We spent five amazing days in Niseko, Hokkaido indulging in delicious Japanese cuisine, learning to ski and soaking in the stunning mountain scenery.

Things to do in Niseko

• Skiing – the main reason people visit Niseko is to try the world class skiing. When we were living in Australia, lots of people we spoke to had heard of the ski resorts in Japan, or had been themselves, in contrast to the UK where people seem surprised to learn that Japan is a excellent skiing destination. This perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise as Japan is so much further from the UK and of course we have the alps and Scandinavia on our door steps for excellent skiing. However, for a ski trip with a difference, a trip to Niseko can combine all the culture, history and food that is magical about a trip to Japan, with excellent skiing, a variety of slopes and world famous powder and deep snow. James and I were complete ski novices but we booked in to some English speaking lessons, rented some gear and had such fun on the slopes of Niseko.

• Stunning natural scenery. Niseko is a mountain resort and the views of the mountains and beautiful landscapes are breath-taking. The Niseko mountain range is spectacular for admiring hiking and photography. With striking similarity to Mount Fuji, Mount Yotei (as seen below from Niseko Grand Hirafu ski resort) is stunningly beautiful with is symmetrical cone like appearance and snow capped peak.
• Japanese Culture This most northern island of the Japanese archipelago is of course full of the culture and experiences that make Japan so wonderful and unique to visit. when you visit Niseko, you can experience tasty Japanese food, and vibrant nightlife in the ski town of Niseko, there are lots of bars and restaurants to try. Also, how about staying in traditional ryokan? we have done this and loved it – The traditional paper walls, tatamai flooring and sleeping on a futon, as well as the food and hospitality, was a great experience. You can also visit ancient temples, shrines and also Matsumae castle, the last castle to built and the only castle in Hokkaido, making this a ski trip with a difference.
• Onsen – we loved Japanese onsen’s, and have tried many on our trips to Japan. Onsens are natural thermal baths and each onsen has its own minerals in the water, and are great to ease tired muscles after a day of skiing!
• Its a massive part of Japanese culture and a great thing to experience when visiting. There are communal onsen’s, male or female onsen’s or private onsen’s. Bear in mind, there are certain rules and procedures to follow when visiting an onsen, especially a communal onsen (which I learnt when I visited a onsen when I exposed my tattoo – read more about that here). Because of this, I tend to prefer a private onsen and it feels like my very own spa day at the end of a day skiing or exploring – bliss!

Niseko is a true gem and with its excellent skiing, delicious food, warm hospitality and culture its a great holiday destination in Japan. We combined our five days in Niseko with five days in Kyoto, flying down to catch the start of cherry blossom season (Sakura). We actually timed it pretty well (which may have been fluke on our part) as we had a great snow fall a the end of the season in Niseko; mid march – which meant we could combine skiing and cherry blossom in one trip. in the future we would love to come back and explore the rest of Hokkaido, too, which is known for its beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities year round for nature lovers.

Have you ever visited Niseko or Hokkaido ? Let me know in the comments !

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