Niseko Customer Reviews

We skied in Niseko Central (unguided), Rusutzu, Moiwa, Kiroro, Annupuri, Furano, Kamui & Asahidake (guided). All resorts were different and generally excellent for a day's skiing (or more with a guide) but would have been limited without a guide. Having the guides brought the resorts to life and enabled us to ski off-piste all day, explore the backcountry and experience Japanese tree skiing for the first time. The guides from Whiteroom tours were excellent without exception and we would use them again without hesitation.

Streets are v clean. Excellent selection of bars, restaurants & shops. Lift system needs an up-date (although I'm basing that on personal experience of some of the major European resorts which have spent millions of Euros on upgrading theirs in recent years). That being said, the skiing is good (when it's not too windy), and it's easy to 'flirt' with the trees. Where I would say Niseko excels is that it is a great resort to base oneself in and to then exploring other nearby resorts (within a 45/50 minute drive) using one of the excellent guiding services. We used Whiteroom Guiding - who Ski Safari recommended - for 4 of our 7 days' skiing, who were great in terms of finding the best powder and tree-skiing, as well as keeping us out of the cold, cold winds.

Niseko-Cho village is the middle resort of three, linked at the top of the mountain and at the base by a bus. Total ski area is not huge by some standards and the lifts are very old fashioned. However, the snow is fantastic. They get a lot, so cloudy, snowy days are the norm. Sun is rare, but great views if you get some. Grand Hirafu next door is bigger and more lively, and Annapuri has more wide gentle slopes for beginners, but staying in Niseko-Cho village would be my choice.