Powder Paradise in Niseko

A day in Niseko with LUXE City Guides

Niseko, in the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, is a skier’s paradise. The resort, comprising the main village of Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village (Higashiyama), Annupuri and Hanazono, sees cubic metres of some of the world's most incredible snow, year on year. While no longer a secret and with plenty of building development taking place, you can still enjoy the best of Japanese efficiency and bohemian hospitality, as well as fantastic local seafood and produce, and of course, wonderful skiing.

Hit the slopes

Beginners will find Annupuri’s gentle slopes suitable, while snowboarders will love Hanazono’s terrain parks, complete with half-pipes, boxes, banks, jumps and tubes. Experienced skiers and boarders have plenty of well-marked black runs and moguls (mounds of snow) to shoot down in Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Hanazono, including the Super Ridge, Superstition and Miharashi courses, which takes you through snow-covered forests.

Hire a guide

Niseko has plenty of immaculately groomed runs, but if you want to find the most untouched, then local legend Ross Findlay and his team at Niseko Adventure Centre (NAC) will take you off-piste, backcountry and cross-country skiing, either privately or in groups. NAC also offers private skiing lessons for first timers.

Slurp on crab ramen

Near the bottom of Hanazono’s runs sits Hanazono 308, a commodious contemporary log cabin that’s part ski centre, part eating house. Lunchtimes are very popular here as skiers converge from all parts of the mountain to slurp down large bowls of 308 Cafe’s famed kani (crab) ramen. It’s self-service, so grab a tray and get in line.

Sample delicious dairy products

One of the lesser-known gourmet delights of Hokkaido is its quality dairy products, and one of the best places to sample them is in Niseko. Situated in a red barn on the road between Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village, Milk Kobo (888-1, Soga, Niseko-cho, Tel: 81 136 44 3734) makes mouth-watering gelati, cheesecakes, choux cream puffs, Swiss rolls, milk puddings and yogurts.

Soak in a hot spring

After a long day on the slopes, many people forgo apres ski drinks in favour of a soothing soak in a traditional onsen (hot spring). While The Green Leaf Niseko Village’s onsen is slightly out of the way, the gorgeous outdoor natural rock pool, nestled among pine trees, is a salve for tired, aching muscles and makes the effort to get there worthwhile.

Feast on ultra-fresh seafood

Ezo Seafoods, a funky timber seafood restaurant with high stools and super fresh marine life, is one of the most sought after dining places in town, so book ahead. Don’t miss the rough-cut sashimi, shucked-to-order oysters, uni (sea urchin), king crab and snow crab legs, as well as hot food such as fish and chips and ginger garlic prawns.

Take a stylish nightcap

There is still a shortage of sophisticated cocktail bars in Niseko, but thankfully, Maki Lounge fits the bill perfectly. Specialising in Japanese single malt whiskys, plum wines, sakes and shochus, the bar also serves cocktails – such as the popular Sekka Tea Ceremony, a mix of black tea, Japanese vodka and yuzu marmalade – and a small selection of wines by the glass. Enjoy your favourite tipple while reclining in a leather armchair by the crackling fireplace for a relaxing end to your day.

Stay in a luxurious loft apartment

For location, Suiboku is hard to beat. Situated on the main street in Upper Hirafu Village, the property is steps away from Niseko’s best restaurants and bars, and right next to a ski lift. There are just 10 luxurious, industrial-chic loft apartments with two, three or five bedrooms, all boasting balconies and breathtaking Mt Yotei views, fireplaces, heated floors and Japanese soaking tubs. If Suiboku is fully booked, check out HT Holidays for other excellent holiday rental options.

So, now that you’re in the know about Niseko, get your ski gear together, bundle up and go. The Niseko guide is available in mobile app format only, and for a limited time, you can get both the Niseko and Tokyo apps for the price of one via luxecityguides.com.

Coming up next month, how to experience Paris, the City of Light and lovers, in style.

To celebrate LUXE City Guides’ partnership with silverkris.com, in addition to getting two guides for the price of one with the LUXE Tokyo & Niseko app, you can also get 15% off all LUXE City Guides and Box Sets. Just enter “SILVERLUXE” during checkout when you order online at luxecityguides.com

Have a special requirement? Simply email LUXE City Guides at operations@luxecityguides.com

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