There's actually not a lot of information for Singaporeans to find about skiing in Niseko. Bits and pieces of information here and there, so I'm going to consolidate and share what I found relevant for me. Long post ahead, so I have put up a contents list. Use Ctrl + F to go to the right section.
1. Where to Ski in Japan, when to go and how to get there
2. Where to stay
3. What to buy before going
4. What and where to rent here
5. Skis & Ski Boots - Should I buy? What to look out for when buying?
6. Ski Progression - Slopes to cover
7. Food in Niseko
8. Chitose Rera Outlet
1. Where to Ski in Japan
I know 2 places - Hakuba, which is in Tokyo, and Niseko, which is in Hokkaido. I chose to go Niseko as my first time because apparently, the snow is the best there. It's known as powder snow, and it's really pleasant to snow on, versus other terrains like ice. A lot of Aussies and Caucasians go to Niseko as well, so this place is very English-speaking friendly. No problem even if you do not know a single Japanese word.
Best time to go would be in first 2 weeks of March. It is kind of the non-peak period and most of the Japanese kids would have gone back to school. Some stores would start to have 30% discount and accommodation is generally cheaper as well.
My air tickets were from Thai Airways, cost me around $650 from Singapore to Hokkaido. They allowed me to check in my skis, which is great. Just that everything that I checked in has to be under 30kg, which is fine. I bought the tickets around 6 months below I flew, and the lowest that I have seen it go is about $450-$500. If you see those prices, just go for it.
You can take buses from 3 different companies to get there. There is Chuo Bus, Goodsports White Liner and Hokkaido Resort Liner. Chuo Bus is the cheapest (¥2,600) but the timings are pretty bad. The other 2 are more expensive (¥3,600 - ¥4,000) but there are more timings. I took Goodsports White Liner to Niseko and then Hokkaido Resort Liner to Sapporo which was my next stop. All can be booked online. Chuo Bus does not require internet payment but it is required for the other 2.
2. Where to stay
There are 4 ski resorts in Niseko - Annupuri, Niseko Village, Hirafu, Hanazono.
2 kinds of ski lift passes - All Mountain & Hirafu/Hanazono. The former is pricier than the latter and is required to ski Annupuri & Niseko Village. Check out the ski trail map here - http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/map/index.html. The great thing about Niseko is that everything connects at the top, so even if you stay in Annupuri, you can take the gondola to the top and ski down another slope. Then when you want to go back home, just do the reverse. However, note that this requires an intermediate/advanced level of skill, since you will be going down quite difficult slopes.
For beginners, I recommend staying in Hirafu area, or Hanazono if it is within your budget. Two reasons for this. First, Hirafu accommodation tends to be cheaper. Second, the Hirafu/Hanazono ski lift passes are cheaper as well. Personally, there's no point buying an all mountain pass and then only hanging out in the lower half of the mountain, which is where the beginner slopes are.
I stayed in a hotel called Always Niseko. A bit of a distance away from center Hirafu, but there is a shuttle service that runs every 30 mins to the Ace Family Lift, Hirafu Welcome Centre and Hirafu Gondola. These 3 are the main ski lifts in the Hirafu area. At the Ace Family Lift drop off point, there is also a free shuttle bus to bring you to Hanazono.
3. What to buy before going
Try to get everything possible and minimize what you buy in Niseko. Things are pricey there and are all branded goods.
Coat - Invest in a good one like North Face. The weather in Niseko can be very windy, cold and rainy, so it is best to get something that works in that weather. I got the North Face Tri Climate at SGD$299 during the year end sale at North Face
Pants - I wanted to buy from Decathlon but they were sold out, so I rented and it cost me ¥4,700 for 5 days. That's like SGD$60. Seeing as how important a good coat is, I would probably buy something like Columbia or North Face.
Helmet - I initially thought that this is just a safety device. But it covers your ears, which is super important otherwise they will just fall off in this cold weather. They also help to protect yourself from the rain. Get for SGD$50 or less in Decathlon/Taobao/Carousell. Personally, I don't think you need a super good one.
Googles - Must have. Very windy weather here, so you want to be protected. I bought mine from Taobao at less than SGD$20. You can buy a good one that cost >SGD$100, but I don't think it's necessary.
Face Mask - Must have, same reason as the above. Many choices here, you can go for a balaclava or a neck warmer. Try to get something that is water resistant/water proof, otherwise it's going to get really cold if it rains and your face mask absorbs the icy rain.
As for Skis, Ski Boots & Poles, I will cover in another section.
4. What and where to rent here
3 things to think about, Skis, Ski Boots & Poles.
You don't need good Ski Poles. Just get them at Decathlon, will cost you less than SGD$10/$20.
Best shop to rent from would be Rhythm Niseko. They have great service, a wide selection and their people really know their shit. Almost everyone rents from them. They have 2 kinds of rentals - standard and premium. I recommend going for premium. It gives you access to the latest equipment and they allow you to swap your boots & skis as and when you want. This allows you to try a variety, which is really beneficial if you are thinking of buying your own set. You pay more but you also get more. Prices can be found on their website.
Ski Boots - Different brands are made for different kind of feet, so before jumping the gun and buying them, I recommend renting and trying out several brands/models.
Skis - Same as Ski Boots. Different brands have different designs, so best to rent and try out and see what you like. Brand new Skis with bindings start from SGD$500 and it's normal to go to ranges of SGD$1000+
5. Skis & Ski boots - should I buy? What to look out for when buying?
Depends on you. Do you really want to do this frequently? If yes, then you should buy. A full set of beginner skis, ski boots & ski bindings will probably cost around SGD$700 - SGD$1000. Rental cost me SGD$300 for 5 days, so you will break-even in around 20 ski days.
Ski Boots - If you have the cash, go for custom fitted boots. There is a shop called Boot Solutions in Hirafu that specializes in that. The thing about Ski Boots is that they have to be snug and tight fit. A loose ski boots will hamper your skiing and cause you to have less control. Think of them as attachments to your skis. If the attachments are loose, how would you control your skis? Since everyone's feet is made slightly differently, it is rare that you will find a pair that fits you perfectly. But not everyone has that kind of budget.
I recommend buying a ready made boot. The way to tell if it fits you well is to rent and try them first.
My recommendation is always to tighten your boots until your leg starts to feel painful, then loosen it down 1 notch. A brand new pair can cost you more than SGD$500, so you want to be sure of what you are buying.
Skis - I will assume that you are a beginner, otherwise you probably know more about this than I do. First, understand the different types of Skis by reading https://www.evo.com/guides/what-is-ski-snowboard-rocker-and-why-does-it-matter. You will realize that a rocker/camber/rocker type of skis is best for beginners. It helps you turn much more easily, which is key to speed control. I recommend renting and/or getting the Rossignol Experience 75s/77s as a great pair of beginner skis.
The next thing to think about is length. Shorter = easier to learn, turn and control. Longer gives you more stability at higher speeds, which will happen to you as you get better. For beginners, skis should reach up to between your chin & nose. Intermediates, around your eyes & nose.
Notable brands - Rossignol, Nordica, K2, Head, Volkl, Salomon
As my first pair of boots/skis, I am planning to get the Rossignol All Track 100 & Rossignol Experience 75 168cm.
By the way, beginners = completely new to skiing. Novice = Can do snowplough/pizza/wedge. Intermediate = can do hockey stop & parallel turns.
In terms of where to buy, best would be an area called Kanda in Tokyo. If there is not possible, go to Susukino area, there are some ski shops there. Check out carousell too, you can find some gems there. Or ship from sites like Evo/Backcountry/Ebay, but be prepared to pay a bomb for shipping.
6. Ski Progression - Slopes to cover
To be honest, Annupuri & Niseko Village have great beginner slopes to learn at as the slopes are gentle and long there. But I will assume that you are a complete beginner and are getting the Hirafu/Hanazono pass.
I highly recommend getting lessons if you are new. Otherwise, you will pick up bad habits by learning on your own which may be hard to correct in the future. This is money well spent.
But, I know that it can be really out of some of our budget. In that case, Youtube is your best friend. Just search "skiing for beginners" and you will find tons of videos.
Go to Ace Family Lift area first. That's a great area to start out and is the easiest in the Hirafu/Hanazono area. Slope name - Family.
Once you master that, go to the Hirafu Gondola station and take the Holiday Pair Lift. Slope name - Boyo.
Next, go to Hanazono. Slope name - Silver Dream.
At each slope, you will encounter parts of the slope that look so steep and you shit bricks. That is normal but you need to overcome them as part of your progression. Go down slowly on A Frame/Snowplough on your first try. You will fall and rage a lot but that is part and parcel. Once you gain confidence, start doing S turns on them. Sooner or later, you will get it.
Once you have mastered Silver Dream, try out Holiday slope, a link between Hanazono and Hirafu.
When you have mastered these 4, you can start to plan your own progression. You can try Stairway to Heaven (Hanazono).
7. Food in Niseko
Many pricey food options, so I ended up eating ramen most of the time.
For Lunch, you can consider going Boyo-so. It is walkable from Holiday Pair Lift #1. The distance is short but it's tiring. If your ski level is higher, you can ski down two black slopes to reach there. Difficulty goes like this: Black > Red > Green. Lunch here cost ¥1,200 and up.
Hanazono 308 (the name of the hut) is also a nice place to eat at, but be prepared to spend more. Prices start from ¥1,700. The crab ramen there is not bad. I like the Curry Katsu Don (both the Pork & the Chicken) as well as the Premium Rissoles set.
I may get shot for this, but ramen Tozanken is very disappointing in terms of taste. It is over-hyped and queues will take you about 30 - 60 mins. They give a big bowl and cost ¥1,200 and up.
Ramen Kazahana is worth a try. Potato noodles with potato foam on top of the soup. Also about ¥1,100. Quite a walk though.
Otsukisama sells ramen and other things. I love their sesame miso. Cost ¥1,060. The best ramen I had in Niseko.
On thrifty nights, consider going to Seicomart or Lawson (convenience stores). They have cup noodles and ready to eat meal sets.
The food trucks just next to the Seicomart at the Hirafu intersection is worth a try too. Not super good, just decent.
8. Chitose Rera Outlet
So, I saw that they had some ski brands like North Face and Columbia and went there. What a waste of time. Things are pricey there and the discounts are worse than what you get in Singapore when it's on sale. Just give it a miss.
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