Written by Rebecca Milner
Niseko needs little introduction. It’s Japan’s most famous winter destination — thanks to regular dumps of glorious powder snow. Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of the Niseko 2024/25 season.
Niseko is located in Hokkaidō, about two hours from Sapporo (and 2–3 hours from Hokkaido’s international airport, New Chitose). It has four interconnected resorts — Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Annupuri, and Hanazono — that form Niseko United, plus a fifth, smaller one called Moiwa.
Pro tip: You can book a shuttle from Sapporo to Niseko. See our guide to traveling between Tokyo and Niseko for detailed transport info. Want private transfers between Niseko and the airport? NearMe is offering a special discount for Japan Cheapo readers for up to ¥1,500 off your first trip.
Not yet committed to Niseko? Check out our guide to slopes around Tokyo.
The 2024/25 season at a glance
The Niseko 2023/24 season officially kicks off on December 2 and ends, depending on the resort, in early April or early May. There will be night skiing from Dec. 14 to Mar. 23 at Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Annupuri, and Hanazono.
| Resort | Season start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Hirafu | November 30, 2024 | March 31, 2025 |
| Niseko Village | November 30, 2024 | April 6, 2025 |
| Annupuri | November 30, 2024 | May 6, 2025 |
| Hanazono | November 30, 2024 | April 6, 2025 |
| Moiwa | November 30, 2024 | April 6, 2025 |
Lift prices for the 2024/25 season
The Niseko United All Mountain Pass covers four interconnected resorts: Hirafu, Niseko Village, Annupuri, and Hanazono. You can also buy individual lift passes for each resort.
Niseko United All Mountain Pass
This is the most popular option for skiers and snowboarders coming to Niseko. The price varies depending on the time of year, with “regular” season being the most expensive at ¥10,500 for a one-day adult pass.
| Season | Dates | One-day Pass Price |
|---|---|---|
| Early | November 30 2024 to December 13 2025 | ¥7,400 |
| Regular | December 14 2024 to March 23 2025 | ¥10,500 |
| Spring | March 24 2025 to April 6 2025 | ¥7,400 |
Prices are discounted for children (ages 4 to 12), teens (ages 13 to 15), and seniors (aged 65 & above). Pre-schoolers can ride for free.
In addition to day passes, there are mulit-day passes — a 50-hour pass for an adult in regular season costs ¥101,200 — and 12-point passes available during regular and spring season.
Individual resort passes
Grand Hirafu and Hanazono use a joint lift pass.
| Resort | Full-Day | Half-Day | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hirafu | ¥9,500 | ¥7,100 (4 hrs p.m.) | ¥5,700 (4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) |
| Niseko Village | ¥8,800 | ¥8,800 | ¥2,900 |
| Annupuri | ¥7,000 | ¥6,000 (5 hrs) | ¥3,300 (4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) |
| Hanazono | ¥9,500 | ¥7,100 (4 hrs p.m.) | ¥5,700 (4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.) |
| Moiwa | ¥11,000 | ¥10,000 (4 hrs) | N/A |
Nearby events
Check out these nearby events worth traveling for. Heading to Sapporo? See our guide to getting around the city.
- Chitose–Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, featuring ice sculptures, an ice slide, and weekend evening fireworks, will be held Jan 28 to Feb 23 on Lake Shikotsu in Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
- Sapporo Snow Festival — among Hokkaido’s biggest annual events — will take place this year from Feb 4 to Feb 11. We’ve got a whole guide to it here.
- Otaru Light Snow Path, which sees handmade snow lanterns line streets and canals in Otaru.
While we do our best to ensure everything is correct, information is subject to change. Research by Maria Danuco. First published in January 2023. Lat updated January 2025.
