Mt Yotei, Niseko Japan

Of the “Niseko” resorts, Hirafu has received the most attention in recent years from both international and domestic visitors, and has gained momentum as a candidate for “powder capital of the world”. Once a very sleepy little hippy town revolving around the ski-resort in the winter and the white-water rafting industry in the summer, Hirafu has been inundated with development money and subsequently, all the new condos, bars, restaurants and shops that come with it. So much so, that real estate values here have grown more in the past three years than anywhere else in Japan.

Of course, its real allure is its incredible abundance of high quality powder snow. The terrain is mostly pretty mellow, though rumour has it, some new, formerly out of bounds areas between Higashiyama and Hirafu will open up for 2009 giving access to some spectacular, steep trees and open bowls. Off the peak of Annapuri, O-ne, Miharashi, and Strawberry Fields (in Hanazono) are still, and hopefully always will be sensationally reliable places for face-shots, and some of the best medium-paced tree skiing in the world.

The night life has moved up a grade or two from the days when the few foreign guests passing through crowded into the back of a couple of parked trucks. “Fatties” is no longer there, but there are a lot more other choices these days. Wild Bills, The Apres Bar, and Blo Blo are three of the most interesting, but in addition to the foreigners’ haunts, dozens of small, Japanese and local friendly watering-holes dot the landscape. Bar Barunba has quite a following, and Abucha is probably the most consistently excellent Izakaya in the village, but the best are left to be staggered into by accident.
There are several onsens. The village is bisected by the main road 343 into an “upper” and a “lower” village. In the lower village, there is a local rotenburo called Yukoro. In the upper village there are a few hotel onsens, the most famous of which is probably Hirafu-tei.

For now, the local convenience store “Seicomart” is the unofficial heart of the village, town square, meeting place and stocker of supplies. However, staff living quarters are getting scarce in the village which will probably push a lot of workers down into the closest town “Kutchan”. In Kutchan there are a few major supermarkets, homeware stores, and more options for renting accommodation. If you get employment with a pension, lodge, or hotel, chances are accommodation will be included in your package. Some of the bigger tour operators and assorted businesses will also have accommodation available for you. Otherwise, start looking as early as you can or you will probably be in Kutchan and have to commute.

For most of rural Japan, you will need a reasonable amount of Japanese ability to get by. In Hirafu, however, unless you get a job with a local pension, you could spend an entire season here without uttering a single “konnichiwa”, as Australian English has become the de facto language. Yen is the local currency, and like all Japan, it is a cash based society. Expect to pay, and be paid, in cash. Don’t expect to be able to use your cards much. There is no bank in Hirafu and the closest place you can make ATM withdrawals from a foreign account is in Kutchan. Internet is readily available. You will need an international drivers licence to drive, and either a working holiday visa or a sponsorship from a local company to work. It is nearly impossible to come in on a tourist visa and change visas so make sure you sort your visa issues in advance. Japan is on a different mobile phone network to the rest of the world so unless it’s a 3G or later global coverage phone, leave it behind.

Click Here for : Niseko Snow Report and Weather information