Niseko Winter Guide 2024: Things To Do in Winter

When you think of winter in Japan — and especially skiing or snowboarding in Japan — there’s no place quite like Niseko. Based on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, Niseko is famous for its inimitable powder snow and expansive, accessible slopes, around which some of Japan’s most luxurious ski resorts gather.

Step onto your skis or snowboard and swerve through our handy Niseko Winter Guide, showing you some of the best things to do in Niseko’s winter months…

Niseko is located on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, a two-hour drive away — or three-hour train journey — from Sapporo, the capital city in Hokkaido.

Find out more: 25 Best Things To Do in Sapporo

If you’ve experienced winter in Tokyo or Kyoto, you might not be ready for the extreme cold of winter in Niseko. The weather often dips below 0°C, though you likely won’t even notice once you’re slicing your way through the slopes or stepping into one of ski resorts’ sensational hot springs.

Prepare well and pack a warm, waterproof jacket, gloves, scarves, hats and thick, fluffy socks. If you find you haven’t packed what you need for skiing or snowboarding, you can likely rent most of what you need from Niseko’s ski resorts.

The best winter sports don’t happen in Niseko until January or February, so you’ve got time to pick up a new skill while you’re here! In this Niseko cooking class, learn how to make 13 different types of sushi, along with the classic tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet).

Only an hour by car from the coast either way, Niseko also boasts a bountiful selection of fresh seafood. Turn these ingredients into a homemade lunch, sampling diverse types of sushi, from nigiri to maki rolls.

Get into the festive mood with the Tree Lighting Celebration 2024 at the Hanazono Summer Gondola, where a 12-meter-tall Christmas tree will bring the season to life with 10,000 LED lights. 

Once the tree lights up the skyline of the slopes, there’ll be a seasonal-exclusive fireworks display, complemented further by complimentary hot drinks and cookies.

Have you ever heard of a more cozy Japanese winter plan for families?

If you happen to miss the firework display on the same night as the tree-lighting event, don’t worry — Hanazono’s fireworks display happens every Saturday throughout winter and into spring.

December: 14th (5 pm), 21st, 24th, 28th, 31st

January: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

February: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

March: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

These spectacular fireworks normally begin at around 7 pm and last about five minutes, but you’ll likely be thinking about them for the rest of the year.

Note: On December 31st, these fireworks light up the sky at midnight.

Bringing the family for a snowboarding and skiing holiday in Niseko? Make sure you’re close to Hanazono Slope on Christmas Eve, because Santa Clause — or Santa-san, as the Japanese call him — is making a visit! 

There’ll be free hot apple cider, cookies, fireworks and even a few presents for the little ones.

Niseko’s most popular ski resorts are:

• Grand Hirafu: The largest Niseko ski resort, based in Hirafu Village, encompassing a wide range of stylish suites, restaurants, shops and bars.

• Niseko Annupuri: Annupuri’s slopes are relatively flat, making it the most accessible ski slope for beginners. It also has many English-speaking staff members and handy lifts up the mountain.

• Niseko Village: Sitting between Hirafu and Annupuri, Niseko Village has everything from ski-in, ski-out hotels and snowmobiling to snow rafting. It also offers a good mix of gentle slopes for beginners and long, steep runs for experienced adrenaline-seekers.

These three ski resorts lie across the southeastern half of the mountain, all joined from the peak of Niseko mountain; this allows you to ski or snowboard on the slopes of each ski resort. In addition, there are shuttle buses between each ski resort, making it easier to split your time between each ski resort’s famous slopes.

Niseko tip: Buy the Niseko All Mountain Pass if you think you’ll want to access all areas of Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village and Annupuri resorts. A one-day pass will cost you around ¥10,500 during peak season or ¥7,400 yen during the off-season.

Of course, it almost goes without saying that if you’re coming to Niseko in the winter, you’re going snowboarding or skiing. 

Why did we save this for January, though? Well, this is when you can expect an idyllic combination of powder snow, bright blue skies and mountain ranges that stretch into the horizon.

Grab (or rent) your board or skis and hit the slopes, choosing whichever level of slope feels most comfortable for your skill level; there’s a length and steepness for every person.

Whether you’re looking to start the day with sunrise and a soak or rest your muscles after a long day of slaloming down the mountain, Niseko has some beautiful onsen hot springs. One such hot spring is Niseko Annupuri Onsen Yugokoro-tei, offering an outdoor bathing area blessed with crystal clear mountain water at a temperature of up to 56°C. 

Imagine resting your weary bones after an active day, listening to the water gently lap against the stones while overlooking Niseko’s snow-covered nature.

You know when some things are so good that you have to say it twice? That’s skiing and snowboarding in Niseko, which is still blessed with fine, powdery snow and crisp winter weather into the month of February.

So, even if you spent December in Nikko and January in other parts of Hokkaido, there’s still plenty of time for winter sports in Niseko before spring comes around.

Wondering about other seasons in Japan? Take a look at the best time to visit Japan and browse our guide to the best things to do in Japan this winter.