Planning The Ultimate Luxe Itinerary For Your Chinese New Year In Niseko

Day 1 - Travel, Get Settled

It doesn't matter if you’ve flown for 1-hour or 10, there’s something about travelling that is always exhausting. So what’s the best way to combat travel fatigue? We recommend landing into New Chitose in the early afternoon, making sure you have more than enough time to make it back to Niseko to catch the sunset views – an unmissable Instagram photo opp. 

There are multiple transit options from New Chitose airport, including buses, trains, taxis and private car hire, but we want to make this list suitable for those seeking luxury, so for this leg we are going to recommend a private luxury transfer. Champagne, hot towels, wifi, the perks of a private transfer don’t stop, allowing you to sit back, take in the sights and start the holiday celebration from the get-go.  

DAY 2 - WARM-UP POWDER + ONSEN

If you’ve ever been on a ski trip before, you’ll know what it means to ‘get your legs back’. It doesn’t matter if you ski every season or it’s your first time on the slopes, it’ll take a little bit of time before you ‘find your legs’. 

Skiing and snowboarding work out a lot of different muscles, including a lot that you may not target while doing standard workouts and cardio exercises back home. Add the feeling of wearing ski and snowboard boots to the mix and a solid few hours of riding each day, we can guarantee you’ll be feeling it. 

So if you haven’t ridden before, we’d suggest picking up a lesson on day one to make sure you learn all the correct techniques from the outset. If you have skied or boarded before, our tip would be to have a few hours on snow playing around and getting used to the equipment and then jump in an afternoon lesson. Not only will this help you identify teething issues and know which area’s to work on in your lesson, it’ll help you ‘get your legs back’ ahead of your lesson.

After that, enjoy an in-hotel onsen or spa and then head down for a few evening nightcaps.

DAY 3 - PRIVATE POWDER DAY

Ok, we’ve got our legs back, we’re feeling confident on the slopes. Now, time to find the best pow on offer, whether in resort or out in the back and side country.

Not only will a private guiding service help you find all the best pow (and photo) opportunities around the resort, it’ll also double up as a lesson, allowing you to hone in your skills under professional tutorage, on the best terrain out there. On top of this, options such as the ‘Explorer Upgrade’ offered by Rhythm Rides provide private transportation, allowing for additional time included for off snow activities such as apres, onsen or supermarket runs. Why not get picked up, taken out for a day skiing in a private lesson then score a ride to an onsen or cocktail bar? Now, that’s luxe livin’.

DAY 3 - CULTURAL RESET (NON-SKI DAY)

Hot tip: even the most avid pow chasers need a day off every now and then. Sometimes, it’s better to take a day to rest and reset and then hit the slopes the following day with 110% energy, than it is to run at 70% multiple days in a row. 

And the best part? Niseko isn’t like certain mountains around the USA or regional Japan where a day off snow leaves you without anything to do for the day. Japan is an awesome place to spend time off snow!

Whether you choose to hit up Goshinki for an tranquil onsen escape followed by a traditional kaiseki lunch, soak up a private day touring Otaru’s beautiful canals and sushi restaurants or opt for private sake or gin tasting around Hirafu, there’s a lot of epic options that’ll act as the perfect RnR, while also helping you soak up as much of Japan as possible.

DAY 4 - CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION DAY

Let’s celebrate the year of the horse! We are here celebrating the Chinese New Year after all, so what better time to soak up a little bit of Chinese culture around town! 

Head out for a ski in the morning, maybe even picking up a morning half-day lesson before heading out for one of the many activities around town. On Chinese New Year, a lot of local restaurants and hotels offer special events such as afternoon tea tastings and special event dinners offering Chinese favourites like king crab and hinabe hot pot alongside cultural treats like red envelopes, lion dances and fireworks.

DAY 5 - Lift Accessed Backcountry + Explorer Upgrade

It’s day five, we’ve been ripping Niseko United as hard as possible, time to get outside of Niseko and try something new. 

Our recommendation? Lift Accessed Backcountry with an Explorer Upgrade, offering you private transport to and from the resort, as well as guiding in local resorts like Rusutsu (just got voted Japan’s best ski resort by the way) to find some new terrain. It’s essentially like heli-skiing, just without a helicopter….

DAY 6 - Let’s Splurge

Time’s running out, time to get shopping.

Out of all of Japan’s mountain resorts, Niseko stands up as a shopping mecca. With name brand stores like Burton and Moncler, homegrown brands like Island Snowboards, Offshore Snow Shapes and Gentemstick for those of you who want to take home something that says ‘Made In Niseko’ on it, local artisan jewellers, and staples like Rhythm Summit and Rhythm Setsu, you’ll never be short on options if you’re seeking a day of retail therapy.

Unsure what to get? Here’s a few options we think will have you excited:

DAY 7 - Extend Your Stay and Do It All Again

Why let such a good time come to an end?