ski scene also deserves a special mention. High quality restaurants specialising in traditional Japanese, creative modern and international cuisines are conveniently situated within the one locale, a situation rarely found elsewhere in the world. Niseko has in fact been dubbed a "gourmet town," where diners can freely enjoy gourmet delights from across the globe on the spur of the moment. The Hirafu area in particular offers convenient, walking distance access to all establishments, allowing holidaymakers to enjoy after-ski festivities no matter where they stay.

NISEKO SKI RESORT    www.niseko.ne.jp/en/

The four main ski resorts on the Niseko mountains and the main mountain, Mount Annupuri, boast excellent quality powder snow. All levels of skiers, from beginners to advanced skiers, can enjoy skiing here with amazing views of Mount Yotei. At the Niseko Annupuri you can enjoy long stretches cruising the powder snow on courses in the white birch forests. The downhill courses at the top have the best powder snow, and Niseko Village you can ski freely on its slope which has been cleared of trees. The Niseko Grand Hirafu is the largest ski ground in the Niseko area, where you can enjoy all kinds of skiing. And the Hanazono is a part of the Grand Hirafu resort, located on the north east facing slopes, with a ski area characterised by very deep snow. The four regions can be accessed by various shuttle bus services. The resorts neighbour each other, and share the ski areas on Mount Annupuri. The ski areas merge at the top of the mountain, where all of the slopes can be accessed from. The lifts all join up as you start to reach the top of the mountain, and this makes it easy to choose which section you might want to ski down. A common lift ticket, called the Niseko All Mountain Pass, is available for all four ski grounds. Night skiing on Mount Annupuri is a fantastic opportunity for a different skiing experience. Powder snow skiing at night in particular is excellent and not to be missed.

NISEKO ALL MOUNTAIN PASS

The Niseko All Mountain Pass is valid for any of the four resorts in the Niseko Ski Area. The all-day tickets can also be used for night-skiing on the final day that the ticket is valid. A one day ticket is ¥5,500, a 7-day ticket is ¥33,600 and a 21- day ticket is ¥96,000. Specialist ski stores can often give great discounts when you buy a bus or mountain pass package.

GRAND HIRAFU    www.grand-hirafu.jp/winter/en/index.html

The Grand Hirafu is a world famous snow resort, and one of the biggest ski grounds in Japan, stretching over the summit of Annupuri right down to the base of the mountain. The resort has excellent dry powder snow and the size of the ski area makes it a good destination for those who like to make fresh tracks. The elevation from the top of the lift is 940m, and you can ski all the way down to the base. Courses are up to 5.6km long, and include the ungroomed courses “Miharashi” and “Konayuki”. The ski service is particularly streamlined, as the lift service is highly efficient, meaning that queues are rare on weekdays. Night skiing is available, and the lifts are open until 8.30pm. If you are looking for something different to skiing, you might want to try your hand at driving a snow mobile, which is a little more fast paced and thrilling than snow rafting. The mobiles allow you to vary the speed and excitement according to your mood, whether you are seeking an action packed run, or just some slow cruising. A kids park is also available.

HIRAFU VILLAGE GRAND SHUTTLE BUS

The Grand Shuttle Bus travels around the village, transporting people between the lifts and the rest of the village. The bus is free and leaves every 15 to 20 minutes between 8.30am and 9pm from early December through to early April.

HANAZONO RESORT    http://skihanazono.com/global/en

Hanazono Resort lies 1,000 meters below the spectacular peak of Mount Niseko-Annupuri, and of fers over one vertical kilometer of stunning snow. Without a doubt, Hanazono boasts some of the most awesome powder to be experienced anywhere in the world. Hanazano's choice location offers stunning views from the peak, including a breathtaking view of the nearby Mount Yotei − which is the North's answer to Mount Fuji - as well as a glimpse of the ocean. Moreover, it is distinctive for its range of slopes perfect for the beginner but with variation enough to suit many levels of ski or riding ability, including wide open slopes suitable for cruising. Beginners will appreciate the two covered Magic Carpets, one of them 125m long! More confident beginners can progress to the hooded quad chair and the Silver dream trail. Many seasoned skiers will be enthusiastic about one of Hanazano's key draw cards: covered lifts with almost no queues that will see you to the top of the ski slope swiftly and in comfort. Simply great service and some superior facilities add the finishing touch to this great venue. The Hanazono Bus will take you to experience the bliss of first morning tracks as early as 8.30am, when the lifts open. Ski through virgin powder on Strawberry or Blueberry fields and have the slopes to yourself! In total, the Hanazono area has 4 terrain parks and one competition half pipe, making it one of the hottest places to be this season.

HIRAFU VILLAGE GRAND SHUTTLE BUS

The Grand Shuttle Bus travels around the village, transporting people between the lifts and the rest of the village. The bus is free and leaves every 15 to 20 minutes between 8.30am and 9pm from early December through to early April.

NISEKO VILLAGE    www.niseko-village.com/english/winter/index.html

The Niseko Higashiyama, now known as simply the “Niseko Village”, provides a range of ski runs up to 5km long, over terrain designed to suit beginners, or more experienced skiers. Niseko Village is located in between Grand Hirafu and Annupuri, and its slopes are interconnected with the two at the top, offering access to them both. There is a very convenient gondola that runs directly to the top of the mountain. The slopes feature a beautiful array of white birch trees, and Niseko Village is also known for its beautiful view over Mount Yotei. The area is, importantly, not too crowded, allowing for maximum skiing freedom. Expert skiers will enjoy the night grooming, and off-piste skiing will engage those seeking more excitement. The village has a terrain park, featuring a number of rails, spines, waves and hits to suit all levels.

“First Tracks Cat Skiing” is a guided tour designed for early skiers to get the most out of their experience before the lifts open for the day. A maximum of 6 people are taken on each tour. If you want to try out snowboarding, the RSS Niseko snow mobile facility offers guided tours on their 300cc Ski- Doo mobiles.

ANNUPURI    www.cks.chuo-bus.co.jp/annupuri/english.php

The Annupuri Ski resort is the place to be if you are just starting out as a skier, or have intermediate abilities. A great feature of this resort is its enormous stretch of backcountry which provides endless hours of exhilarating skiing. It also has a number of ungroomed slopes, which are completely safe and also of fer exciting experiences. The resort is complemented by the many onsen located at or nearby the site, and these are best way to wind down after a day on the slopes. Snow-shoeing is also a popular experience at Annupuri, which is usually done by riding the gondola to the top and then travelling down the mountain through the forest with the aid of snow shoes.

NISEKO ONSEN

The onsen at Niseko are famous and provide an experience that simply cannot be missed. The onsen are so prolific in the area that there is literally one around each corner. Almost all the onsen have stunning views to take in whilst you soak, but particularly unique is the volcanic backdrop - a great opportunity for fantastic photographs. It is a good idea to try all the onsen available in order to find your favourite. Some are r ight in the cent re of downtown Niseko, whilst others are hidden in mountainous areas. The renowned hot springs, Konbu-Onsen and Yukichichibu, are close to Niseko and definitely wor th a visit. If you prefer, you can go straight from the ski slopes into an onsen, as many are positioned right below the ski area. The Hotel Niseko Ikoino-Mura, situated at the base of the Annupuri ski fields is well known for the outdoor onsen (rotenburo), where snow accumulates right up to the edges of the pools. The wilderness surrounding the onsen is marvelous. The Hotel Niseko Alpen, located at the base of the Grand Hirafu area also has rotenburo. The hot, mineral rich water from Mount Yotei that bubbles into these amazing natural phenomena is full of health benefits, particularly for those who have been taking the strains of skiing. The Hilton Niseko Village also provides its own onsen, which is open 22 hours of the day. There are two onsen, one indoor and one huge outdoor bath which also features a pond full of colourful carp.

NISEKO SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Niseko is nothing short of wonderful during the summer months. Whilst much of Japan can experience high temper atures and humidi t y, the Niseko weather is superbly mild. The mountains, which are snow covered for much of the year, are beautiful and green, and provide opportunities to engage with nature in different ways. Aside from the activities detailed below, you might want to experience hot air ballooning, pottery or sausage making.

GOLF

There are many world class golf resorts at Niseko, which are reasonably priced given their high standards. Golf is a great way to enjoy the perfect summer weather and environment.

FARM ACTIVITIES

Hokkaido has a well - established farming industry, and there are many farms which produce a variety of different products . If you are frequenting the area be sure to try some of the local produce and explore some of the farms, which have facilities for the public.

SPORTS

A great way to see Niseko at your own pace is to bike ride. Mountain bikes are available for hire and are a popular way to take in the stunning vistas that Niseko of fers. Rafting, which is the perfect chance to cool off in the river and have a great time, is also available. One of Niseko's Australian-run rafting companies can put you on a boat of your choice, whether it is a raft for groups, or a ducky for couples. Niseko in the summer is a quiet and relaxing break from busy life.

FISHING

Some of the most rewarding fishing in the country is available in Niseko. If you have not tried out this activity before, you can hire a guide who will teach you the art of fly fishing.

EVENTS

Local community activities are a wonderful celebration of the area's rich culture and diversity.

KUTCHAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Kutchan Music Festival is held every year in July and is one of the best summer festivals to attend in the area. Many musicians flock to the area for the festival, and Kutchan comes alive with the music and celebration of the area’s short summer.

KUTCHAN POTATO FESTIVAL

The Kutchan Potato Festival is held in early August each year, and features a number of entertainment events. These include appearances by TV characters, as well as dance and drum per formances, and unusual events such as the “potato grab”, popular with the local housewives!