I'm not convinced you could use anything about this yearas an indicator for next year. Mid /late January iis normally very reliable. Nothing about this year seems normal to me.
I agree that time frame is normally reliable for powder. However, last few trips have been disappointing so it's not just this year as an anomaly. I thought I had found pretty much a location for reliable snow every Jan but after about 3-4 years of consistency we've missed it and been skiing crap snow on crowded pistes for half our trips as Niseko has gotten even busier. We also go for at least 2 weeks to maximise chances of regular snow and cold temps. Might be time to get off the beaten track next year, Niseko isn't exactly cheap and I don't mind paying when the quality of the experience reflects it but we've been underwhelmed last couple of trips because the original reason we fell in love with the place, the crazy amounts of powder, have been lacking. First world problems I know.....
It’s been a real surprise packet. Good snow, good terrain, zero crowds. It felt odd today riding Shizukuishi smashing powder on groomed runs and fresh tree lines...at 1pm. Odd. Where are the people??
Apart from the Quad at 9am we hardly had a wait for a lift all day today. And not a heap of people on the hill for such an epic powder day. PB lapped Miharashi and was still getting fresh lines at lunch. We did Konayuki on repeat (it’s the assessed pitch hence why we are doing it on repeat) and often we were the only people on it, occasionally joined by one or two others.
not the greatest conditions for taking good photos or updating social media. every time i try to take a photo of someone it looks like this: or this or this but its ok, ill suffer through it.
Great to hear it’s still quite. But for how long? You get used to no queues, ‘fresh tracks’ powder on piste or near piste all day throughout Tohoku. The stuff I see posted on social media for the biggies ( hakuba, niseko etc ) where it looks like a shit fight for first tracks makes you appreciate how good Tohoku is.
Ahh didn’t eat there. Prince resort tax was observed. Generally, going for 800-1000 at other nearby resorts.
You pure guy - really hope you can take the suffering - had a great suffering day on piste down here.
a pretty ok day today. haven't seen blue sky for a while. cold as hell this afternoon tho, had to call it early!
The lenticular cloud over Yotei this morning was pretty special, meant to take a pic when I got up higher but the weather sacked in and stayed until I was done, then the cloud was gone.
pretty early, but not first. just takes some common sense. don't follow people. if you want fresh snow, ski where people arent. somehow everyone seems to forget this. Niseko United is more than 3000 HA of slackcountry. more than most resorts in Japan combined. anyone that tells you its immediately tracked out is just a noob punter.
Cold day in Niseko today. Jumps practice for us today. WAY outside my comfort zone. One concussion casualty in our group today, not me thankfully!
Yeah, will be our first time in Niseko. Have been back country prior but haven't really experienced true "slack country". Usually been a journey to find some fresh pow at other resorts. Literally can't wait!!!
Duuuuuddde 8.30 - 5.15 for me today. Hana Park (hiking) all morning and two real life teaches this arvo (first timer and intro to switch). My face is frozen! FYI: best day ever!
yeah i guess the name is significantly less scary sounding than backcountry. maybe have to start calling it lift accessed backcountry or something.
Hai! They’re my boys mates, but I got excused from training with the coaches blessing - just did off piste (which I’m happy with) this arvo and I got WAY more out of the teaches. Never hiked up and down family so much in my life but SO rewarding.
exact same run, position and angle today. literally skiing by braille. do your best to react, cross fingers you know where are & hope you dont fall off a cliff. back to standard niseko whiteout footage.
Took the day off today, and did a day trip to Lake Toya today. The day also included lunch at Maccarina restaurant at Makkari. The onsen at Makkari is next door to the restaurant, with a rotenburo with 180 degree views of Yotei. Had an onsen first, then a set 5 course lunch at Maccarina for 3500 yen. I highly recommend both the onsen at Makkari, followed by lunch at the restaurant for those in the area that are looking for day trip options close to Rusutsu or Niseko. maccarina.co.jp
Cloudy, warm day in Niseko. Piste is thin and icy. Feels like Concrete (Coronet) Peak. Please let it snow again.
Seems like the story of this season. Some Powder comes, its ok/good for half a week/a few days, then it warms up again and the tap turns off. I also observe that second half of Jan when we were there definitely reminded me of Australian/NZ skiing on more than one occasion. Gross. Not what we go to Japow for. Looks like 6 degrees tomorrow in Niseko and 17 in Tokyo, in Feb! If I could have missed a season this would be it
Yeah gonna be a warm one in town tomorrow, possible with a bit of the r word unfortunately. Gotta say though... I may have only been on the family run this morning (exam), but it was in excellent condition. It wasn’t icy, there was full coverage on the dodgy spots up the top near the lift. Not saying they won’t degrade today and tomorrow, but I’d be surprised if up the top was like ice when family down low was in great condition. Sure it’s not fresh pow, but it was far from Southern Hemisphere ice.
Children’s Teach Cert Last of 3 days. Exam teach using creative spiderwebbing suited to 10yr old. Find out result in a few hrs but felt good. Starting to really get a flow going with the questioning and formulating lesson plans on the fly that my target group will love and relate to.
Well I’m halfway into my week long adventure and here are my thoughts so far: Pros: Hinode Hills accommodation is wonderful, it is expensive (about $300 a night) but being new the rooms are immaculate and I have zero complaints. You take a magic carpet up to the green leaf which then opens up the resort. Tuesday was cold and the snow was great, although most of the runs were tracked out we managed a few untouched powder hits. Lift lines are pretty much non existent so that is good. Cons: It feels like spring conditions today similar to Smiggins, there is water flowing down the road at Hirafu from the melt. There are grass patches coming through and I’m hitting rocks. The charts are showing some snow Friday night (hoping for a miracle) with a big system coming Sunday/Monday I’ll be skiing Monday morning to try and experience the powder then on a bus at 1pm to head home.
Try heading high at Hanazono, The snow quality seems to hold a bit better over there due to the aspect. It’s less sun effected. Niseko Village has been particularly poor this entire season, however I noticed some gnarly heat damage to the lower runs in Hirafu today - not great! But a pineapple will do that... hopefully it won’t last long and we will get some repair snow quickly. if you’re ok in trees and powder head left through the trees at the top of Legend of Shinya if it snows. It’s not steep or gnarly, just a cleared area for the new Gondola, but quite a lot of people don’t realise it’s there yet - might be your only option to get some untracked snow after the heatwave.
Got spikes? Should use them. My concern will just be walking to the lift tomorrow morning - spikes no fit on my SB boots.
Spring like conditions today. Above zero even at the summit. Quite a pleasant hike though, my first time doing it. Balmy with good visibility. Funny to see people taking off layers (to just a t shirt) in Hokkaido in February. Crusty powder up to, to very slushy snow nearer to the bottom by the afternoon.
Hi all, Heading to Niseko on sunday.. What are the best runs? especially off-piste.. I've heard strawberry and blueberry fields..
Haha, what kind of question is that!? On a public forum you will only get given so much, and will be dependent on...ability level? Heading out gates? Carry Avi gear? Alone or as a group? Conditions when you are there, etc..
