Hirafu Ski Resort is Japan’s most famous powder snow destination, featuring diverse terrain and dry, fluffy snow. The low moisture content and cold temperatures create “powder snow” that looks and feels like icing sugar—a snow quality unique to the western region of Hokkaido. The top of Hirafu connects with three other Niseko resorts, offering a combined skiable area of 325 hectares and a snow season that lasts up to five months. This attracts ski enthusiasts from around the world for the ultimate skiing experience. The slopes are suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers, and you’ll find some of Japan’s best hotels and dining options here. Among the four major resorts in Niseko, Hirafu offers the most convenient amenities and serves as the main transportation and travel hub for this ski paradise.

Hirafu Ski Resort has 10 lifts (including 2 gondolas) and 26 runs. Its diverse terrain is truly iconic: from gentle slopes perfect for beginners and competition-grade red and black runs, to tree skiing areas, natural halfpipes, moguls, jumps, park facilities, and off-piste exploration routes (Gates). All of these features let you fully experience Hirafu’s unique charm.

Annupuri Ski Resort is the best choice for beginners because it’s less crowded and the slopes are wide—perfect for practicing and taking lessons. The beginner slopes at the base are especially gentle and spacious, making them ideal for those just starting out. For families with kids, the open design of the slopes means parents and children can easily spot each other on the runs, even if taking lessons separately, giving parents extra peace of mind.

For advanced skiers, Annupuri is also an excellent option. Take the gondola to the top, and you can ride the red course over 2.4 km all the way down to the base, passing through small wooded sections—great for both carving and powder runs. It’s truly a must-visit for expert skiers. Annupuri features 6 lifts and 13 runs, along with Niseko’s easiest gate for off-piste exploration (Gate 7) and some of the area’s most famous powder snow. It’s a highly recommended lesson location by Chase for Snow, offering a fantastic experience!

Hanazono Ski Resort is considered the most challenging ski area in Niseko. For beginners, the lower slopes are very easy, but as soon as you go up the mountain, the difficulty level increases sharply, and there are very few intermediate runs. The forested slopes between the trails are also quite steep, making this resort more suitable for experienced skiers. In recent years, Hanazono has added many new facilities, including high-quality lifts, restaurants, and the arrival of the Hyatt group. If you’re looking for the most professional Chinese-language lessons, come join a Chase for Snow class!

Chase for Snow instructors’ favorite! Rusutsu has fewer people, long runs, and tree skiing areas ranging from easy to challenging, making it perfect for all kinds of skiers and snowboarders. Chase for Snow is also an officially certified school at Rusutsu, so we can provide legal lessons here.

Rusutsu can be divided into West Mountain and East Mountain, connected by a gondola that crosses the main road. West Mountain is generally steeper, suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced riders, with green runs, easy tree runs, and steep black competition runs. For families, there’s a small animal zone you can ski to—kids love it, and it makes West Mountain especially appealing for family trips.

East Mountain features more gentle and flat areas, and the terrain overall is more complex. The beginner slope at the bottom of East Mountain is extremely gentle—perfect for first-timers. The East Mountain area includes both East and Isola, offering the longest run of up to 3.5 km. There are many gentle red and black runs scattered throughout. The complicated layout makes it easy to get lost, so we recommend booking a Chase for Snow instructor for your safety.

Rusutsu has 11 lifts and 37 runs in total, covering a huge area. It’s best to spend a few days exploring the slopes and discovering everything it has to offer. If you’re not sure how to plan your trip, feel free to consult the Chase for Snow customer service team!

Kiroro is a high-altitude ski resort in Hokkaido, famous for its high-quality powder snow and abundant snowfall. Chase for Snow is an officially certified school at Kiroro, so we can provide legal lessons here.

Kiroro consists of two mountains: Nagamine and Asari. It features a 3,300-meter-long gondola, allowing you to enjoy a 4,050-meter run all the way from the top of the Asari area to the base, with a total of 23 runs. Nagamine has stable slopes, with two red runs and a central black off-piste run, making it ideal for intermediate and advanced skiers to train and improve their skills.

The Asari area offers diverse terrain. The middle and lower sections have very gentle runs, perfect for beginners. The upper part has both steep and flat sections, plus challenging and fun off-piste tree skiing areas.