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.

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.

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.

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.

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 etiquette surrounding them. Most of them are built outside in the open-air and usually have separate male and female baths.

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.

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.

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.

Skiing and snowboarding the spring season up here in Niseko 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. 

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, ambassadors 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.