Getting to Niseko from Chitose airport (Sapporo Airport) by bus (2hrs)
This bus we usually use, you are going to Hirafu Welcome Center.
https://goodsports.co.jp/white_eng/ski-bus/
There’s this one too
https://www.access-n.jp/rsv_e/sel-date.php?k_cd=2022G&f=1000
The bag collection at Chitose can be really slow and they say book 1.5 hours after landing, stock up on egg sandwiches, the bus stops half way for a loo and snack break, usually just 10-15 min have a good look at the bus as you get off, there’s sometimes up to 5 buses there and they move while while you’re in the shop, it has been know that people get back on the wrong bus.
Getting to Niseko by train
The Hakodate Shinkansen goes from Tokyo Station to Hakodate 4hrs https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/hokkaido-shinkansen. Take a local train from Hakodate to Kutchan Station 2hrs and then a taxi or bus to Hirafu. Japan Rail Pass covers the new Hokkaido Shinkansen route. The JR Pass is really worth it if you are taking this route
Getting to Hurry Slowly from the Welcome Center
You will be meet at the Hirafu Welcome Center and driven to the house or
https://goo.gl/maps/s8dK6UwXjYQ6C85b8
It’s house B which is the second from the RIGHT not left (or third from the left). To get to the house from the Welcome Center there are sometimes some taxi’s waiting, but if not it’s walkable because it’s all down hill about 1km.
Taxi
Drivers usually have a little English like recognising where you’re going but sometimes not at all, then we just direct or show them the google map
Say you are going down to Lower Hirafu, Hurry Slowly, at the bottom of Yotai-Zaka street, which is the main street that goes from the bottom of the village to the top.
You can walk
About 1km. Follow google maps or go to the very bottom following the main street (Yotei-Zaka Street). At Gyu Bar there’s a slight bend in the road and a fork off to the right that goes steeply down hill, don’t take that stay on the main street and you see it eventually.
We book at taxi for when we leave because walking up the hill with luggage is not fun.
You will need spikes for you shoes, it’s always super icy around town and it’s only a matter of time before you fall, so try to pick them up is Sapporo, they can be really tricky to find in Hirafu.
Getting around Hirafu
Walking – You will need spikes for you shoes, it’s always super icy around town and it’s only a matter of time before you fall, so try to pick them up in Sapporo, they can be really tricky to find in Hirafu but try 188 Hirafu (grocery store).
The village shuttle bus will take you around the village if you have a ski pass so if you haven’t got a pass yet pick it up here some where https://goo.gl/maps/c7pA71CY2CV3XEzf8. is a lift ticket shop or ask at the welcome centre it might have moved (lots of development in that area). It will take you to the welcome centre, the Hirafu Gondola and the Hirafu quad chair. You can take the bus at anytime like to go to a restaurants or anywhere in upper Hirafu.
The bus stop Stop 5 (‘gor’ in japanese) is 100m from the house https://goo.gl/maps/CNjUvbbP8voMHVxy5
They don’t allow luggage on the bus so you can’t take it when leaving and arriving. Sometimes they ask for snow boards and skis to go on the rack at the back of the bus when it’s full.
The Hanazono bus will stop at the same spot and it takes you to Hanazono only.
Eating and Drinking
Gyu Bar is a must, https://goo.gl/maps/HTWxyUEjxpyvK2Jb8
It’s our favourite bar with a relaxed vibe. It’s also known as the Fridge or fridge door because of the entrance door.
In Lower Hirafu there’s load of small restaurants all of them are great.
There’s only one in upper Hirafu we love, Genghis Khan is just a great little isakaya https://goo.gl/maps/VXCUr8EQaVSdEqpp6.
On the way home we’ll ski to Family Chair then go to seikomart or 188 Hirafu to stock up on food and cook at home. There’s basic cooking needs in the house like oil, salt, pepper, soy, maybe there’s rice. Please re-stock these.
Skiing
The Village Bus will take you to the main Hirafu quad chair and the Hirafu Gondla and the Hanazono Bus will take you to Hanazozo.
There’s 4 main Ski areas, Annupuri, Niseki Village, Hirafu (the main area easily accessed from the village) and Hanazono, to ski in all you need a ‘All mountain Pass’ . Trail map
We usually don’t ski in Hirafu we just use it to get somewhere else or to get home, because it’s more crowded and lots of lessons and large groups. To get from area to area take the small chairs up to the very top and then you can ski down to anywhere. If you don’t want to go to the very top, the path to Niseko Village the path involves some walking. You can ski to Hanazono via Jumbo and Parallel and ski home via the Holiday trail.
We love to ski in Niseko Village. There is one gondola that takes you to the top (almost) and it’s a nice long run down. To get back you can go the same way (walking path or chairs to the top) or you can get a bus (the local bus) from outside the Hilton (included in your ski pass). It’s not the village shuttle bus it’s a bigger one.
The only ski access to Annapuri is to take the small chair lifts to the very top and ski to your right (right as you’re going down). Annupuri is nice and the slope is gentle and spacious, you can go really fast without the risk of running into someone.
Hanazono is great too with varied slopes we always ski a few days here. Great place to improve your skiing because there some steeper runs. You could ski in Hirafu and Hanazono for a week and not get bored, access between them and back home is easy.
Hurry Slowly
Please remove all shoes and boots at the door. Hang your wet gear in the drying cupboard.
The power and light switches appear counter intunitive, when the light on the switch is on the power is off, same with the power for the drying cupboard switch it on then use the remote to set the temp and time.
Leave the heater in the groundfloor bathroom on, it stops the pipes freezing and keeps it warm, there’s no under floor heating in there.