Niseko

Shikaku Penthouse

I've had the pleasure of staying in this Penthouse twice now, and each year it blows me away.  These are very comfortable apartments and with great views of the ski slopes and mt Yotei. 

Being so close to the restaurants and only a short walk to the lifts is brilliant.

I highly recommend it.

Niseko - Powder Nirvana

Getting there was the hardest part - but when it's the middle of winter and the snowfalls are massive, what airport won't slow down? Fortunately, a call to the Travelplan team and accommodation and transfers were rearranged as smoothly as those icy tarmacs.

Hiring gear there was a great move. Expert advice from the local (Aussie) team in Niseko got our ski odyssey off on the right track - ''09 K2 Explorers lived up to the reviews. We could choose from 3 different ski areas with the all-terrain pass, but 9 days at this mountain resort was hardly enough to experience all its wonders.

Night skiing merges sweetly into night-life - Niseko village offers great food, western and Japanese, and all the apres-ski options you'd expect in an international resort - without the European price tag. And the Japanese have turned welcome into an art form.

But for us, fresh, deep powder that just keeps on coming day after day .... and first tracks all morning are why they call it the powder capital of the world.

Arigatoh Travelplan - Niseko, we''ll be back.   

Access to top class powder a day from down under.

If you want quick access to world class powder from "Down Under" then have a go at Niseko.

I've skied Colorado in the past where the epic plane flight across the Pacific followed by yet another lengthy flight from LA to Denver leaves you wondering what day it is. By the time you start skiing up around 10 000 to 11 000 feet above sea level, you feel as dead as a flat car battery in the middle of a foggy winter''s morning !!

Once you're at Niseko, you'll be doing all your skiing at 1000 to 4000 feet above sea level. This will make a huge difference when you start blazing those big feathery rooster tails amongst that endless powder. Yes, your breath won't be panting like Phar Lap after a Melbourne Cup!! Does lower elevations mean the powder won't be light and dry? Think again!! Will you find it hard to see the terrain when it's bucketing down snow from overcast skies? Ski near the trees, or even ski amongst them, they won't bite!!

Maybe I shouldn't be saying this because more Aussies will read this and go there!! Oh, and then there's the Japanese hospitaility and customer service; it welcomes you with the delicate trimmings of an Ikebana flower display and is delivered at the speed and efficiency of the Japanese Metro system.

Yeah, I'll be going back again!!

A Magical Holiday

Hi Natalie, A holiday I would recommend to anyone. 

The people and service were fantastic. The bus drivers were very pleasant. When we arrived at the Setsumon Apartments, we were welcomed and had any questions we had answered. The ski guide showed the boys the best skiing.

The Penthouse was amazing, very comfortable and had all the luxuries from home. The managers were very helpful and would come straight away if you needed anything. The views from our room were breath taking day or night. You could watch the snow storms drift in over the hills during the day, at night watching the night skiing lights light up the mountain. You could watch the grooming trucks going up and down the mountain before the lifts opened.

Every night after dinner, at one of the local restaurants, we would get into our spa while it was snowing – it was magical! The ski field and lifts were just across the road and the bus stop to Hanozono ski field picked up from our doorstep. The snow was like nothing that I had seen before – the best in the world and the nicest people I have met.

We will definitely be back!!

Visit to Niseko

My wife and I arrived early March 2010 and the place was nearly empty. We had no trouble with restaurants and did not book at all instead arriving and in nearly all cases getting immediate seating. This according to locals would appear to be quite different from peak months of Jan/Feb.

The snow was good and we did not have any lift lines or delays. The weather as at any resort was variable but not overly cold and enough powder to keep me happy. Our accommodation at the Setsumon in Hirafu was excellent and I beleive a better location than Niseko Village or Annupuri.

The general transport services around the village and to the neaby town of Kutchen were very reliable and cheap. We went by train to the seaside town of Otaru one day and can recommend this.

The Travel plan organisation and local staff were excellent as were the staff of the resort as a whole. I was particularly impressed with the friendly and polite nature of the Japanese locals who could be forgiven for being a bit jaded by raucus Aussies after along season.

Generally a top holiday at very reasonable prices.

Niseko Resort Japan

The Resort : Very easy access to lifts via shuttle buses. Virtually no lift lines.

Japanese provide great service.

When gates are open resort provides lots of steep and variety. Plenty of good food deals for a reasonable price if you are prepared to look and book.

Kisara Pension very good value for money budget priced accomodation. Can be a bit noisy inside sometimes - take your ipod.

Niseko 6 - 13 February 2010

February 2010 saw plenty of snow in Niseko both in the base and falling during the week''s holiday.  It probably was not as light as some of the US Resorts but it was deep and even after the grooming there was generally plenty of fresh snow.  The weather was typical for Niseko in February which meant little sun, plenty of cloud and steady snowfalls.  Consequently the upper mountain was closed for significant periods and Mt Youtei appeared for less than an hour one afternoon. 

Our party of six ranged in age from 24 to 70 including one who had never skied in Japan before.  All agreed the skiing was fantastic and we will have to do it again.  Breakfast was eaten in our apartment, lunch at the 1,000 Metre Hut on the Mountain and dinner in the variety of tourist and Australian friendly restaurants in the immediate vicinity of our accommodation. 

One afternoon we took a bus tour to Sapparo to see the Ice Sculptures which were fantastic and well worth the time and money. 

Overall we scored Niseko at 18 out of 10. 

Skiing in Niseko, Japan

We took our family of two teenage sons, 10 year old daughter and 78 year old mother (who still skis!) to Niseko in March. It was a good resort with a variety of terrains suitable for the skiers and boarders in our family. It has plenty of wide open runs between the different resorts as well as off piste skiing for the experienced skiers. There are a couple of lifts which do not have safety bars which was a bit disconcerting!

There was a large range of restaurants to choose from, many of which had great Japanese food and weren''t expensive.  

The onsen at the Vale where we stayed was great and the kids enjoyed the outdoor heated pool. The Vale is a very convenient ski in ski out location with well appointed apartments.

Travel plan arrangements on the ground in Niseko were very good and it was great having an English speaking Travel plan representative there to handle any queries.

Skiing Niseko

We flew Sydney to Tokyo and Tokyo to Chitose, then mini bus to Niseko all in one day. We started skiing the next day - no problems. 

Excellent snow, good choice of runs, no crowds, scenic location, board park, half pipe - VERY cold, and of course there was powder to ski - albeit among trees. 

The locals were polite and helpful.  We ran into many Aussies. Great choice of restaurants for dinner.  Prices similar to Oz.  

After 6 days skiing we flew back to Tokyo for 3  nights in the Shinjuku district. One city tour and one country tour - both excellent. Never bored. Much to see. English is on most signs. Easy to shop and sightsee. 

Recommended.  $7,200 + expenses around $800 for two people. Travelplan set up an excellent holiday.

Niseko, Japan - The real powder playground

Do you want the guarantee of great snow, great food, reasonable prices and great local people? Then look no further and book Niseko in Japan for your next ski holiday.

Niseko is a must do for ski enthusiasts and beginners alike,  and Travelplan will get you there, look after you on the ground,  and get you back home, without any hassles.  2010 was our fifth trip to Japan booked through Natalie at Travelplan, and each trip has been outstanding and problem free.  

Niseko,  on the north Island of Hokkaido  is located in a region that receives the most consistent  snow fall and driest powder snow in Japan, if not the world.  The average annual snowfall is 15 metres of powder snow.  

In January and February you can expect fresh snow everyday that means light dry first tracks for everyone.  It snows a lot, its cold and don’t expect to see the blue sky, but you can count on unlimited, uncrowded runs, no lift lines and you will ski or board in the majesty of Mt Yotei, a stunning extinct volcano which stands proudly above the valley looking down over Niseko, so have the camera handy.  

The best time to visit Niseko in my opinion is  Late December through to the end of February when you can expect consistent snowy days and nights, and lots and lots of powder snow (Konayuki) off piste.  

The best way to get there is an eight hour flight to Tokyo with a one hour connecting flight through to Sapporo, followed by a two hour bus trip up to the resort of Niseko. Sounds like an effort, but I promise you it’s worth it! Natalie at Travelplan organises everything to run like clockwork and an on-ground representative of Travelplan in Niseko will meet your family on arrival. The Travelplan representative even had our ski tickets ready for us, a map and some really useful information about the town and its attractions on hand. After a quick orientation of Niseko and advice on where to hire skis, book ski school, suggested favourite restaurants and the location of the local grocery store we already felt at home. We were given her contact number and encouraged to call if we needed anything from baby sitting arranged, to booking the Travelplan  in-house ski guide through to making reservations at restaurants. That was service.   

The best accommodation in Niseko is The Vale. It’s new and located right at the base of the family lift.  The Vale has its own indoor and outdoor Onsen (hot springs), an indoor pool, a great family restaurant and of course a great bar. And a word of advice, in that order at The Vale every afternoon is the way to go big time. Michael, Lisa and the staff of the Vale are fantastic, and will look after everything you could possibly need.

Another recommendation is Setsumon which is located in the main street, 100 metres from the base of the family lift, and central to the delicious Niseko bakery (Abu Cha), the grocery store (Seikomart) and a stack of great restaurants to suit everyones taste. . Others high on the list of quality accommodation  are Yotei tracks and First Tracks, like the others all in great locations, modern, clean and comfortable  

Lift tickets in Niseko are about A$55 per day per adult, which is outstanding value, and can be  pre-arranged by Travelplan before you even leave home.   If you are hiring your skis and boots then go nowhere else but Inski in Niseko. Inski have a store right at the main intersection of town and offer the widest range of best quality ski’s in Niseko for the conditions you will ski and for your ability on the slopes.  We even pre-booked from home by contacting Paul Ford at Inski in Sydney, who will have you professionally fitted and have your gear ready to go on arrival in Niseko.   

My big tip is to book the Travelplan in-house ski guide early on your holiday. We booked Pete Ilinsky twice on our last trip and we could not recommend him highly enough. He led us to some incredible places on the mountain we simply would never have found or experienced on our own. Pete orientates you if you are new to the resort, provides instruction in the powder if necessary, or you can just follow him as he shows you secret powder runs that no one else knows about. You just can’t beat local knowledge when it comes to the mountain.  

Ski school in Niseko is run differently to Australia and there are several who operate in the resort. . We used NBS this year, located at the base of the Family lift. NBS offer a full range of services from half-day child group lessons, to the full-day adult private lessons. We found the prices reasonable and the service great. Our kids had a ball everyday.

The skiable terrain around Niseko is connected by four resorts: Annapuri, Higashiyama, Hirafu and Hanazono, and your lift ticket gives you access to all four resorts.  

The Ski run must do’s –
Every powder trip to Niseko after a dump must include the hike to The peak, East ridge. Firstly for the incredible view of the valley and the Volcano, and secondly for the long powder and gully runs down to Hanazono. These areas catch heaps of snow and provide natural protection from any wind. This area can be very deep and full of dry powder, what more could you ask for?  

The next run is up the Swinging Monkey double and off through the trees which hold some of the best snow on the mountain. There are three or four faces to choose from which all end up at the Hirafu gondola. On a good day there are face shots on every turn.  

For the groomers there are plenty of runs to choose from, however, the long run from the top of Hirafu hooded triple down to Higashiyama Hilton hotel for a hot chocolate followed by a recovery gondola trip back to the top would be the pick for me.  

On any ski trip you need to eat well and the food in Niseko, and Japan in general, is outstanding. Forget the mid station lunch of pizza, pies, or chips  and gravy. Japanese is real food to give you energy to get you back on the mountain and back into the powder.  If your are in Niseko and you want to embrace, then its Miso Ramen noodles, Crab Ramens, Katsu Curry’s and rice and it’s sashimi, it’s sushi and it’s chicken yakitory sticks. Niseko also has several western resturants for Italian, Indian and Australian cuisine too. The food is relatively cheap and it’s very healthy. The pick of the resturants in town is called RIN located in the lower part of the village and it’s the full Japanese experience. Others worth mentioning is Abu Cha1 and 2, Bang Bang, Fujiyama and the Vale Bar and Grill.     

If you ski Niseko once, you will keep going back. I guarantee it.  

KC