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With over 70 marked trails, terrain parks, and backcountry runs blanketed by the famed powder snow, Niseko is a dream playground for any skier or snowboarder. Collectively called Niseko United, the 4 major ski resorts – Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Annupuri, and Niseko Village – all have their own charms and characteristics.
To know more about the ins and outs of Niseko’s ski slopes, we sat down with one of Rhythm Rides’ awesome ski instructors, Jack, who has been a ski instructor over 10 years and now on his second season of teaching in Niseko this season.
For easier reference, check out the Niseko United’s Trail Map below with the run/lift’s corresponding number!
Beginners
For the first timers on the slopes, learning and getting the basics down are important before making your way to the lifts and up the mountain. Niseko has plenty of areas beginners can access without having to use the lifts.
Best Place to Practice Basic Skills without Using Lifts/Gondolas
For Grand Hirafu, the biggest of the four Niseko United resorts, Jack suggests the flat area for beginners that’s located between the .Base (Dot Base) Centre and Ace Gondola [1] in Grand Hirafu. Here you can walk up and ride down without having to worry about getting on and off the lifts (we know it could be challenging for the first timers). If you’re staying in the Hirafu area and want quick access back to your hotel, this is the spot to go.
Best Place to Practice Your Basic Skills
For the overall beginner terrain, Jack highly recommends Annupuri [2] – the quieter and more traditional part of Niseko. “Annupuri is my ideal beginner terrain, for sure. It’s the easiest terrain, it’s super wide open, and it’s quieter.” Jack explains. The lower half of Annupuri has gentler slopes, wide spaces, and a variety of beginner runs makes it the perfect space to practice basic skills and gain confidence riding down the mountain. Moreover, if you also want to get on the lifts the quickest, Annupuri’s Dream Quad Lift located just in front of NOOK Annupuri is the “easiest chairlift in the area” as Jack describes.
Back in Hirafu, the beginner run Family [3] and the area near Holiday [4] would be Jack’s recommendation for practicing basic skills and building confidence on the slopes.
“Once they start getting confidence in Family and they want to change it up, I’ll take them across the Holiday,” he explains, “It’s much wider, there’s way more space. I find that once people have learned the basics, they become more worried about the people skiing past them and around them.”
Intermediate
I am now confident with green runs and now want to explore the red runs
For riders who are now transitioning from green runs to red runs, Jack recommends going up higher in Hirafu using either King Gondola or Ace Gondola. To ease yourself into it, he suggests going down a few laps of the Green Run [1] first. “It’s called a Green Run, but it’s not really a green run since there are sections that are much deeper. If you’ve just come from the Family and Holiday runs, it’ll feel a lot steeper.” he comments.
Once you’ve done that, he suggests going further up via King Hooded Quad Lift #3 and doing the top part of Jumbo [2] and moving to Rinkan and going under the Quad Lift to introduce yourself to red runs.
After gaining a bit more confidence, Jack’s advise would be to head on over to Hanazono which has plenty of “super nice, mellow, Reds,” starting off with the easiest ones – the Silver Dream [3] and Colly’s Folly [4].
Advanced
Considered by some as the snow capital of the world, people from all over the world travel all the way to Niseko to experience its fresh powder snow. If that’s your purpose for coming here, where should you go?
Best Place to Ride Fresh Powder in Open Areas
For those who don’t want to go out of the resort boundary, the top lifts of the resorts are a great place to start. “Go to any of the top lifts. King [Lift] #4, Ace [Pair Lift] #4, Wonderland – those top row lifts,” [1] Jack says. Being at the top means you’ll be above the tree line and a wide terrain open before you – letting you enjoy the famed powder snow to the fullest (especially in the morning). Moreover, with these lifts being within the boundary, avalanche safety equipment won’t be needed. Going lower down the mountain, Hirafu’s Konayuki [2], Hanazono’s Waterfall Gate [3], and Niseko’s Village’s Gate 11 [4] are other areas where you can enjoy powder snow.
Best Tree Runs
The local favourite, Miharashi [5] in Hirafu, is also a great place to enjoy fresh powder snow as well as tree runs. If you’re new to doing tree runs, there’s no worry of getting lost in Miharashi as it is not only inside the boundary, but a groomed run – Holiday – is surrounding the area, making it so that whichever direction you go, you will end up skiing into a groomed run. Hanazono’s Strawberry Fields [6] and Blueberry Fields [7] are also great areas to enjoy fresh powder and tree runs at the same time as well.
Best Place to Feel an Adrenaline Rush
For the adrenaline lovers and looking to challenge themselves, Niseko’s backcountry gates [8] are a must for fresh powder snow. “It’s crazy terrain, deep snow, and just going up to the peak is kind of cool. Like standing on the peak and having a 360 view, you feel really high up and you see the ocean,” Jack comments.
Best Place to Experience Niseko’s Backcountry
For backcountry first timers, Jack suggests trying the inbound gates first like Gate 7 [9] in Annupuri, or Gate 11 [4] in Niseko Village. “Not so steep terrain with a smaller area and you don’t have to traverse out, which is a really good intro for that kind of terrain.”
Once familiar with Niseko’s inbound gates, Jack suggests then to try going to peak first. Going to the outbound gates like Gate 4 or 5, before going to the more extreme of terrains like the mountain’s North Face or backbowl which is much steeper and more open.
However, going to the backcountry comes with risks and for any first timer in Niseko, it is highly recommended to use a backcountry guide – one who is very much familiar with Niseko’s terrain. If you’re interested in exploring the gates while you’re on your Niseko holiday, there are several companies in Niseko like Rhythm Rides that offer backcountry guiding and touring services.
Best Place for Moguls
For those who enjoy the thrill of moguls, Super [10] in Hirafu is Jack’s recommendation because it’s never groomed all the way down. He also proposes trying Ni-kabe [11] and going all the way down. “There’s also a small area between Ace Hill and [King Hooded Quad Lift] [12] that’s really nice and shorter – like an intro to bumps kind of spot.”
Best Place for Park Lovers
Within the resort boundary, Niseko also has a place for park riders. Hirafu has an entry-level park near Holiday [16]. Meanwhile, Hanazono has a park perfect for beginners near the Hanazono Symphony Gondola [17], as well as a park for the more experienced rider going down Stairway to Heaven [18].
Best Place to Practice Carving
For those who want to learn the technique of carving, Jack suggests going to areas that are wide open, groomed like Hirafu’s green runs such as the one near Holiday [13], and Family [14], or the bottom part of Annupuri [15] – and doing it early in the morning is the best.
An Extra Tip from Jack
Explore Niseko’s 4 Resorts in One Day
Niseko’s four ski resorts are all actually connected at the top of the mountain. For those wanting to explore all four in one day, Jack’s suggestion would be to start in Hirafu, ski out of Hanazono and ski into Niseko Village, go back up to ski in Annupuri and back to base – all using the lifts at the top. In fact, there are three single chair lifts at the top – the King Lift #4 [19] in Hirafu and the Wonderland Chair A&B [20] – you can ride and experience Niseko’s infamous pizza box lift experience.
For Casual Riding
On the other hand, for our casual riders who enjoy a nice, chill, and relaxing ride down the slope, Jack says Annupuri [1] is the place to be because of its mellow slopes. “For a chill skier that wants to stop by for a coffee and take pictures and stuff, I’d suggest staying around Hirafu [2] and Hanazono [3] resorts,” he adds, “There’s numerous restaurants and cafes on the hill and at the bottom, I think you’ve got more options there.”
Off the slopes, Jack recommends checking out Niseko’s numerous onsens as well as the beloved Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm’s Milk Kobo!
Place with the Best Views
When asked for the best views on the slope, Hirafu is the place to go. “Hirafu just points straight out to Mt. Yotei, even like at the bottom of Family, you can still see it,” he explains.
Another favourite of his is at the top of Niseko Village, “When you come off the gondola and you do the first bit of Superstition [4], you can see all this land at the bottom. Like super flat, open powder fields. It looks super cool and quite dramatic, people often ask for photos there during my lessons.”
Whether you’re new to riding or an experienced adventurer looking to explore, Rhythm Rides has you covered with expert mountain support. They offer private lessons, guided tours, kids’ programs, and backcountry excursions—all led by coaches and guides who are not only skilled but also intimately familiar with every corner of Niseko. Simply put, their team is among the best in the business. Elevate your Niseko experience by reaching out to Rhythm Rides here.
If you’re starting to plan your next winter holidays in Niseko, we are now accepting winter reservations for the 2025-26 season. Check out our Winter Special Offers and book a stay with us now.
