Gliding through waist-high powder, weaving between bamboo as a light dusting of snow drifts from a grey sky, it’s easy to see why Niseko has become such a popular ski region. Out on these slopes, you’ll hear plenty of Australian accents, a smattering of American and the odd British – as skiers and snowboarders from across the globe have felt the lure of Japan’s mountains.
Thanks to the superb snow conditions, skiers are increasingly swapping European and North American resorts in favour of the peaks of east Asia – and Niseko on the island of Hokkaido in the north of Japan is a clear favourite. It’s a far cry from the charming chalets of the French resorts and of the fairytale villages of the Swiss mountains, but it has its own very special appeal.
