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Riding Segways in the snow and “fatbiking” are some of the new activities you’ll be able to try in Niseko this winter.

Hirafu Village’s independent booking center Explore Niseko will begin running its own tours from the 2017-18 season. As well as Segways and fatbikes (mountain bikes with fat snow tires), snowshoes and cross country skis will also be on the menu.

Partnering with the Pavillions hotel development in Ginto Village, a new development in the lower east of Hirafu Village, Explore Niseko will build a new activity hub and run a free shuttle service for guests from locations throughout the village. At the new Activity Center guests will be able to relax and have a cup of cocoa while waiting for their tour to start.

Explore Niseko Director Greg Hough is always looking to bring new activities to Niseko. “The demographic is changing in Niseko,” he says. “People are looking for things to do besides skiing.”

New fun for a growing demographic

Niseko first grew as a destination for serious skiiers and snowboarders looking to experience the deep powder snow, and many tour operators in town cater exclusively to this demographic. Cat skiing, backcountry tours and a myriad ways to access deep back country terrain are available across the Niseko area resorts.

While the snow is still as soft and crisp as ever, as Niseko matures as a destination visitor demographics are shifting towards families with children on school holidays. Most are beginners at snowsports, some are seeing snow for the first time in their lives. Fun snow experiences like snow biking and segway will give visitors more options when filling their days in Niseko.

Greg explains that he does not want to compete with what’s already available, but hopes to add to the landscape. “We won’t be running ski lessons, there are lots of people who do that really well already. We don’t need to be competing. We need to bring more to the table.”

The Activity Center in Ginto Village will be open from 10am to 4pm daily this winter, and tours will be available to pre-book online at Explore Niseko’s website in the coming weeks.

“You can book online, you can call us, you can come down and talk to us. All the tour slots will be online and available.”

Find out more about the centre and things to do in Niseko at Explore-Niseko.com. Or drop in to their Activity Desk on the first floor of the Odin Place building at the Hirafu intersection.

Niseko Explore Niseko Ginto Activities

The Explore Niseko activity desk inside the Odin Place building. 

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