Niseko

Sweet powder. Nice place, but way too many Australians. If you go to a resort like annupuri, there are a lot less Australians, but Hirafu has too many. It doesn’t really feel like Japan. Try the onsen if you go there… in the snow is just amazing. And Hokkaido’s food is pretty good… especially crab.

I have returned from Niseko and here is my story

I want to go snowboarding and sightseeing. I’ll be there in Feb 2007.

If you must spend a summer in Japan, work your way up to Hokkaido to escape the muggy heat.
I spent a summer up in Niseko about seven years back working as a raft guide in Hirafu. Down river twice, sometimes three times a day, hiking and biking on off days…
I would love to go back up there for a summer again someday…

Niseko is a great little ski town with amazing mountains and the most powdery snow I have seen. Really friendly locals and breathtaking scenery.

The snow is phenomenally powdery, and Niseko is only ski area within Hokkaido that actually has a small village of shops and restaurants for you to enjoy after skiing/ snowboarding for the whole day. Been back twice and hoping to go again Feb 2006!