Discover Niseko's Famous Night Skiing This Winter!
When the sun goes down, Grand Hirafu utilises powerful floodlights to illuminate the mountain with an intense glow, giving riders and adventurers a whole new perspective of the mountain.
As the name implies, night skiing is the act of skiing or snowboarding after the sun has set. Traditionally, many ski resorts operate lifts from the morning until early in the afternoon, but many — including Mt. Annupuri’s Niseko Grand Hirafu — operate a portion of their lifts well after the last of the sun’s rays have faded.
Unlike the daytime where it can sometimes be difficult to see trails and terrain features thanks to an abundance of powder snow and the bright sunshine that reflects off it; the evening floodlights help to provide additional visibility, with the snow, trees and trails becoming clear and well-defined under the dark, star-speckled skies.
Silent Night
As one of the most popular ski resorts in Japan, and part of the Niseko United Resort Group, Niseko Grand Hirafu serves many avid explorers during the day, but the numbers on the mountain drastically drop once night skiing begins — there’s nothing quite like feeling as if you have the whole mountain to yourself...but be sure to wrap up warm.
Evenings often make the perfect time for new skiers to practice the skills they’ve learnt during the day, without the worry of busy courses or lift queues.
Although it’s possible for some ski runs to become icier in the evening, it’s still common for heavy snow to start or continue well into the night, providing night skiers with first access to some of Niseko’s most enviable powder snow. With less people on the mountains after dark, night skiing can potentially provide some of the most memorable runs you’ll ever have.
Night skiing has something for everyone — often having plenty of fresh tracks in pristine champagne powder lasting late into the night, or quiet, intimate ski runs framed by silent, snow-frosted forests.
AYA Niseko is located by the newly upgraded Family run, whose lifts are often some of the last to close: Experience quiet runs and breathtaking views of the illuminated towns below, and when you’ve had your fill of Niseko’s world-class night skiing, just glide directly back to our doors, and our ski valet will take care of your equipment.
Niseko United 2017/18 Night Skiing Schedule
- Night Skiing Schedule: December 9, 2017 (Sat) - March 18, 2018 (Sun).
- The last lifts in Niseko Grand Hirafu operate until 20:30 at night.
To find out more about gaining unparalleled access to Niseko's incredible night skiing, please don't hesitate to contact us, or check availability for the 2017/18 winter season!
