TheOrange 0 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I'm starting to think of next season and I'd like to visit Niseko. Before I put too much thought into it, can I ask people in the know about the different areas - ie. Hirafu, Annupuri, Higashiyama/Village.... if you had to sum up each one as an area to stay in (quiet, lively, etc), how would you? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Annupuri great access to slopes quiet on mountain quiet at night less non-Japanese Niseko Village / Higashiyama great access to slopes run home at night gets dodgy tied to the hotel for entertainment and dining Need to take a shuttle to Hirafu and variety Hirafu depending where you stay great or poor access to slopes busiest base area, but that's relative most shops, bars and restaurants Hanazono Freedom Inn the only accommodation & nightlife option at the moment Link to post Share on other sites
TheOrange 0 Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 Great just what I wanted. Thank you MikePow. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Hirafu is definitely the place to stay if you want a bit of variety and apres ski entertainment. It's not a huge village, even if you stay in the relatively quiet Izumikyo area nothing is really more than a 20min walk away. Within Hirafu itself pretty much everything is only a 10-15min walk regardless of where you stay. There is little ski in/out accomm in Hirafu and the properties that are can be pretty expensive, especially for the quality of the rooms. There is a reasonably efficient free shuttle bus service though to get you up to the lifts. Hanazono started a regular shuttle service from Hirafu this last season as well. Link to post Share on other sites
freckles 0 Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 I was in Niseko for the first time last season and we stayed in Annupuri. Liked it there though obviously Hirafu was the place to go for nightlife etc. Loved Niseko though. Link to post Share on other sites
squashie123 0 Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Hirafu is still the best bet in Niseko. Things may change a little over the next few years. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 How's it changing then? Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 More hotels? Hirafu must be running out of space Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Well the Hanazono area certainly has a great opportunity to create a much more user friendly village if they ever get enough investors to get it all off the ground. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 That not finished up yet? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 the 308 is finished. And a fine place that is, serving the famous kani ramen and beer. Just, apart from that, there is nothing else there. The promised of a 5 star hotel resort plus shopping plaza is still at the finding the funding stage. Really not an alternative to Hirafu. Shame. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Not yet at least. Maybe in another 5-10 years... Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Surely one thing that Niseko doesn't need any more of (definately now) is more 5 star luxury uber priced accommodation. Seems to have quite an abundance of that now. Its putting us ski bums (who are very loyal even in times of economic hardships!) in the poor house. Having just booked a 2+ weeks vacation there recently I was pleasantly surprised by the discounts being offered this year. I'm interested to see how it works out for property owners and renters in the coming years... One more thing that might be slightly more on topic is the renaming and eventual rebranding of 'Niseko Village' ( æ—§ Higashiyama). I wonder how that will effect 'Hirafu Village' in the long run... Pretty smart move in my books. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Need a 5 star hotel badly. Look at the other places. 3-star at best. I'm talking Shangri-la like resort hotel and the top end restaurants. That kinda place will bring punters in. Nobody I know likes self catering. Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 I stayed at Youteii town houses which are located two thirds of the way from Hirafu to Higashiyama. Very quiet side street, we just rented a vehicle and had free access to everywhare and drove to the car park near the lifts. Made skiing in Rusutsu easy and some trips to Moiawa. Hirafu is OK but it can be quite a lot of walking each day. To many Aussies as well Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Exactly how many Aussies are too many? Frankly I've never understood the concept. Anyway these days there's actually quite a lot more in the mix than just Aussies. The SE Asian market is getting huge. Link to post Share on other sites
skidaisuki 0 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 TheOrange - it really depends what you want. Niseko Village is all about the hotel, Annapuri is pretty and quiet, and Hirafu is what the majority of people mean when they talk about going to Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday Need a 5 star hotel badly. Look at the other places. 3-star at best. I'm talking Shangri-la like resort hotel and the top end restaurants. That kinda place will bring punters in. Nobody I know likes self catering. Any chance of anything like that in the forseeable future? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 that was the idea for Hana. Richard is doing some corporate scavenging, so his money is tied up at the mo. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 There's been talk of it but with the GFC it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 What is the GFC Go Native? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Global Financial Crisis!!! Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted September 10, 2009 Share Posted September 10, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites
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