When is the Best Time to Come to Niseko?

There are some distinct characteristics between the different periods of the winter season—each period has its charms! Read the whole guide or just scroll to when you are thinking of coming, either way this is a tool that will be invaluable when planning your winter trip to Niseko!

Before we jump in, please keep in mind that weather conditions and guest numbers vary every year. Global political events or weather events can increase or decrease the number of travellers or the opening of the resort. As a rule, Niseko United Resorts typically aim to open with the Japanese long-weekend holiday in late-November, however, some years snow conditions can delay the start of season. Don't forget that this is a guide that is designed to help you regardless of the year.

Temperature - ranges between a normal average high of 6°C and a normal average low of -1°C (November) and between a normal average high of -1°C and a normal average low of -7°C (December).

Snowfall and Sky Conditions - November averages 18 days of precipitation (rain or snow depending on the temperature) and December averages 23. It is less common to have many days with clear skies as the snow starts to fall more and more consistently.

Snow base Conditions - This period can see extremely rapid snow coverage once the temperature drops and stabilizes below 0°C, however, because the snow base has only just started to develop, this period can be a bit riskier as it is more susceptible to weather conditions.

Backcountry Gates - Open subject to weather and snow conditions. Many backcountry or sidecountry areas need a good base of snow before they can be opened to the public. If you are planning to leave resort area boundaries, please be sure to read our guide to heading out the gates, to follow the Niseko Rules, and to check the daily avalanche report. *It is possible that backcountry gates will not open during this part of the season.

Niseko is always a popular ski and snowboard destination, so you can expect that there will be guests looking to sneak in some snow before the crowds build up. Guest numbers are typically low and lift lines will be short to non-existent.

Restaurants - Most restaurants will be operating by the start of December, many will be operating before then. Many restaurants will not require reservations, but it is still advisable to make your reservations ahead of time. Each resort does have its own collection of year-round restaurants, so there will be places to go for lunch and dinner.

Lifts - The earliest lifts are scheduled to open with the Japanese national holiday in late-November and the remaining lifts will open over the course of December. To check the current lift status, please see Niseko United's weather and lift status page. If you are staying in Grand HIRAFU, they have a full season lift schedule available here.

Night Skiing - Unavailable (usually begins mid-December)

Niseko United Shuttle Bus - Available. This shuttle bus service runs all-year-round and connects all four of the resorts as well as Kutchan Train Station.

Events and Nightlife - The resort is usually somewhat quieter at this time of year. There is a buzz in the air as more and more guests start to arrive, but there will be few events and the nightlife scene will not have picked up much.

Cost of Accommodation - Lowest seasonal rates. Due to the lack of stability for snow conditions, most accommodation providers offer their lowest seasonal rates at this time of year. Discounts during this time of year are common.

When to Book Accommodation and Services - Many accommodation providers will offer additional discounts for this time of year as guest numbers are quite low. Not all services might be running, and demand will be low. We recommend booking ahead, but competition is typically lower so booking later in the booking season is usually not an issue.

Temperature - ranges between a normal average high of -1°C and a normal average low of -7°C.

Snowfall and Sky Conditions - December averages 23 days of falling precipitation. You can expect that most of the days during your stay it will snow and sunny days will be rare.

Snow base Conditions - This period can see sudden bursts of heavy snowfall. All it takes is one or two good dumps and snow conditions can be absolutely supreme.

Backcountry Gates - Backcountry gates will be open subject to weather conditions. Many backcountry or sidecountry areas need a good base of snow before they can be opened to the public. If you are planning to leave resort area boundaries, please be sure to read our guide to heading out the gates, to follow the Niseko Rules, and to check the daily avalanche report.

Guest numbers will be increasing steadily over the course of the mid-December period. The resorts will start to become a bit livelier, but lift lines should still be relatively short to non-existent.

Restaurants - All seasonal restaurants should be operating by this point in the season. Many restaurants will not require reservations, but it is still advisable to make your reservations ahead of time. Popular restaurants, especially in the Grand HIRAFU resort, can be competitive to find seating without a reservation or even require a reservation outright.

Lifts - Most lifts will be operational during this period. Please see Niseko United's weather and lift status page. If you are staying in Grand HIRAFU, they have a full season lift schedule available here.

Night Skiing - Typically will be available during this time of the season (start date might vary slightly). Runs daily between 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

Niseko United Shuttle Bus - Available. This shuttle bus service runs all-year-round and connects all four of the resorts as well as Kutchan Train Station.

Events and Nightlife - The resort is usually will be coming into full swing at this time of year. Restaurants and nightlife facilities will not usually be at full capacity, but there will be a lot more excitement in the air. During mid-December, it is not uncommon to see small events around the resorts (can vary year-by-year). See our events page for full details.

Cost of Accommodation - Lower seasonal rates. Costs of accommodation during this period can vary drastically, mostly due to the length of your stay. If your stay overlaps into the previous or next season, it can cause costs to go up or down accordingly. Discounts during this time of year are common.

When to Book Accommodation and Services - This can be a tricky time to book a trip for as it borders with the most popular time to come to Niseko. If you are looking to stay into late December, make sure you book early as you might find your trip overlapping with the Peak Christmas season and as such your options for accommodation can drop significantly. Book early, if not around the time of release, late-Spring, try to book in early-Summer. Similarly, with services, it can be tougher to book services toward the end of this period, so book accordingly.

Temperature - ranges between a normal average high of -1°C and a normal average low of -7°C (December) and between a normal average high of -2°C and a normal average low of -10°C (February). On the mountain, temperatures can be even lower, especially on windy days.

Snowfall and Sky Conditions - January averages 24 days and February averages 20 days of falling precipitation. You can expect that most of the days during your stay it will snow and sunny days will be rare.

Snow base Conditions - This period will have the largest snow base and be the most consistent time of year for guests seeking Niseko powder snow. It is not uncommon to have exceptionally large dumps of snow overnight.

Backcountry Gates - Backcountry gates will be open subject to weather conditions. If you are planning to leave resort area boundaries, please be sure to read our guide to heading out the gates, to follow the Niseko Rules, and to check the daily avalanche report.

Guest numbers tend to spike around the three major international holidays, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Chinese New Year. Additionally, countries in the southern hemisphere, like Austrailia, have their school summer holidays during this time of year. The resort can feel a bit crowded during these times if you do not know what to expect. That being said, this time of year is also one of the most exciting times to be in the Niseko area. Lifts will typically have lines, that being said they are likely to become a bit shorter over the next few years.

Restaurants - All seasonal restaurants will be operating by this point in the season. Many restaurants will require reservations, but some will have limited seating available for walk-in guests. Popular restaurants, especially in the Grand HIRAFU resort, can be competitive to find seating without a reservation or even require a reservation outright.

Lifts - All lifts will be operational during this period. Please see Niseko United's weather and lift status page. If you are staying in Grand HIRAFU, they have a full season lift schedule available here.

Night Skiing - available daily between 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

Niseko United Shuttle Bus - Available. This shuttle bus service runs all-year-round and connects all four of the resorts as well as Kutchan Train Station.

Events and Nightlife - The resort will be in full swing at this time of year. Restaurants and nightlife facilities will often be at capacity. This is the busiest event time of the year and there are often nightly events to be enjoyed throughout the resorts. See our events page for full details.

Cost of Accommodation - Peak season rates. Costs of accommodation during this period is at its highest for the entire year. Discounts during this time of year are extremely rare.

When to Book Accommodation and Services - When booking during this period of the year, it is highly advisable to contact accommodation providers immediately following their release for bookings. If they have an online booking portal and you know what room or room type you and your traveling party need, booking through their online portal can increase your odds of reserving your preferred accommodation. Most accommodation providers open between the months of March and May, with April 1st being a common release date. Services fill up well in advance and it is highly recommended to book lessons and restaurants as quickly as possible (typically become available over the course of the summer months).

Temperature - ranges between a normal average high of -2°C and a normal average low of -10°C (February) and between a normal average high of 1°C and a normal average low of -7°C (March).

Snowfall and Sky Conditions - February averages 20 days and March averages 17 days of falling precipitation. Sunny days begin to become less rare towards the end of this period.

Snow base Conditions - This period will still have a large snow base and is still among the best and most consistent times of year for guests seeking Niseko powder snow. It is not uncommon to have exceptionally large dumps of snow overnight even into the month of March.

Backcountry Gates - Backcountry gates will be open subject to weather conditions. If you are planning to leave resort area boundaries, please be sure to read our guide to heading out the gates, to follow the Niseko Rules, and to check the daily avalanche report.

The resorts will still be busy at this time of year, but because there are no major international holidays during this time, the numbers do dip a bit. As snow conditions continue strong throughout this period of the year the draw of fresh powder continues to bring travelers. Lift lines begin to shorten and disappear over the course of this period.

Restaurants - All seasonal restaurants should still be operating during this part in the season. Many restaurants will still require reservations, but there should be more availability for walk-in guests. Popular restaurants, especially in the Grand HIRAFU resort, can be competitive to find seating without a reservation or even require a reservation outright.

Lifts - Most lifts will be operational during this period, some smaller lifts might be shut down by the resorts. Please see Niseko United's weather and lift status page. If you are staying in Grand HIRAFU, they have a full season lift schedule available here.

Night Skiing - available daily between 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

Niseko United Shuttle Bus - Available. This shuttle bus service runs all-year-round and connects all four of the resorts as well as Kutchan Train Station.

Events and Nightlife - The resort will still be lively over the course of this period of the winter season. Events will continue to occur, but they do become fewer and further in between. See our events page for full details.

Cost of Accommodation - Powder Season rates. Costs of accommodation during this period are still high as excellent snow conditions are the main attraction. Discounts during this time of year are uncommon.

When to Book Accommodation and Services - As with the Mid-December period, booking close to the peak holiday period can limit available options. This period of the season does tend to become heavily booked, so waiting too late into the booking season can be ill-advised. If you are picky about where you stay and what services you use, booking early is advised. If you are booking mid-Summer for this time period, you will usually still have a lot of viable options for your stay.

Temperature - ranges betweem a normal average high of 1°C and a normal average low of -7°C.

Snowfall and Sky Conditions - March averages 17 days of falling precipitation. Sunny days begin to become more and more common as the month progresses.

Snow base Conditions - This period will still have a large snow base and skiing and snowboarding conditions are good. It is not uncommon to have exceptionally large dumps of snow overnight even into the month of March. Groomed courses are well-maintained and consistent; they are particularly good for new skiers and snowboarders. The trick parks are often some of the busiest spots on the mountain during this season.

Backcountry Gates - Backcountry gates will be open subject to weather conditions. Gates will be open pending snow conditions. If you are planning to leave resort area boundaries, please be sure to read our guide to heading out the gates, to follow the Niseko Rules, and to check the daily avalanche report.

Guest numbers continue to dwindle, although they do tend to spike up during school spring holiday periods and have become significantly busier during these times in recent years. Lift lines are usually short to non-existent.

Restaurants - All seasonal restaurants should still be operating during this part in the season, but some do begin to shut down at the end of March. Many restaurants will still require reservations, but there should be more availability for walk-in guests. Keep in mind that many restaurants do still require a reservation and it is still advised to book ahead to ensure you have a seat!

Lifts - The majority of lifts will be operational during this period, but smaller lifts do start to be shut down by the resorts. Please see Niseko United's weather and lift status page. If you are staying in Grand HIRAFU, they have a full season lift schedule available here.

Night Skiing - available daily between 4:30 pm and 8:30 pm typically until late-March.

Niseko United Shuttle Bus - Available. This shuttle bus service runs all-year-round and connects all four of the resorts as well as Kutchan Train Station.

Events and Nightlife - The resort starts to become a bit quieter. Events do continue to happen and usually perk up around Easter and school spring holidays. See our events page for full details.

Cost of Accommodation - Lower seasonal rates. Costs of accommodation during this period tends to dip-off as there are lower numbers of guests. This period can be particularly good value for first-time skiers and snowboarders as the snow conditions are still very good for learning and prices around the resorts are lower. Discounts during this time of year are common.

When to Book Accommodation and Services - Unless you are booking a trip around your children's school spring holidays, booking a trip for this period of the season later in the year is not usually problematic. Even so, it never hurts to book early as you can spread out some of the payments a bit more to help you keep your budget balanced and prevent that heavy drop when you actually head off on your trip! There can be advantages of booking later during this time period as it allows you to better judge the snow conditions. Many travelers book during November, December, and January. You can even time a trip to Japan at this time to include cherry-blossom viewing in Southern Japan as well and skiing in Niseko!

Temperature - ranges between a normal average high of 9°C and a normal average low of 0°C (April) and between a normal average high of 15°C and a normal average low of 5°C (May).

Snowfall and Sky Conditions - April averages 10 days and May averages 9 days of falling precipitation. Sunny days on the slopes are quite common.

Snow base Conditions - The snow base does start to melt away as the weather becomes consistently warmer. Groomed courses are well-maintained and are still a good place for new skiers and snowboarders. The trick parks are often some of the busiest spots on the mountain during this season.

Backcountry Gates - Backcountry gates will be open subject to weather conditions. Gates can close for the season during April. If you are planning to leave resort area boundaries, please be sure to read our guide to heading out the gates, to follow the Niseko Rules, and to check the daily avalanche report.

Guest numbers continue to drop until the close of the season. Number of seasonal staff also drop and it can mean you can have the whole mountain to yourself on a beautiful sunny day. Lift lines are non-existent.

Restaurants - Many seasonal restaurants will operate over the month of April, but come the end of the month many shut down their seasonal operations. Many restaurants that stay open year-round will have walk-in availability, but some will still prefer reservations being made in advance.

Lifts - The majority of lifts will close over the month of April. This will depend most heavily on the weather conditions. Please see Niseko United's weather and lift status page. If you are staying in Grand HIRAFU, they have a full season lift schedule available here.

Night Skiing - unavailable.

Niseko United Shuttle Bus - Available. This shuttle bus service runs all-year-round and connects all four of the resorts as well as Kutchan Train Station.

Events and Nightlife - The resort tends to be much quieter at this time of year. There do tend to be a few end-of-season events that are always worth checking out. See our events page for full details.

Cost of Accommodation - Lowest seasonal rates. Costs of accommodation during this period drops to the lowest winter seasonal rates, similar to the Start of Season period. Discounts during this time of year are common.

When to Book Accommodation and Services - There is very little competition with booking at this time of year. You can often time a trip lat minute, although it is always best to book in advance as it makes logistics for your trip easier.