Where to Stay in Niseko? A Breakdown of the 4 Villages (Which Is Best for You?)

January 24, 2026
No Comments

Niseko is one of Japan’s most well-known ski resorts for good reason—huge powder, vast terrain, and world-class facilities. But with four distinct resort areas to choose from, where should you base yourself? Check this guide for my breakdown of Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, and Annupuri to find your perfect stay!

This is my second winter I have spent in Niseko 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.

Before coming here, I found the ski map and 4 areas of the resort quite confusing. If you are in the same boat, or just looking for some advice on where to stay, this is the guide for you. We will go through all four areas, pros and cons as well as who should stay where 🙂

This post may contain affiliate links to support the running of the blog. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

Table of Contents

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

Which of the 4 Villages in Niseko is right for you?

Niseko Ski Resort consists of four hills that are connected by lifts and buses. The four resorts in Niseko are called (left to right on a map): Annupuri, Niseko Village, Niseko Hirafu, Hanazono.

Each of the four areas offers something slightly different and has their own advantages/disadvantages, so let’s get into it:

Niseko Hirafu

Niseko Hirafu is the main area of the ski resort. Most hotels, shops, restaurants and bars are here and it is by far the liveliest area out of the four. It also offers a great variety of terrain (park, tree runs, top lifts) and several lifts from the bottom, which is great if one breaks down (happens more often than necessary in Niseko tbh).

That being said, it can also be the loudest and feels a little bit like you’re in Australia instead of Japan. Lift lines here are often the longest and prices the highest.

If you are looking to do things other than skiing though, and not necessarily wanting to rent a car, I would 100% recommend staying here. The buses between the resorts are okay, but can be delayed, full and stop early unfortunately.

Hanazono

Hanazono’s main hotel is the huge Park Hyatt that sits along the entire bottom of the ski area. There are a couple other hotels and apartments nearby, but not nearly as many options as elsewhere.

That being said, Hanazono is one of my favourite areas to ski. The beginner slope is great, the tree runs amazing and there even is a small park. The powder here is often the best among the 4 areas and Hanazono is often the last area open on very windy days.

Downsides are the fact that there aren’t many restaurants or any shops here really. The main chairlift that connects you to the rest of the mountain is unfortunately prone to breaking down, though it has been a little better recently.

I’d recommend this area if you like the Park Hyatt, or are a couple or family looking for a luxury getaway and guaranteed powder.

Annupuri

Annupuri would be my personal second choice after Hirafu. It has a great beginner area (with magic carpet free for all), lots of amazing advanced terrain (including backcountry) and pretty reliable lifts with often less people than Hirafu. There are lots of hotels and restaurants in the area.

It still doesn’t really have any nightlife or supermarkets and can take quite a while to reach the rest of the resort from here.

That being said, for anyone wanting a little quieter than Hirafu, especially those with a car, I’d highly recommend Annupuri.

Niseko Village

Niseko Village lies between Hirafu and Annupuri. It has quite a few hotels, some of which are connected by a gondola system that goes between the areas of Niseko Village. There is also a massive Hilton Hotel there. Most hotels here are ski-in and out.

Niseko Village is home to one of the best gates in the entire area (Gate 11), as well as good beginner slopes. There are a bunch of restaurants around.

Personally, I find Niseko Village a quite isolated area and the on-piste runs here are some of my least favourite unfortunately. The lifts here are pretty outdated, with the gondola being painfully slow.

I’d recommend staying here for families looking for lots of beginner terrain or those looking for quieter, luxury lodging.

Accommodation recommendations in the ski resort:

Check out my articles on recommended hotels, hostels and apartments here:

female snowboarder in Niseko with a view of mount yotei in the background

Japow on a Budget: Affordable Niseko Accommodation

Best Ski-In Ski-Out Accommodation in Niseko for Your Ultimate Winter Getaway

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.

It’s hard to predict when exactly it will dump. Last year we had an amazing December and no snow in January, this year it was the other way round. I would say that by February you’ll usually have enough snow to be powdery any day.

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.