What's on in Niseko (Hokkaido skiing), Japan through the year

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan

• Holiday

  Lunar New Year

  15–23 FebCrowded

  The second peak. Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland families take the village for the holiday week, and it lands squarely in the best snow of the year. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (28 Nov – 5 May (usually)), Backcountry gate rules (1 Dec – 15 Apr), Christmas and New Year (24 Dec – 5 Jan)

Busy — Lunar New Year, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Lunar New Year (15–23 Feb), Ski season (28 Nov – 5 May (usually)), Backcountry gate rules (1 Dec – 15 Apr)

Busy — Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Ski season (28 Nov – 5 May (usually)), Backcountry gate rules (1 Dec – 15 Apr)

Busy — Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Ski season (28 Nov – 5 May (usually)), Backcountry gate rules (1 Dec – 15 Apr)

Busy — Golden Week in Japan

• Season

  Between the seasons

  10 May – 20 Jun · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

  Lifts stopped, snow going, and most of the restaurants and rental shops closed until the summer staff arrive. Cheap, green and largely shut.

Still on: Ski season (28 Nov – 5 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Between the seasons (10 May – 20 Jun (usually))

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Summer season

  1 Jul – 30 Sep · usuallyTrail season

  Mount Yotei is climbed from July, the rafting on the Shiribetsu runs earlier on snowmelt, and the village runs at a third full for a third of the winter price.

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Summer season (1 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Summer season (1 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  Ski season

  28 Nov – 5 May · usually

  Niseko United usually opens at the end of November and Grand Hirafu runs into early May; the other three mountains close through April. January is the month the reputation is built on.

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year, Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan

• Rule

  Backcountry gate rules

  1 Dec – 15 AprRisk

  The Niseko Rules decide when the marked gates to the backcountry open, judged every morning against the avalanche bulletin. Duck a rope and patrol takes your pass, no argument. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  24 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The dearest fortnight of the season and the one the village is built around. Lift queues, an hour's wait for dinner, and rates that do not come down until March. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (28 Nov – 5 May (usually))