Season Wrap: A Little Look Back On Winter 25-26

Firstly, the Pow

Let’s start with the most important thing, what were the conditions like? After all, that is why we all venture to the mountains each and every winter, and for those of you who didn’t end up making it over, it’s why you wished you were here.

Secondly, The Big 'F'

Before you ask, no, Furano has never, ever, been referred to as 'the Big F,' but who knows, it might catch on... although one thing we do know is that Furano served up the goods this past winter, giving us A LOT to be excited about.

Rhythm Furano Store Expansion

Boasting a new location, and over 1,194 square metres of multi-levelled floorspace situated only a few minutes walk from the Kitotanomine Gondola, the newly improved Rhythm Furano offered up a new era for central Hokkaido shredders, delivering Furano's most extensive rental and retail selection, a cafe and bar, and easy access to the slopes.

Rhythm Locker Room

We’d been thinking about it for years, but in 2025, we finally said, ‘you know what sucks? lugging gear around on public transport' - so we introduced the Rhythm Locker Room. 

Literally steps away from the Kitanomine Gondola and only a short walk from our new Rhythm Furano store, Furano’s Locker Room offers you all an easy overnight gear storage option, allowing you to drop off your gear as soon as you step off the snow and grab it easily the next morning. At this stage, we only offer the locker room in Furano, but after it’s success in year one, who’s to say if it’s an idea that spreads into our other areas or not over the coming seasons…  

Ikon Pass

Two truths and a lie: Vale saw our new store and thought, heck yeah, let’s celebrate, and then they decided that Furano is now covered under the Ikon Pass. 

OK, the lies: we cannot confirm Vale saw anything about our new store. We also cannot confirm that our epic new store was the deciding factor in Vale including Furano as a valid resort for Ikon passholders. 

Although, we can confirm that Furano IS actually now covered (that was the truth). 

Meaning, if you bought a pass for a couple of early season laps in the US or Canada, you can then boost over to Japan and ride for free in the same season!

Kids Ride Free

We know, we know, you get it – Furano is actually an epic spot to go riding if you like savings.

Wait, we forgot to mention that kids under 12 also ride for free in Furano… This one isn’t actually new for winter 25/26, but we thought a lot of you may not know that so we wanted to put it out there.

Thirdly, All The Cool Changes Around Japanese Mountain Towns

Side Piece Opened on Fridays 

This one may not seem like a big deal to all of you at home, but trust us, Side Piece opening for 3 days of operations this winter was a big deal. In fact, for Niseko's burger-lovin' crowd, it a mammoth move. Anyone here over winter 24/25 knows that two days a week was just not enough.

Oyuki Opened A Shop

When you think about it, it’s crazy to think that OYUKI didn’t have a physical store earlier than 2025, but yet, the 25/26 season marked the first ever one in Japan. 

Located in Hakuba’s central hub, Happo, OYUKI Hakuba brought the iconic brands full product range to one of Japan’s most iconic freeride destinations, featuring the complete Winter ’26 collection, along with an exclusive collection of limited edition drops and collaborations you won’t find anywhere else. 

The Return of the Mac

Now, this one was a BIG deal. For a lot of you, it was even the highlight of your winter season. Matt McAuley is back!

Yep, everyone’s favourite store manager is a Niseko local once again, picking up where he left off at Rhythm Main Street, and returning to the shopfloor as Rhythm Hirafu’s Store Manager. 

Customers were rejoicing, the town was setting off fireworks, Veteran Rhythm crew like Djan, Andy and Sean were crying tears of joy, there was even talks of renaming Mt. Yotei to Mt. Macaulay, it was (and still is) a big deal. 

Before you ask, yes, he will still be around town this summer.

Lastly, All The Huge Events

Rhythm Rail Jam

Our biggest pool of riders, craziest course to date and over 5,000 attendees (depending on who you ask), 2026’s Jam was MASSIVE.

Sure, the weather was shocking, conditions were poor and the wind was hitting from every direction (putting a few gazebos into full-send mode even before the Jam kicked off), but still, the vibe was electric, with punters braving it out and going mental with each and every trick. 

And a special perk of this year’s Rhythm Rail Jam, we scored a golden ticket to enter one participant into the Swatch Nines: Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, the first of its kind in Asia. With 21 year old ripper Rikuto Watanabe winning over the crowd with his unique all-send approach to clinch the special entry.  

Swatch Nines

This one is bittersweet. Unfortunately, with the Swatch Nines coming to Niseko for their first ever Asian edition, we can no longer claim that the Rhythm Rail Jam is Niseko’s biggest event. Although, with the Nines only coming to town every two years, we can still claim that it’s Niseko’s biggest annual event. Eyyyyy, all about those technicalities. 

As were the Nines crew, creating one of the most technical and eccentric courses we have ever seen – including an inground trampoline and 50 metre rail – and hosting some of the best in the world to come shred it for a week of content, fun and full send shenanigans. 

Honestly, it was epic. We cannot wait to see what’s in store for the 2028 edition.

Snow Machine 

Flight Facilities, Mall Grab and Armand Van Helden all while sipping on apres in the Hakuba alps? Seriously, what’s not to love? 

Each and every Snow Machine, it’s hard to not notice all the punters walking around with the ‘My life is a movie’ mentality, and honestly, it is – lap it up, it’s not an experience you get to enjoy every day.

Niseko Film Festival

Speaking of movies, Niseko’s favourite film festival returned, delivering one of the highlight events of the season, with local filmmakers battling it out over a night of entertainment at the Park Hyatt, Hanazono. 

Yukimi Film Festival

It wasn’t just Niseko trading in the slopes for the silver screen, with our third annual edition of the Yukimi Film Festival. 

One of biggest events on the Hakuba winter calendar, Yukimi yet again proved to be an epic celebration of art, culture and lifestyle, all shot through the eyes of Hakuba’s local creatives.

20th Anniversary Party

It’s Rhythm, even our seasonal store opening parties are huge. Naturally, we had to make sure that our 20th Anniversary Party was no holds barred the biggest event that Rhythm had ever put on. 

It was, with the crew setting up a matsuri/music festival hybrid with some of the best food trucks in town, a stage filled with local talent providing the tunes all night and non-stop dancing for 6 hours. 

It gathered so much attention around town that even our friends in Bag Raiders stopped in for an impromptu set, dropping a hot off the press Yaki-imo sweet potato song remix which will forever go down in the history of Niseko as being a part one of the hottest DJ sets of all time. 

Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another 20 years for the next one.