Niseko

For the Japanese people, Niseko means the mountain range and municipal area of the same name. But for Remote Lands travelers, Niseko can encapsulate the broad range of ski resorts to be found here. Mount Totei is the “Mount Fuji of Hokkaido,” and the Annupuri ranges are highlights here. Niseko means “a cliff jutting over a riverbank deep in the mountains.” Tourism and agriculture are the main economic staples here. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people live here but in 2009 Niseko played host to over 200,000 tourists. The weather is more influenced from Siberia that Eastern Japan. Niseko is ranked as one of the Top Ten ski resorts in the world.

Experiences

A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.

Back-Country Ski Courses

Another feature of Niseko which Remote Lands skiers might want to consider are the “unofficial” courses that are less known and used. There is Sannozaka, which has high quality powder, Higashi One, and also a forest route which is known as “Strawberry Fields.” The latter is probably the most famous of Niseko’s runs.

Nightlife and Dining

The old and the new meet and mix in Niseko Town. There are bars, lodges, restaurants and many Japanese dining and culinary options awaiting Remote Lands clientele.

Outdoor Sports

Other winter sports available are snowshoeing and ice climbing. No matter how adventurous you, everyone loves a soak in the hot springs at the end of the day, which is another draw to the area. The area is also gorgeous in the summer with a variety of outdoor sports on offer: hiking, river rafting, horseback riding and golfing are popular options. You will stay in a luxurious villa close to the slopes, fully staffed with private chef, butler, maids and other attendants.

Picnicking and Hiking

Spend the day on the slopes skiing or hiking, depending on the time of year you are here. As Hokkaido is the northernmost island of the four major islands that make up Japan, temperatures tend to be cooler and there is significantly less humidity than on Honshu, Kyushu or Shikoku. This makes it a wonderful retreat for local Japanese for picnicking or hiking as the island is lush and green at this time of year.

Skiing

There are six main ski areas here: Hirafu, Higashiyama (Niseko Village), Annupuri, Hanazono, Moiwa and Weiss. (Annupuri, Higashiyama, Hirafu, and Hanazono) are set up as a set of linkages and can be utilized with one ski pass. They combine to form 2,191 acres of skiable area. This is known as “Niseko United.” There are 38 gondolas and lifts there that can bring Remote Lands clients to over 61 ski runs. The ski and snow life here is so popular that St. Moritz, Switzerland was established as a “Sister City.”

Japan Regions

Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below.

Niseko Itineraries

Japan's Winter Wonderland: Snow & Ski in Hokkaido

Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Price Per Person
From $23,200
See Itinerary

Piste-Carving and Storm-Chasing in Japan

Duration
13 days / 12 nights
Price Per Person
From $30,500
See Itinerary
Preferred Hotel

Hilton Niseko Village

Niseko, Japan

With its magnificent views of Mount Yotei and the striking natural beauty of the surrounding scenery, Hilton Niseko Village is a luxury ski-in ski-out hotel that pampers, rejuvenates and exhilarates guests from the moment they step into the welcoming grandeur of the main lobby. Hilton Niseko Village is the only resort in the area with exclusive, top-tier accommodation throughout the estate. Located at the foot of Niseko Annupuri Mountain, the hotel is only a moment from the slopes and the Gondola station, where guests are whisked to the very top of the resort in just seven short minutes – ideal for even the most seasoned skiers. Highlights include the indoor and outdoor onsen hot springs, where guests can luxuriate and rest mountain-weary legs at any time of the day. An extra perk during autumn and spring mornings is the chance to see the spectacular Unkai (Sea of Cloud) mists as they roll down from the snow-peaked mountains.

Preferred Hotel

Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono

Niseko, Japan

With a reputation for the world’s best powder snow and a growing international resort community, Niseko is quickly becoming one of the world’s premier mountain destinations. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a ski and snowboarder’s paradise thanks to a near-constant wintertime stream of frigid air that blows in from Siberia. But whether you’re seeking the thrill of snowsports or the tranquility of a high-altitude getaway, the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono – located in the heart of the Hanazono, Niseko resort area – embodies the best in luxury travel and lies at the foot of the slopes with dramatic views across the Annupuri ranges and Mount Yotei. The year-round mountain hotel features tasteful, contemporary design and artfully curated cuisine options. In a nod to the rugged, expansive landscapes surrounding the resort, Park Hyatt Niseko signature rooms and Annupuri and Yotei signature suites are laid out with spacious living and dining spaces, a private Japanese onsen bath, and an open-air terrace and veranda. The hotel also offers a selection of guided winter and summer activities, allowing guests convenient access to the best experiences available in surrounding Niseko. Optional experiences include guided backcountry ski, snowmobile, and snowshoe tours, reindeer sledding, and others, while summer activities range from golfing and mountain biking to hot air ballooning and white water rafting.
Preferred Hotel

Shiguchi

Niseko, Japan

Shiguchi offers 5 meticulously renovated kominkas, spacious Japanese old houses built by Aizu master craftsmen, on a mountain ridge within a privately owned estate in the heart of the Niseko’s countryside. Each understated villa features its own private open-air onsen and elegant interiors decorated with antique and modern ceramics, ink paintings and sculptures from the private collection of Shouya Grigg. Neither a conventional hotel, nor a traditional ryokan, Shiguchi combines both modern comfort with traditional service, showcasing impeccable art, crafts, and centuries-old architecture nestled within Niseko’s extraordinary nature. For dining, guests can enjoy the adjacent Somoza restaurant and art center, a large, restored kominka where there is a curated range of personalized cultural and culinary experiences such as celebrating the time-honored Japanese tea ceremony in their contemporary tea room. Guests can also enjoy other activities such as ikebana (flower arranging) and fine art photography, wilderness hiking, and wellness therapies.
Preferred Hotel

Zaborin Ryokan

Niseko, Japan

Zaborin Ryokan is situated in a secluded Hanazono wooded area surrounded by natural beauty and conveniently located 22 km (14 miles) from the Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area. This boutique ryokan offers 15 spacious individual suites all with private indoor and open-air onsens and balconies, each designed in either Japanese-style with tatami mat flooring and futon bedding or Western-style configuration and bedding. For dining Zaborin offers their award-winning signature “Kita kaiseki” menu bringing a northern interpretation to the art of Japanese fine dining offered in their main dining room and private dining room, Irori. The highlight of this ryokan are its onsens sourced by volcanic spring water 1 km below the surface which arrives at the perfect temperature and has been tested for quality and awarded the top 10% in the country.
Pre-Opening Hotel

Aman Niseko

Niseko, Japan

High on the slopes of Mount Moiwa, under the watchful eye of Mount Yotei, lies Aman’s fourth Japan property, Aman Niseko. The resort provides the perfect base for skiing and snowboarding in Hokkaido's powder-rich winters, as well as hiking, mountain biking and river rafting in the warmer months. Designed by the late Kerry Hill, Aman Niseko's style is clean and contemporary, with subtle nods to the traditional motifs of the Ainu, Hokkaido’s indigenous community. 30 suites offer sweeping mountain views, while the main pavilion houses communal spaces such as a living room, two restaurants (plus a private dining space), a bar, whiskey and cigar lounge, library, ski retail area and lockers, a boutique, as well as a gallery. Wellness facilities include a thermal spa, indoor and outdoor onsen (hot spring bathings pools, which are a staple of Japanese culture and a signature experience in Niseko), Finnish saunas, Watsu chambers, cold plunge pools, steam rooms, hammams and a range of "experience showers."
Green Leaf Niseko Village

Green Leaf Niseko Village

Niseko, Japan

Hokkaido’s Green Leaf Niseko Village blends local artistry and world-class design creating redefined luxury in this picturesque skiing village. This stunning year-round mountain lodge is designed to meet the needs and expectations of a discerning clientele. The 200-room hotel has a ski-in/ski-out base, and the nearby slopes receive 12 to 16 metres of snow annually. The hotel’s design takes influence from traditional European mountain chic and contemporary Japanese style. This hotel provides the perfect place to unwind after a day’s skiing: guests can warm up and soak away tension in the therapeutic natural volcanic hot spring. In the evenings, the resort comes to life with Niseko’s first rooftop beer garden.

Kasetsu Condo

Kasetsu Condo

Niseko, Japan

Kasetsu Condo is a sublime fusion of Eastern and Western architecture, which pushes the boundaries of Japanese luxury accommodation. The three-story house can accommodate up to 17 people. The condo is well-lit with natural light and feels spacious and airy with impressive nine-meter high ceilings. There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The top floor is divided into a large open living area with kitchen, dining and lounge areas. There is a fully-equipped kitchen, complete with modern gas cooker, top-of-the-line appliances, and a huge island counter top. The expansive living room features a contemporary gas fireplace with ribbon flame on a bed of polished black stones. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer magnificent views of Mt. Yotei, which give out onto an equally-sizeable balcony, the perfect venue for entertaining or for a quiet relaxing moment. If you are looking for the ultimate in private luxury accommodation in Hokkaido, this state-of-the-art condo is almost certain to surpass all expectations.

Ki Niseko

Ki Niseko

Niseko, Japan

Niseko’s high-end deluxe resort hotel, Ki, has the unique attraction of being the only hotel in the region offering ‘ski-in ski-out’ accommodation. The second floor takes guests to the ski valet service center where your equipment and boots are stored (and dried and warmed), enabling them to step from the hotel straight onto the slopes - and some of the finest powder-snow on the planet. The lavish hotel rooms, suitable for two to three adults, are carefully designed to be the epitome of the modern Japanese aesthetic. Ki Niseko also has a choice of one and two bedroom condos – as well as the stunning penthouse suite. All rooms are furnished to maximise space, views and relaxation, with picture windows and snug armchairs to enjoy the magnificent vistas of the Yotei and Annupuri mountains. Après Ski, guests can rejuvenate tired bodies with a dip in the onsen hot springs or a hot-stone massage in Ki Spa, before indulging in the exquisite creations of Celebrity Head Chef Shinichi Maeda at the An Dining, Café & Bar – Ki Niseko’s in-house restaurant. This hotel offers Japanese alpine charm at its best.

Vale Niseko

Vale Niseko

Niseko, Japan

This 5-star luxury resort hotel is located right on the slopes of Niseko Hirafu village, one of the most exclusive locations in Niseko, and features awe-inspiring views of Mount Yotei itself, as well as the majestic surrounding area. The Vale’s 49 ultra-chic hotel rooms range from studios through to two and three bedroom apartments and, of course, the award-winning super-deluxe penthouse apartments. All the apartments come with premium fit-outs, roaring open fires and open-plan bathrooms. One of the most outstanding features has to be the onsen (Japanese natural thermal spring) - water is pumped from 2000 feet below the surface, on a reported 160 year journey through Mount Yotei, directly to the hotel. Guests can recline in their own personal hot tub and take in the incredible views - all the while soaking in the healing minerals of this very special mountain water. The perfect end to a perfect day’s skiing.

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