The best time to visit Niseko, Japan, will depend on your planned itinerary, budget and personal preference. For us, our favourite time to visit Niseko is late February, as everything feels less hectic in town, and the snow conditions are still good. However, this will be a different story for powder hounds chasing snow and looking to go backcountry.
We stayed for the entirety of 2 ski seasons for work and now regularly visit from the UK when we miss snowboarding and sushi. During our time living here, we’ve seen the cycle of crowds, accommodation rates, snowfall and wind throughout the winter. So here’s our guide to understanding what the best time to visit Niseko in winter is for you.
The Japanese ski season starts on Dec 2 and runs till May 6, depending on weather conditions. Here is a general breakdown for the Niseko ski season 2023/24.
- Early Season - Dec 2 to Dec 15
- Peak Season - Dec 16 to Feb 17
- Mid Season - Feb 18 to Mar 20
- Spring Season - Mar 21 to Apr 7
- Late Season - Apr 8 to May 6
What we mention in our guide is based on our experience of 2 full ski seasons and cross-referencing with snow forecast charts over the last 15 years. However, snowfall is something that we’ve seen become more unpredictable in recent years of visiting. So what we say here is just a rough guide. For accommodation rates, you must book well in advance to get the rates we mention below.
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Early Ski Season in Niseko (Dec 2 to Dec 15)
Early Niseko ski season starts from Dec 2 to Dec 15 2023. All 4 Niseko United Resorts will begin to open, including Niseko Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Annupuri and Niseko Village.
The temperature will be around -3°C in town.
Pros
- No crowds
- Accommodation rates are 30% lower than peak season
- Cheaper lift passes and rental
Cons
- Backcountry gates closed
- Limited off-piste skiing
- No night skiing
- Limited snowfall
- Depending on snow coverage, activities like snowmobiling might not operate yet.
In our experience, snowfall during early December in Niseko is often limited as it’s just getting started. There are usually 1-2 powder days a week where you’ll have fresh powder snow but limited sun. However, the snowfall won’t be half as much compared to peak season, and it will take a few more weeks to make a good snow base on the mountain.
In some areas, there’ll be tall Japanese sasa grass poking out from the ground too. You’ll still be able to ski or snowboard on the groomers, but Hokkaido’s powder snow won’t truly be here yet.
If you’re a beginner, we recommend taking some lessons and staying closer to the base level during this period. The grounds higher up won’t be too different to the bottom, but the increased incline on the slopes will make more brutal falls when you’re learning how to ski.
However, lift passes are cheaper by about 20% compared to the regular season to make up for this.
Similarly, hotels will lower their accommodation prices by roughly 30% compared to the peak period. From what we’ve seen, hotels in Niseko will have discount deals on bookings of 7 nights or more.
Although you can book last minute to snag an accommodation deal, it’s better to book a few months in advance to have more choices. In our experience, when we booked for our family to visit us, the only discounted rooms left were those on the lower level and had no view.
You’ll also find fewer tourists during this period, and Hirafu town is just starting to get livelier. Restaurants will also have more availability during this period, so we recommend you use this to book some of the most popular restaurants in Niseko, like Rakuichi Soba.
Peak Niseko Ski Season (Dec 16 to Feb 17)
The snowiest month in Niseko is December, with an average snowfall of 39 cm each week over the past 15 years. This period is also typically the busiest month in Niseko because of Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year. For this period you won’t see big discount deals for hotels.
The temperature is around - 2°C and - 11°C in town. It’s the coldest time of the year, so make sure to bring your warmest layers with you.
Pros
- Strong snowfall
- Dry powder snow
- Night skiing
Cons
- The coldest time of the year
- Few sunny days
- Strong winds may cause lift closures
- The busiest time of the year
- Expensive accommodation rates
The last week of December is usually the snowiest time in the entire year. Late December till mid-January is the best time to ski in Niseko if you’re a powder hound. Snow conditions during this period are relatively stable, with about 4-5 powder days in a week.
However, you’ll want to avoid the first week of January in Niseko if you’re learning to snowboard and ski. Although there’s an excellent amount of powder days during this time, the winds are also at their strongest during this period.
We remember not liking it because the winds were too strong when we were learning how to snowboard in Niseko in the 18/19 winter season. Even with the correct snow goggle lens, seeing what was in front was tough. Also, the wind would sometimes carry us faster down the slope than we were expecting, and as a beginner, it’s hard to do falling leaf in that condition.
More often than we like, the strong winds will cause lift closures for part or the whole day. Fortunately, there are many things to do in Niseko in winter outside of skiing. We recommend you check these out if the lifts are closed.
If the winds aren’t too strong, you’ll be able to experience Japanuary in its full glory with exceptional powder quality.
The last week of January is the best time to visit Niseko, Japan, to experience Hokkaido’s powder snow with clear blue skies. Typically, during this period, the weather cycle will begin to change, and there’s a short break from heavy snowfall, and the winds begin to subdue. You’ll start to see 1-2 bluebird powder days, where the day will be mostly sunny with light winds and fresh powder snow. However, snowfall during this time is also the least in the whole of January.
Make the most of your time in Hokkaido
The best time to visit Niseko is during the first two weeks of February to get the most out of your Hokkaido trip. You’ll be able to enjoy some great skiing in Niseko's mountain range and attend some of the region’s biggest winter festivals. The Sapporo Snow Festival typically happens in early February, and other festivals like Otaru Snow Light Path and Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival follow it.
Getting to Sapporo from Niseko is straightforward, too. However, we recommend avoiding going to the snow festivals during the weekends. Not only will there be more crowds from domestic tourists, but hotel rooms are also pricier.
Mid Ski Season in Niseko (Feb 18 to Mar 20)
During this period, you’ll start to see fewer crowds compared to the peak ski season in Niseko. For this period, you’ll find more package deals like free dinner during your stay or free ski rental upgrades. Although the snow cycle becomes less consistent during this period, this is a great time to visit Niseko for a few reasons.
In town, the temperature will be between - 5°C and - 10°C.
Pros
- Great snow base
- Great likelihood of snowfall
- Some sunny days
- Night skiing
- Great for backcountry skiing
Cons
- Snowfall is not as heavy
- Crowds
- High accommodation rates
Mid-ski season is the best time in Niseko to enjoy night skiing. Typically, in Niseko, you can ski until 4 pm, but night skiing keeps the slopes open all the way until 7 pm. Winds during this period are not as strong compared to December and January, making skiing at night less chilly compared to before.
In the 3rd week of February, we will usually see one more big storm cycle bringing in heavy wind and, of course, powder snow. The weather condition makes the last week of February’s snowfall comparable to January, with a higher average of bluebird days. You’ll enjoy fresh snow in blue skies with mild wind.
Meanwhile, the 2nd week of March has the highest number of bluebird days in the entire ski season in Niseko. However, there are much fewer powder days going into spring. Snow forecasts and historic Niseko snow reports will tell you that there’s an average of 1-2 days of powder snow during this period. However, from our experience, heavy snowfall is rare, so the chances of getting powder snow are also lower.
Therefore, we recommend delaying your visit to the 3rd week of March, when the snow conditions will be similar to the 2nd week of March, but lift prices and accommodation rates will fall.
In terms of crowd, while there are still many people during this period, most will congregate at the middle and bottom of the mountain. On a stunning powder day, queueing for 30 minutes or more to get on the gondola is unsurprising.
As you go higher up, you will find fewer queues for lifts and quieter slopes, especially on the more difficult red runs. Our tip is to take two lifts up and only ski at the top and middle level rather than returning to the base level.
When to go backcountry skiing in Niseko
Early to mid-February is a great time for guided side country and backcountry skiing with world-famous powder snow waiting for you. It’s a safe bet that by this point, a great snow base will have formed, and you’ll be able to explore more terrains.
You can enter from 11 different gates on the slopes to Niseko’s backcountry, and it is still relatively safe as long as you know which way to return to the resort. However, even for intermediate and expert skiers, we recommend getting a guided tour if it’s the first time going backcountry in Niseko.
The mountain range is very different from Europe, and getting a backcountry guide for your safety will help you avoid dangerous terrains. Plus, they’ll know all the good spots to hit after an overnight dump.
Spring Skiing in Niseko (Mar 21 to Apr 7)
While the snowfall is no longer comparable to January and February, the weather is much warmer during this period. During this period, both lift tickets and accommodation rates will be discounted. Typically, the holidaymakers you’ll see during spring are families with young kids and domestic tourists from Mainland Japan.
Temperature is around 0°C and -2°C in town. Temperatures will slowly start to warm up with more sunny days. You’ll get away with wearing a thick hoodie on some days.
Pros
- Good snow base
- More sunny days
- Cheaper lift passes and rental
- Good for backcountry hiking
- Discounted accommodation rates
Cons
- Less snowfall
- Chance of rainfall
- Fewer crowds
- No night skiing
In our opinion, spring skiing is the best time to visit Niseko for beginners. It’s the most beginner-friendly time to ski in Niseko as fewer crowds are on the slopes. You’ll be able to practise turning on the slopes confidently, and if you fall, you don’t have to worry about anyone closely behind you. The people skiing during this time usually go at a much more moderate pace, making it less risky, too.
However, skiing during this period might feel more icy at the bottom of the mountain and some part of the middle ground. There’s also a higher chance of rain during this season too. So, for us, checking the snow forecast the night before and waking up for fresh groomers is key to having a great day on the slopes.
This is also the best time for budget travellers to visit Niseko in winter. Similar to early December, lift passes are cheaper by about 20%, and accommodation prices go down by 30% compared to January and February prices.
End of Niseko Ski Season (Apr 8 to May 6)
Between April and the start of May is the end of ski season in Niseko, and depending on weather conditions, it might end sooner than expected. Hanazono and Niseko Village ski resorts will be closed by the start of April. Meanwhile, Annupuri and Niseko Grand Hirafu ski resorts might close earlier than scheduled if there isn’t enough snow to keep the slopes open.
In Hirafu town, shops and restaurants might also start to close early due to a lack of demand. Fortunately, you will find some of the lowest accommodation deals during this period.
The temperature is around 4°C in the village. You probably won’t need a heavy snow jacket in town or on the mountain.
Pros
- Good snow base on the mountain
- Mostly clear days
- Cheaper lift passes and rental
- No crowds
- Accommodation rates can be as low as 50% compared to peak season
Cons
- Fewer to no snowfall
- Chance of rainfall
- No night skiing
- Hanazono Ski Resort closed
- Niseko Village Ski Resort closed
We would only recommend going to Niseko during this time if you’re an intermediate skier or snowboarder looking for a few relaxing runs before the end of the season. The snow conditions won’t be excellent, but you’ll still have a great time on the groomers in the morning.
The bottom of the mountain will feel slushy to walk in and sometimes even a bit muddy during this period and get to the lifts. However, there are only a few holidaymakers during this period. When we used to work in Niseko, we would go in the early morning before work to get a few quick turns in.
If you absolutely hate the crowds, don’t mind the snow conditions and want to save money, April is the time to visit Niseko.
Next up, check out which Niseko onsen you should head to for a soak after a long day of skiing.
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