Holiday Niseko Blog

End of Summer Wrap and Hangi

Well, what can we say! It has been a long dry and warm summer here in Niseko, with temperatures being above normal but finally they have dropped with the first flakes settling on the mountain tops and the landscape turning gold and red as we write.

The main reason for this blog however, is to thank Waza and crew for the great Hangi (wikipedia link) , a traditional Maori meal cooked in a ground oven, we put on 3 weeks back in the backyard of Yukon Apartments. We must also thank all who turned out to enjoy the great fare that was dug out after 5 hours in the oven. Thanks Waza and crew, that’s all who helped and came to eat!

Check below for some photos from the day and for more photos check Simon’s  flirkr set. (link below)

Hope to see you all soon, Holiday Niseko Team

Waza making a basket

getting the vege ready

Waza preparing the food

red hot iron and rock

meat spiced and ready

Hangi on the table

time to eat

Simon’s flickr set of the Waza and Holiday Niseko’s Hangi

Summer of Festivals in Niseko

With the kick off of the  Sapporo Beer Festival last weekend and a great day there on a journey back into Niseko it has made us think of what there is locally to do this weekend? And lucky for us, in amongst the planned swims in the river and tennis, we are going to go down to Kanro No Mori for a few beers, festive Latino dancing, fireworks  and great Japanese festival fare. Also luckily for us the weather is looking like it will be fine with a bit of cloud cover.

Kanro no Mori Summer Festival starts tonight and goes till Sunday, it is from 6pm to 9pm.

As mentioned the Sapporo Beer Festival is also on at present and runs for about 3 weeks, if you are planning a summer trip to Niseko to enjoy great outdoors activities such as golf , tennis, hiking or a bit of trout fishing you should make sure you stop in at Sapporo on you way through for a few local brews.

Japanese only flyer but I think you can get the jist.. Enjoy and maybe see you there!

Hiking in the Mountains and Dancing in the Streets

It has been less than a month since the chairlifts stopped and now the landscape is green. Even though a few are still making the most of the last of the snow on the peaks it seems as though winter has all been forgotten about around here.

Whether on holiday or living in the area it is a great time to get out in the mountains to hike again, on some trails you will still need to cross snow, a little reminder that winter has really only just left us and that summer is still on the way. Yesterday we checked out Shizen Numa Trail on the road between Niseko and Iwanai, a short but interesting walk from the roadside park. check the photos below.

Still snow on the trails on June 4th

After a short 15 minute walk you are greeted by snow on the backside side of Chisenupuri and backcountry

The end of the trail or just the beginning if you want to explorer further

As well as enjoying the great outdoors and food that Niseko has to offer during early summer you can also check the Yosakoi Soran Dance Festival in Sapporo, an easy 2 hour train, bus or drive way. Starting  tomorrow the 6th of June and going through to Sunday, the festival sees the streets of Sapporo come alive with dancers from all cross Japan competing, with unique contemporary dance routines  dressed in colorful outfits, a spectacle not to be missed. For more info on Yosakoi check wikipedia.

Colourful outfits and energetic dance is what Yosakoi is all about

Weather, Golden Week and our New Holiday Niseko Japan Website

The Last few weeks has seen a rock n roll of weather, from warm spring days and rain during Golden Week to a dusting of snow just 2 days ago on the mountain tops, to once again a pretty normal mild spring Monday.

Golden Week, a week where public holidays string together to make a week long holiday, started off warm with great spring riding and BBQ and beer weather for the holiday makers that came to Niseko. The end of the week saw the clouds come in and rain on and off making the last few days of lift operations at Hirafu and Annupuri not the best unfortunately.

This year during Golden Week we had a good number of guests stay and hope that with the launch of our new holidayniseko.jp site will continue into summer with long stay guests and holiday makers making the most of our mild summer days, great outdoors and the relaxed environs of Hirafu and Niseko.

Below are a few pictures of what we have been up to from checking the Niseko spring backcountry on snowmobiles with Clayton from Black Diamond Tours to playing golf.

Getting out in the backcountry on snowmobiles in spring

Golf of course! Toya about 50 minutes drive from Niseko

Spring riding slushy snow at Annupuri

thanks from the Holiday Niseko crew

Winter this season was long and record snowfall was recorded on the mountain and in the village. Over 20 metres on the mountain seems to be the talk around town and in some spots we would guess a lot more. Anyhow there was plenty of snow for all of our guests and the Holiday Niseko crew. Below are some shots of Ash and Perrin checking out the snow conditions on behalf of their awesome guests.

Ash checks the snow conditions and scores a break in the weather

Perrin getting the powder on an early spring day back in March

As the season comes to an end here with only 2 and a half weeks left before the lifts close,  we would like to take the chance to thank everybody who came and stayed with us
- THANK YOU -

If you are already itching to get back here and planning your trip for next winter, check out our early bird deals on our deals page. that’s it for now – Holiday Niseko

Getting ready for a Niseko winter

This summer as usual has been a great one to get out and enjoy the outdoors. We have played a lot of golf and been to the coast a few times to enjoy the hotter days at the beach.

Over summer we have had Japanese guests stay in our apartments and we also pitched in to help out families from Fukushima enjoy the safe environs of Niseko as part of the Tsunami Relief Program, all in all a great summer and one of the busiest in years.

Now as the days get shorter we are getting ready for winter. Out on our bikes and hiking in the mountains to make sure that we are fit and ready to hit the slopes when they open in less than 2 months!

Hiking Chisenupuri from the Panorama line is great short hike that takes about an hour up and a little less down

Perrin our operations manager making the most of the cooler autumn temps in Niseko

We have also been working on our site to make it easier for you to find  our deals , we now have pages totally dedicated to Christmas, Chinese New Years and Ski March in Niseko. You can also find deals at the bottom of a property page if there are related deals.

Hope all is good where ever you are  and hope you can join us again this winter. Remember snap up our deals while you can!

Niseko Autumn colours are all the rage at present, hiking a secret line on the search

Niseko Green Season in full Swing

Summer is in full swing now and it’s green! One of our favourite colours here at Holiday Niseko for some reason, along with white of course!

As usual the summer season is a hive of activity with locals out and about enjoying the sunny and warm days, city slickers coming from Sapporo and other cities and people out driving or riding their motorbikes in the weekends, a great mix all enjoying the summer warmth of Niseko.

All sort of clubs and rackets… and bats are being swung in celebration of the fine weather, from tennis rackets to golf clubs… to baseball bats and also the odd cricket one too.

Here at Holiday Niseko we have been enjoying the warm weather and the outdoors not only by doing outdoor pursuits but also having BBQ’s and drinking Japanese beer under the green trees and on the green grass, yes it summer here and it is green.

These girls like playing softball in the green season and of course like Holiday Niseko

Youtei Green!

Relaxing Onsens in Niseko

When you are here enjoying your holiday in Niseko, you have to kick back and relax in one of Grand Hirafu’s onsens. The Niseko area is famous for many beautiful onsens (sulfuric hot springs) and the social ediquette surrounding them. Most of them are built outside in the open-air and usually have separate male and female baths. There is a mixed gender set up in the village if guests want to bathe together and most onsens have mineral baths and massage options …it’s all here in Niseko for you to relax and experience all year long.

During Niseko’s spring, summer and fall, hit the onsen after rafting the Shiribetsu river, playing a game of golf or a long day hiking Grand Hirafu slopes. Relax and loosen up those tight muscles after spinning a day bicycling the roads or horseback riding the country-side. After being out all day skiing and snowboarding powder during the winter months, an onsen is to die for! The benefits of warming up in the 40c+sulfuric water will do the trick in relaxing your body and mind after skiing or snowboarding. Works every time!

Niseko onsen etiquette. Wash up before and after the onsen. Relax.

All of our centrally located Niseko Hirafu accommodation have an onsen a short distance away. A two minute walk from our Asuka, Yukon, Sesshu, and Udelka properties, you can be soaking in the mineral rich and warm volcanic water of the Yukoro onsen. It’s convenient location and price (700 yen) for male and female changing rooms, lockers, showers, mineral bath and beautiful outdoor onsen, make this an easy choice. Bring or purchase a small modesty towel to cover up as you enter and leave the onsen, a 100 yen coin for the locker and you are ready. If everybody wants to bathe together there is always the option of walking to the mixed gender/co-ed onsen at the Niseko Grand. Prices can vary from 700-1300 yen per person (children discounted) depending on what is included.

Yukoro´s onsen hot spot.

The Niseko area has around 16 beautiful onsens to soak in. If you feel like venturing outside Grand Hirafu, there are many other onsens to enjoy and we would be happy to arrange a rental vehicle for your convenience. Just ask! Come to Niseko anytime to enjoy our amazing onsens! Holiday Niseko

Holiday Niseko secret onsen.

Changing Seasons in Niseko

It has been only 3 weeks since a busy last week of season, Golden Week, and the lifts closing here in Niseko but in that time the landscape has changed from a snow covered white one and slowly transformed, going through an almost autumn colour palette to an almost entirely green one. In a few more weeks Niseko will be fully green and summer holiday makers will be enjoying the cooler summer temperatures that Hokkaido has to offer people from the hotter southern climates of south Japan or Asia.

Niseko Annupuri changing colour, Haru Kouyou

Here at Holiday Niseko we have had time relax a little before the green season kicks off, golf has been in full swing, plus a little hiking in the mountains has gone down to get those last tracks and great mountain fresh air. We have also been working on our winter rates and posted a few good deals over here while enjoying bqq’s under the cherry blossom trees. It’s been a hard 3 weeks.

In this spring time season other activities that take place in Niseko are varied but most of them carry right through to the winter. Lots of local holiday makers make it out for some rafting on the Shiribetsu River and some even come out for a company or school day trip while the rivers run higher from the snow melt. Horse riding, fishing, hiking for the pleasure of hiking in the mountains plus lots of other activities take place in Niseko from the winter seasons end to the snow starts to fall again in just 6 months!

We hope some of you can join us here during spring summer autumn, if not make sure you come in winter, things are good here in Niseko.

don't worry we know what we are doing, Niseko rafting

Spring Park in Hirafu

Niseko Grand Hirafu builds a nice spring ski and snowboard park in the beginning of April every season that goes off through the golden week of May 5th(sometimes May 9th!). Located skiers right off of the king hooded triple seater lift on the upper mountain, the Shirakaba spring park is the place to slip and slide the snow until the end of the season. The park is complete with beginner, medium, huge tables and drop-gap lines. There are also a couple small boxes to slide, a big hip-jump and a mini pipe at the end of the park but that’s not all… cross over the groomed run and drop into the natural gully to carve the berms and trick the wall hits down to the lift. It’s super fun! With all the different lines, lapping the Shirakaba park can become a run you repeat all day… all week… if you are lucky, all spring.

Jumping Hirafu's fun medium line in the spring park

The first of two small jumps in the beginner line

A couple skiers sliding Hirafu's mini box.

Skiing the hip

The park staff crew does a excellent job on the layout and shape it twice daily -keeping it fresh and clean with painted features that look beautiful with Mt. Youtei in the backdrop. Spring is a great time of the season to jump your first jumps, learn some new tricks or practice old moves. The warm temps and sun, soft snow and uncrowded slopes all factor in to the high level of fun this time of year in Niseko. Many pro and core local skiers and snowboarders are ripping the park and amazing tricks are thrown down daily. Every season the video and photos coming out of the Niseko area are inspiring to say the least. We have seen a 17 year old Kutchan local kid warm up on the 20 meter jump with mach-speed switch backside 540′s then throwing switch backside 900′s on his next lap through. So smooth. No wonder why he won the Hanazono big air event earlier in the season. This kind of riding is nice to watch or join in on the session if your skills are dialed or not.

Local rider spinning off the big line.

Big Hirafu gap. BiIl Cosby sweater.

Another big plus to riding park in Niseko is that the kind culture of the Japanese in general have way-way less attitude than park-rats in other countries of the world. Everybody is so chill and peacefully waiting their turn to drop in and rip it. No one ever snakes through and heads are always watching out for each other helping make sure the landings are clear after a bail.  In a culture where strangers are bowing, greeting and motivating each other, it really creates a good feel in the parks of Hanazono and Hirafu all season. Everybody gets a chance to ride the fun features in Niseko with the locals making beginners feel as comfortable as the pros. Park kids around the world should take note.

Spread the Niseko spring park word and come out to enjoy and experience it for yourself.

Holiday Niseko