Snow hungry skiers and snowboards converge on a small town located on the Northern Island of Japan each winter.
That town is, Niseko.
Niseko has been previously voted as one of the snowiest ski resorts in the world with an average snowfall of approximately 13 to 15 meters of snow.
So with all that snow, why would you want to go to another ski resort when on holiday in Niseko? New terrain, more powder, less people, the reason does not really matter.
However, what you can expect is to find awesome resorts outside of the Grand Hirafu area that are within a short drive.
Moiwa Ski Resort Moiwa is a small resort that is located next to the Annupuri ski area.
From the Niseko township it is approximately a 10 to 15 minute drive in winter.
In my opinion Moiwa is a hidden gem of the area.
If it you find yourself in the middle of a pow free few days, jumping to Moiwa you can often find untouched stashes of pow that you and your crew can enjoy for hours.
What you can expect to find at Moiwa The vertical is only 470 metres, but as they say, "Good things come in small packages!" and this one of those small packages.
The ski area has two lifts, a covered quad and a 2-seater, from these two lifts you have the options of cruising groomers or getting in to the trees and enjoying endless number of pow lines on offer.
Kiroro Ski Resort A modern resort with facilities and infrastructure that are a great credit to the planning and forward thinking to the management.
Honestly, Kiroro is another resort that does not get the attention it deserves as a powder ski resort.
Approximately an hour from Niseko by car or bus, or alternatively you can catch a train from Kutchan to Otaru (65 minutes) and then take a bus or taxi to the ski area.
What you can expect to find at Kiroro A 2 mountain resort with 21 courses (runs) there is terrain that will keep beginners to advanced powder monkeys happy.
Kiroro is a great day trip to get away from the crowds and find some untouched pow days after the last snow fall.
Rusutsu Ski Resort Besides the strange and on occasions creepy interior decorating that the resort is fitted out with, Rusutsu if the place to be on a powder day.
From the Niseko Township, Rusutsu is approximately 40 minutes by car/bus.
The best value lift ticket and bus transfer is from Niseko Ground Service (NGS), who provide daily transfers to and from Niseko to Rusutsu from the Welcome Center.
What you can expect to find at Rusutsu Spread over 3 mountains (Mt.
Isola, East Mt.
, West Mt.
) it features 37 designated courses.
The greatest feature of Rusutsu however, is the quality and number of tree lines that are accessed by very small traverses, if any, straight off a lift.
You will also find that you will escape the trees straight on to a groomed run that will deliver you back to the list so you can do it all again.