White Fun December 12th, 2003

Mass media hype has placed much expectation on Niseko for Season 2004. After last year’s early snow, keen powder seekers - egged-on by wide-eyed ground operators - booked early December holidays only to discover Niseko bare. Rapid cancellations and complaints of late snow! rang out across the waves. But how late is this season and now that the snow has arrived, what changes have Niseko resorts implemented to make 2004 more fun than ever?
  

For Season 2004 resort management has made an earnest attempt to update Hirafu’s antique lift ticket set up. Investing close to one billion yen into an Austrian developed gate system, Niseko’s lift companies now have the technology at hand to offer an almost infinite variety of lift pass types. The previous system had a maximum of 80 permutations, which were spread thinly across Niseko’s five resorts. Already stretched to its capacity, it had become impossible to add the new varieties of lift tickets needed to meet shifting customer demands.

With the sudden increase in non-Japanese guests, Niseko’s lift companies were under immense pressure to act. Flocks of Aussies, Englishmen, Saipan and Guamians, as well as a strong contingent from Asia, were suddenly demanding a longer term, more flexible lift pass. Non-Japanese guests stay for an average of around eleven nights, and the standard 1 thru 4 day lift ticket just wasn’t doing the job.
  

Up to now, lift tickets forced customers to be extravagant by buying longer term two week or one month passes. The only other option was to try and combine two 4 day and one 3 day pass to make up the required total. This was a logistical nightmare, and each individual pass finished at 4:30pm on the respective last day, prohibiting night skiing. Long-term passes were the only sensible option, but these passes restricted guests to the Hirafu area. As there was no long-term Free Passport ticket, those wanting to go and explore Higashiyama or Annupuri resorts had the unavoidable expense of purchase an additional Free Passport ticket on top of their Hirafu ticket.

This season, Free Passport tickets (providing access to Hirafu, Higashiyama and Annupuri resorts) have lengthened in duration to span from 1 thru 7 days. Hirafu’s standard short-term tickets have also extended to cover 1 thru 5 days. Furthermore, 2004 lift changes include the addition of children’s discounts. Up to now, to everybody’s amazement, young skiers and boarders have been forced to pay adults fares. Overseas lift companies tend to place extreme importance on looking after their kids market. Children are the future, and as Japan’s skiing population dwindles, perhaps Niseko management has seen the light. Discounts are now available for under 12 and under 15 year olds.

This season an all mountain (Free Passport) season pass has also been reinstated. The standard Hirafu season pass is 87,000 yen, but for the rather hefty price of 150,000 yen you can now be the proud owner of a ticket providing access to every Niseko resort. So far slightly more than ten of these super season passes have been sold.
  

2004’s biggest change in lift tickets, however, is the ‘agents’ pass. Designed to cater for the non-Japanese market, an extendable one month pass has been created. This pass has the huge advantage of offering long term validity, but also of being upgradeable to a Free Passport ticket. The Niseko area is not renowned for its good weather. Strong winds and snow storms sometimes shut the top lifts. In the past, those who have bought Free Passport tickets have often been frustrated by the inability to actually make the trip across from Hirafu to the other resorts. Now, this season’s agent pass, enables customers to watch the weather and select the day to go over the top. By paying an additional 2500 yen (1500 yen for children) on the day, their Hirafu pass becomes a one day Free Passport ticket.

As always, however, there is a catch. The agents pass is not available to the public. It is not even available to Niseko based pensions or lodges. This pass can only be purchased via one of the three big non-Japanese guest operators, namely Deep Powder Tours, Niseko Chalets or Niseko Powder Connection.
  

Fair? Probably not... Many Niseko lodge owners are quite upset by the mountain’s actions. The lift companies’ defense is that this year is a trial - from next season this upgradeable pass may become available to the general public. The lift companies are openly admitting that there are still many facets to the new lift system that they don’t understand. It is common belief that there will be various teething problems, but everyone is confident the end result will be far superior to the previous version. Visitors using the new system in Niseko this season are encouraged to provide feedback directly to the mountain. Suggestions for new lift pass permutations are also welcome. My pick would be a pass that only works when there is 15cm+ of fresh powder…

Speaking of powder, a glance back at the last fifteen years indicates that when planning your holiday in Niseko, it is safest to wait until around December 10. This season, Hirafu’s Alpen Resort opened on Dec 7, with Kogen Resort commencing operations the following day. At present (Dec 12, 2003), only limited lifts are moving. Season 2004 looks like being a bit of a late starter, but fingers crossed the powder falls will continue all the way into March.

Hirafu (Kogen) Resort Opening Data

Although the official start date for Hirafu is November 22 or 23, history demonstrates that this is a rare occurrence. Kogen Resort spokesman Sato-san explains that a delayed start causes all kinds of problems for the lift company, but they are well prepared. The contracts for winter staff include a clause stating that they will not receive accommodation or pay until the resort actually opens. As a result, every year when the snow runs late, hundreds of staff members are contacted and told not to come. Many workers are reportedly left stranded until it starts to snow again.

In some circumstances, however, the resorts are the ones caught out. In 1990 and 1997, the resorts opened (Dec 9 and Nov 23 respectfully), but warm temperatures and a lack of new snow forced the mountain to close once again. In both cases the lifts didn’t then start moving again until Dec 24. The lift companies were caught having to pay full staff wages during a period when no revenue was coming in.
  

Here’s to Season 2004 snowing properly, ensuring those booked into December holidays receive their share of face-shots. For the jibbers, Hirafu has a new park shaper – Luke. Australian-bred and Austrian-trained, Luke is here to raise Hirafu’s pipe and park standard to a higher level.

Lots of white fun awaits!