WINTER GETAWAY TO NISEKO, JAPAN

Checking off another bucket list destination: Niseko, Japan. We were originally drawn to Niseko because of the snowboarding. Evan has been watching professional snowboarders ride these powdery slopes for years and we knew we had to get there one day!

With over 45 ft of fresh powder each season, delicious bars/restaurants and traditional hot springs, Niseko Japan should be on your list if it isn’t already!

HOW TO GET THERE:

It’s becoming easier to get to Niseko now with more flight options available. The closest airport to Niseko is Sapporo International Airport. We flew from Tokyo to Sapporo and it was a short 2 hour flight. Then we took a private van service, SkyExpress from the airport straight to our hotel, Skye Niseko.

WHERE WE STAYED:

We partnered with the luxurious Skye Niseko while we were in area and we couldn’t have asked for a better property to stay at. Our private shuttle bus dropped us off at the hotel around 10 am and we instantly checked in and went to our room. From the moment you get to Niseko its like a breathe of fresh air from the busy city of Tokyo. We were lucky enough to have the snow come down for the entire 5 days we stayed, with only a few patches of sun throughout the day, but as snowboarders, we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

Our room was GORGEOUS. We had a suite that was located slope side with beautiful views of the mountain. The property is one of the newest hotels in Niseko, so the design was super modern and clean. Complete with a full service kitchen, washer/drier, living room, bathroom, heated floors and the most comfortable bedroom. We loved having this cozy room to come back to after a long day on the slopes. The hotel also conveniently has its own onsen right inside the hotel! Unlike most onsens which are separated by male and female, the hotels onsens are available for private rental so you can enjoy with friends and family.

One of the best perks about staying at this hotel is that it’s one of the few ski/in ski/out properties. Being situation only minutes from the main gondola at Grand Hirafu, this made snowboarding everyday so accessible, the chair lifts were all just a short walk away, and we could easily be one of the first in line to ride first tracks each day! If you do have plans to get first tracks on the mountain and be one of the first people up the gondola, make sure you get up early. With the Gondola opening around 8:00AM, eager riders were lined up by 7AM to be one of the first in the deep powder.

BEST BARS/RESTAURANTS:

50% of Japans milk and 90% of its cheese are produced in the northern island of Hokkaido. We were blessed to experience these dairy products daily while we were in Niseko and they did not disappoint. Our most memorable meals were at Kumo Restaurant, which was actually conveniently located in our hotel. Everything from their breakfast buffet, lunch to dinner was 10/10. We kept trying new items but our absolute favorite dishes were the chicken nanban, traditional Japanese ramen and miso soup! Also loved the apres-ski snacks and drinks in the evening, don’t miss the espresso martinis!

The town itself has more bars and restaurants to choose from, encompassing everything from Japanese staples to international food that was all at the highest quality! About a 5-7 min walk from Skye Niseko in the heart of downtown sits Musu Bar, a hip spot perfect for apres-ski drinks and bites and a great view to watch the people walking on the streets below.

SKIING/SNOWBOARDING:

Niseko is known as a world-class snow destination and it truly did not disappoint! Over the course of the 4 days we got to ride, we woke up with upwards of 20+ inches in the open gate powder fields each morning, what a dream! The snowboarding was truly unlike any location we’ve been too, with more snow then we have ever seen. We rented all our snowboarding gear from Yama Sport which was a part of Skye Niseko. It made our snowboarding experience that much easier! For those who love back country skiing/snowboarding, our favorite trails in Niseko were Strawberry Fields, Gate 5 and Hanazono Mountain, which sits to the ride of Grand Hirafu.

The Mountain itself is broken into 4 different sections, Niseko Annapuri, Niseko Village Ski Resort, Grand Hirafu, and Hanazono. If you are an experienced skier or rider, we highly recommend getting the only mountain pass which gets you access to all 4 sections of the mountain. For more experienced riders, our favorite area to ride with in the gated areas in Hanazono. These open gates are off mountain riding in un-groomed natural powder fields. Just remember these gated areas are not patrolled or groomed, so when you get to the bottom you will pop out onto a groomed road leading back up to the ski trail, about a 20 minute walk!

Our favorite foodie spots in town:

Kumo Restaurant

Bar Gyu+

Musu Bar + Bistro

Niseko Ramen

Lava Lounge

Tozanken Ramen

KOKO Bakery

ALL ABOUT JAPANESE ONSENS:

No trip to northern Japan is complete without a dip in a local Japanese onsen. An onsen is a Japanese hot spring filled with geothermal water sourced from Japan’s active volcanoes.

Onsen etiquette is totally a thing in Japan so I wanted to share some basic tips to be aware of when booking an onsen:

Most onsens have separate entrances for women/men. So just keep that in mind when searching for one, we found a co-ed onsen at Niseko Grand Hotel
You must shower before entering
Wearing a swimsuit is not common and they aren’t normally allowed. If you visit a co-ed they will provide you with outfits to wear
Bring your own towel. If you don’t have one they will charge you for one and they are always super small