[2025 Kutchan ] Travel Guide for Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu (Updated Mar)

#skiadventure Address - Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu Ski Resort (Japan, 044-0081 Hokkaido, Abuta District, Kutchan, Niseko Hirafu 1-jo 2-91) Ambiance/Facilities - Snowy and lively vibes, ski, snowboard, restaurants, snow school Highlights - Powdery snow that are loved by everyone Avg. Price per Person - $100 to $200 Rating - 5.0/5.0 snowflakes Best place to ski or snowboard or even just to admire the white and pure snow. Its great for beginner or veteran as there are many different levels slopes available. Enjoy authentic Japanese food like sushi at the end of the day add a sweet touch to you trip. You will definitely have a memorable ski adventure! #snow #ski #niseko #hokkaido #japan

Hey friends! Still struggling to find the perfect ski resort? Niseko, Hokkaido, is your ultimate destination! Composed of four major ski areas, it boasts soft powder snow, diverse slopes, and breathtaking views of the majestic Mount Yōtei. Plus, the facilities are top-notch. Without further ado, let's dive into this comprehensive guide! Four Unique Ski Areas 1. Hirafu Ski Resort: As Niseko's most famous and largest ski area, Hirafu caters to skiers of all levels. The snow quality is superb, and the rental equipment is excellent. We highly recommend booking lift tickets and equipment online in advance to enjoy discounts. The area offers a wide variety of dining options, although the cable cars are a bit basic, but that doesn't detract from the skiing experience. 2. Niseko Village Ski Resort: A hidden gem! Located near Mount Yōtei, the scenery is simply breathtaking. There are plenty of beginner-friendly tree runs, and the slopes are less crowded, making for a fantastic skiing experience. The ski resort lobby is located within the Hilton hotel, adding a touch of luxury. The cable cars are large and spacious, and you can relax at the hotel after a day on the slopes. 3. Annupuri Ski Resort: This resort is perfect for beginners, with numerous wide, beginner and intermediate slopes, often referred to as "big white slopes." However, it can get a bit crowded, and the rental equipment is somewhat clunky. The food here is quite good, offering a delightful culinary experience alongside the skiing. 4. Hanazono Resort: Although I haven't personally skied here, you can access it with a Hirafu lift ticket. It's said that the cable cars and yurts here are LV-branded, making it a great challenge for intermediate and advanced skiers. Lift Tickets and Ski Area Access You can purchase individual lift tickets for each ski area, or opt for an all-mountain pass or a combined ticket (including day passes, hourly passes, and point cards) based on your needs. Single-day lift tickets cost around RMB 300+, and ski rentals are also around RMB 300+. The ski areas generally operate until around 7:30 pm. You can ski from one peak to another or take the shuttle bus between ski areas, but you might need to carry your skis for a short distance. Therefore, we recommend focusing on one ski area per day to fully enjoy the experience. Three-Day Itinerary Suggestion DAY 1: Depart from Sapporo for Hirafu Ski Resort and experience the powder snow. Enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area. DAY 2: Spend the morning at Annupuri Ski Resort on the beginner-friendly slopes, and then head to Niseko Village in the afternoon to admire the stunning views of Mount Yōtei. DAY 3: Depart from Kutchan for Otaru to soak in the romantic atmosphere, and then return to Sapporo, concluding your delightful ski trip. Transportation and Accommodation The journey from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station and then to Kutchan Station takes approximately 3 hours. From Kutchan, you can transfer to a bus to reach the ski resorts. Some hotels also offer shuttle services. Trains from Otaru to Kutchan are infrequent and crowded, so you might have to stand for the entire journey. We highly recommend Niseko Grand Hotel for accommodation. Even during the peak Lunar New Year period, when hotels are expensive and hard to book, this hotel offers rooms for just RMB 1200+. The rooms are newly renovated, the environment is fantastic, and there's an open-air onsen (even a mixed-gender one!). The hotel provides free shuttle service to and from the station, a bus to the ski resorts, and a delicious breakfast, offering exceptional value for money! The nearby Dwarf Restaurant is a popular spot with a unique atmosphere, definitely worth checking out. So, are you ready to embark on your ski adventure in Niseko? Start planning now!

📍 Itinerary Overview 🚩 Sightseeing Route 🏖️ Must-Visit Attractions 🚇 Transportation 📷 Photo Spots 🍜 Local Cuisine 🏠 Accommodation 💡 Tips I went to Niseko ski resort and had really yummy Hokkaido crab and went snowboarding with my friends! We had yummy drinks at the Magic Mountain bar- I don’t do alcohol but they made cocktails for me! There was an ice festival by Lake Shikotsu, and a really nice all you can eat surf and turf buffet in Sapporo!

The Mount Yotei brings the beauty of the whole skiing and snowboarding experience. Isn’t she pretty 😍. 📍Address: Grand Hirafu Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan.

#getgoing2025 Gran Hirafu is the largest of all the mountains in Niseko. The 22 diverse courses will satisfy any level. Speaking of Niseko, powder snow is famous. You can slide on high-quality powder snow, which represents Japan, on the non-pressure snow course. You can see Mt. Yotei from the slopes, and it is a luxurious ski resort where you can enjoy both its superb view and powder snow at the same time. Night business is also well-equipped, and you can skate long distances even at night. Don't forget to check the Niseko rules in advance to enjoy powder snow.

❄️The largest and most popular ski resort in the Niseko area, from family courses to off-site gates, there are ski trails suitable for all levels. The snow quality is very good, and many schools bring children to take ski lessons. The ski trails here are suitable for children and beginners, as well as for professional skiers who like to pursue speed. ❄️There is also a ski school here where you can make an appointment to sign up for lessons ❄️The entire Niseko area is divided into four major ski resorts along Annapurin Mountain Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Anupuri and Niseko Village The largest one is the Hirafu Ski Resort where we stayed this time. ❄️The cost of skiing in Niseko is quite scary, but this is the best ski resort in Japan. The falling snowflakes🌨 are delicate and tender❄️ You can clearly see various ice crystals with the naked eye. It's a pity that because of its meticulousness, it turns into water when it touches the body and is heated. Ice lovers who have been to Niseko will be attracted by the magic of this beautiful powder snow. #sapporoattractions

There are nearly a hundred large and small ski resorts in Hokkaido in winter, from local ski resorts to giant resorts, from the world-famous ski resorts of Niseko and Rusutsu, to the ski resorts near Sapporo city, Hokkaido is full of surprises❄ - 1⃣ Rusutsu Resort ⭐Features: The largest ski resort in Hokkaido, with 37 ski trails spread across three mountains: West Mountain, East Mountain, and Isola Mountain, boasting high-quality powder snow, with a total skiing distance of 42 kilometers 🏂🏻Ski Trails: Beginners are recommended to go to the East Mountain snow area, advanced skiers can try Isola Mountain ⛄Special Activities: Dog sledding, snowmobiling 🚗Transportation: About 1 hour and 30 minutes from Sapporo New Chitose Airport 📍13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu-mura, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido . 2⃣ Niseko Resort ⭐Features: Located in the southwest of Sapporo, it has the best quality powder snow in Japan, attracting skiers from all over the world 🏂🏻Ski Resort: There are 4 ski resorts, from difficult to easy: Village Ski Resort, Hirafu Ski Resort, Annapuri International Ski Resort, Garden Ski Resort ⛄Special Activities: The hotel has rich facilities, and there are high-quality hot springs nearby 🚗Transportation: About 2 hours drive from Sapporo Station 📍Niseko, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido . 3⃣ Sapporo Teine ⭐Features: High-quality powder snow above 1000m altitude, overlooking Sapporo city and Ishikari Bay 🏂🏻Ski Trails: A super long beginner's ski trail of 6km, you can find Chinese coaches, suitable for family trips ⛄Special Snow Activities: Children's Park, snow entertainment facilities 🚗Transportation: Only 40 minutes from the city center, very convenient! 📍593-3 Teinehoncho, Teine-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido . 4⃣ Furano Ski Resort ⭐Features: Located in central Hokkaido, near Furano city, you can overlook the magnificent scenery of Tokachidake and Daisetsuzan 🏂🏻Ski Trails: There are 28 ski trails, rich in variety, from beginners to advanced skiers can enjoy the fun 🚗Transportation: About 2 hours and 30 minutes drive from Sapporo 📍 Nakamise, Furano, Hokkaido . 5⃣ Hoshino Resort Tomamu Ski Resort ⭐Features: Complete hotel facilities, with a dreamy ice world 'Ice Village' 🏂🏻Ski Trails: 29 different ski trails, meeting the different needs of beginners to advanced skiers ⛄Special Activities: The fog ice observation deck suitable for photo shooting, and the ice castle made entirely of ice 🚗Transportation: About 2 hours drive from Sapporo 📍Tomamu, Shimukappu-mura, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido

Hello everyone, today I am going to introduce you to the Hirafu Ski Resort in Niseko. I have skied all four ski resorts in Niseko, all four ski resorts share a mountain and are connected. From left to right: Annupuri, Niseko Village, Grand Hirafu, Hanazono. Unless you are an expert, it is not recommended to buy a full mountain pass, because it is impossible to brush all four ski resorts. Hirafu Ski Resort is the earliest developed ski resort in Niseko. It is not large in terms of skiing area, but the town has a lot of supporting facilities, including restaurants, bars, supermarkets and specialty stores of major ski brands. In terms of transportation, I first flew to New Chitose Airport, then took a bus, about three hours, there are many bus stops, as long as you go to a famous hotel, basically point to point. If you are not sure where to get off, tell the bus driver the address when you get on the bus, and he will suggest where you should get off. About the cost: Ski suit 1500～3000 yen per day Ski board and ski boots 2000～4000 yen per day Adults (16-64 years old) 9300 yen Teenagers (13-15 years old) 7500 yen Children (4-12 years old) 5800 yen Chinese ski instructor (6 hours per day) 70000～90000 yen

I went skiing in Niseko, Japan. There are four ski resorts in Niseko, and I went to Hirafu Ski Resort this time. Hirafu Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in Niseko, not only with a variety of ski trails, but also with charming scenery. You can overlook Mount Yotei directly from the mountain! It is very suitable for skiers with some experience, but the design of the beginner's trail is not friendly to beginners. The living function around Hirafu is also the best, whether it is restaurants, accommodation or transportation, it is very convenient. About the cable car ticket: Most people will buy the Shinsetsu Valley United Mountain Cable Car Pass, which can be used for all cable cars. The price of the United Mountain Cable Car Day Pass is 8500 yen per day; a separate cable car pass can be purchased at each resort, the price is about 2000 yen. Because I only went to Hirafu Ski Resort, I bought a separate ticket. What else can you do besides skiing: 🔹Watch the sunrise at Mount Yotei: Known as the Mount Fuji of Hokkaido, you must get up early to watch the sunrise 🔹Kutchan Town: It's only a short drive from Shinsetsu Valley, where there are comprehensive grocery stores, many restaurants, and more accommodation options. Although it is a bit far from the ski resort, it can be reached by highway, and there are public buses in and out of the resort every day 🔹Hot springs: An activity that must not be missed when coming to Hokkaido

1. Niseko Hirafu Ski Resort includes four ski areas, all located on Annupuri Mountain, and together they form the Niseko Ski Federation. These four ski areas are interconnected on the mountain, and you can buy ski tickets covering all four ski areas at any one of them. If you only plan to ski 1-2 ski areas, you can choose a single ski area ticket, which is about 300 RMB per day. The price of the all-mountain pass is 9500 yen (475 RMB) per day. 2. Features of the four ski areas: - Annupuri ski area has gentle and spacious slopes, very suitable for beginners. - Garden ski area is suitable for snowboard park players. - Niseko Village ski area has narrower slopes, but beautiful scenery. - Hirafu ski area is the largest and most diverse of the four ski areas, but also relatively crowded. In my opinion, unless you love adventure, there is no need to buy an all-mountain pass. Because it requires climbing between different ski areas, and if you miss the cable car, you may need to wait for the bus to go back, which is quite tiring. 3. Niseko has a very large amount of snowfall, and it snowed for three of the four days you stayed. Because it keeps snowing, the ski areas here hardly have any ice surface, it is easy to slow down with snow, and it won't hurt too much if you fall. After skiing in Niseko, you may feel like you are skating in Chongli and the Northeast. In addition, due to the continuous snowfall, there are hardly any carving players here, and hard snow conditions rarely occur. The freshly flattened snow will soon accumulate again, making it difficult to fully utilize the edge to cut into the snow. (So double-board skiers should not choose too narrow skis, and snowboarders should not choose completely carved boards, because you will have this experience) In general, Niseko Hirafu Ski Resort has a large amount of snowfall, providing good snow quality and a comfortable skiing experience. Choose a ski area that suits your level and preferences, and enjoy the fun of skiing!

Living in a place where it's summer all year round, I've always wanted to experience skiing. For my first skiing trip, I chose Hokkaido - Niseko. Niseko is divided into 4 areas, and for first-timers, I recommend choosing Grand Hirafu. There are more food options there, and it's easier to rent skiing equipment. Beginners can go to Dot base to ski. And you can usually arrange for a coach to meet you there. Transportation (Sapporo<>Niseko) 🚍Direct bus (Resort Liner / White Liner /CHUO bus) is recommended, please book online at least one week in advance & check the timetable 🚇Take the train -Sapporo>Otaru>Kutchan, then transfer to a bus to Hirafu Welcome Center Since this is a Local Train, you can't reserve a seat and you'll have to stand for the whole journey. Once you get to Kutchan, head straight to the bus stop on the left of the exit. If you don't, you might not be able to get on the bus and have to wait for the next one. Because everyone is carrying snow gear and luggage, it takes up a lot of bus space Tips ✔Only bring what you need, leave the rest of your luggage in a locker at Sapporo Jr ✔Bring your own ski goggles, quick-drying clothes, and pants ✔Reserve a restaurant in advance/go early to queue, otherwise, you'll only be able to eat at a convenience store ✔If it's your first time skiing, I recommend hiring a private coach. It's really necessary! Otherwise, getting on and off the chairlift can be very dangerous. You can group 4~6 people together for private lessons to share the cost.

#Japan Attractions #Snowboard First Experience - Ski Rental Episode # Sign up for a hotel sleeper My husband and I are both coming into contact with Snowboard for the first time Be sure to ask a coach to teach you the basics if you've never had it before We booked a coach online With rented ski equipment, filled out information such as height and weight He also paid part of the money in Hong Kong in advance Once we arrived we rushed to Rhythm to rent ski supplies first I didn't know what to do when I first came here, but I had to use a machine to register and print out the invoice, then I went to try on clothes This is the first contact, so we do not have our own equipment To rent ski clothes, snow pants, Snowboard, snowshoes and helmets We only brought our own waterproof gloves, snow socks, snow goggles and a scarf Speaking of snow socks, be sure to buy a pair that covers the length of your calves Used to protect your calves from the friction of your snowshoes Waterproof gloves will eventually get wet anyway Unless you won’t fall or sweat Snow goggles have been snowing for a long time in Hokkaido But if there is sun you have to buy a pair of stronger UV protection snow goggles We bought one pair of snow goggles from Japan and one from Taobao In the case of the sun, these two pairs are not good enough to block I will buy a better one next time And my husband's snow goggles are specially designed for people who wear glasses You can wear glasses as a whole pair of glasses, which is very convenient As for snow pants, ski jackets, we’ll buy them ourselves in the next episode I'll share with you then 🥰 In this episode we rent, the staff will be based on the information you filled out before I'll give you the clothes to try on. I'm afraid of the cold, so I still have a pair of pants inside Wear a lot of clothes, January in Hokkaido, not in the cold of a joke I really like his wardrobe. The grid is very convenient The staff easily prepared for us They will also provide buried bags for us to load and leave Snowboard rented Adult Standard for the first time It turned out to be so heavy that I couldn't even lift it on one leg Later, the coach told me that renting a Premium would be lighter Rhythm's service is really good, 90% communication is mainly in English One-stop service, fast, beautiful and great You can also pick up ski supplies the night before and ski the next day before you count the daily rent It's also very convenient, you can put it in the hotel and they get someone to collect it It's all done, even 4 bags of stuff plus two boards are not heavy We went to Lawson to treat our stomachs and went to find a coach We were lucky, the weather was nice, You can clearly see the whole mountain of sheep's hoof #Yanghoshan #Niseko #Hokkaido #RentSnowGear #rhythm #hirafu #JapanScenery #mountyotei #yotei #Japan #niseko #hokkaido_lovers #hokkaido #travelblogger #hkinfluencer #hkigers #skiing first experience #ski #skiing #traveltheworld #discoverhokkaido #stationarer #travelleg

a local trip up to Niseko snowboarding with my girlfriend thanks to Trip.com #triplocal #snowboarding #niseko #couplestrip #wintergetaway #snow #mountain #triplocal

#wintergetaway in Niseko, Japan. A great place for snowboarding and other winter sports. In Lower Hirafu lots of good restaurants to eat in. It has some of the best snow in the world, definitely recommend for beginners or advanced winter sports lovers. #wintergetaway

Grand Hirafu Cable Car, Niseko - Japan: This is one of the best place for skiing and snowboarding in Japan. You can take a cable car back if you would like to go down the mountain unlike the chair lift. #merrychristmas

Grand Hirafu Chair Lift , Niseko - Japan: A nice place for skiing and snowboarding. The snow hete is really good and there is a school for those who would like to learn how to ski and snowboarding. High season is from December to March. #merrychristmas