Snowsure: 4.6
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Niseko Grand Hirafu is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
December 25, 2011
Jukesy from
New Zealand
Jukesy from
New Zealand
December 23, 2011
John
John
I've been going for many years now - used to stay at Scot - there is still plenty of Japanese culture. Yes the bogans are at times (usually after drinking starts) a reason to hide your accent but I avoid bars etc.
Crowds only on Japanese holidays and even then the manners shown make it okay - Aussies are the ones pushing or running over your new skis or board. One run in trees or through the gates and you'll love the place!
So if your mate is a bogan leave him at Chintose with the duty free, bring your manners - learn some basics of language show some respect and it will be better than any Oz or Kiwi resort.
I got a freebie in Perisher last August and only boarded for 3 days - slushy sugary and they charge $100 plus to be on that crud. The worst day in Niseko is better than the best day in Oz!!
November 21, 2011
Jo Hunt
Jo Hunt
November 11, 2011
jon
jon
Please, stick to Niseko. Leave the other Japanese resorts to me! Follow the ozy sheep to the peak! offend the locals! don't learn a word of Japanese! You don't need to, Niseko has it all! They're even opening a newer lift so more people can track out the powder even quicker!
Jokes aside, this is a great resort. You can easily avoid the negatives (get a guide for day to show you how), it's not too expensive (yet) and snow? Yes it does. I personally prefer other Hokkaido resorts but this is a great place to start and once you get to know it, you can make the most of the positives and avoid those negatives. For the Niseko fans, give other resorts a go, they have so much on offer!
October 30, 2011
andy from
United Kingdom
andy from
United Kingdom
Just about to head back to Niseko for another season. The snow, people and food are all incredible! I want people to know that the earthquake in the spring didn't affect Niseko at all! The radiation levels have not increased and the powder is still going to be there! They are even replacing the Hirafu gondola with a modern 8 seater, this will be running this winter (2012)! This will crunch through the queues and is one of the first of many developments in store for the resort!
August 26, 2011
Dean
Dean
Having been introduced to Niseko by a friend in 2007, we have since been back three times (already booked for Jan 2012) and we have one word to describe the experience - amazing! We are a family who, like everyone else, doesn't enjoy boguns, we love friendly people, good food, snow to die for and an experience that is so different to our day to day routine that it inspires you in a way nothing else can. Niseko has so much to offer and it will only get better in the years to come as the infrastructure and variety of accommodation and entertainment improves. Don't take notice of the ski snobs who would prefer that you listen to their incredible snow exploits elsewhere in the world rather than hear about the true joy Japan offers. As Molly says.. do yourself a favour...you won't regret it.
May 06, 2011
Don from
Japan - Nagano
Don from
Japan - Nagano
Just want everyone out there to know that the earthquake that hit down south had no effect whatsoever on the Niseko region. There have also been no issues whatsoever with radiation. Levels have not deviated from normal background radiation levels at all. We've also had no issues at all with power as the grid up here is separate from that on Honshu. Basically there has been no interruption to normal daily life at all in this part of Japan. So if you're thinking of heading back here you can do so knowing that everything will be running as normal with no issues regarding your safety.
March 25, 2011
Mick - Snowy Mnts Aust
Mick - Snowy Mnts Aust
Fellow skiers, I live and work in the snowy mountains in AUS. I have skied all over the world and have just returned from Niseko, which was our first trip to Japan. Lucky, we left two days before the quake. I only have two things to say about Niseko, I love the place and the people (Felling for them at the minute). I found the snow second to none and the skiing was spot on, the runs were excellent. Do yourself a favour and visit the place before passing judgement. I will be back, why travel forever, when you can just go to Japan. Love the place!
Regards
Mick
March 24, 2011
Dom-san from
Austria
Dom-san from
Austria
Hi everyone, I am an Australian resident who has spent four seasons in Niseko. The snow, food, atmosphere and people are great, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I'm a bit disappointed to see that so many people are complaining about the the so-called 'bogan' and 'drunken' Aussies, or the abundance of Australians in general. In four seasons I personally have not encountered any bad or violent drunken behaviour by the Aussies (or Kiwis), and the claim that it's like Bali is very exaggerated. Likewise, a lot of the foreigners that have bought real estate or have started businesses here are nice people who have fallen in love with the Niseko way of life. It's a very special place of the world where people from various countries (Japan, Australia, NZ, all over Europe, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, USA and more) can enjoy a good time together. There are always going to be people who's opinions of the place are negative or jaded no matter what. I don't understand what they're complaining about. Just relax...it's all daijyoubu!!!
Just for the record, 95% of the restaurants are Japanese! Hardly any western food in sight. Runs aren't crowded and it's great value for your cash. Come to Niseko : )
March 17, 2011
Michael
Michael
My first trip to Niseko as I only took up skiing five years ago when I turned 50. Last winter season in Victoria it seemed as if every second person you rode on a lift with had either been here or was going during Jan/Feb 2011. With some time available in March, I decided to head off to see what all the fuss is about. An adult son who is a builder decided to tag along even though he had never skied or boarded. One all day private lesson and he leapt from beginner to intermediate very quickly. Even though I had never been to Niseko I had travelled to Japan for work several times so was familiar with the culture and traditions of this wonderful country.
We mainly kept to Niseko Hirafu and were not disappointed. The longest wait we had for the gondola was 5 minutes and that was only because a ski school of little tackers arrived before us. The rest of the lifts were ski straight on and most days it wasn't unusual to share the run with three others. There was plenty of light powder snow during our stay and the days were generally blue sky. Neither of us were good enough to go off piste so we stayed on piste but there were enough trees adjacent to the marked runs to ski in and out of to make us think we were off-piste.
There are a huge number of Aussies working here but that didn't really detract from the experience and we certainly didn't run across any Aussie drunks, except perhaps on St Patrick's Day in the Irish pub in Hirafu. Go figure, Aussies celebrating an Irish holiday in Japan.
My previous experience in Japan helped with dining at night as I was able to find those little gems of restaurants that were away from the main area. A couple of stand outs were A Bu Cha 1 on the main intersection & Kabuki, an okinomiyaki restaurant but we ate at stacks of other great places.
We have already booked for March 2012.
Nearest