Where to Find Hidden Pockets of Snow in Niseko

EARLIER IN FEBRUARY, we went on a Niseko ski trip with our close friends from Brisbane, who were on a mission to experience the legendary Niseko powder for the first time. While it was their first trip, for us, Niseko is already a well-loved destination—this was our tenth visit to these mountains. Over our visits, we’ve accrued some handy intel for those searching out hidden snowfields in the hills of Niseko, and we were keen to share this knowledge with our newbie friends. 

Our first tactical decision was to stay at Skye in Hirafu, so we could access both the Hirafu gondola as well as the Ace Family Quad gondola (which I’m excited to report has been replaced with a new high-speed gondola in time for the current snow season). While our friends had arrived a few days earlier and explored all four mountains—Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, and Annupuri—one mountain per day, when we arrived, it was time to show them how to hit all four in a day. Importantly, we knew where to find those secret, powder-filled, off-piste stashes that the crowds often miss. (It’s crucial to note here that you should definitely never venture anywhere off-piste alone.)   

We started making our way from Hirafu to Annupuri determined to do this trek across with our skis on (that way, we only had to remove them once to access the Niseko Village Gondola). Annupuri is one of our favorite mountains, especially for intermediates, as the on-piste groomed runs are beautiful to glide through as you have the lines of trees on either side. Because the terrain is not super steep, it’s a good place to venture into the trees and for off-piste powder. Another bonus is that you are already warmed up from making the trek across from Hirafu. 

The trees here at Annupuri are spaced just right, offering fun and easy navigation through the powder without needing lightning-quick reflexes. Heading off the Family Run, in the gaps between it and a run fittingly called Paradise, we found soft, untouched powder, perfect for quick turns.  

Gate 7 is a gateway to some of the best powder you will find in Niseko. Accessible from the top of Annupuri, this area leads to deep tree-lined valleys filled with untouched snow. As you descend further, the terrain opens up to hidden meadows where the powder can be waist deep. This area is often overlooked by less-experienced skiers, leaving the snow pristine for those who venture out.  

However, Gate 8 has to be my favorite. This gate opens up to a large powder field–like bowl that is accessible to even intermediate skiers. The terrain gradually funnels into the Annupuri valley, offering wide, open turns. Skiing through the gorgeous scenery here gives you a heightened sense of freedom.  

After Annupuri, it was time for Hanazono, where we could not wait to show our friends some hidden gems. Yes, we went all the way from Annupuri on one end to Hanazono on the other end, to return to Niseko and Hirafu another day. 

To get to our first spot, we headed over to Hanazono “3 Quad lift” and exited towards the left, just off the edges of the on-piste runs. Here we found lesser-known entry points into tree-skiing heaven. These little detours are not marked on the map, so it feels like a secret playground of powder-filled glades. From here, we skied towards the Legend of Shinya run and to the left of that found several entry points of pristine untouched powder.  

Our group loved it—we were purposely falling into the deep powder and frolicking around only to realize that getting out of the powder on flatter areas was a lot of work (so my advice is to take advantage of the steeper areas to work up some speed to push you through/across the deep-powder flat areas.)  

Niseko Village was our next adventure. While it is popular for long, smooth runs, the real magic lies in the gullies that are tucked away near the outer edges of the resort. Skiing through these narrow valleys was exhilarating as we threaded our way down in single file, carving through deep pockets of powder that not many know about. These entry points are all along the edges of the main runs that lead down to Niseko Village. I recommend not going too deep in, but staying close to the edges as the gullies are very narrow.

Even after a decade of visiting Niseko, it felt new again as we shared these hidden stashes with our friends from snow-free, subtropical Brisbane. The joy of discovering those secret powder spots, far from the crowded trails, is why Niseko never loses its magic for us. There’s always something new to uncover, and this trip was no exception. 

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Lede and hero image by Sergio Amiti/©GettyImages.
Images courtesy of Skye Niseko.

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