Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, previously known as Niseko Mountain Resort Grand Hirafu, and mostly known as Niseko Grand Hirafu (or just Hirafu), is a ski area located in Kutchan Town in the western region of Hokkaido.
Hirafu is one of the four connected ski areas that share a joint lift ticket and make up Niseko United. The other ski areas are Niseko HANAZONO Resort to the north, and Niseko Village Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri Kokusai to the west. A little further the west, unconnected and not part of Niseko United, is Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort.
There were some changes to the official course map and lift configuration for the 2024-2025 season. The ski area now features two gondola lifts. The brand new 1,677m Ace Gondola has replaced the old Ace Number 2 quad lift. The previously-named 1.845m Hirafu Gondola is now known as the King Gondola. The other 7 lifts include two quads (841m and 1,357m), four pair lifts (669m, 881m, 530m and 722m) and one 526m single lift. The changes do not affect available terrain.
For the 2025-2026 season, the new modern 6-person lift opened at Hirafu, replacing a lift in the upper section of the ski area. The new lift is called King Sixpack Lift #3 in English (and shown as a quad icon with the number 6 on our map diagrams).
The Hirafu base area is the most lively in the Niseko region, with a good choice of places to eat and drink and a bustling nightlife.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
1200
Vertical (m)
940
Bottom/base (m)
260
Beginner runs (%)
30
Intermediate runs (%)
38
Advanced runs (%)
32
Longest course (m)
5600
Steepest slope (°)
40
Number of courses
30
Ski lifts
9
Ropeway cable car
0
Gondola
2
Quad lift (4-person)
2
Triple lift (3-person)
0
Pair lift (2-person)
4
Single lift (1-person)
1
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
Hirafu usually plans to be open from mid- to late December until early May. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening hours
Niseko Grand Hirafu is open from 8:30am until 4:30pm in the daytime
Night skiing
Night skiing is officially from 4:00pm until 7:00pm and planned daily from Saturday 13th December 2025 until Sunday 22nd March 2026.
Park & Niseko Rules
The Free Ride Park is by the Kogen course and scheduled to be open 21st December 2024 through 31st March 2025.
There are 11 backcountry gates across the ski areas in Niseko providing backcountry opportunities.
Official Niseko Rules have been established to reduced and try to prevent accidents in backcountry areas:
Always use gates when entering backcountry areas.
Do not duck boundary ropes.
Everyone skiing/snowboarding in backcountry areas should wear a helmet and carry an avalanche beacon.
Backcountry skiing/snowboarding is prohibited when gates are closed.
Never enter off-limits areas at any time (except for official rescue and research operations).
Elementary school children are not allowed in backcountry areas unless accompanied by an elder companion.
Lessons
A number of ski and snowboard schools operate around the Niseko resort areas, offering lessons in English and other languages. Special ski and snowboard lessons are available for children.
Rental
A good selection of ski and snowboard equipment and wear rental facilities are available around the Niseko resort areas.
Lift ticket prices
The lift ticket charges shown below cover all four of the Niseko United ski areas - Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, Niseko HANAZONO Resort, Niseko Village and Niseko Annupuri Kokusai - during the peak Regular season (Saturday 13th December 2025 until Sunday 22nd March 2026).
1 day: 12000 yen, 7200 yen, 10200 yen (ticket office price)
2 days: 23500 yen, 14100 yen, 20000 yen (ticket office price)
3 days: 35000 yen, 21000 yen, 29800 yen (ticket office price)
4 days: 46500 yen, 27900 yen, 39500 yen (ticket office price)
5 days: 58000 yen, 34800 yen, 49300 yen (ticket office price)
6 days: 69500 yen, 41700 yen, 59100 yen (ticket office price)
7 days: 81000 yen, 48600 yen, 68900 yen (ticket office price)
50 Hour Pass: 115400 yen (only available online)
(Ticket type: 16-64 years, 4-12 years, 13-15 years & 65 years and over)
2025-2026 Season: Niseko Grand Hirafu & Hanazono Lift Tickets
The below lift tickets are valid at just Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu and Niseko HANAZONO Resort.
PM 4 hours: 7800 yen, 4700 yen, 6600 yen
1 day: 11000 yen, 6600 yen, 9400 yen (ticket office price)
2 days: 21500 yen, 12900 yen, 18300 yen (ticket office price)
3 days: 32000 yen, 19200 yen, 27200 yen (ticket office price)
4 days: 40300 yen, 24200 yen, 34200 yen (only available online)
5 days: 50300 yen, 30200 yen, 42800 yen (only available online)
6 days: 60300 yen, 36100 yen, 51300 yen (only available online)
7 days: 70300 yen, 42100 yen, 59600 yen (only available online)
Night: 6000 yen, 3600 yen, 5100 yen (ticket office price)
30 Hour Pass: 63600 yen (only available online)
50 Hour Pass: 91900 yen (only available online)
Gondola return: 4100 yen, 2900 yen
(Ticket type: 16-64 years, 4-12 years, 13-15 years & 65 years and over)
Regular Season is from Saturday 13th December 2025 until Sunday 22nd March 2026.
Early Season is from Saturday 29th November 2025 until Friday 12th December 2025.
Spring Season is from Monday 23rd March 2026 until Sunday 5th April 2026.
Night skiing is from Saturday 13th December 2025 until Sunday 22nd March 2026.
All lift tickets are cheaper during the Early and Spring season periods and cheaper tickets are available online.
Historical snow depth data
The following ski season and official snow depth data have been independently compiled by SnowJapan for publication on this website. Where available, the data is updated annually after each ski season.
First and last dates of recent seasons
2025-2026 season: 4th December - 6th May (154 days)
2024-2025 season: 1st December - 30th March (121 days)
2023-2024 season: 2nd December - 6th May (157 days)
2022-2023 season: 4th December - 7th May (155 days)
2021-2022 season: 4th December - 5th May (153 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 400cm on 20th February
2024-2025 season: 375cm on 13th-14th February and 20th March
2023-2024 season: 350cm on 4th-5th February
2022-2023 season: 420cm on 26th February
2021-2022 season: 450cm on 25th February
2020-2021 season: 490cm on various dates
2019-2020 season: 335cm on 14th March
2018-2019 season: 380cm on 14th-15th February
2017-2018 season: 530cm on 26th February
2016-2017 season: 370cm on 26th February and 10th March
2015-2016 season: 410cm on 27th February and 3rd March
2014-2015 season: 520cm on 14th March
Resources
Daily weather & snow reporting on SnowJapan
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [open in new window]
SnowJapan Directory: accommodation listing in the region
Freedom Inn (about 9.5km)
SnowJapan Directory: travel services listings in the region
Introduction to the region
Hokkaido is the second-largest and most northerly of Japan's four main islands. It is separated from Aomori Prefecture on the Honshu mainland by the Tsugaru Strait (and connected by the Seikan Tunnel railway).
Hokkaido is the largest prefecture in Japan, forming its own 'region'. Unlike most other prefectures, it is usually referred to simply as 'Hokkaido', rather than 'Hokkaido Prefecture'. Sapporo City is the capital of Hokkaido and is famous for, among other things, the annual Sapporo Snow Festival held in February.
With a colder climate than most of Japan, Hokkaido enjoys some of the most consistent snowfall and conditions in the country. There are more ski areas in Hokkaido than in any other prefecture in Japan, and they are scattered throughout the mountains of the large island.
Hokkaido is home to some of Japan's most famous ski areas. The ski areas in Niseko and Kutchan in the west, and Furano in the central region, have long been popular with Japanese skiers. In recent years, those ski resorts, along with several others, have gained a worldwide reputation and now attract a significant number of overseas visitors.
In striking contrast to the international feel and increasing exclusivity of such resorts, most of the ski areas in Hokkaido are very small. The majority have only one or two ski lifts (often single-person or surface-rope tow lifts), and some are even free to use. Many of these small ski areas are owned and operated by the local village or town and very much cater to locals.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu is one of 3 ski areas currently operating in Kutchan Town.
About the information on this page
SnowJapan independently researches, checks and updates the information on this page at least once each year, in the lead-up to every ski season. We also update it whenever we become aware of other changes. The information published on SnowJapan is based on independent research using official Japanese-language sources and is not supplied by ski areas. If you are planning to visit a ski area, we recommend checking the official ski area website for the latest operational information. We take great care to keep the information on SnowJapan accurate and up to date. However, SnowJapan accepts no responsibility for decisions made based on information published on this website.
Learn more about how we research, check and update information on SnowJapan.