Ski Resort with the Best Powder in the World, Fantastic Runs, and Endless Ramen

Ski Resort with the Best Powder in the World, Fantastic Runs, and Endless Ramen

The Canadian Rockies, the French Alps and more have been a part of my skiing itinerary. Niseko United, a massive mountain composed of four interconnected resorts on Hokkaido’s northern island, was my first time experiencing powder.

Floating through the snow, I watched it sail over my skis like cotton candy, kicking up powdery clouds as I went.

Snow in this region is mostly composed of drier and lighter powder created by cold air from the Eurasian continent flowing over the warm currents of the Sea of Japan.

Snowfall on the mountain exceeded 270 inches by February 2024 (more than 60 inches more than Breckenridge, the largest ski resort in the country). “Bad” year, they said.

Fresh tracks were carved in the snow one morning as I carved. Stairway to Heaven is one of the newest lifts at Hanazono Resort.

Heaters and bubble covers were provided on the lifts in Hanazono to keep skiers warm and dry. Running was barely marked, making it feel like exploring.

Then we scooted over to Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU, the biggest resort (and most crowded). Furiko – a red run equivalent to a blue in the U.S. – was my favorite run on the mountain.

The slopes surrounding Hirafu have shops and restaurants, and a hilly road leads up to the gondola and lifts. A beautiful, minimalistic hotel, Setsu Niseko, is right in the heart of town.

I dropped off my skis in the hotel’s high-tech locker room before heading back into town dotted with food trucks.

Nevertheless, the best view of the mountain came when the sun appeared from behind the clouds at Niseko Village. Each hotel provided ski-in-ski-out access, so exploring the other half was easy.

In the afternoon I made my way to the fourth resort of Annupuri via the Wonderland “pizza box” lift (so-named for its — terrifying — size). A good selection of green runs lured me in before I crossed back over to Niseko Village.

There were so many runs on Niseko that it was easy to ski for a whole week without hitting them all. Even though the terrain was extensive, it was interconnected. Ski Japan’s Niseko United and enjoy the best it has to offer with this guide.

It’s best to go when the powder is falling, usually between late December and mid-February, as Japan’s ski season lasts from early November until April or early May.Staying at a hotel.

This luxury resort has everything you’d need, including ski lockers and a shuttle to the lifts, as well as multiple tasty restaurants and a public and private onsen.

Japanese-inspired minimalist design features warm woods, large picture windows, and even traditional tatami areas in the rooms of the Setsu Niseko, while the public areas are just as welcoming with a modern fireplace and a kids’ play area.

The Hilton Niseko Village offers a ski valet and rental shop on-site so you can go from breakfast to the slopes as easily as walking outside.

Hilton Niseko Village has a large hotel. Hotel rooms can be a bit older, but it makes up for it with a bustling lobby bar and an on-site activity center (including snowmobiling).

Where to go after skiing Known as the refrigerator bar for its Coca-Cola vending machine entrance, Bar Gyu+ is a Hirafu bar. Located inside the fridge are Japanese whiskies and inventive cocktails such as the hot apple pie (made with house vanilla vodka, cinnamon, yoichi apple, lemon, and clove).

Getting there early is a good idea because Bar Gyu+ can be busy. Activity options off-mountainSkiing, snowboarding, snow rafting, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and snowshoeing are all available at Niseko Village’s winter activity center during the winter.

Those looking to speed up their adventure can zip along the course on snowmobiles, zig-zagging their way toward Mount Yōtei. Snowmobilers can enjoy this one-hour course without real off-roading since the route is carved out. 

Niseko Village and Hanazono also offer snowshoeing. Walking through the woods and wading through fresh snow will give you an entirely different perspective of Japan’s powder.Niseko consists of four resorts accessible via one lift ticket.

Niseko Annupuri connects the resorts and offers over 2,800 acres of skiable terrain.25% of the runs are advanced black, 34% intermediate red, and 41% beginner green. Several gondolas are included in the 31 lifts.

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