12 Best Things to do in Niseko, Japan
Looking for the best things to do in Niseko?
Niseko may be Japan’s most famous ski resort, but there’s plenty to do here besides skiing. We’ve been traveling all over Japan, but Niseko has to be one of the most fun towns we’ve been to. We found so many great things to do here! Of course we did go skiing, but we also discovered hidden bars, dairy farms, onsens, and tons of delicious food.
So if you’re planning a trip to Niseko, stay tuned to get our honest overview of the best things to do. We’ve got lots of insider tips to help you decide on your ideal ski resort, save money, and dodge the crowds.
Things to do in Niseko
1. Ski (duh!)
Niseko is famous for skiing, so this topic probably deserves its own blog post!
The first thing you need to know is that there are four different ski resorts up on Mount Annupuri. We’ll explain each one below, but basically, the first three are all connected, and then Moiwa is a smaller, separate resort.
Grand Hirafu is the biggest of the four ski resorts, and the best for partying! It’s also the most convenient place to stay if you don’t plan on renting a car.
Niseko Village is our personal favorite. It’s home to higher end hotels and there aren’t as many places to eat and drink, but there are other snowsports on offer here, like snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
Annupuri is ideal for beginners. Most of the slopes are wide and gentle, and it tends to be quieter than Grand Hirafu and Niseko Village.
Moiwa is not connected to the other resorts, so it’s a lot quieter. It’s a small resort and is way less crowded than the other three. We think it’s a great choice for families or those who want to try backcountry skiing.
Lift Passes
It’s possible to use the ski lifts to get between resorts at the top, but to be honest, we found that these were often closed! However, we were also able to drive ourselves between resorts, and they are also connected at the base of the mountain by shuttle buses.
If you want to ski between resorts, then you can buy the Niseko United All Mountain Pass. It’s cheaper to do this online, but you will also need to purchase an IC keycard for 500 JPY ($3.50 USD). This is a rechargeable lift pass and it’s worth having, because it saves you from queuing up for lift tickets, which can take a while. Prices for the United Pass start from 10,500 JPY ($71 USD) for one day.
With that being said, it’s slightly cheaper to buy a day pass for just one of the resorts instead of the multi-access pass. We paid 7,800 JPY ($53 USD) each for a one-day lift pass to Niseko Village, and multi-day discounts are available.
Niseko Village
Niseko Village was definitely our favorite of the four ski resorts, and this is where we ended up spending most of our time. We felt that it had a good mix of runs, including some good, long Green Runs, so beginners are well catered for here.
We also loved the village itself, which we could ski right into! There were nice shops and restaurants here, including Baby Crosta, which sells good (albeit very overpriced) slices of pizza. I’m all for treating yourself on vacation but 2,000 JPY (about $13.50 USD) for a single slice of pizza is a bit much!
The most affordable restaurant in Niseko Village is Gogyo Ramen Dining. We managed to grab a bowl of ramen here for 1,800 JPY ($12 USD), which is pretty good by ski resort standards.
Renting equipment
If you need to rent ski gear, our top tip would be to use independent shops rather than the ski resorts! We found that the resort prices were so much more expensive.
We rented our equipment from Winter First Ski Rental Delivery, which is about a 15-minute drive from the ski area. We got ALL of our gear from there, including ski pants, jackets, gloves … the works! It cost us 15,000 JPY ($102 USD) each for a two-day rental, which was an absolute bargain compared to the resorts.
We drove out to the shop, but they will actually deliver the equipment right to your accommodation if you don’t have your own wheels in Niseko – how great is that?
2. Wander around Grand Hirafu
Since the area is called Niseko, people often think that Niseko Ski Village is the main town, but that’s not the case! Although we loved Niseko Ski Village, the biggest town with the most happening is actually called Grand Hirafu. This is where you can find a ton of restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels all close together, and it’s definitely the best place to party.
We would recommend staying in Grand Hirafu if you don’t have a rental car, because it’s very walkable. The other resort towns in Niseko are spread out, so you’ll need a vehicle to enjoy them properly. But with Grand Hirafu, you can get to tons of places on foot.
Even if you’re not staying here, we highly recommend visiting one evening just to wander around! In fact, a lot of the attractions and restaurants mentioned in this blog are located in Grand Hirafu, even though we didn’t stay there. And be sure to get a photo next to the Niseko heart sign!
3. Eat Ramen at Tozanken Ramen
Nothing beats slurping down a warming bowl of ramen after a cold day on the slopes, and Tozanken Ramen is our favorite spot in Niseko to do just that! It’s in Grand Hirafu, and it’s one of the (relatively few) restaurants that isn’t super overpriced. We paid 1,200 JPY ($8 USD) each for a delicious bowl of ramen, which we were more than happy with.
This place does get super busy, and you’ll often have to wait well over an hour for your table. However, you can join a virtual queue so that you don’t have to hang around.
When you arrive, you’ll put your name into a computer, then get a number and a QR code. I scanned the QR code with my phone so that I could see our position in line, and then we left the restaurant and grabbed a drink nearby. We returned when there were only a few people ahead of us in the queue, and we had no problems whatsoever. Doing it this way was much better than waiting in line!
4. Soak in an Onsen
Onsens are hot spring baths, with mineral-rich water, so they’re ideal for soaking in after a long day up on the mountain! There are lots of onsens to enjoy in Niseko, and some hotels even offer private onsens, such as Chalet Ivy and the Ritz Carlton Reserve, if you’re feeling really fancy. Hotel onsens are usually either free for guests to use, or available at a heavily discounted rate, so it’s worth considering staying somewhere with its own onsen.
However, we found some fantastic onsens that were open to the public, so everyone can enjoy a soak in Niseko! One thing to note is that a lot of onsens don’t allow anyone with tattoos to soak, which really limited our options. However, we found a handful that do allow the inked in!
Goshiki Onsen And Hotel
- Opening hours: 10 am – 8 pm (You must check in before 7 pm)
- The fee: 700 JPY (~$5 USD) and is cash only – so bring yen!
The Goshiki Onsen and Hotel is popular with backcountry skiers, as you can even ski here from the Annupuri resort! We drove here, which took about 20 minutes from Niseko town by car, and we liked the rustic, country feel of this onsen. The pools aren’t anything super fancy, but they’re made with Japanese larch wood, and the open-air baths offer nice views of the mountains.
There are indoor and outdoor pools here and you can also rent towels if you don’t feel like bringing your own. The hotel is also located at the trailhead of the Niseko Annupuri hike, so if you’re visiting during the summer, it’s the perfect spot for a post-hike soak.
Yukichichibu Onsen
- Opening hours: 12 pm – 8 pm (You must check in before 7 pm)
- Close day: Tuesday
- The fee: 700 JPY (~$5 USD)
Yukichichibu is an awesome outdoor onsen with eight different bathing pools and a mud bath (on the women’s side only). And not only do they allow tattoos here, they also allow guests to drink beer while soaking in the pools, which is super rare, so we suggest you take advantage. There are even vending machines at reception selling beer, although alcohol goes to your head faster when you’re sweating in an onsen, so don’t go overboard.
We loved bathing here and taking in the snowy scenery, but if you’re here during summer, we recommend taking a stroll around Otama Numa, the calderic marshland that’s right next door to the onsen. It’s a big swamp and you can watch steam rising from the hot springs, which is pretty cool.
Kiranoyu Spa Niseko station
- Opening hours: 10 am – 9:30 pm (You must check in before 9 pm)
- Close day: 2nd and 4th of Wednesday
- The fee: 600 JPY (~$4 USD)
This onsen is super popular with locals. In fact, it’s in a part of Niseko that not a ton of tourists tend to frequent, so it’s a good choice if you want a really authentic onsen experience. Just remember to familiarize yourself with the rules first and if you have long hair, wear it up so that it stays out of the water.
This onsen is super clean and well equipped, with two indoor onsens and one outdoor onsen, as well as a cold water pool and a sauna. There’s also a private pool here that families and groups can reserve.
5. Visit the food trucks
If you’re looking for cheap eats and a social vibe, be sure to check out the food trucks located next to the Hirafu intersection bus stop.
We loved the atmosphere here. There’s often music playing and there’s a nice fire pit to warm up next to, which is always welcoming during a cold Niseko winter! Plus, there’s a great selection of food trucks to choose from. We got the fried chicken, and it was delicious, but there are lots of other options.
From ramen to gyoza, burgers, Indian food and everything inbetween, you’re sure to find something to get your inner foodie excited. This is also a great spot to meet fellow travellers, make new friends, and start an evening of bar hopping!
6. Wine and dine
Of course, sometimes, we like to shake things up with something a bit classier than food trucks and ramen! So if you feel the same, then you have plenty of options in Niseko. There are lots of reputable restaurants here that are on the fancier side.
Ichi Ichi Kitchen is a fine dining restaurant that offers a sumptuous 5-course set menu. They serve upscale Japanese food here, but with a global twist, with dishes like Hokkaido beef cheek, roasted pura tempeh, shrimp bisque, and Mt. Yotei Cake on the menu – yum! It costs 16,500 JPY ($112 USD) to do the dinner set menu, and seatings are at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm daily during the winter.
Meanwhile, Musu is a fancy apres-ski bar that offers awesome cocktails and tapas. They welcome walk-ins (or ski-ins!) and their menu is themed around different continents, so you can order drinks and light bites from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East! They’ve got everything from Thai margaritas to mulled wine.
And if you’re in the mood for sushi, you can’t go wrong at Sushi Hanayoshi. The sushi here is super fresh, as the owner himself actually goes to the ports and selects the fish himself to make sure it’s all up to standard. We loved sitting at the counter and watching the chef make the sushi from scratch, but only 6 people at a time get this privilege, although there are plenty of other tables. Perhaps best of all, they’ve got some top-notch sake from all over Japan to wash your sushi down with!
Related Read: For more amazing eats, check out our favorite food tours in Tokyo!
7. Visit a local dairy farm
Hokkaido has a strong dairy farming industry, so it has actually become famous for its amazing dairy products, like ice cream, chocolate, cream, and cheese. There are a couple of dairy farms close to Niseko, so why not visit one while you’re in the area?
The best dairy farm we went to was Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm. This is near the Niseko Ski Village, and there are a few different shops here selling amazing dairy products, all of which are made with milk from this very ranch! We loved the hot chocolate cafe and the cream puffs; they were the best we have ever tasted.
There’s also a pizza place and an ice cream shop here. But to be honest, you just can’t beat the Hokkaido cheese tarts, so do yourself a favor and try one! These tarts are a local specialty and they only cost around 300 JPY ($2 USD) each, so it’s a no-brainer.
Alternatively, there’s a small stand called Niseko Takahashi Cheese Tart in Grand Hirafu, and they also sell yogurt and cheese. It’s easy to walk here, so this is a convenient option for those without a rental car, but you’ll miss out on the chocolate and cream puffs. So if you do have your own wheels, I highly recommend driving out to the actual farm – it’s only 10 minutes down the road!
8. Find the “Refrigerator Door” Bar
Bar Gyu+ is the oldest cocktail bar in Niseko, and it’s definitely the coolest! It’s known as the “Refrigerator Door Bar” because it’s hidden behind yup, you guessed it, a refrigerator door, which is tucked down an alleyway in Grand Hirafu.
Once you head through the fridge door, you’ll find yourself in a super small and intimate bar with wooden decor and big windows so that you can gaze out at the snow. It’s both classy and cozy, so it makes for a perfect apres-ski spot. They serve craft cocktails, sake, beer, and, my favorite, mulled wine. In fact, this was definitely the best mulled wine I had in Niseko!
They don’t take reservations here, and since this bar is so small (and so cool) it fills up pretty fast. And in terms of food, there are only a few small snacks on the menu, so what I recommend doing is coming here when they first open at 5 pm and enjoy a few drinks before dinner. Come on a weekday, too, if you can to increase your chances of snagging a seat. I also think it’s better to come as a couple, as larger groups will struggle to get a table.
9. Go for a massage
Skiing can definitely result in sore muscles, but luckily there are plenty of massage places in Grand Hirafu catering to the ski crowd or just anyone who wants to relax!
Hermosa Angel has a good reputation, and they offer Thai and sports massages, so if you’re looking for a real deep-tissue treatment, this is the place to go.
Lots of the hotels in Niseko offer massages in their spas, too. Sestu Niseko is known for its excellent Rikka Spa, and the Park Hyatt has a beautiful spa, as well as a lovely onsen. But to be honest, wherever you’re staying will probably have a massage on offer. And if not, Hermosa Angel, that I talked about above, offer home or hotel visits for an additional fee.
10. PARTYYYY
Niseko is a bit of a party place, probably because tons of Aussies come here to ski. And with Aussies, the apres ski is just as important as the slopes themselves! So if you’re looking to let loose after a day on the slopes, you’re well catered for in Niseko.
Grand Hirafu is where most of the apres ski partying takes place in Niseko. If you like live music there’s no better place to go than Music Bar Mina Mina. Between the upbeat vibe, awesome local bartenders, and great music, it’s easily one of our favorite spots in town. It’s also only a short walk from the food trucks!
If you’re looking for a party spot that also serves up killer food, JAM will not dissapoint. We seriously dug the warm atmosphere and hanging lanterns above each table. They have a wide selection of Japanese whisky (score!) as well as local beer on draft.
But to be honest, it’s easy to find apres ski spots around Grand Hirafu. They’re everywhere! So just follow the crowds and the music and you’ll be sure to find something fun.
11. Try soup curry
Soup curry is a must-try dish while you’re in Hokkaido. Not only is it a classic Hokkaido dish, it’s the perfect thing to eat after a day on the slopes.
The dish actually originated in Sapporo, the region’s capital, as a staff meal in an Indian restaurant in the 1970s – or so the story goes. The chef basically created a traditional medicinal soup but with Indian spices, and it proved so popular that it quickly became a regular menu item. Other restaurants soon caught on and nowadays, soup curry is a staple of Hokkaido cuisine!
My favorite place in Niseko for soup curry is Jamii. The meat is so tender and the soup has so much flavor – I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! You can also choose how spicy you want to make your soup on a scale of 0-20, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t have a big spice tolerance.
Related Read: If you are off to where this dish originated, check out our list of all the best things to do in Sapporo!
12. Visit Lupicia
We might have saved the best for last!
We’re huge craft beer fans, so of course we had to go and check out Lupicia. Lupicia is a craft beer made in Niseko, and I just love the English Pale Ale!
You can’t actually visit Lupicia’s brewing facility. However, they do have a restaurant where they sell their amazing craft beer, so naturally, we were keen to check it out.
When we arrived, we were surprised that Lupicia is actually a French restaurant serving amazing food and tons of wine. We only really came for the beer, but we ended up ordering about 8 different dishes to share between us. We had several starters, then pasta, spare ribs, and then crème brûlée and cheesecake for dessert. It was heavenly.
The prices were reasonable, the food was amazing, and the service was really good, too. We really enjoyed the atmosphere, and they even had an hour of live music while we were there. Seriously, I highly recommend booking a table and making a night of it – and whatever you do, don’t skip dessert!
Where to Stay in Niseko
Now that you have a full list of things to check out in Niseko, it’s time to find a place to stay!
I will caution you that rooms book up quickly during peak ski season (mid-December to mid-February) and can be double the price during that time! If you can, book early and try to avoid the high season to find a cheaper room.
Chalet Ivy Hirafu – $$$
I mentioned this hotel earlier as an option for a private onsen, but Chalet Ivy has so much to offer! This is a boutique hotel with a fantastic location close to the ski resorts, huge beds in comfy rooms and of course, a beautiful onsen.
It’s a great choice for skiers as equipment rentals are offered right in the hotel, there’s a free shuttle to Grand Hirafu (which is only a 2-min drive away) and breakfast and dinner are included in the room rates. Rates start at $200 USD, but are closer to $500 USD during peak season. Check availability and book a room here!
Niseko Hykrots Ikigai Village – $$ (Where we stayed!)
Our personal pick is the cozy Niseko Hykrots Ikigai Village. This feels more like a lodge than a traditional hotel, with wood panelling everywhere and its location is a bit more rustic outside of town, so we recommend having a rental car to get here. The rooms are well insulated, so we weren’t cold and it was a perfect place to relax after a busy day skiing or exploring.
Breakfast is included and the staff is so kind and known for clearing snow off of guests’ cars! Rates start at $140 USD, but can be closer to $300 USD during ski season. Book a room online here!
Niseko Tabi-tsumugi Backpackers – $
For budget travelers there isn’t a lot of choice in Niseko itself, so you’ll have to go to nearby Kutchan to find cheaper accommodation. Niseko Tabi-tsumugi Backpackers is a well-rated hostel in Kutchan. It’s small (only 12 beds), but the host makes sure everyone is taken care of. From daily rides to the slopes to a homey feel with a mix of Japanese and international travelers, it’s a great pick if you’re looking to find ski buddies!
Bunks start at $34 USD or private rooms around $68 USD. We advise checking for the best rates on either Hostelworld.com or Booking.com as it tends to book up quickly.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this list of all the best things to do in Niseko has been helpful! While skiing is a big draw here, it’s not the only reason to visit and we loved discovering more of what makes this place special.
Whether you’re visiting Japan for the first time or just looking for new ideas on what to do while you’re here, have a peek at all our blogs about Japan travel. We’ll share those local recommendations and tips that are so helpful when you’re visiting a new place!
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