NISEKO JAPAN π―π΅ | Ultimate Ski & Snowboard Experience in Hokkaido
Japan is becoming more and more popular, not just for cherry blossoms, temples, and buzzing cities, but also for the amazing ski and snowboarding conditions in Hokkaido. And at the center of it all is Nisso, Japan’s premier ski destination. Just a couple of hours from Saporro, Nco is famous for its world-class powder snow and stunning mountain views. With modern resorts, natural hot springs, and a lively international vibe, it’s no wonder NCO has become a global hot spot for winter sports lovers. So, once we got there, of course, we had to try it for ourselves. I’m Anna, and in this video, I’ll share our experience of this place. Let’s dive into what makes this snowy paradise so special. Before we go further, you should know that Nco has four main resorts, each with its own unique vibe. Anupuri, the most laid-back, ideal for those seeking a quieter, more local feel. Nco Village, more luxurious with wide groomed slopes. Grand Hafu, the biggest and most popular. And Hanazono, a treefilled playground perfect for snowboarders. We chose to stay in Nco village and from here we were able to explore all four resorts from Anukuri to Hanazono. But most of our time was spent on the NCO and Grand Hiru slopes and that’s what we’ll be focusing on in this video. How do you get to Nco? We decided to take a morning shinkansen from Tokyo using the JR pass. Our route involved two train changes. First in Hakodate, then in Oshima. It started with the high-speed bullet train and ended with a small local train winding its way through snowcovered countryside all the way to MCO. The best part, the entire trip was covered by the JR pass. If you’re visiting from abroad, don’t forget you need to buy the JR pass before arriving in Japan. You can’t get it once you’re there. link where you can find all details about JR pass you can find in description below. As we got closer, the snow really started to pile up. After about 8 hours of travel, we arrived in Yco around 3 p.m. Our first night’s accommodation was super basic, just a place to sleep before transferring to our main hotel the next morning. We used the rest of the day to rent our gear, grab a ski pass, and get everything ready for a full day on the slopes. As we were traveling around Japan and only had 2 days in Hokkaido and Nico, we decided to rent all of our equipment on site. In Isko village, there are several spots where you can rent everything you need. As you can see in the video, we got our skis, snowboards, jackets, and goggles right there. We rented all our clothing and goggles just in front of the Hilton Hotel in Nico Village. For skis and snowboards, we went to Boot Solutions, also in the village. The staff was super helpful, so we definitely recommend this place. If you’re not bringing your own gear, check localizations in description below. Make sure to bring your own good socks and a warm mid layer. I also recommend to bring your goggles as the one provided are super basic. Gloves and a neck gator. It can get really snowy out there. Once we had everything we needed, we were ready to hit the slopes and experience the famous Japa. We stayed in Niko village and used the Nisso Gondola. It’s the fastest way to reach almost the top of Mount Niko and to easily move between Niko village and HiFu. Our first day wasn’t very sunny, but the visibility was great, so we could really enjoy the stunning views on the way up. Nco is one of the world’s top ski destinations, famous for Japan’s legendary powder snow. In January and February, you can expect consistent, highquality powder, but also the peak of the busy season. So, make sure to book everything well in advance. We visited in the first half of March and didn’t experience any crowds. Plus, the snow conditions were still excellent. There’s something truly unique about this place unlike anything we’ve experienced in European resorts. You can stay on the groomed ski slopes, but you can also enjoy plenty of free riding through the trees and powder fields on your own. And honestly, that’s where the real fun begins. So, in the next few minutes, I’ll share some of our footage from the slopes and free ride areas so you can get a better sense of what to expect from Mexico’s terrain and snow conditions. Heat. Heat. Woohoo! Woohoo! foreign. Hello. After trying out a few slopes and free ride areas, we headed to the top of the resort from the Hanazono side. For me, this was the scariest run of the trip down a black slope called Dynamic. Looking back now, I think we might have even gone slightly outside the resort boundaries. But as you can see, there was plenty of snow everywhere, so we didn’t have to worry about hitting any unexpected rocks. As long as you know where you are and can find your way back to a lift, it’s totally fine. There were lots of tracks from other skiers and snowboarders, but at that moment, we were the only ones on the slope. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous on this run, so the footage from this part isn’t exactly the smoothest. Once we were back within the resort boundaries, we started traversing toward the Nisso village area knowing we’d really made the most of the day. We also knew that heavy snowfall was expected later that evening and the next day. So, let’s jump to day two when the conditions were just a bit different from what we experienced on the first day. Our second day started with completely different weather. Overnight, a heavy snowfall covered everything and it didn’t stop in the morning. The views from the gondola were nothing like the day before. We used the windy app and highly recommend it for checking current weather conditions, especially when it comes to snowfall. While it was snowing pretty heavily at the top, once we got lower down toward village, it was still good enough to ride. Please drop the back if you can. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yellow. Yeah. Yeah. Woo! Heat! Heat. Heat. We even decided to traverse over to Herafu but ended up heading back a bit earlier as the conditions started to worsen. Wow. On our last ride back to Nco, the slope was almost empty, and that’s when we knew it was the perfect moment to call it a day. Thanks so much for watching this video. Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and leave a comment. And if you have any questions or need extra tips, just drop them below. See you in the next one.
Two incredible days π―π΅ Four interconnected mountains. Endless powder. ποΈβοΈ Welcome to Niseko, Hokkaido β Japanβs powder snow paradise!
In this video, we explore one of the best ski and snowboard destinations in the world. Get insider tips on skiing, snowboarding, and planning your perfect winter trip to Niseko. From stunning slopes to hidden local gems, this guide will help you make the most of your snow adventure in Japan.
π Location: Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
π Activities: Skiing, Snowboarding, Powder Day
Chapters:
0:00 – 0:57 – Intro
0:58 – 1:44 – Niseko resort
1:45 – 2:42 – How to get to Niseko by train
2:43 – 3:50 – Ski equipment rental
3:51 – 8:45 – The Ride
8:46 – 14.19 – The ride on a snowy day
14.20 – 14.44 – Outro
JR pass:
https://www.japan-experience.com/order-your-japan-rail-pass?market=PL&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19039632425&gbraid=0AAAAADstuACmcU6kPuXb5ispm4acF_MTp&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPzHBhDCARIsALlWNG3lvRb8cwRGMDOh2uXhPIvhAWUmohUWTQ7cexWNXoHnRsAXaxaltzwaAryoEALw_wcB
Place where we rented our equipment (skis and snowboard):https://maps.app.goo.gl/JyAnUMRT8WkE8afw5
Lunch spot:
Great place with okonomiyaki!https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z1WH2x6CM7jo6RwU7
Footage recorded in March 2025
πΉ Drone: DJI Mini Pro 4
πΆ Music: https://www.epidemicsound.com/
If you enjoyed this video:
π Like the video
π¬ Comment your favourite part of Tuscany
π Subscribe for more travel & drone videos
#Niseko #SkiJapan #Snowboarding #Hokkaido #WinterTravel #SkiTips #JapanVlog
AloJapan.com