Is Niseko Ski Resort Good for Beginners?

July 14, 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. But is it a good resort for beginner skiers and snowboarders? Check this guide for my full experience and review!

I spent 4 months living and working in Niseko this winter as a snowboard instructor, so I know the town, ski resort and surrounding area inside out. It is one of my favourite mountains I have ever skied/snowboarded – the snow here is incomparable to anything I’ve experienced before.

In my time in Niseko, I have taught hundreds of guests how to snowboard from scratch. While the beginner facilities are not as extensive as in other resorts I have visited and taught at, I do think Niseko is a good resort for beginners. Read on for my full review and tips for beginners headed to Niseko:

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

Is Niseko Ski Resort Suitable for Beginners?

Niseko Ski Resort consists of four hills that are connected by lifts and buses. The four resort in Niseko are Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village and An’nupuri.

I personally taught in Niseko Hirafu, which is the biggest ski area of the four. Only certain ski schools have magic carpets, so beginners sometimes have to scale the hill here for the first bit of their lesson until they are ready to hit the chairlift. In my experience, this usually only takes around 30 minutes to an hour and is a really safe way to learn. Contact me here to book a snowboard lesson 🏂

Once you are able to get down the baby slope, there are several options in Hirafu for beginners, including Family Run, then the Green Run by Hirafu Gondola (this has a steep section so only head up here once a bit more comfortable) and Kogo/Boyo under King Holiday Chair Lift. I have also taken the Gondola up to Ace Pair 3 Lift where the left run is an easy one that is great for learning.

I would recommend Hirafu especially to those who ideally have been on skis/snowboard at least once before, so that you can use the Family Chair Lift and make the most of lessons.

Hanazono has a Gondola that has an exit halfway for beginners which makes for an amazing beginner slope. All other slopes on that hill are a little more advanced, but it has a great learner terrain park too.

Both Niseko Village and Annupuri are very beginner-friendly with slower lifts and several green slopes. They are the quietest of the four ski resorts too with only accommodations around. Annupuri has the only magic carpet that is not bound to a ski school, as far as I am aware.

I think Niseko Village and Annupuri are technically the best for beginners, but also don’t have much else to them. Hirafu is the resort with the village attached, meaning it has the majority of restaurants, nightlife and other activities. In the end, it depends what you are looking for in your holiday.

Final verdict: Niseko Ski Resort in general is beginner friendly, but you will get the most out of it if you have stood on skis or a snowboard before. To connect to the other ski resorts, you will mostly need to use the top lifts which are more advanced (though I have taken beginners there after 3/4 days of lessons). Check the trail map for more information on exact routes available for your ski/snowboard level.

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.

Other resorts near Niseko to explore:

Other resorts around Niseko can also be super beginner-friendly and are fun to explore. Some of the best resorts near Niseko are:

Moiwa – really close to Niseko and reachable by bus, this is one of my favourite resorts. The snow here is unbeatable and it is usually a little quieter than Niseko. They have great beginner slopes.
Rusutsu – This resort is a great day trip from Niseko. The resort is pretty big and varied with great options for any ski/snowboard level.
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.

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.

FAQ about Niseko

How do you get around Niseko without a car?

There are four areas to Niseko Ski Resort that can either be reached by skiing or by car/bus. The main one is Niseko Hirafu where you will find the most restaurants, bars and general nightlife, but the other three areas also offer great slopes and sometimes fewer lift lines.

There are free shuttle buses that go between the four areas of Niseko and even one that goes to Kutchan. The Niseko United Bus is included in your lift ticket and timetable can be found here. It goes between the four ski resort areas. The Hirafu free shuttle bus and Kutchan Night bus have several lines that service different areas of the resort, you can find the exact routes and timetables here.

Overall, I would recommend a hotel within walking distance to the lifts if you don’t have a car as the buses aren’t always reliable and can fill up very quickly in peak season.

Tours and activities around Niseko:

Niseko has lots of other things to offer outside of skiing/snowboarding. Check out my full guide on the 7 best ones here , including snow shoeing, the incredible Japanese Onsen (hot mineral baths) and nightlife.

Is Sapporo worth visiting?

Yes, if you have the time I recommend planning in one day to see Sapporo. The city has lots to offer. I’d especially recommend visiting during the yearly Sapporo Snow Festival (usually in the beginning of February) – the ice sculptures are incredible.