|
Niseko has long been famous for its world
class powder skiing and snowboarding and its fame
is well deserved, its no secret that this far flung
corner of Japan may have the lightest most consistent
snow on earth. For this reason most people come to
Niseko in the powder months, December through March
and enjoy daily fresh lines and good times. However
the joys of skiing and snowboarding in Niseko aren't
limited to the chilly powder filled days of winter,
springtime is also a fun time to visit Niseko.
Niseko in particular Hirafu has one of the longest
seasons in Japan running lifts well into May, and although
consistent powder finishes sometime in April there
is still great skiing and snowboarding to be had. Possibly
the best part about spring skiing and snowboarding
in the spring time here is the settled weather. Although
midwinter provides seemingly endless powder days along
with this comes seemingly endless cloud cover. Spring
gives more opportunity for awesome views, in particular
views of the magnificent Mt Yotei. Springtime in Hirafu
also yields more opportunity for freestyle oriented
skiing and riding.
In any corner of the world springtime is always the
best time for park riding and Hirafu is no exception.
Soft spring like conditions abound, April through May
and although the park this year couldn't quite be titled world class there was a tidy double line consisting of a 30ft table into a 50ft table and a couple of fun rails and smaller tables thrown in for good measure.
 Another great thing about springtime skiing and riding
in Hirafu is the lack of crowds, it's a great time for hiking the peak of Hirafu and taking in the scenery. Theres no crazy race for first tracks, you can simply enjoy the peace and quiet and get great turns on the way down.
Spring is also arguably the best time for hiking
Mt Yotei, a commanding volcanic peak of about 2000
meters that looms over Niseko. The settled weather
and a settled snow pack mean hiking is a breeze and
much safer than in the middle of winter. And once again
the settled weather means you are much more likely
to be able to enjoy the view from one of the higher
peaks in Hokkaido and Japan.
Spring skiing and riding in Hokkaido is not limited
to the Niseko area, the tiny one chair ski resort on
Nakayama Toge has a great compact park with quality
rail features, spines and tables, it's also just 45mins from either Niseko or Sapporo depending on which way you are travelling. Just down the road from here is Sapporo Kokusai a busier more commercial resort equipped with gondolas, chair lifts and a decent park this is a mecca for the younger generation of skiers and snowboarders from Sapporo.
It's well worth visiting Hokkaido in the springtime it has the longest running season in Japan, decent weather, a number of different mountains to choose from. It's a time to relax, there's no mad rush for first lift just a wait for the snow to soften while you eat brekky. Be it Hirafu or Mt Yotei in Niseko or Sapporo Kokusai your bound to get good skiing or riding and if you time it right you can enjoy the quintessential Japanese experience of Cherry Blossom viewing. What more do you need to relax!
By Joel Westcot
|
