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 w...
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 ...
We love that ski holidays here aren’t all about the skiing – they’re also a cultural rollercoaster through Japan’s traditions. The hub of après ski is the Hirafu area, where the Ice Bar is seriously cool… crafted each year by ice-carving eccentrics, you can take a shot of your own poison from a glass made of… you guessed it. Popular with seasonaires, Wild Bill’s has the Tardis effect – a small dance floor with all the noise and crowds of a nightclub.
Just down the road, Kutchan has a fabulous nightlif...