Niseko Summary

Now when the first version of the “official Niseko video” is available (thanks to Janne) @ Share on Ovi, it is good time to finally summarize the trip. The moving pictures summarize the most important aspects on why I will go to Niseko again pretty nicely, so let them speak first:

I will not do day by day account of the events here, since the main lines are available @ OVI (thanks to Mikko) and some additional photos available also @ flickr

Lift tickets

There was plenty of confusing information on the lift ticket prices around, but here are the actual prices we paid during our stay. Credits cards were accepted at least in Hirafu and Rusutsu, Moiwa was cash only.

In total I paid 39 300 YEN (~ 260 EUR) for my tickets for 9 days; with one 4 hour ticket from Hirafu.

Getting there

The accommodation + flights + airport transport package via El?ɬ§mysmatkat was about 1 800 EUR. You get most likely better deal by getting tickets separately and booking accommodation directly from Niseko Powder Holidays. There is regular bus connection between Chitose airport and Niseko.

Living there:

There is plenty of excellent restaurants in downtown Niseko, the ones I remembered are in the map on the right. Good dinner with couple of beers was under 20 EUR and very local lunch was clearly below 10 EUR including beer; naturally

Grocery shopping in Niseko town is limited to two small convenience stores (Lawson and Seicomart). Both have pretty limited selection, but the essentials can be found. There is much, much better super market at Kutchan, only 10 minutes by car.

Beer and whiskey in shop was decently priced; slightly above 1 eur for a can of beer and less than 18 eur for 2 liters of local whiskey. In a restaurants beer was 3-5 eur… not too bad For me the Food, beer, whiskey, and other random costs were around 250 EUR.

So the total cost for 10 days trip was something like 2 200 EUR, not so bad for total powder experience in luxurious apartment

More info:

• Daily avalanche bulleting: http://niseko.nadare.info/
• Niseko resort info: http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/index.html
• Moiwa resort: http://www.niseko-moiwa.jp/en/gerende/index.html (Moiwa is really nice small resort close to Niseko, plenty of terrain to track)
• Restaurants in Hirafu: http://experienceniseko.com/niseko_restaurants.html
• Accommodation rental: http://www.nisekopowderholidays.com/

Technorati : japan, niseko, powder, ski