Annupuri Accommodation

Pros: proximity to good onsens; easy access to Annupuri bowls; better value 
Cons: quiet nightlife & somewhat difficult to get to Hirafu if you are seeking vibrant nightlife; no group ski lessons in English 

The An’nupuri Village sits below the Annupuri ski resort, one of the four ski areas of Niseko United. Annupuri is adjacent to the Moiwa village and the Konbu Onsen area. Annupuri accommodation tends to provide better value for money than other Niseko areas.

Annupuri is away from the crowds and is popular with die-hard powder hounds who want to get fresh tracks in the Annupuri bowls. When it dumps, lift access to Annupuri ski area is sometimes cut off from the rest of Niseko United meaning you get more fresh powder. Whilst there are several restaurants & bars, Annupuri is not big on nightlife. The village here is lovely and Annupuri accommodation options include chalets, lodges, a couple of hotels, and pensions. Most of the Annupuri hotels and lodges have their own restaurants and bars to cater for their guests.

Hanazono Lodgings

Pros: ski-in ski-out accommodation at the Park Hyatt; easy access to ski school & child care
Cons: hefty tariffs at the Park Hyatt; very quiet in the evenings and not well connected by night bus to Hirafu

Hanazono accommodation is limited to the luxurious Park Hyatt Niseko and a few chalets. Hanazono is well suited to those wanting a peaceful setting away from the hub-bub of Hirafu. Hanazono also suits powder hounds who want to get to the Hanazono tree skiing before everyone else.

Izumikyo Accommodation

The Hirafu East village is not within easy walking distance of the central action of Hirafu. There are various shuttle bus stops around the Izumikyo area. There are restaurants nearby, but relative to the main hub of Hirafu, the dining options are somewhat limited.

Premium price tags tend not to be attached to Niseko accommodation in Izumikyo.

Kutchan Accommodation

Pros: more affordable; more "Japanese"; good range of restaurants 
Cons: have to catch a shuttle or drive to the slopes

Kutchan is a town about 7km from Hirafu & 6km from the Hanazono slopes. There are 3 different bus services between downtown Kutchan and the Niseko Hirafu area, with about 5 bus stops in Kutchan. In addition to these buses, some Kutchan hotels provide a shuttle service to/from the slopes. If you have a car, it's a good spot to also visit other ski areas.

Lower Hirafu Accommodation

Pros: reasonably easy access to the slopes via Family Run or shuttle bus; highest concentration of restaurants and bars.
Cons: negligible

Lower Hirafu is part of the famed village of Hirafu Niseko. Whilst the Upper Hirafu Village is closest to the Hirafu ski area, the Hirafu Lower Village is the area below the main highway (343). Lower Hirafu has the highest concentration of Niseko restaurants and bars, and features Niseko accommodation for a range of price tags.

Hirafu accommodation close to Highway 343 allows for easy access to the Ace Family Lift with walks of only 150 to 450 metres that are reasonably flat. Conversely it’s up to a kilometre walk up hill to get from the bottom of the Lower Hirafu village up to the Ace Family Lift. Thankfully the free shuttle service around Hirafu Village is extensive with bus stops every hundred metres or so, so no matter where you stay in the village, you'll be within a couple of minutes walk of a shuttle bus stop.

Moiwa Accommodation

Pros: easy access to Moiwa Ski Resort which is quieter than the Niseko United ski areas; options for very affordable Niseko accommodation near the slopes; amazing onsen.
Cons: more difficult to access the Niseko United ski areas; limited dining options and negligible nightlife.

The village at the base of the Moiwa Ski Resort is reasonably quiet and includes hotels, ryokans, hostels and lodges. This area is part of Konbu Onsen and some of the ryokan and Japanese hotels have beautiful onsen. Moiwa is 10.5km west of Hirafu Niseko and about 1.5km west of the base of Annupuri Ski Area (of Niseko United). Advanced and expert riders with avalanche safety gear can access the Niseko United lifts via the sidecountry. Some lodges/hotel provide shuttles between Moiwa and Annupuri and Hirafu.

Niseko Accommodation

There is a huge range of Niseko accommodation types including hotels, pensions, lodges, backpackers and lots of apartments and houses. You can search for Niseko accommodation, check availability and rates, and make a booking or booking enquiry directly with the Niseko hotel or lodging provider using the listings below. You can also book Niseko transfers and other components of your holiday such as equipment rentals and lessons from October onwards.

There are a various factors that set the Niseko lodging options apart from most of the other Japanese ski resorts. Firstly there is an abundance of western-style Niseko apartments and houses, which is somewhat of a rarity in Japan because this is more of a western concept. Conversely there are not many ryokans or pensions (Japanese hotels and inns) and sleeping on futons on the floor is not that common.

The first choice regarding accommodation in Niseko may be which village to stay in. See each of the location tabs for the pros and cons of the different areas.

Niseko Village Accommodation

Pros: ski-in ski-out Niseko hotels or lodging close to the slopes; English ski school at the base.
Cons: reasonably quiet nightlife with a bus or taxi into Hirafu required if you want vibrant nightlife; limited number of shops.

Niseko Village sits at the base of the Niseko Village Ski Area of Niseko United. Most of the Niseko Village lodging is resort hotels or condos, and the village is rather curated. There are several restaurants and bars in the Hilton Niseko Hotel and other properties around the area. If very vibrant nightlife is high on your priority list, this is probably not the area for you. Most people who stay in this village enjoy the tranquillity, the pros of access to ski school, and also the quick access to some of the sidecountry. If you want to head to Hirafu, you can catch a taxi or there are some bus services.

South Village Accommodation

The Hirafu South Village area includes Kabayama and other very quiet zones. Access between Hirafu South and the slopes of Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort is best via shuttle service. To access Hirafu restaurants, you can use a shuttle service or walk.

Upper Hirafu Accommodation

Pros: easy access to the slopes, the main ski school meeting points, & many restaurants and bars
Cons: most of the Upper Hirafu accommodation comes with a premium price tag

Upper Hirafu is part of Hirafu Niseko, the main village at Niseko. Upper Hirafu is the most sought after region for Niseko accommodation due to the combination of easy access to the slopes of Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort as well as restaurants, bars and other services.

Upper Hirafu Village has some ski-in / ski-out accommodation and it generally comes at an upscale price. Most of these ski-in ski-out properties are located adjacent to the Family Run (a gentle beginner run) which is serviced by the Ace Family Lift. At the base of the Family Run is a major ski school meeting point.

There is some Upper Hirafu accommodation near the Hirafu Welcome Center which provides easy access to the new gondola (previously Center 4 lift). Otherwise the other main slope access point is up at the Hirafu Gondola where there’s a ski-in ski-out hotel and various apartments within a few minutes walk. This is popular due to easy access to GoSnow ski school.

West Izumikyo Accommodation

This area is east of Upper Hirafu and is still within walking distance of the main Hirafu restaurant hub and Hirafu ski lifts (about 700 - 900m to Family Lift, about 900m walk uphill to Hirafu Gondola). Niseko accommodation here tends to be a little more economical than the main parts of Hirafu Niseko.