As winter season draws nearer, ski resorts in Niseko of all shapes and sizes will start opening their doors to visitors.

Among them are well-known resorts with a wide variety of ski slopes, such as Niseko Hanazono, Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, and Niseko Annupuri Kokusai Ski Area. Their slope diversity makes them perfect destinations for ski groups with a mix of experience levels.

The four Niseko ski resorts mentioned above are collectively known as Niseko United. Each resort stretches out over an area of Mount Niseko-Annupuri, a mountain that straddles the towns of Niseko and Kutchan, so the quality of the powder snow you'll be able to enjoy on their slopes will be nearly identical.

The resorts start welcoming visitors every year between late November to early December, but closing dates may vary. The longest one may even close in early May!

Of course, those who haven't been to Niseko before may find it challenging to figure out which ski resort will suit them best. Some may even hesitate to make the trip because of these uncertainties. Well, that's what we're here for!

We've roped in Mr. Mingchen Xu, a Taiwanese who has migrated to Niseko and holds three licenses certifying his skills in skiing and snowboarding as well.

Mr. Xu is currently working in Niseko as a ski instructor, which means there's no better person to ask for more insightful information about the resorts!

・Snow is still damp
・Niseko resorts are packed with tourists due to the year-end holidays

At the start of the Niseko ski season in December, there is little snowfall and the occasional rain makes the ground soft and unstable. Snowfall starts to stabilize closer to mid-December, but temperatures are still higher than in January or February, so the snow will seem somewhat wetter than expected during this time.

Usually packed with visitors from Christmas to New Year's Day, but otherwise relatively quiet.

Since the region's hallmark powdery snow is not in full swing yet, visiting during this period is most suitable for intermediate and expert skiers who have some experience navigating around on slippery frozen surfaces.

Beginners are welcome too, of course! They can consider taking up ski lessons from one of the schools in the area, as instructors will be able to direct them to a slope that is easy to ski in despite the weather.

This is also the perfect time and place to visit if you're just looking for somewhere different to spend your usual holidays.

・January is the best season for Niseko powder snow!
・Expect large crowds during the Lunar New Year season from the middle of the month.

With lesser daylight hours and lower temperatures, January is the month where you can get the best quality of snow, and the most considerable quantity, too, since it snows almost every day!

If your goal is to see what the region's powder snow is all about, then this is the best month to visit. Average temperatures range from about -5C to -10C (23F to 14F), so do remember to layer up if you're not used to the cold.

Mid-January onwards is Lunar New Year season for the Chinese-speaking community, which means there's usually a sharp increase in visitors from all over Asia during this period.

It can be challenging to book a ski school lesson or instructor during this time as well, so try to make your reservation early to avoid disappointment. After the peak season is over, the resorts should be less busy, and you'll be able to take your time on the slopes.

Definitely, anyone who's looking forward to getting a taste of that fine powder snow! Beginners should especially consider going at this time, since powder snow is well-known for having good cushioning effects, so it won't hurt as much if you accidentally fall down.

Powder snow season continues; Niseko resorts are less crowded towards the end of the month.

Temperatures are similar to January's range, so this is a good month for an exquisite powder snow experience as well. Note, though, that there may be frequent winter storms during this period.

Resorts will usually be quite packed until the Lunar New Year holiday season is over by around mid-February.

Crowded ski slopes can be a cause of accidental collisions, so if you want to take it easy and not worry about hindering others from their experience, try scheduling your visit for the latter half of February.

・Good snow quality for the first half of the month.
・Even beginners can still enjoy the slightly damp snow after that!

Snow quality is excellent for the first half of March. Still, snow at the base of the mountain starts thawing out during the second half, making the ground somewhat damp as a result. However, clear days are aplenty, so you'll be able to see Mount Yotei in all its winter glory from a high vantage point during this period.

There will be fewer visitors compared to January and February.

It's actually easier to brake on skis and snowboards in damp snow, so this is a surprisingly good month for visitors to give snow sports a go at Niseko. The ground starts slowly turning into frozen surfaces as it gets closer to the second half of the month.

・Only the slopes near the summit are open.
・Most visitors are experienced skiers.

As Niseko's weather gets warmer, the snow at the base melts away completely and only the mountaintop will have any left. Even then, the snow is damp and some parts of the ground will be frozen solid and slippery.

Because only a few areas are open for snow sports, this is usually the period with the least number of visitors.

Recommended for experienced skiers who want to enjoy their last ski session of the season!

If you stay at one of the resorts, don't miss the chance to have a completely different kind of skiing or snowboarding experience by challenging the slopes at night!

Only gentle slopes that run from the middle of the mountain to the base are available during this time, so even beginners with little to no knowledge about skiing can feel free to give it a go.

The slopes that are warmly lit by floodlights and the town's glow below can be clearly seen, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere that is very relaxing.

Night entry is available at Niseko Annupuri Kokusai Ski Area, Niseko Village, and Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu.

Beginners to skiing and snowboarding should definitely consider signing up for a lesson or two - not just to learn techniques but also essential knowledge, including rules and etiquette to follow when sharing a ski slope with others.

Of course, taking a lesson is also the best way to learn fundamental skills like braking, falling safely, and using the chair lifts appropriately. Lessons are conducted in a lighthearted and fun manner so as to teach students how enjoyable skiing and snowboarding can be.

With personal help and attention from a professional instructor, you'll definitely sense a marked improvement in your skiing skills and abilities by the time the lesson concludes!

Other than Niseko's weather and crowd conditions, it's important to make sure you choose a ski resort that suits your skill level and preferences as well.

All the resorts of Niseko United have slopes with carefully designed features, such as different slope inclinations and contours. Their goal is to cater to the needs of as many people as possible so that everyone - from beginners to experts - can feel welcome here.

This ski resort has four advanced courses, six intermediate ones, and three for beginners. In terms of sheer numbers, it may seem like the resort caters more to skiers with a certain skill level, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

There are more than enough slopes for beginners to early intermediate skiers too! We can confidently state this because the intermediate slopes here are of a relatively gentler incline, designed this way to encourage beginners who have had enough lessons and practice to challenge them without feeling intimidated.

The slopes also feature wide paths to prevent skiers from accidentally colliding with each other. Everyone can thus feel free to take their time and fully enjoy their ski experience here.

This resort boasts a total of 27 different courses, many of which are tailored to beginners! Each course is amusingly named after one of Hokkaido's popular slangs or specialty goods. Some courses even allow you to navigate through a section of winter forest, so if you're looking for an exhilarating and different kind of ski experience, then this is the resort for you!

Among the ski resorts participating in the Niseko United initiative, Niseko Village is the one offering the most number of non-sports related winter activities, so for complete newcomers who want to get used to playing on snow first before diving into the sports, come to Niseko Village and try out their snowshoe or cross-country skiing experiences and walk across the snowy terrain to have a taste of what it feels like!

This is the ski resort with the most extensive ski grounds in Japan and one of the world's best powder snow quality. Featuring 22 courses that cater to people of all skill levels, beginners and experts alike can look forward to having a great time here. Experienced skiers looking for a challenge should try out the resort's ungroomed slopes or courses with steep inclines.

The resort faces the famously beautiful Mount Yotei. On clear weather days, skiers are treated to breathtaking scenery as they slide down their chosen paths. The resort's lift passes can also be used for the Hanazono Resort just next door.

The resort is northeast-facing, which means it gets little sun during the day and their slopes are resistant to changing weather conditions. While all resorts in Niseko United feature high-quality powder snow, the powder snow in Hanazono Niseko Resort is widely acclaimed as being the best of the lot. Some of its nine ski courses are connected to the slopes of Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu next door.

Each course is clearly demarcated from each other so that even first-timers can quickly recognize the slope they're looking for on the map. There is an automatic walkway known as the Magic Carpet in the beginners' zone that helps skiers to climb up the slope easily and allows newcomers to practice sliding in front of the chair lift. Needless to say, it's very well received by beginners to the sport!

The upper parts of the slopes of these ski resorts are connected to each other, so if you buy a Niseko All-Mountain Lift Pass, you'll be able to choose to go on the slopes of any resort!

This lift pass allows skiers to experience all of Niseko United's ski resorts seamlessly, making it the perfect buy for skiers who want to challenge all the advanced courses available or simply wish to try out as many courses as possible during a long-term stay in the region.

Visit the Niseko United official website for more details on pricing and how to buy one.

In the past, Niseko's mountains used to be the area in Japan with the most number of fatal accidents from avalanches, so an official set of safety rules and etiquette was established for resort visitors and those skiing outside the ski-resort-controlled areas to follow.

Anyone who violates the rules may be penalized with being banned from the ski resorts or having their lift passes confiscated. That's how seriously everyone here takes safety!

These are the rules you should be following when skiing in the area.

Text by: Minna no Kotobasha
English translation by: Huimin Pan

* Information presented in this article is accurate as of November 2020.

▼Early-bird lift tickets are recommended for winter skiing in Japan▼