Top 10 Year-Round Activities in Niseko

The town of Niseko in Japan is located in the scenic mountainside slope of Abuta District, Shiribeshi Subprefecture in Hokkaido. Niseko treats travellers to an amazing set of attractions, ranging from cultural and historical riches to a smorgasbord of year-round offerings. To make the most of your stay in this picturesque town, we present you the top ten activities to do during your stay in this amazing town.

During winter, the white powdery snow slopes of Niseko’s scenic mountainside make for an ideal ski trail that entices both professional skiers and newbies wanting to learn the sport. From snowmobile adventures to taking skiing lessons and snowshoe tours, snow lovers will definitely have a grand time here.

Once the snow melts, do not fret as during summertime the wilderness hiking trail along the Niseko Circuit which runs from the back of Niseko Annupuri and ends at Goshiki Onsen is one of the best in Japan. It is mentioned at length in Lonely Planet’s Hiking in Japan.

Those who are fond of body relaxation activities will find comfort in the fact that Niseko boasts over 25 onsen choices in the whole town. Entrance fees normally range from ¥500 to ¥1000.

Covered with alpine flowers every summer with 10 kilometers of scenic trail, travelers will be exposed to a myriad of plants and flowers including the Ezo violet, a rare endemic flower found in the mountainside of Niseko. Enjoy stunning views of the Sea of Japan and Lake Toya at the peak.

Graubunden in the Hirafu East Village is a local favourite when it comes to tasty sandwiches, cookies and drinks. This is an ideal place to chill with the locals and enjoy the good vibe and food.

Ask the bartender for a bottle of Boyer-Gontard and again chill with the locals while enjoying the great ambiance of this place built and modeled after an old Hokkaido barn.

Located on the slopes next to the high-speed Gondola in Niseko-Hirafu Village, Ki Niseko boasts the restaurant, café and bar “An Dining”. Serving the best Japanese food in the village, we recommend enjoying an après-ski drink in the bar before settling in for a culinary experience like no other courtesy of Chef Shinichi Maeda.

Rounding up the ten best things to do in Niseko is a quick visit to the Milk Kobo (Milk Factory) for some of the best ice cream on Earth and museums about the milk industry.

You can also take a ride the scenic Grand Hirafu Gondola to get an amazing view of the whole town.

Lastly, we intentionally listed number 10 as blank so you will be forced to explore and discover more of Niseko as we’re sure there’s a lot of other things to do here than what is recommended!