I just came back from a couple of days of skiing. Japan has a lot to offer in this area. Skiing can be done all over the place in Japan, this time I went to Hokkaido, the large northern island. Flying for only an hour with a 747 from Tokyo took me to Chitose airport in Sapporo City. From there it’s a three hour bus ride to the very snowy slopes of Niseko.

Christmas is a good time to come here for skiing. There is a lot of snow and not a lot of people. Hardly any waiting in line for the lifts and plenty of room to move in the slopes. Snow quality is top notch here. Dry and very smooth to ski. If there is one problem with snow here it’s that it is too much of it.

Video shot in the slopes of Niseko Christmas 2006. Click to play.


The slopes range from beginner to advanced. The mountain “Niseko United” has three skiing areas that are all connected and can be accessed with one all mountain ski pass. From left there is Annupuri, Higashiyama and Grand Hirafu. It took me about one day to ski through the hole system and back, starting way left in Annupuri and returning there in the afternoon.

The number one style here is snowboarding. After that comes carving skis, funny thing there are a lot of really good riders of boards, but the skiers seem mostly like beginners. Maybe they have all moved on to boards after mastering the skis. A few people with old school straight skis could actually be seen in the slopes. Strange for Japan where everyone normally wants to have the latest stuff. Telemark skis is not at all in fashion here. A few could be seen, think they were mostly foreigners.

The majority of people here are of course Japanese, but after that comes people from Australia. Almost seems like Japan is their first choice for skiing. Third other types of foreigners who found their way here from Tokyo or Osaka. This is still Japan so there will be an attendant saying “Hai, dozo” to everyone entering the lift. Will also be another one saying thank you when you get off. They also help everyone putting their skis in the outside rack when riding the gondola. Nice, never happened to me in the Alps.

Equally important is the onsen. Soaking in the Japanese bath after a long day at the slopes is very relaxing. The Japanese take their onsen very seriously. Close to being religious about it. All the larger hotels have their own onsen. A rotenburo option is very important. Actually sitting outside in the hot tub when the snow is falling is part of the onsen experience.

I stayed in the Niseko Hotel Scot. Not the best rooms, but very convenient location right in the bottom of the slope in Grand Hirafu. The onsen is first class, including rotenburo (outside bath) with a view of the volcano. Other features is free internet access and a mellow aprés ski bar on the second floor.

Technorati Tags: skiing, Hokkaido, Chitose, Sapporo, snowy, slopes, Niseko, Christmas, United, Annupuri, Higashiyama, Hirafu, snowboarding, carving, Telemark, Alps, onsen, Soaking, Japanese, rotenburo, Hotel, Scot

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