Did You Know This About Niseko?
- masaishido
- Dec 23, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2021
Four resorts located on the foothills of Mt. Niseko Annupuri make up Niseko United - Hanazono in the northeast, Grand Hirafu in the east, Village in the southeast and Annupuri in the southwest. What might surprise you, even if you have been there several times, is that, as big as they are, these four resorts only cover half the mountain. Actually, the slopes of Niseko United cover less than half the terrain of Mt. Niseko Annupuri, as most of the terrain between Grand Hirafu and Village as well as that between Village and Annupuri are strictly off-limit areas (see the map below).
You might wonder, what about the 'other half' - the vast area spanning from the northeast to the southwest? This 'other half', is where you find the very best powder runs in Niseko. A lot of the photos and videos you see on social media of skiers and snowboarders shredding powder in Niseko were shot in this area. Except for the two strictly off-limits areas mentioned above, Niseko United does not prohibit you from going outside the resort boundaries - as long as you do so from the 'gates' when they are open, which is not always. Be familiar with the Niseko Rules and check out the Avalanche Report, which usually comes out between 7:30 and 8:00, before you head out.
The peak of Mt. Niseko Annupuri is the starting point for the best powder runs in Niseko. If you are a powder-lover, doing a Peak Run, whichever you choose, is mandatory. This is why you came to Niseko. The hike to the Peak starts from Gate #3, or G3, and takes about twenty minutes. The distance between G3 and the Peak is about 500m. The elevation at G3 is about 1,200m and that at the Peak is 1,308m. The first one-third of the hike is where you do most of the work climbing about 60m. Although the remainder of the hike is flatter, it is not necessarily easier, as you may have to deal with gale force winds and extremely poor visibility. Once you reach the Peak, however, you will soon be rewarded. Deep and fluffy powder awaits. I will write more about the Peak runs in the next post. In the meantime, check them out on the website.
Note: If you are on a mobile phone, you need to download the FATMAP app, which is free, to be able to see runs.
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