Niseko is located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, a short 90 minute flight from Tokyo where most travelers will enter Japan. After arriving in New Chitose Airport (CTS), Niseko is a 2-3 hour bus or car ride. A seasoned Japan travel advisor can advise you of the best way to arrive and save you a lot of time and potential headaches.

What to do

Skiing/snowboarding at Niseko United: Niseko is made up of four base areas that form Niseko United (Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village and Annupuri). We recommend getting a pass that covers all four mountains since it is fun to explore each resort and it gives you the best opportunity to find great powder. It is easy to transfer between the resorts as they all come together at the top of the mountain. We have found that about 4-5 days on the slopes is the perfect amount of time to see everything and gives you a good chance for at least one great powder day.

Hire a Powder Guide: For more advanced skiers, Niseko offers great “sidecountry” and backcountry skiing that can be accessed from Niseko’s lifts. Guides can teach you how to use avalanche gear safely and can even show you secret stashes of powder that others might miss. We recommend Hanazono Powder Guides as they offer an early bird service that lets you up the lifts before the general public.

Hike Niseko-Annupuri: From the top lifts of the resort it is a 20-minute hike up to the top of the Niseko-Annupuri mountain. Once at the top you will have amazing views of the surrounding area and will get to experience a great run back to the bottom. If you are unfamiliar with backcountry skiing we highly recommend taking a guide.

Enjoy a Spa Day: After a long day of skiing, nothing is better than a dip in an onsen, a traditional Japanese bath or a massage at a luxury spa. In Niseko, you are spoiled for choice with numerous spa and onsen options. The spa at the Park Hyatt or onsen at the Hilton are some of our favorites.

Take a day trip to another resort: If you somehow see everything there is to see in Niseko, the resorts of Niseko Moiwa or Rusutsu are short car/bus rides away.

What to eat/drink

On Mountain Options:

Bo-yo-so – Mid mountain lodge in Hirafu serving up noodles and curry that is sure to warm you up.

Paradise Hut / Bears Cafe – Cozy hut in the middle of the Annupuri ski area warmed by an old school stove.

Apres ski / bars:

Wild Bills – Happening après ski bar serving cold beer and tex-mex favorites.

Bar Gyu+ - Behind a secret door meant to look like a beverage machine, you will find some of the best craft cocktails in Niseko.

Japanese comfort food:

Izakaya Raku – Traditional Izakaya serving Japanese comfort food in a casual environment.

Bang bang – Cozy yakitori restaurant serving grilled meat sticks.

Fine Dining:

Teppan – Fine dining French inspired teppanyaki experience in the Park Hyatt that serves the highest quality wagyu and freshest local vegetables.

Sushi Kato INORI – Traditional sushi kaiseki restaurant that promises an ocean to plate experience.

After a few days skiing Niseko’s amazing powder it’s time to head back to Tokyo for a few days before heading home. Flights are plentiful between New Chitose Airport and Tokyo and are reasonably priced if booked in advance. Top tip: Booking JAL’s “Class J” can get you a larger seat and more legroom for a reasonable upgrade cost.

What to do

Visit Sensoji Temple – A beautiful Buddhist temple located in Asakusa with an extensive shopping street surrounding it.

Stroll through Yoyogi Park or Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden – Both of these beautiful parks provide a great respite from the hustle and bustle of the city that surrounds them.

Explore Shibuya – Shibuya is home to the famous scramble intersection and is lively at night with many great restaurants and bars.

Take a food tour – Many of the best places to eat and drink are small hole in the wall places that few tourists would find. Touring with a local who knows their way around is a great way to make sure that you will be able to experience the best food Tokyo has to offer.

Immerse yourself in art at TeamLab – TeamLab operates at least one permanent interactive art experience in Tokyo (currently called Planets, but switches to Borderless in 2024). It is the perfect place to be amazed by infinite rooms of glass or snap the perfect Instagram picture. Be sure to book an early time to avoid some of the crowds.

Tokyo Disneyland – If you are a Disney parks fan at all, a trip to Tokyo is not complete without at least one day at Tokyo Disneyland. DisneySea is especially a standout and may be the best theme park in the world. Be sure to get there early and avoid weekends to lower your wait times.

Win a prize at a Japanese arcade – Try to win a prize in one of Japan’s numerous claw machines or enjoy arcade games that you can only find in Japan.

What to eat/drink

There are too many great restaurants and bars in Tokyo to build a comprehensive list but here are some of our favorite foods and places to eat:

Ichiran ramen – A large chain of ramen restaurants where you eat in “focus booths” meant to enhance your enjoyment of the flavors. They have a few locations in the US but the ones in Japan are so much better.

Yakitori – Literally meaning “grilled bird”, Yakitori is chicken skewers grilled over a charcoal grill. Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku is a winding alley where you can find dozens of small izakaya serving these tasty snacks.

Conveyor belt sushi – Conveyor belt sushi restaurants are a casual and generally inexpensive way to enjoy some great sushi. Uobei is a chain that allows you to order off a touch screen with English menus. Kids will love watching the sushi speed by.

Drinking in Golden Gai – Keep the party going late into the night at one of 200+ tiny bars spread across 6 alleyways. Some bars are even themed.