Niseko Village used to be known as Niseko Higashiyama.
A new course and two new lifts were introduced for the 2016-2017 season. The 1.2km beginners ‘Ageimo’ course effectively connects the base Green Leaf hotel with the Shopping & Dining Area of the resort. A 816m Village Express lift runs alongside that course, and both gondola cabins and 6-person chairs share that lift. The 250m long Upper Village Gondola lift - running two gondola cabins together with each holding up to 8 people – also now runs from by the hotel to near the top of the Village Express gondola. These developments improved access around the base areas of the Niseko Village resort area.
The Niseko resort area is one of the most popular ski resort regions of Japan. Located to the west of Sapporo city on the eastern and southern slopes of Mt Niseko Annupuri and with stunning views of nearby Mt Yotei, it's often top quality dry powder snow conditions are now popular with skiers and snowboarders from around the world. Niseko certainly has a different feel from many other Japanese ski resorts, if not only because of the higher percentage of visitors from around the world and subsequent catering to their needs
Hokkaido is the second largest island of Japan and also the largest and northernmost prefecture (though it is not usually referred to as a prefecture). It has coastlines on the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and also the Pacific Ocean. Sapporo is the capital city of Hokkaido and was host to the 1972 Winter Olympics. Hokkaido is home to the largest number of ski hills in Japan. While the majority of them are very small, some of the larger ski and snowboard resorts in Hokkaido - mostly found in regions to the west and east of Sapporo - are amongst the most famous in Japan.
A number of ski and snowboard schools operate around the Niseko resort areas. Check our Lessons in English page for any current ski school listings on SnowJapan.
Equipment Rental
Ski Rental:
Available
Snowboard Rental:
Available
A number of ski and snowboard equipment and wear rental facilities are available around the Niseko resort areas.
Children's facilities
There is a 'Niseko Kids Area' (near the Niseko Gondola) and two 'Beginner Areas' - one by the Upper Village Gondola and the other near the Hilton Niseko Village.
Park information
A number of activities are available including snowmobiling, first tracks cat skiing, cross-country, guided snowshoe tours, snow rafting, horseback riding and reindeer sledding.
Niseko Village Ski Resort Season & Opening Times
Typical season is from Early December until Early April
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Daytime
Weekends and holidays
Normally open from 8:30am until 8:00pm
Weekdays
Normally open from 8:30am until 8:00pm
'Nighta' (night skiing)
Weekends and holidays
Yes
Weekdays
Yes
Opening information
Niseko Village is open from 8:30am until 4:30pm in the daytime.
Nighta is from 4:30pm until 8:00pm.
Nighta is planned from Tuesday 11th December 2018 until Wednesday 20th March 2019.
Niseko Village Ski Resort Lift Ticket Charges
Adults
Child
Age 6-12
Older Child
Age 13-15
Senior
Age over 60
12 points
4,200 yen
3,100 yen
3,700 yen
3,700 yen
1 Day
7,400 yen
4,500 yen
5,600 yen
5,600 yen
2 Days
13,600 yen
8,200 yen
10,200 yen
10,200 yen
3 Days
19,800 yen
11,900 yen
14,900 yen
14,900 yen
4 Days
26,000 yen
15,600 yen
19,500 yen
19,500 yen
5 Days
32,200 yen
19,300 yen
24,200 yen
24,200 yen
6 Days
38,400 yen
23,100 yen
28,800 yen
28,800 yen
7 Days
44,600 yen
26,800 yen
33,500 yen
33,500 yen
8 Days
50,800 yen
30,500 yen
38,100 yen
38,100 yen
9 Days
5,700 yen
34,200 yen
42,800 yen
42,800 yen
10 Days
63,200 yen
37,900 yen
47,400 yen
47,400 yen
11 Days
69,400 yen
41,700 yen
52,100 yen
52,100 yen
12 Days
75,600 yen
45,400 yen
56,700 yen
56,700 yen
13 Days
81,800 yen
49,100 yen
61,400 yen
61,400 yen
14 Days
88,000 yen
52,800 yen
66,000 yen
66,000 yen
15 Days
94,200 yen
56,500 yen
70,700 yen
70,700 yen
16 Days
10,400 yen
60,300 yen
75,300 yen
75,300 yen
17 Days
106,600 yen
64,000 yen
80,000 yen
80,000 yen
18 Days
112,800 yen
67,700 yen
84,600 yen
84,600 yen
Free 50 Hours
64,000 yen
Season Ticket
115,600 yen
69,300 yen
86,700 yen
86,700 yen
** 2018-2019 LIFT TICKET PRICES **
The tickets shown are valid at the Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko HANAZONO, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri resorts.
A returnable deposit of 1000 yen is required to purchase tickets. The charges shown are valid for the peak season period - Tuesday 11th December 2018 until Wednesday 20th March 2019. Cheaper lift tickets are available for early and late season periods before and after the above dates. Nighta (where available) is from Tuesday 11th December 2018 until Wednesday 20th March 2019.
The 8 Day Ticket can be used on any 8 days over a period of 10 consecutive days. The 9 Day Ticket can be used on any 9 days over a period of 11 consecutive days. The 10 Day Ticket can be used on any 10 days over a period of 12 consecutive days. The 11 Day Ticket can be used on any 11 days over a period of 13 consecutive days. The 12 Day Ticket can be used on any 12 days over a period of 14 consecutive days. The 13 Day Ticket can be used on any 13 days over a period of 15 consecutive days. The 14 Day Ticket can be used on any 14 days over a period of 16 consecutive days. The 15 Day Ticket can be used on any 15 days over a period of 18 consecutive days. The 16 Day Ticket can be used on any 16 days over a period of 19 consecutive days. The 17 Day Ticket can be used on any 17 days over a period of 20 consecutive days. The 18 Day Ticket can be used on any 18 days over a period of 21 consecutive days.
All day tickets are valid until the end of nighta on the final day of the ticket.
Note: Individual lift tickets that are valid at just Niseko Village are also available. The main season charges from December 11th 2018 until 20th March 2019 are as follows:
1 Day: 5,900 yen (adults); 3,600 yen (age 7-12); 4,500 yen (age 13-15 & over 60) 2 Days: 11,000 yen (adults); 6,600 yen (age 7-12); 8,400 yen (age 13-15 & over 60) 3 Days: 16,000 yen (adults); 9,600 yen (age 7-12); 12,300 yen (age 13-15 & over 60) 4 Days: 21,000 yen (adults); 12,600 yen (age 7-12); 16,200 yen (age 13-15 & over 60) 5 Days: 26,000 yen (adults); 15,600 yen (age 7-12); 20,100 yen (age 13-15 & over 60) 6 Days: 31,000 yen (adults); 18,600 yen (age 7-12); 24,000 yen (age 13-15 & over 60) 7 Days: 36,000 yen (adults); 21,600 yen (age 7-12); 27,900 yen (age 13-15 & over 60)
Getting to Niseko Village Ski Resort
By public transport
Train
5.5km from Niseko Station on the Hakodate Honsen Line
14.5km from Hirafu Station on the Hakodate Honsen Line
Information
Kutchan Station on the Hakodate Honsen line is the main and most convenient train station used by people travelling to the Niseko area for the ski and snowboard resorts, though many people actually prefer to use direct bus services to Niseko from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport.
Trains
Train services operate between Sapporo Station and Kutchan Station, with many requiring a transfer at Otaru Station on the way. With good connections this can be done in as little as around 100 minutes - but sometimes waiting for connections at Otaru can be fairly lengthy and greatly increase that time. During the winter season, there is a limited express 'Niseko Ski Express' service a few times a day which goes directly from Sapporo Station to Kutchan Station using the Hakodate Honsen lines. This service takes around two hours. The Niseko Ski Express train stops at Niseko Station, Kutchan Station, Otaru Station, Otaru Chikko Station, Teine Station and Sapporo Station.
The journey from New Chitose Airport Station usually takes around 2.5-3 hours.
Buses
During the main winter months a number of private bus companies offer direct services to Niseko from Sapporo City and also from New Chitose Airport. These regular and convenient services are probably the most popular way to get to Niseko.
There are also a number of buses scheduled between Rusutsu and Niseko each day during the winter season. This journey usually takes around 40 minutes and costs around 1,000 yen.
The Niseko United Shuttle bus service operates from the opening day of the season until late in the season. It is free to use for anyone who has an Niseko All-Mountain Hourly Pass or a Day Pass lift ticket. People without those tickets can also board the bus at a small charge. The bus connects Kutchan Station and Niseko Station with the Hirafu Welcome Center and the other main ski resorts on the mountain with many drop off points on the route. There are four main routes.
There is also a Hanazono Shuttle bus service that goes from the Hirafu Welcome Center to the Hanazono resort area.
By Car
38.7km from the Kuromatsunai IC on the Kuromatsunai Shindo
74km from the Asari IC on the Sasson Expressway
75.4km from the Otaru IC on the Sasson Expressway
Nearest national route: Route 5 (6.7km away)
Nearest prefecture road: Prefecture Road 343
Direction
The base of Niseko Village Ski Resort base is about 14.5km from the central area of Kutchan town.
Getting to Niseko Village Ski Resort from central Kutchan town
Heading south from Kutchan Station on Route 5, either turn right onto Prefecture Road 343 and follow the road until traffic lights about 5km further on, then turn right to head into Hirafu; or, continue a bit further on Route 5 and turn right onto Prefecture Road 631 and then continue on Prefecture Road 343 to head up to Hirafu.
Approaching the Niseko region from Sapporo City
From central and the southern part of Sapporo City, take Route 230 south via the Nakayama Pass and Kimobetsu town. At the traffic lights on the far side of Kimbotsu town, turn right onto Route 276. This road continues through to Kutchan town. This route is about 100km and in normal conditions takes up to two and a half hours by car.
From areas to the north of Sapporo City either take the Sasson Expressway or Route 5 towards Otaru City. From the Asari IC exit turn right onto Prefecture Road 1 and then after a few hundred metres turn right again onto Prefecture Road 956. Kutchan and Akaigawa are on the main road signpost. After about 4km, turn left onto Route 393, also known as the Askaigawa National Highway. The road turn off for Kiroro resort is about 17km along this road. Continue on Route 393 following the signs through to Kutchan.
Alternatively continue on Route 5 through and beyond Otaru City. Route 5 generally follows the same route as the Hakodate Honsen train line through to the Niseko region. There are less of the curves on this route than there are on parts of Route 393, but it is a slightly longer drive (about 7km).
Approaching the Niseko region from New Chitose Airport
From the main exit of New Chitose Airport, head towards Tomakomai on Route 36 and Prefecture Road 781. After 23km turn right onto Route 276 (signposted as Kimobetsu and Lake Shikotsu). Continue for about 18km and turn left at the signs to stay on Route 276. Go past Lake Shikotsu and keep following Route 276 signposted as Kuchan and Kimobetsu. On reaching the Route 230 junction, turning left goes into Rusutsu. For Niseko, turn right here onto Route 230 for just 1km before turning left to join Route 276 once again. Route 276 continues into central Kutchan town and the station area.
Enjoy the views of the northern slopes of Mt Yotei on the way!
This route is about 115km and in normal conditions takes up to two and a half hours by car.
As of Sunday 9th December, we still need to update the information for about 50 ski hills around Japan. They are mostly very small ones and the information can be very hard to find. We are working to get them all updated as quickly as possible... hopefully within the next week!
If you have visited Niseko Village Ski Resort, please share your experience with other SnowJapan readers by writing a Resort Review and/or uploading photos
Reader Resort Rankings
General
92
Snow conditions
80
Courses & terrain
90
Lift system
87
Apres ski
72
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