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

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

Niseko’s Mountains Are Safe

Please help us spread the word that Niseko was not directly affected from the earthquake and devastating tsunami of March 11th. Help Niseko by reading this Niseko Tourism Update and pass it along to your friends and family who have skied Niseko or who like to enjoy their future snowy holiday with us. Know that Hokkaido was not mentioned in any travel advisories and recently many countries have lifted advisories against Tokyo reassuring traveler’s fears of connecting flights to and from New Chitose airport in Sapporo. Niseko Grand Hirafu’s ski slopes and surrounding villages are 600km away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant and radiation levels in Hokkaido have measured to normal background levels every day last month. Please check FLEEP and MLIT for daily updates on the ongoing crisis! There has been no food shortage in Hokkaido and of course the Japanese government has issued strict guidelines for foods to be tested to acceptable levels.

Niseko Tourism radiation graph

Niseko Tourism distance map

The people of Niseko and Kutchan town have opened up 1000 beds for displaced people, have personally driven down supplies, continue to help at donation centers and have raised over 2,000,000 JPY to date to donate to the relief efforts. With a country in pain during these hard times, our quiet Hokkaido has been spared and living in the mountains feels safe. We are enjoying the snow quietly and doing what we can to help. Now would be better than ever to support tourism in Japan by planning or possibly booking your next ski or snowboard Holiday. Niseko would love to have you back or show the beautiful culture and snow we are blessed for the first time.

Thanks to Niseko Tourism and you,

Holiday Niseko

Niseko Spring Snow

Skiing and snowboarding the spring season up here in Niskeo is good good times. The warmer temperatures and sunshine, soft corn snow, and not waiting in lift lines are very beautiful things. We cherish these chill spring snow days with the locals and it’s easy to enjoy great groomer turns and park jumps on the mountain after the high season. Although Niseko has had plenty of cold snow in March on top of the 4 meter base, it’s still called “low season” and it’s an awesome time to be here. Not too many skiers or snowboarders are here to race for the first turns making relaxing powder days and open runs easy to find.

Trees of Hanazono April 2nd

April’s first three snowy days came with no powder pressure and plenty of snow for everybody. It’s cool to see Niseko’s slopes enjoyed the lifties, lodge managers, local business owners, convenience store employees and other village workers that finally are having time off to ski and snowboard. The uncrowded park runs are being shredded by friendly familiar faces and it might be time to start calling Niseko “low season” Niseko “bro season”.

Local rider enjoying the nice shaped park on a nice day

The warmer spring temperatures change the mountain daily and we can see the sasa bush springing back to life and creeks running wild again. The spring brings risk of cornices breaking, huge snowballs falling out of the birch, heavy slush-slides down to the ground, cracks and holes appearing where everybody has been skiing and snowboarding all winter.

Heavy Niseko spring snowball that just fell out of the birch tree.

Snow crack under the Niseko Ace Quad lift

It’s all good, just be aware out there and enjoy the spring snow!

Holiday Niseko

Niseko charity ride

The people of Niseko, Kutchan and surrounding area rallied together on the snow with a charity ride and auction to raise funds for the Tohoku tsunami relief fund and Red Cross Japan yesterday. Local legends, companies, embassadors and professional riders all donated their time and gear to this great cause and event that has been touring from resort to resort around Hokkaido the past couple weeks. A small donation of  500 yen got you a respect-ribbon to tie on your goggles, a few hour ski or snowboard session with your pick of 37 Japanese pros and a chance to bid on gear in the afternoon auction. Two MC hosts gathered the attention for a long moment of silence in respect for the lives lost, homes and land in ruins, then organized everyone into freeride or park groups.

Big crew of skiers and snowboarders showed up to support the Niseko charity ride

Following Kutchan's local hero and Rome rider Hiromasa Ihara in Hirafu's mini pipe

The Niseko charity ride auction for gear and donations raised 600,000 yen for Red Cross Japan

The level was raised on our first run by our leader and crew spinning 3′s, 5′s and 7′s off the catwalk on Roy’s run and cruising powder. Everybody was cheering each other on, buttering and getting fresh. Rome sds pro Hiromasa Ihara and friends were inspirational riders to rip with and follow through the pipe and park. The sun and snow came and went throughout the session and kept switching back and forth during the auction keeping it real. Everybody’s spirits were high and the general feeling of doing something worthy was felt through the crowd. Loud laughs and big smiles all around while the bidding wars were battled for loads of gear. It was a day to remember and a reminder to continue supporting by doing what we can.

Thanks to everyone who participated and donated!

Holiday Niseko

Niseko after March 11th

From Grand Hirafu’s opening day, our Holiday Niseko accommodation has been booked out with great people from all over the world this 2010/2011 season. January and February’s powder dumped through early March and the snow depth was all time! Stoke and hype was full power. Families and friendly groups of skiers and snowboarder’s were having a blast on their holidays- telling us that the snow has been some of the best they had ever skied or slashed. That’s normal for Niseko.

Then on March 11th things became not so normal with the earthquake outside the east coast of Sendai and the devastating tsunamis that followed leaving Fukushima, Sendai and other east coast cities ruined and waiting for rescue. Shaking the houses in Niseko and rocking the world, our eyes and ears have been tuned in to Japanese news every day since March 11th. With so many lives lost, families broken, homes and land destroyed, food shortages, nuclear reactors burning, radiation scares it’s been awkward and hard to be up here trying to enjoy skiing and snowboarding when the country is in pain.

After the house was shaking we couldn't believe what we saw on tv

The strong-willed Japanese people have rallied around each other trying to fix and rebuild rather than blame and compare. Their strength is inspirational. Locals in Niseko have helped out as much as possible by throwing many fund raising events in town and on the mountain sending relief-fund donations to Red Cross Japan and the Tohoku earthquake fund. The people of Kutchan and Niseko town have had donation and drop off centers for clothing and other necessities since the disaster struck. Some brave people have re-routed their lives to drive down, look for lost friends and roll up their sleeves to help out the poor victims that have been in our thoughts and prayers.

Gyu bar in Niseko hosted a party and collected donations from over 120 people. Moiwa resort downhill race donated as well.

Some tourists stayed on and rode out their vacations but many foreigners cancelled their holidays and Niseko has been very very quiet as of March 11th. We have been safely tucked away in Niseko and Hokkaido has for the most part been spared from this disaster. Our hearts go out to the coastal cities of Honshu and the people in pain. Here is a few photos of what it’s been like up on the mountain since mid March. Enjoy the snow quietly

Holiday Niseko

Niseko Ace Quad with no lines in March 2011

Rome rider ripping Hirafu's empty park under the empty charilifts

Doing laps in a quiet Hirafu park and Hanazono's trees

Quietly enjoying some lips in Hirafu's park and powder in Roy's run this past March

Drop in the Annupuri gully

Cornicing the gully and tracking up our tracks

Road to Annupuri and a method by a method master

Surf the snow Annupuri style

Not many people for mid-day gate 5 in Hirafu

Running laps on Roy's run

Niseko Powder in March

Niseko has had a snowy start to this “spring-season” of March and it feels more like early February with the temps and snowfall. With over 50cm of dry powder the first few days of the month, it’s been days of knee-deep early mornings and powder night sessions with no high season crowds. Day or night, ski or snowboard, it’s been sweet at all areas across Niseko from Hanazono to Annupuri. The weather is looking to stay snowy this week (as far as the forecast can predict) so all is good.

Face shot to the camera

Hokkaido winter has more snow to pile-up our already packed-out 4+meter snowbase! It’s the perfect time to be here or hook a deal and book last minute accommodation.

Powder from Annupuri to the sea of Japan

Looking back to last March 2010, Niseko boasted 3+meters of new snow and some March snow totals in the past have been even deeper.

Hokkaido's magic trees and snow

It looks promising for good snow for the locals and our Holiday Niseko guests out enjoying the chill part of the season. We hope the powder keeps dumping through the end of March… then fades us into sunny corn snow cruiser runs with great park days until the lift’s shut down in May.

Holiday Niseko

CAR RENTAL FOR YOUR HOLIDAY IN NISEKO

Along with setting you up with accommodation and ski packages, Holiday Niseko can also help in arranging a rental vehicle during your Niseko winter holiday. If you like the freedom of having your own wheels and enjoy exploring parts unknown, the roads around Niseko are ready for you to roll. All you need is an international drivers license permit from your home country and your set. Well… you will also need your passport, credit card and some behaving while behind the wheel. Toyota and BDL both have competitive rates, great selection from wagons to 4WD vehicles and are flexible with you in arrangement.  The convenience of having a car in Niseko is a luxury for many reasons besides having crazy photos of digging it out from complete burial. A short drive from Grand Hirafu and you can check out Niseko town’s local farmers market and onsen or stock up on groceries at one of three supermarkets in Kutchan. Fire up the car and cruise to Niseko’s neighboring ski areas of Moiwa, Chise-nupuri or a take a drive to the coast and rest your legs for a day.

Toyota Suceed was a success in the snow

Watch out for wild foxes in the Niseko hoods

The best thing about having a rental car in Niseko

4WD Delica-van is the way to roll

Not to take away from riding the free ski-bus (for ski-pass holders) between your accommodation and the resort. The bus system works well and runs often from early morning to late night getting you between Kutchan, Hirafu, Niseko Village (Hilton) and all the way around the mountain to Annupuri. Hanazono’s free-bus has you covered and runs every 30 minutes as well. Setting you up with a car rental is just another service that we offer. How ever you like to roll, we can help.

Holiday Niseko

Snowy roads in Kutchan

Holiday Niseko says Rice-ball triangles save lives

Onegiri or rice ball..? I call them sushi-triangles and they save starving snowboarder’s lives! Those of you that are now in Niseko skiing or have been here -already know… but for the future Niseko explorer, here is a tip on eating decent when taking a break from the snowy slopes without breaking your wallet. These 100 yen rice-ball triangles are yummy, filling and as convenient as is the Seicomartt, Lawson or 7/11 convenience stores that sell them.

Get your quick fix from the sushi-triangle riceball shelf

These amazingly packaged seaweed wrapped rice-ball triangles are usually filled with a variety of fish product. You can find vegetarian friendly fried rice or fermented sweet beans as well (vegie-heads watch out for minced salmon mixed-in). Seicomart in Niseko is the only convenience store that has descriptive photos on the packaging, making it too easy. When you end up at any other store, it can be a fun guessing game. With zero kanji skills and trying to dial in what is inside with the color coded system, I find that somedays the rice-ball is what ever they decide to roll in the rice that day. It could be Salmon, tuna(+mayo-), raw salmon eggs, spicey pork meat mix, large-sized baked salmon eggs, fried beef(+mayo-), some days a kimchi-mix, natto(fermented soybeans) or just fried rice. What ever you end up with, it’s all good because you are in beautiful Niseko!

Seicomart sushi-triangles are on it with the photo packaging

With zero kanji skills these fun triangles are a mystery

So after shredding the slopes, chomp em cold outside the store or load your pockets for later. Maybe gift a microwaved rice-ball to a friend? A couple of them will get you through the afternoon backcountry mission, cruising the groomers or a day jumping in the park. Sushi-triangles are a good source of quick energy, usually made up that day and are ski-bum priced.

Power up with fried beef and mayo

Onegiri rice-ball situations…

Is it the end of your winter holiday and one more family dinner will tap you out? Sushi-Triangles.

Spend too much cash in Hirafu’s bar circuit? Sushi-Triangles.

Onsen every night? Sushi-Triangles.

Forgot to buy breakfast groceries? Sushi-Triangle breakfast.

Had to buy new skis cuz you lost one in the snow (Niseko powder disaster garage sale)? Sushi-Triangles.

Accommodation was too expensive because you didn’t book with Holiday Niseko? Sushi-Triangles.

Triangles save lives -Holiday Niseko

The snow dreams are made of…

It’s been an snowy 2010/2011 winter season so far for everybody at Holiday Niseko and our guests staying in our accommodation. Snowboarding and skiing the inbounds powder on Niseko’s slopes has been awesome awesome awesome. Going on day tours, dropping lines in Hokkaido’s national park backcountry and riding the Hanazono park has been epic as well. It’s all good up here! We had so many bottomless days in January and February with our three week mega storm that piled us up past the 4 meter level in town. +Way more up top. With all the gnarly sasa(bamboo grass) covered early January and Niseko trees fully filled in, the mountain became a giant snow-pillow playground park. It’s been a motivating month of getting the house up early, digging the car out and beating the crowds to the lifts to rip the special zones. A lot of days have started early up on Annupuri riding powder lap circuits and circling like sharks until the access gates opened up the back bowls. Days of dropping high speed powder runs down steep bowls, hitting a drop or two, then slashing the best gully hits back to the bottom. Repeat.

popping around Annupuri

Leg burn to earn your turns in Hokkaido's national park

Signage next to the avalanche report(not pictured) at gate 2 of Annupuri

Between Higashiyama’s steeps, Grand Hirafu’s and Hanazono’s trees, everywhere on the mountain was the right place to be. With all the fun in all the snow comes all the dangers and riding in good judgement is tough when the snow is so inviting. Trusting the ski-patrol signage at the gates and reading the daily avalanche bulletins helped keep us in the know with what the snow was doing. Always doing our best in trying to keep the group together even if there are “no friends on a powder day”(your friends are your enemy when too close while ripping through these trees). -Shredding until our legs were burnt, bodies were shaky and riding solely on the stoke, we carried on. Some days we would take that snow energy from the pow mornings and session the NisekoSnowRamsay backyard park after lunch and even shred under Hirafu’s lights at night. Never enough. We welcomed the few sunny days with mirrored lenses in the goggles, turning up the visibility knob to full blast and more full speed powder runs. It’s a nice relief to see the sun and mountains surrounding us… enjoy a biiru and talk a little smack about climbing Mt. Yotei.

Now we are back looking through yellow/clear/pink lenses on our faces and riding in a snow storm again.
Bodacious!
Holiday Niseko

VIP surf style

the staple lunch of ramen. refuel

Ramsay's ever changing backyard park

Last hip in the Ramsay park

Snowy nights under Hirafu's lights