You wouldn’t go to a restaurant everyday for a week and only eat the same dish the whole time, so why would you only ride the same resort the whole time you’re visiting Niseko?
Sure, Niseko does offer four interconnect resorts, all covered under the one All-Mountain lift pass, so if you were to decide to purely stick to the Niseko United resorts, you’d have more than enough terrain to keep you busy over the course of your one-week stay.
But if you venture slightly outside of the main resorts to the likes of Rusutsu, Kiroro and Moiwa, you’ll find the same deep powder that one would expect for Niseko, all without the huge crowds that you’ll find in the Niseko United.
If you’re keen to explore as many resorts as possible throughout your stay, here are some of the essentials that we recommend putting on your itinerary:
Rusutsu
A local favourite, Rusutsu is home to fun tree runs, long well groomed pistes and deep powder runs across three valley peaks. This quirky resort is only 45 minutes from Niseko by car and is famous for its abundant powder stashes, panoramic views and fully operational amusement park. With 4 gondolas and 14 lifts servicing its 3 peaks, Rusutsu is Hokkaido’s largest all-season resort, and offers a good variety of terrain for all levels of riders.
Kiroro
Located about an hour north of Niseko, Kiroro is known for having the lightest, driest and most powder in the area. To put it in perspective, while Niseko receives an average of 12m – 15m of snow per season, Kiroro receives 21m, making it the go-to destination for powder hounds visiting the region.
The best part? Because of its secluded location and lesser known name, you’ll score fresh tracks without the crowds, allowing you to get more laps in without needing to worry about busy lift lines when you get to the bottom.
For families, Kiroro also offers the Kiroro Snow Activity World, which features a range of activities such as snow rafting, snow banana-boating, snowmobiles and snow buggy tours, giving the kids countless options to have fun in the snow without needing to strap into ski boots.
Moiwa
Moiwa resort, a beloved mountain 20 minutes from Niseko famous for its secluded slopes and local charm. With a rich history dating back to 1919, Moiwa is a favourite amongst backcountry enthusiasts and families alike due to its quiet, rustic charm, wide beginner-friendly slopes and lower volume of riders, which make it the perfect spot for beginners to learn how to ride in Japanese powder.
Iwanai
Iwanai is truly one of a kind. A secluded coastal resort where the Sea of Japan meets the land, Mt Iwanai sits 1,086 metres above sea level and is largely untouched by the busy crowds that flock to Niseko each year. Offering a limited number of lifts, Iwanai is most known for its deep powder, which is mainly accessed through CAT Ski’s and backcountry tours.
Perks of Riding Niseko’s Surrounding Resorts
Untracked Pow
With significantly smaller crowds visiting the nearby resorts, riders who stray from Niseko’s beaten path are treated to fresh tracks and deep powder stashes all day long.
Less Wait Time
It goes without saying that the less crowds, the less time you spend waiting in busy lift lines. Allowing you to get significantly more laps in than you would if you were visiting Niseko United or other tourist dense locations.
Hidden Attractions
Theme parks, mini snowmobiles, resorts overlooking the ocean – each of Niseko’s surrounding resorts offer their own unique attractions which help distinguish them as one of a kind resorts that need to be seen to be believed. Plus, with all the extra time you’ll have from shorter lift lines, you’ll find it easy to slot in some extra off-slopes activities for you and the family.
Something New
There’s a reason that “change is good” is a much more commonly used phrase than “stick to the status quo” (unless you’re talking to High School Musical fans). If you never try new things, how will you know which you prefer?
Ride Like A Local
How do resorts stay in business without maintaining huge tourist crowds? The locals! Ride the spots that only the locals know about and find out why so many want to keep them a secret.
Explore Beyond Niseko with the Multi Resort Tour
Collaborate with an expert guide to determine which resort you will hit up each day based on the snow conditions, your preferences, and goals. An extension of the Rhythm Trip’s program, the Multi Resort Tour is perfect for intermediate riders who are looking to get off the tourist trail and rip as many resorts as possible!
What’s Included?
- 7 nights accommodation
- 2 days of resort guiding in Niseko United and 3 days at neighbouring resorts
- 2 days of lift passes for Niseko United and 3 days at neighbouring resorts
- 5 days premium ski or snowboard rental
- Private airport transfers
Why The Multi Resort Tour?
There’s plenty of reasons that we recommend visiting more than just the Niseko United resorts, but one person who knows the surrounding area better than anyone is Joaquín Céspedes, one of Rhythm Rides expert guides who loves exploring all that Niseko has to offer both in and outside of the resorts.
In Joaquín’s experience, “Going away from Niseko is a way to explore a bit more the Japanese culture and their ways. Everything around Niseko is already quite developed, and the English language, as well as some western ways, are already there. When you get away from Niseko, things tend to get a bit more authentic in these terms.”
When asked who should consider doing the Multi Resort Tour, Joaquín encouraged “adventurers and those looking to explore more than just skiing.”
“It’s the whole experience of driving in Japan, surrounded by snow walls, looking at the unique vegetation, finding random places to stop for food, or just trying the different public baths and onsen, which in my opinion, are way bigger and more authentic than the ones in Niseko hotels.”
Of all the places in the area to ski, Joaquín’s personal favourite is Rusutsu, “it’s usually less crowded than Niseko, and the way the chair lifts are displayed make it really easy and fast to do top-to-bottom laps.”
“There’s also great trees to ride and the groomers are top-of-the-line!”
Interested in exploring beyond Niseko on the Multi Resort Tour? Head here for more information and booking enquiries.
