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Powderlife Magazine - Niseko News

  • WHEN it comes to a Niseko season, they don’t come much better than this. Tonnes of snow,  tourists everywhere and business was booming.
  • Herbie’s rail jams a big hit
    THE thrills and spills at the newly opened Herbie’s Umbrella Bar rail jams drew some of the biggest crowds this season.
  • Best of Niseko winners!
    THE votes are in, the people have spoken, so here are the winners of Powderlife's 2009/10 Best of Niseko voting poll.
  • Master plan will 'lift' Niseko
    NISEKO United is in need of a ‘mountain master plan’ to reach its full potential, according to a world-renowned, Whistler-based mountain resort planner.
  • Best of Niseko final call
    ENTRIES are about to close for the Best of Niseko, so be quick and cast your vote for your favourite business in Niseko.
  • The start of the Finnish in Niseko
    THE call of Niseko’s world-famous powder snow has made its way to the far northern reaches of Scandinavia – and apparently that call is particularly loud in Finland.
  • In doubt? Don’t just throw it out!
    NEXT time you’re separating garbage into one of the many bins in your house or accommodation, spare a thought for these guys.
  • Native trees inspire master plan groundwork
    SILVER birch trees casting dark shadows on a white, snowy background. That's the artistic inspiration for patterns on the road, footpaths and driveways as part of the master-planned facelift of Hirafu...
  • Hanazono: A resort for all seasons
    A STATE-OF-THE-ART bike and wakeboard park will be the centrepiece for Hanazono's year-round sports, adventure and activity resort, set to open this summer.
  • Little brother Moiwa kicks on
    OWNERSHIP of Niseko-Moiwa changed hands last season, and already we're seeing signs of a more progressive and successful future for the resort.
  • Mizuno no Sawa a big hit
    NISEKO Village says public response to Mizuno no Sawa has been 'overwhelmingly positive' since opening the formerly off-limits run this year.
  • Niseko tourist numbers skyrocket
    NISEKO is this season bustling with guests, following an unseasonably slow 08/09 winter.
  • Competition heats up at Hanazono
    HANAZONO is once again the place to be for competitions this season.
  • Burton in Niseko Burton Mountain Festival
    BURTON team riders will arrive in Niseko for the Burton Mountain Festival, based at Niseko Village from January 9-17.
  • Kimamaya Hotel old meets new in Momiji Street
    HIRAFU'S newly renovated boutique hotel, Kimamaya, has just opened, retaining the traditional charm of the historical building, while adding a stylish and homely touch.
  • Momiji Street entertainment district
    HOLLYWOOD has its Sunset Strip, Paris the Champs-Élysées, and then there's the famous Tokyo shopping and entertainment strip, Ginza.
  • Niseko Village Mizuno no Sawa open
    AFTER years of tirelessly deliberating with the government, national parks and other affiliated parties, Niseko Village will this season finally open the epic Mizuno no Sawa terrain to the public.
  • Niseko Hirafu's main street Hirafu-Zaka Street will be redeveloped
    THE Hokkaido Government has given the green light to fund a complete facelift of Hirafu's main street. The Department of Roads recently approved the principle and appropriated funds for a master-plann...
  • Bullet train (shinkansen) passes Mt Yotei's big brother, Mt Fuji
    THIS time next year it will be known whether Niseko will be serviced by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, according to local officials. If it goes ahead, the service would be completed by 2020 and...
  • HELICOPTER transfers are now available for Hilton Niseko Village guests for ¥189,000 per person for the one-way flight from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport. Patrons can be picked up at the airport and d...
  • A BLOCKBUSTER Chinese romantic comedy has put Hokkaido on the map, making Japan's northern island an instant tourism hotspot for Chinese travellers. Tourism operators are already offering weekly trips...
  • Scott McKay
    THE Niseko community was rocked last month when Australian skier Scott McKay (right) went missing after leaving local bar Wild Bill's. An IT business owner from Brisbane, Mr. McKay, 27, was last seen...
  • Niseko Darts final winners
    IN one of the busiest nights of the year at Wild Bill's, the Niseko-Hirafu International Darts Grand Slam came to a close recently in a nail-biting grand final. Late last month, foursome Pissed by the...
  • MARCH is competition time in Niseko, and this season is no exception. Most resorts around town will be holding their own comps, so make sure you make it out to see the best Japanese and international...
  • HANAZONO resort recently hosted a two-day closed-door 'Powder Seminar' right here in Niseko. The seminar, held at the resort over February 22 and 23, aimed to achieve several objectives, including pro...