Niseko Grand Hirafu

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About Niseko Grand Hirafu

Niseko Grand Hirafu is the ski resort on the eastern slope of Mount Niseko Annupuri in the Kutchan municipality. It opened in the mid-20th century and is the largest of the four Niseko resorts, linked to each other by high-mountain runs. The pistes descend from about 1,200 meters down to Hirafu village, with sections of varying difficulty, tree runs and a constant view of Mount Yotei across the valley.

Niseko’s snow is often light and dry, carried by cold continental winds that cross the Sea of Japan. The season generally runs from December to March, with the heaviest falls usually in January and February, but amounts vary year to year. Gondolas and chairlifts rise from the village, and some runs are lit for night skiing.

The off-piste areas have their own rules: access to slopes outside the boundaries is allowed only through designated gates, depending on the day’s avalanche conditions, published by the resorts. Ski and snowboard schools offer lessons in several languages, and equipment rental is available in the village.

Hirafu village at the foot of the slopes developed around foreign visitors and has hotels, apartments, restaurants and bars. In summer, some lifts operate for hiking and mountain biking, and the village becomes much quieter, with green fields and Yotei snow-free on the horizon.