16 Best Things to Do in Niseko, Japan This Winter

August 24, 2025
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Niseko is one of Japan’s most well-known ski resorts and for good reason – lots of powder, a big resort and accessible backcountry make it a popular choice for ski holidays. After spending a whole season in Niseko, these are the 16 things you must do while here!

While Niseko is mostly known for the powder snow in the winter, there is actually a lot more to do in the area than just skiing/snowboarding. I worked as a snowboard instructor there for a whole season and have done a ton of different things.

In this post, you will find my favourites, including things to do in the ski resort, day trips and some more hidden activities. Lets get to it:

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Table of Contents

Best Accommodation Options in Niseko:

From budget to luxury, Niseko has something for every type of ski trip. Here are some of my favourites ranked by price:

🏷️ – Pension Locomotion, Pensione Uno, Ramat and Snowgum Ski Lodge Niseko

🛎️ – Always Niseko, Midtown Niseko, MUSE Niseko

💎(ski-in, ski-out) – Yumoto Niseko Prince Hotel Hirafutei, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Ki Niseko

How to get to Niseko:

The closest airport to Niseko is New Chitose Airport (CTS) in Sapporo. I would highly recommend flying into this airport as from there it is only about 2-3 hours to the resort.

There are three options to get to the resort – private shuttle, bus or train:

🚅 Train is the cheapest option and does not need to be pre-booked, but you will need to change trains 2-3- times so not ideal if you have a lot of luggage. You can search for your journey here.

🚍 Bus is the happy medium and how I got to Niseko. It is a little more expensive (around $35) and you need to pre-book in advance. I would recommend the Hokkaido Resort Liner which you can book here, but there are also the Hokkaido Chūō Bus and the White Liner.

There are also a bunch of direct shuttle buses which are more expensive but will often even drop you right by your hotel. Some hotels even have their own private ones. Options are NDS, Sky Express and NGS.

👉 Related article: How to Get From New Chitose Airport to Niseko on a Budget

Top things to do in Niseko this winter

1. Ski/Snowboard in the world-class powder snow

The snow in Niseko and in fact the whole Hokkaido area of Japan is unbeatable. While I did my season here, we had countless days with beautiful powder snow up to your chest.

Even if you have never skied/snowboarded before, Niseko Resort is a fun time. There are countless ski schools and a wide variety of different terrain. From beginner hills to hardcore backcountry, Niseko has something for everyone.

If you are wanting to learn to snowboard in Niseko, send me a message 🙂

For beginners, also check out my Niseko ski/snowboard guide here.

2. Relax your sore muscles in an Onsen

One of the best things about a ski holiday in Japan are the Onsen. There is nothing like relaxing your sore muscles in the hot water after a long da in the snow.

Onsen are hot springs full of minerals and a deeply rooted part of Japanese culture. To be considered an Onsen, the water needs to be 25 degree Celsius or more and contain certain substances (often minerals). Onsen are said to have healing properties. Niseko’s mountains are volcanically active (such as Mt. Yotei) creating the geothermal heat for these hot springs.

A great locals guide to all Onsen in Niseko can be found here.

3. Head to Sapporo on a day trip

Hokkaido’s main city is only a 2-hour drive or 2 hours by train from Kutchan, the city closest to Niseko (connected by bus). You will need to switch trains in Otaru, exact timetables can be found here.

Sapporo is especially great for a day trip when the yearly Sapporo Snow Festival is on (usually in early February), where local artists display stunning creations out of ice and snow.

4. Enjoy the amazing food around the resort

Niseko has some incredible options for foodies, ranging from fancy restaurants to local family-run ones.

Affordable eats: For great food that doesn’t break the bank I would recommend either Green Farm Deli Cafe for more of a cafe vibe, Side Piece for delicious fried chicken, Teuchi-Soba Ichimura for great Soba (lunch) or Tozanken Ramen for incredible Ramen (come early and be prepared to queue though).

Fancy restaurants: Niseko also has plenty of more upscale restaurants that are more than worth a try, such as MAME niseko, Shabu Shabu Mori, Steak Rosso Rosso and Yakiniku Jinhisukan Yoteizan.

There are also plenty of amazing restaurants on the slopes with delicious food, one of my favourites is Bo-yo-so, slightly hidden under Hirafu Gondola.

5. Go on a snow-shoeing or snow-mobile excursion

Niseko has some incredible back-country and the stunning Mt Yotei which is visible in most photos, and there are some really fun tours that allow you the explore the area.

Great options are either a snowshoe or snowmobile excursion. Snowmobile is definitely the more adrenaline-filled option with high-speeds and often great views. Snowshoeing is family-friendly and a whole different way to explore the unique Japanese winter landscape.

There are plenty of great companies offering these tours and often your hotel is able to assist you in booking one.

6. Make the most of Niseko’s vibrant nightlife

Niseko has a very vibrant nightlife and bars are packed every day, especially during peak season. The main area for this is Niseko Hirafu, where you can find pubs and bars just meters away from each other.

Some of the most well-known in the instructor community are Wild Bill’s, Freddies, Half Note and Apres Bar. Tamashii is also a popular hang-out spot, especially for after work drinks and food. There are even two clubs, Powder room and Hertz which often get packed.

As for drinks, chūhai are popular Japanese going-out drinks and is basically a low-alcohol cocktail. Though they are dangerous as they don’t taste of alcohol and hence way too easy to drink.

7. Enjoy the local events and weekly fireworks

Niseko is a great community who loves to put on a show and have fun events. Some of my favourites are the weekly Saturday fireworks in Hanazono at 7pm, the Taiko Live Drum Performance (check the schedule here) and ski/snowboard competitions like Rail Jams (the next one is March 1st).

The competitions aren’t just great for those taking part but also for anyone watching. There is usually food stalls, a DJ and just generally great atmosphere.

Find more local events here.

8. Try your hand at ice fishing

Try something completely different and take a dive (pun intended) into the world of ice-fishing. Learn from locals and catch your own fish in the icy waters. I would recommend asking your hotel for recommendations on who to book for this tour as they will know the best one in the area and for the season.

9. Go backcountry skiing with a guide

One of the best things about Niseko Ski Resort is the many incredible and accessible backcountry options in the area. Even from the lifts, you can access some beautiful backcountry with chest-high snow through one of the many gates.

Or you can hire a local guide from one of the many ski schools who will take you to more advanced backcountry, including hiking uphill on skis (or a split board). Mt Yotei for example is a dream to head up on the right day, but make sure you are with an experienced guide!

The general rule for backcountry skiing is that you need to know what you’re doing. It is not for beginners.

Make sure to follow signs and the directions by ski patrol. Know how to read the wind and snow reports and understand what this means for Avalanche safety and risk (an Avalanche certificate is ideal to have). Don’t go alone and know what to do in case of emergency! Bring emergency equipment including a shovel, Beacon, probe, etc.

10. Get a late night snack from one of the many amazing food trucks

If you walk around Niseko you will find three or four areas full of food trucks, all of which offer excellent dishes at decent prices (for Niseko – it is more expensive here than some other places in Japan). Two of the main food truck areas are the one by Hirafu Intersection, right next to Seicomart and one by Apres Bar.

They often sell local delicacies as well as late-night snacks and are open until late.

11. Take a train to Otaru

There is a direct train from Kutchan to Otaru that takes around 1-1.5 hours. It is a beautiful port town that is known for its romantic canals and rich history.

A great time to visit is when the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is on, usually between early – mid February. The city gets decorated by thousands of small candles and snow sculptures, making it look like a dreamscape.

12. Head to nearby ski resorts for even more powder snow

While Niseko is a great resort, Hokkaido actually has a ton of other resorts. Some of them are known for receiving even better snow than Niseko and totally worth a visit.

Some of the my favourite resorts near Niseko are:

Moiwa – really close to Niseko and reachable by bus, this might top my list. The snow here is unbeatable and it is usually a little quieter than Niseko.
Rusutsu – This resort is a great day trip from Niseko and one I did several times while working in Niseko. The resort is pretty big and varied with great options for any ski/snowboard level. Check out my Rusutsu accommodation guide.
Kiroro – another smaller resort with fantastic snow, this is worth keeping an eye on for those powder days.

Moiwa and Rusutsu are reachable by public transport from Niseko, though it’s even easier if you have a car. Kiroro is best reachable by car. Check rental options here.

13. Explore Grand Hirafu Town and shop for souvenirs

When I lived in Niseko, one of my favourite things to do was walk down Hirafu’s main street which is called Hirafu-Zaka St. Here you will find some cute souvenir shops (on top of Tozanken Ramen), fantastic restaurants and cafes as well as some cute stands such as the one that sells Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tarts.

The street itself has beautiful views of Mt. Yotei and is usually decorated in fairy lights and Niseko signs, making it a perfect photo spot.

14. Visit a local dairy farm

Hokkaido, the area of Japan that Niseko is located in, is actually known for its milk. The cows here are in the perfect climate for a stress-free life, which apparently makes for the amazingly creamy and vanilla-tasting milk.

A great way to get a literal taste for this is at one of Niseko’s local dairy farms, such as the Takahashi Dairy Farm. Here you will find a ton of delicious treats made from the famous dairy cows, and even enjoy a dinner with incredible views of Mt. Yotei.

15. Try some fancy cocktails at the famous Bar Gyu+

We have already talked about the nightlife in Niseko, but if you want something truly special and some incredible cocktails, you have to add Bar Gyu+ to your list.

Not only are the cocktails incredible, the bar entrance is a must-visit alone. The cosy interior is hidden behind a red refrigerator door, that often gets buried in snow and becomes rather unassuming. Don’t miss it!

16. Explore where the snow meets the sea

One of the most amazing natural phenomena is only an hour drive away from Niseko. Basically, Hokkaido gets so much snowfall that it goes all the way to the coast and covers the beaches, meaning you can literally step from snow to beach to the sea.

It’s nothing I have ever seen before and an insane sight so a must-visit, especially if you have a rental car. Good places to see this are for example Toyako and Otaru, though most beaches along the coast will experience snow.

How many days do you need in Niseko?

How many days to spend in Niseko really depends on what your are looking to do as well as your level of ski/snowboard. I would highly recommend a minimum of 4-5 days for anyone looking to hit the slopes (even beginners as it takes around 3 days to start to feel comfortable outside of the beginner hill), more for those with snow sports experience and looking to explore the full four resorts in Niseko as well as other ski hills in Hokkaido. In that case, you will want at least a week, even two if you have the time.

When should you come to Niseko for the best snow?

It’s impossible to predict the exact time that you will experience the best snow. It changes slightly every year. In general, mid-December to late February is when Niseko gets consistent snow and lots of powder days.

Usually January is known for some of the best snow, though this season it didn’t snow for almost three weeks in January but instead dumped snow in December and February. The snow was good even till Mid-March.

The year before, January was the best month and December and February a bit slow. So there is a little luck involved. I’d say end of December is a good bet as well as beginning of February, but be wary of how busy it gets during holiday periods such as Christmas and Chinese New Year.