For skiers and snowboarders the words ‘Japan’ and ‘powder’ go together just like sake and pizza (seriously…try it. Oishi neh!). But, in order to achieve snow of the quality they are famous for, Hakuba and Niseko’s weather conditions can often be harsh. For most of us, the thought of visiting places that get between 10 and 14 meters of snow annually brings nothing but visions of endless pow shredding happiness. At some stage in your holiday, however, you will have to spend time off the mountain so here are a few pointers about what you’ll need to make the most your après, no matter what the weather’s doing…
Winter Boots
Most skiers and snowboarders spend a lot of time trying to decide what kind of footwear they will be most suitable for their chosen sport however, in Japan, your après boots are almost as important. While the streets are cleared regularly, at some point you will end up trekking through snow so we recommend something that’s waterproof and also reaches high enough up your leg to keep the snow at bay. A few good examples are the Sorel 1964 Premium in men’s and women’s, the KEEN Elsa, and the Volcom Sub Zero. All are available from Beats Niseko.
Apres Jacket
It goes without saying that the weather in Niseko and Hakuba is often cold and snowy. This is great for skiing and snowboarding but not so good for exploring the town so having a warm après jacket is an excellent idea. A quality puffy jacket is ideal because they are warm, windproof and waterproof so we recommend the Armada Dante Down Insulator. Also available at Beats Niseko are the Dakine Freemont, the Fera Selene Down Coat, the Spider Leader, Kjus Formula DLX in men’s and women’s along with the SOS BS Doll Jacket.
Town Gloves
Your extremities are just as likely to feel the chill when you’re walking the streets as they are when you’re ripping the mountain. The Oyuki Ultra Liner gloves are perfect because they can double as inner gloves for your mitts on really cold days. They also come with iPhone compatible fingertips for all those insta-worthy shapshots. Say cheesu! You’ll find these gloves available at Rhythm Niseko, Rhythm Hakuba, and Beats Niseko.
Beanie there, done that
In a ski town it’s important to maintain your steeze, even when you’re just walking between the bars so we recommend covering your noggin in a stylish piece of winter headwear. You may wish to choose something slightly warmer than you would for skiing and snowboarding, as you’re less likely to suffer from head sweat between beers than you are between runs. A few excellent choices are the Oyuki Shiro Beanie or any of our Coal, Kjus or Spyder beanies. You’ll find plenty to choose from at any of our stores!
