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 2023/24 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.

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Not yet committed to Niseko? Check out our guide to slopes around Tokyo.

The 2023/24 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. 16 to Mar. 20 at Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Annupuri, and Hanazono.

ResortSeason start dateEnd date
Grand HirafuDecember 2, 2023May 6, 2024
Niseko VillageDecember 2, 2023April 7, 2024
AnnupuriDecember 2, 2023May 6, 2024
HanazonoDecember 2, 2023April 7, 2024
MoiwaDecember 2, 2023April 7, 2024

Lift prices for the 2023/24 season

Ski lifts at Niseko with Mt. Yotei in the background
Niseko’s Mt. Yōtei resembles Mt. Fuji. | Photo by Keattisak A/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

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 ¥8,500 for a one-day adult pass.

SeasonDatesOne-day Pass Price
EarlyDecember 3 2023 to December 16 2023¥6,700
RegularDecember 16 2023 to March 20 2024¥9,500
SpringMarch 21 2024 to April 7 2024¥6,700
EndApril 8 2024 to May 6 2024¥4,300

Prices are discounted for children (ages 7 to 12), teens (ages 13 to 15), and seniors (aged 60 & above). Pre-schoolers can ride for free.

In addition to day passes, there are mulit-day passes — a two week pass for an adult in regular season costs ¥108,500 — and 12-point passes available during regular and spring season.

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Individual resort passes

Grand Hirafu and Hanazono use a joint lift pass.

ResortFull-DayHalf-DayNight
Grand Hirafu¥7,800¥7,000 (5 hrs)¥3,600 (4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Niseko Village¥7,800TBCTBC
Annupuri¥6,700¥5,500 (5 hrs)¥3,000 (4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Hanazono¥7,800¥7,000 (5 hrs)¥3,600 (4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Moiwa¥8,800¥8,000 (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.

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 November 2023.

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Filed under: Things to Do

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