Niseko United Has You Covered

This sprawling mountain plays host to four amazing resorts each with a unique offering; Niseko Grand Hirafu, Niseko Hanazono, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri. With over 50km of runs from easy to expert, back-country gates and park features, you will never get bored of what Niseko United has to offer. As if these powder playgrounds couldn't get any better, Mt Yotei lurks in the distance providing an impossibly epic background to the best resort powder skiing and boarding in the world. Grab an all mountain pass to access each of these great resorts!

The jewel in the Niseko crown is Niseko Grand Hirafu. Grand Hirafu has the largest area of the four resorts and the most chair lifts on the mountain. A high speed, eight-person gondola plus a number of quad lifts make accessing your favourite runs a breeze. There are options for every skill level with wide, gentle beginner slopes at the bottom of the mountain, steeper sections and tree runs for intermediate riders and also gate access to the back-country for those epic powder stashes.

On-mountain restaurants and cafes serve up affordable meals and drinks for when you need to take a break and a resort shuttle makes frequent stops around the village so you can rest your legs after a hard day on the slopes. Grand Hirafu also fires up the floodlights after dark providing powder riding until 9pm!

For accommodation and entertainment Hirafu has by far the widest selection. With ski-in ski-out hotels such as Skye Niseko and Ki Niseko, resort homes, serviced apartments and smaller lodges, there are options for all budgets and group sizes. Hirafu boasts the liveliest bars, clubs and restaurants in the area as well as many grocery stores, rental shops and galleries. 

Niseko Hanazono is the baby brother to Grand Hirafu. When purchasing your Grand Hirafu ski pass you are also granted access to Hanazono. Hanazono has some of the best in-resort tree runs which makes it the perfect location for all day powder laps. Those looking for big air action have access to one of the largest terrain parks in Hokkaido, complete with a quarter-pipe, kickers and boxes. Hanazono also hosts Slopestyle and Banked Slalom competitions in the Spring, attracting the best in the region to showcase their skills. 

Accommodation options are less plentiful than in Hirafu though in January the new Park Hyatt is due to open its doors. 

Niseko Village is a great place to find runs of all difficulty levels and chances are you won't have many other riders to compete with as it's known to be particularly quiet. Niseko Village has the longest run on the mountain at 7.4 km and also some particularly challenging black runs for those looking to push themselves.

Accommodation and entertainment options include the Hilton Hotel, Green Leaf Village and the new Hinode Hills. There is a small Japanese style village near the Hilton with shops and restaurants too. 

Niseko Annupuri, the furthest resort to the west, is laid back and relaxed. Ride in comfort as the gondola takes you high up the mountain providing dramatic views of Mt Yotei and the surrounding farm lands. From the gondola exit you have your choice of wide groomed runs, fun tree courses or inbound bowls and gullies. The restaurants at the base of Annupuri will keep you well fed and hydrated so you can ride all day long. Annupuri does have an adventurous side with some of the more advanced back country gates on the mountain. These gates provide access to large gullies and natural pipes that feed back to the base of the resort. 

A number of accommodations, great food options and onsens close by make Annupuri a great location for a relaxed winter getaway.

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To experience the best Niseko United has to offer we recommend a GoSnow Powder Guiding tour. Skilled instructors will take you to all of the best resort locations and provide you the skills to ride them with ease.

Not long to go now until opening day! Check out our countdown post!