Hachiko Chalet

All year-round

While there are definite highlights of each season, some activities remain not to be missed year round.

• For that perfect Niseko night out, we recommend popping into Bar Gyu and enjoying one of their delicious craft cocktails, grooving to old-school jazz records. Next, make your way to izakaya Kougetsu for a delectable meal of seasonal Hokkaido favourites such as raw oysters, baked local cheese, zangi – boneless fried chicken, popular in Niseko and local sake. Finish up with some raucous fun at Wild Bill’s – where the party kicks off at 10pm.
• The Niseko area is one of Hokkaido’s top destinations for health and wellness, thanks to its lush natural surroundings and abundance of volcanic hot springs. Hotel Niseko Alpen’s onsen is a popular choice thanks to its stunning mountain views, 25-metre pool and high-tech infrared stone sauna. 
• Kiyoe Gallery in Hirafu displays work by local artists inspired by the Hokkaido landscape, while Somoza Gallery in Hanazono is housed in a historical 150-year old kominka  - Japanese folk house, and showcases the owner’s personal collection of artwork and artefacts. The gallery is also home to a doma, where exquisite Italian-Japanese meals are served and seats at the Chef’s Table are coveted. Local museums such as the architecturally striking Shu Ogawara Museum of Art in nearby Kutchan – an ode to one of Hokkaido’s most famous painters, and the Kutchan Natural History Museum next door, host compelling exhibitions tied to the area.
• The Nikka Yoichi Distillery is a popular place to visit and learn the workings of the world-renowned whisky’s first distillery, opened in 1934. Some use it as a halfway point to Otaru, the quaint harbour city known for is well-preserved canals, café culture, glassworks, music boxes and street side stalls plying amazing seafood. For something more urban, Sapporo City is abuzz 24/7. Japan’s fifth largest city is known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, ramen and great beer, as well as the annual snow festival in February featuring art and sculptures made of snow and ice, including snow slides.

Winter

Having been recognised as one of the world’s snowiest ski resorts by the World Ski Awards, Niseko enjoys an average of 15 metres of snow annually, and that, combined with the Japanese onsen tradition, delicious cuisine and rich culture makes it one of the most sought-after winter experiences in the world. Here are some tips to make the most of your stay in the white season.

• With the Hirafu Gondola merely one kilometre away, we recommend you sign up with a snow school on your first morning, or book a private mountain orientation to learn the lay of the land and figure out the best runs to suit your skill level. Our concierge team can recommend a selection of services to suit your needs. Don’t forget to try night skiing - Grand Hirafu has four lifts open after dark, and floodlit runs to enable you to experience that magical terrain after dark.
• Fun for the whole family, snow rafting and snowmobiling offer unique ways to experience the champagne powder of Niseko.
• Guided snowshoe tours are highly recommended as they offer an entirely different perspective of the mountain. As you trek deeper into the forest, you will gradually be immersed in a still and serene winter wonderland, an experience that is sure to leave you inspired.
• There’s nothing quite like stepping into a traditional Japanese log cabin, straight off the slopes for a lunch of piping hot katsu curry and udon at Boyoso. Further up the mountain on the Niseko Village side, The Lookout Café offers a more modern dining environment where you can fuel up before making your way downhill.
• The Hanazono Tube Park has a dedicated area for snow tubing – an activity which spells delight for kids and adults alike. Best of all, a magic carpet takes you from the bottom of the tube run right to the top.

Summer

Summer in Niseko brings a myriad of alpine activities to make the most of the lush mountain surroundings, fresh air and warmer weather. The rivers swell, the flowers bloom and fruit ripen inviting you to go out and revel in the season’s intoxicating embrace. These are some recommendations for you when you visit during the warmer months.

• A wonderful way to see how the region blossoms in the summertime, take a ride on the Summer Gondola, which will ascend 820 metres above sea level, unveiling a spectacular panorama that stretches beyond Mount Yotel. Hikers and cyclists can disembark here to make their way down the mountain through a myriad of trails.
• With three delightful golf courses in the Niseko area, summers are a golfer’s delight if you’re looking to practice your strokes. The 18-hole, Arnold Palmer designed Niseko Golf Course is beautiful, running through a forest of white birches and pines. We also highly recommend the Niseko Village Golf Course at the Hilton Niseko Village, where views of Mount Yotei astound. Hanazono Golf Course undulates over a scenic hilly landscape, making it both challenging and breathtaking.
• As the snow melts, the waters swell and rise in the beautiful Shiribetsu River, bringing forth the thrills of white water rafting for all levels of adventure seekers. We recommend doing this popular activity with an experienced guide.
• Within the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, the vistas at Lake Toya are truly magical, and our favourite way to traverse it is via stand-up paddleboarding, a mesmerising way to see this picturesque lake which is reputed to have the clearest waters in Japan.
• Lush alpine landscapes, comfortable weather and smooth roads are perfect biking conditions, which is why the area regularly hosts Japan’s largest cycling race – the ‘Tour de Hokkaido’.
• We can highly recommend hiring a scooter and riding through the vast flower and farmlands. There are also many farmers’ markets where you can stop, sample and purchase some of the delicious fresh local produce.
• Niseko is home to many traditional festivals year-round and we love Jaga Matsuri – the Potato Festival in nearby Kutchan town, the Niko-Niko Festival at Niseko Village and the Niseko Fireworks Festival.