We just got back from a week skiing in Niseko. This video is a perfect summation of all the great hiking and powder runs! Excellent summary! Now remove it so no one else finds this out! :).
Thanks for the comprehensive introduction of how to run the Gates in Niseko. It's clear and helpful for people who would like to enjoy the powder in Niseko.
As 24-25 season is coming up, this is the best video to review the BC of Niseko. excellent times in BC come from a lot of preparation and knowledge for the safety.
OMG epic! My bro, you have done the riding community a great service! I've been riding in Niseko for many years but still learned a few things from this video. 👏👏👏
I've been visiting Niseko for more than 20 years and have kept a house here for the past 3. I've always been on the groomers only thinking thats the entire universe. The back country was what I hear about but have never done. Now I finally know what it is and boy have I been missing out!
Great Informative Video! We have ski Whistler/Blackcomb over 35 years. Now I can understand what people mean about Niseko ski area, Also I can see the benefits of the guides they have. It would be nice if the Japan resorts had ski ambassadors as they do in North America resorts, for inbounds.
Important to note through this whole video: read the avalanche forecasts!! carry the correct avalanche equipment! Backbowl (Kozan no Sawa) is nearly mentioned in all Niseko avi reports as a no go zone, due it's solar aspect and hence being prone to avalanching. Stay safe out there everyone and remember the mountains are never safe, so respect them whilst having fun!
This is by far the best info on backcountry skiing at Niseko which is what most of us flying in care the most about. Could you do more video like this on more resorts, may be even ones not in Hokkaido? I heard while Hokkaido have the best pow, it is mellower compare to central japan. Is that true? Are there any resort backcountry/side country skiing skiing there too?
Quick note on the Jackson travers from the creek to Hanzono. It's actually better as a goofy rider if you are good-great with one foot out and pump behind your board (heelside). This is due to your heelside being up hill and having a place to plant and push. If you go on a day when it snowed 20+ overnight, give it some time for skiers to get through it first.
This video was absolutely amazing. Great detail. Will be looking forward to riding a few of these. It doesn't feel like gear is necessary for some/most of these runs. Any insight into that subject would be cool.
Fatmap was discontinued in October last year and merged into Strava, it doesnt loom like those routes are available anymore. Do you know if they are available anywhere else? Thank you
This is totally awesome 🤩 It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for and I can’t wait to use this video and smash out all these awesome runs. You’re a bloody legend. Cheers bro 👊 🤩🤙🏂
Holy moly... This. Was. Epic! Thank you!! Do you have any recommendations on how to find a good guide for Niseko? Going to be in the area to snowboard for about a month starting mid-January
Awesome awesome video! Heading to Niseko in Feb for the second time and have learnt a lot from this! I’d love to have you as a guide for a few runs! Would you be up for this? Paid ofc!
Do you have recommendations for the best place to buy snowboard clothing and gear in Sapporo? I need to do some shopping before heading to the hill. Thanks 🙏
Skin back is super easy and can be a nice ski back. Generally there is a track in. Onsen is my favourite. We allowed an extra half hour to take the lifts back but easy on the bus too.
Hey man, Absolutely love the video. The information and detail is amazing! Any chance you would be willing to share the trail maps you’ve drawn out? I am heading over for end of January and have just downloaded the Fat Map App
I've gone solo many times. Many others do too. Just be aware of the risks. Visibility can be a big issue if you're not familiar with the surroundings. No tree wells in Niseko.
Can I ask, is it possible to get the gondola up to the peak to take photos then ride back down, without skiing or snowboarding? I want to bring my parents to see snowy mountains, and our country has no snow so idk what’s the protocol with this kind of places. Thank you.
The gondola does get you half way to the top and you can ride it down. One has a restaurant at the top so we took our mother-in-law up there for the same reason.
@jasongrech Recommend bringing poles (1) for the peak hike and (2) for the field crossing if you go down North Face. If you do the Jackson traverse, poles are a must. No need for snow shoes.
Dear Sir, thank you for this great video. Clearly a lot of work was put into making this. So hats off for that. My wife and I are travelling there in 2 weeks and I have a question regarding avalanche risk and avalanche gear. I saw a lot of people without a (avalanche?) backpack in the video. Clearly it is better to have gear. But from what I saw and read the risk in Niseko is managed and managable. So I guess having gear is not mandatory for entering the gates, right? What is your perspective on this subject. Greetings from Germany :)
If you go to the peak gate, always bring avalanche gear - beacon, probe and shovel. Niseko Patrol has done an excellent job and as far as I know, there has been no fatality (in the 20+ years I've been going there) in the areas that are accessed through the gates. Fatalities have taken place in the STRICTLY OFF LIMITS zones. Managed or not, it's all about degrees of risk, risk management and risk tolerance. You make your own judgement, but I always bring my avalanche gear.
Not nice for the local community 😩 It take a few years in the mountain for the locals to discover all this spots If we all do this kind of videos and show the best spots the game will be over for everyone I do really hope you really enjoy your likes because looks like soon you will not enjoy this runs anymore
Call me old school but you shouldn’t be sharing info like this on UA-cam. This kind of terrain requires years of experience and familiarity with dangerous situations. Many novices will find themselves in serious trouble in backcountry. And of course these prime, secret and hidden spots will soon be crowded. But hey, at least you’re getting your views.
I've been to Niseko before and thanks to the OP for sharing this. People make it sound like Niseko is like Kicking Horse, Snowbird and any of the larger mountains in NA, it ain't. It's a fairly low angle mountain (and for some, gets boring quite quick). The only thing that's missing from the info is if there are area's with streams that people should avoid. This ain't really back-country and more like side-country (real back-country ain't got no gates.), it's expected that people have the right gear (avy gear and friends), read the AVY report before heading out - information is king. Would rather have people do this than end up in spots that are blocked off (and there's a lot of areas that are blocked off) by going under the ropes.
Welcome to the world of click bait, sharing too much information without talking about the risks and how dangerous it can be. Love that robot voice btw
this video is beyond ignorant. For you to share areas of annapuri that take experience, and time exploring the mountain for a bunch of first time visitors who don’t understand the risk of riding out of bounds. Your video doesn’t show any potential dangers of these runs or safety protocols when riding. Why don’t you make a video telling people to go hire a local guide in niseko and support the people that make a living of this. it seems you want your youtube views badly to be sharing information that should be earned by putting your time in. If you love niseko so much you should know showing this guide will cause more harm than good for safety and crowds.
Dangerous video as many terrain features on each of those routes that can catch people out and are not called out in Fatmaps. People who follow this blindly will get into trouble…for you to get a couple of likes..
@@nisekopowdersecrets8447 Haters gonna hate, please ignore them. Thanks for sharing the side country info, people viewing this will be armed with more info and it'll be safer in the long run for everyone.
@@dundeedolphin Niseko is a tiny resort that gets tracked out super quickly……even the backcountry out the gates. All videos like this do is make it harder and harder to get the good lines untracked and rewards mediocrity resulting in hundreds of punters out the gates tracking the entire mountain. Knowledge of the backcountry and epic untracked powder runs should be earned via experience in the mountains not by watching UA-cam. I’m 58 and have been riding the Niseko backcountry since the 90s…..whilst I still enjoy it, Niseko (like all good snow resorts and surfbreaks) is getting loved to death and videos like this only exacerbate the problem of too many humans trying to enjoy a limited supply of natural places. The majority of younger people who have grown up with the internet don’t realise the problem associated with these videos as learning about remote snow and surf places on the internet is completely normalised. It was much better pre internet when you had to do the hard yards of discovery and when you got it, you got it to yourself and a few others for weeks at a time. Maybe I’m old school but the good lines on a mountain should be earned via experience on the mountain…..helping people out who are not prepared to put in the hard yards discovering them themselves simply rewards mediocrity and lack of commitment.
We just got back from a week skiing in Niseko. This video is a perfect summation of all the great hiking and powder runs! Excellent summary! Now remove it so no one else finds this out! :).
Looks like the snow is getting worse from now on no?
@@Rudigerbitte The snow quality was superb the 1st week of February. Best and lightest snow I've ever skied in. Even better than Utah powder!
Best video guide about Niseko Powder Runs. Huge Thanks !
Glad it was helpful!
The best and clearest video on ski lines I have ever seen!!!!
this video is unreal! perfect timing for my trip tomorrow.
The best guide for Niseko to properly enjoy powder! Thank you!!!
You are a legend for sharing this!
This video has organized a lot of useful information. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the comprehensive introduction of how to run the Gates in Niseko. It's clear and helpful for people who would like to enjoy the powder in Niseko.
Great job putting this together, a very comprehensive resource. Thankyou for the effort!
As 24-25 season is coming up, this is the best video to review the BC of Niseko. excellent times in BC come from a lot of preparation and knowledge for the safety.
This is more than I could ever ask for! Great video, thank you so much! :)
Man you are the legend man
Unbelievably good video! See you in Feb, Niseko.
OMG epic! My bro, you have done the riding community a great service! I've been riding in Niseko for many years but still learned a few things from this video. 👏👏👏
Heading to Niseko next month and this video was just what I needed. Great work and thank you!
I've been visiting Niseko for more than 20 years and have kept a house here for the past 3. I've always been on the groomers only thinking thats the entire universe. The back country was what I hear about but have never done. Now I finally know what it is and boy have I been missing out!
Thank you for share this information with us for free
The best video on UA-cam! Thank you very much!
super video! please do a video for people who are not familiar with powder riding and where would be a good place to start!
Thank you for this! Going in less than 2 weeks!
Absolutely superb video! Thank you!
Superb video!
Great Informative Video! We have ski Whistler/Blackcomb over 35 years. Now I can understand what people mean about Niseko ski area, Also I can see the benefits of the guides they have. It would be nice if the Japan resorts had ski ambassadors as they do in North America resorts, for inbounds.
Great video. Thanks. I've done all of these except the north face.
you re god sent ! awesome vids and great info !
thanks for this guide!!! can't wait to be there
Important to note through this whole video: read the avalanche forecasts!! carry the correct avalanche equipment! Backbowl (Kozan no Sawa) is nearly mentioned in all Niseko avi reports as a no go zone, due it's solar aspect and hence being prone to avalanching. Stay safe out there everyone and remember the mountains are never safe, so respect them whilst having fun!
thank you for the good info.
Wow thanks just changed destination!
Never done the north face, now i can. Thank you.
Look out for the cracks.
Appreciate the brilliant guide! Won't be leaving the avy gear behind.
Did anyone have a copy of the GPX files for these runs? Thanks in advance!
brilliant. thanks
This is by far the best info on backcountry skiing at Niseko which is what most of us flying in care the most about. Could you do more video like this on more resorts, may be even ones not in Hokkaido? I heard while Hokkaido have the best pow, it is mellower compare to central japan. Is that true? Are there any resort backcountry/side country skiing skiing there too?
Yes, yes, yes.
Hot dang, awesome work🎉🎉, I think I will pay for the premium version of FATMAP just to see the runs you covered
Top of the class vid man,
Great Job, Wowww.
Quick note on the Jackson travers from the creek to Hanzono. It's actually better as a goofy rider if you are good-great with one foot out and pump behind your board (heelside). This is due to your heelside being up hill and having a place to plant and push. If you go on a day when it snowed 20+ overnight, give it some time for skiers to get through it first.
Yup, makes a lot of sense. I'm just too old for such acrobatics. Thanks!
epic video thank you so much
Great video mate.
This video was absolutely amazing. Great detail. Will be looking forward to riding a few of these. It doesn't feel like gear is necessary for some/most of these runs. Any insight into that subject would be cool.
Thanks. I always carry avvy gear when I go to the peak, or out any gate in general.
amazing
awesome thanks
Seriously amazing video, can you recommend any guides
Fatmap was discontinued in October last year and merged into Strava, it doesnt loom like those routes are available anymore. Do you know if they are available anywhere else? Thank you
amazing video
This is totally awesome 🤩
It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for and I can’t wait to use this video and smash out all these awesome runs.
You’re a bloody legend.
Cheers bro 👊 🤩🤙🏂
Glad you found it helpful. Made it for people like you!
Awesome! Going next year, any recommendations on best places to stay? Thanks from Tahoe!
thanks buddyyyyy
Holy moly... This. Was. Epic! Thank you!! Do you have any recommendations on how to find a good guide for Niseko? Going to be in the area to snowboard for about a month starting mid-January
As a soon-to-be visitor this video was superb. But if I were a local I would be so unhappy that someone made this kind of video
Awesome awesome video! Heading to Niseko in Feb for the second time and have learnt a lot from this! I’d love to have you as a guide for a few runs! Would you be up for this? Paid ofc!
Useful vid. I'm guessing you can also just drop straight down into the Osawa Bowl? Probably from G2? Going next week.
Puts everything into place. Awesome video - thanks!!
what do you recommend now fatmap is gone?
Great video! If you can do one on night skiing in Niseko that would be great!
Wow! What a spot on video. Last year was my first time and wish I had this before I went but I an't wait to study this and go back! Great job!
Thanks for for doing the work to make this guide!
Excellent! Thanks for this video!
I plan to have this ride at Niseko from 10-19 January 2025. Send DM if you want together
Do you have recommendations for the best place to buy snowboard clothing and gear in Sapporo? I need to do some shopping before heading to the hill.
Thanks 🙏
Nice video. How about the skin track from Goshiki onset back to the AnnapurI side? Heard its only 30 min of skinning.
Skin back is super easy and can be a nice ski back. Generally there is a track in. Onsen is my favourite. We allowed an extra half hour to take the lifts back but easy on the bus too.
Yes, it's a straight track to Mikaeri Bowl. Super easy. Didn't include it in the video, because it was for runs with no touring equipment.
Thank you@@nisekopowdersecrets8447 Just wanted to be able to figure out where the track is!
this is so helpful.
10/10
you've done a fantastic job here. well done! how do we pull up your routes or guidebook on fatmap?
www.nisekopowdersecrets.com/
Click on the run you're interested in.
Thank you!
Can you share the GPX files for these routes? Love the video! Will be there Feb 11-18.
Go to www.nisekopowdersecrets.com/. Click on any run, which will take you to its FATMAP flyover page. From there, download the GPX file.
i made the hilltop hike last year and almost died from heart attack!
damn this is good, can anyone tell me how to find the lines in FATMAP for Yuzawa/Kagura ? cos I can't find any.
Hey man,
Absolutely love the video. The information and detail is amazing!
Any chance you would be willing to share the trail maps you’ve drawn out? I am heading over for end of January and have just downloaded the Fat Map App
www.nisekopowdersecrets.com/
Click on the run you want to have a closer look at.
Thank you so much man!!
Any tips for going solo to the peak and riding powder all day? Avi dangers? Bad treewells?
I've gone solo many times. Many others do too. Just be aware of the risks. Visibility can be a big issue if you're not familiar with the surroundings. No tree wells in Niseko.
Thank you! What a great illustration of how to ski each face ⛷️❤️👌
Can I ask, is it possible to get the gondola up to the peak to take photos then ride back down, without skiing or snowboarding? I want to bring my parents to see snowy mountains, and our country has no snow so idk what’s the protocol with this kind of places. Thank you.
The gondola does get you half way to the top and you can ride it down. One has a restaurant at the top so we took our mother-in-law up there for the same reason.
Is Avi gear needed for the back bowls and all?
Yes. Backcountry is wild nature.
Too bad FatMaps is no more. Is there an alternative for Japan you'd recommend?
how are you replacing Fatmap this year? Strava sucks
Do you recommend taking poles and maybe even snow shoes as a snowboarder. Are the flats/traverse that bad?
@jasongrech Recommend bringing poles (1) for the peak hike and (2) for the field crossing if you go down North Face. If you do the Jackson traverse, poles are a must. No need for snow shoes.
Hi Do yo know if it is possible to use Drone outside of the resort area like East, West and Northface?
Possible, yes. Seen people flying and there are several UA-cam videos with drone footages. But be careful with the winds.
Dear Sir, thank you for this great video. Clearly a lot of work was put into making this. So hats off for that.
My wife and I are travelling there in 2 weeks and I have a question regarding avalanche risk and avalanche gear. I saw a lot of people without a (avalanche?) backpack in the video. Clearly it is better to have gear. But from what I saw and read the risk in Niseko is managed and managable. So I guess having gear is not mandatory for entering the gates, right? What is your perspective on this subject.
Greetings from Germany :)
If you go to the peak gate, always bring avalanche gear - beacon, probe and shovel. Niseko Patrol has done an excellent job and as far as I know, there has been no fatality (in the 20+ years I've been going there) in the areas that are accessed through the gates. Fatalities have taken place in the STRICTLY OFF LIMITS zones. Managed or not, it's all about degrees of risk, risk management and risk tolerance. You make your own judgement, but I always bring my avalanche gear.
is it still good if im going in march?
First week of March can be good. The rest of March is a hit or miss. Was great in 2022, crap in 2023, and amazing in 2024.
Yeah thanks for adding more peanuts to the good areas.
Seriously how to take the adventure out of it and ruin it for the locals.
Can you guide? 2.18maybe
Not nice for the local community 😩
It take a few years in the mountain for the locals to discover all this spots
If we all do this kind of videos and show the best spots the game will be over for everyone
I do really hope you really enjoy your likes because looks like soon you will not enjoy this runs anymore
Call me old school but you shouldn’t be sharing info like this on UA-cam. This kind of terrain requires years of experience and familiarity with dangerous situations. Many novices will find themselves in serious trouble in backcountry. And of course these prime, secret and hidden spots will soon be crowded.
But hey, at least you’re getting your views.
I've been to Niseko before and thanks to the OP for sharing this. People make it sound like Niseko is like Kicking Horse, Snowbird and any of the larger mountains in NA, it ain't. It's a fairly low angle mountain (and for some, gets boring quite quick). The only thing that's missing from the info is if there are area's with streams that people should avoid.
This ain't really back-country and more like side-country (real back-country ain't got no gates.), it's expected that people have the right gear (avy gear and friends), read the AVY report before heading out - information is king. Would rather have people do this than end up in spots that are blocked off (and there's a lot of areas that are blocked off) by going under the ropes.
G3 to H2 on to J4 Chess Mate.
Do you live in Niseko? Would be nice to follow you, me on skis.
Welcome to the world of click bait, sharing too much information without talking about the risks and how dangerous it can be. Love that robot voice btw
Barely any slopes with decent steepness and always super crowded.
Anyone going jan 2025? Lets ride some pow 😊
RIP FATMAP 😔
Wdym
Niseko is already rammed, lol at everyone complaining
RIP Fatmap.
Strava bought it and killed it right away. Bastards.
this video is beyond ignorant. For you to share areas of annapuri that take experience, and time exploring the mountain for a bunch of first time visitors who don’t understand the risk of riding out of bounds. Your video doesn’t show any potential dangers of these runs or safety protocols when riding. Why don’t you make a video telling people to go hire a local guide in niseko and support the people that make a living of this. it seems you want your youtube views badly to be sharing information that should be earned by putting your time in. If you love niseko so much you should know showing this guide will cause more harm than good for safety and crowds.
fatmap is gone, so sad
This knowledge should be earned through investing time in the sport you love. Not cool !
Dangerous video as many terrain features on each of those routes that can catch people out and are not called out in Fatmaps. People who follow this blindly will get into trouble…for you to get a couple of likes..
LOL! You have to come to Niseko!
lol - for past 20 years
@@nisekopowdersecrets8447 Haters gonna hate, please ignore them. Thanks for sharing the side country info, people viewing this will be armed with more info and it'll be safer in the long run for everyone.
Nope. This helps to stay on the right tracks and not to end up in valhalla.
11:17 "Ahead a cornice will start, and you want to be below it." 🤦♂️😂😂😂😅 Ok 👌
Why would you do this? Very uncool.
Why?
@@dundeedolphin Niseko is a tiny resort that gets tracked out super quickly……even the backcountry out the gates. All videos like this do is make it harder and harder to get the good lines untracked and rewards mediocrity resulting in hundreds of punters out the gates tracking the entire mountain. Knowledge of the backcountry and epic untracked powder runs should be earned via experience in the mountains not by watching UA-cam. I’m 58 and have been riding the Niseko backcountry since the 90s…..whilst I still enjoy it, Niseko (like all good snow resorts and surfbreaks) is getting loved to death and videos like this only exacerbate the problem of too many humans trying to enjoy a limited supply of natural places. The majority of younger people who have grown up with the internet don’t realise the problem associated with these videos as learning about remote snow and surf places on the internet is completely normalised. It was much better pre internet when you had to do the hard yards of discovery and when you got it, you got it to yourself and a few others for weeks at a time. Maybe I’m old school but the good lines on a mountain should be earned via experience on the mountain…..helping people out who are not prepared to put in the hard yards discovering them themselves simply rewards mediocrity and lack of commitment.
Lmao go to sleep forever
Gatekeeper lol
@@theshonen8899yup, from tourists like you.
I guess I better start packing 🏂☃