It was a November morning when my friend, photografer and great traveler, Dino Bonelli called me on the phone and said, " Hi Andre, are you in the store? Don't run away I have to stop by and make you an indecent proposal"... without even realizing it, a couple of months later, we were four friends in Niseko in the region of Hokkaido, Japan.
Thanks to Dino's connections, for four days we were guests of Tomoya Shino, snowboard collector and badass rider! His "omotenashi," a typical form of authentic and sincere Japanese hospitality with a focus on making guests feel welcomed, pampered and respected, and his expert guidance among the peaks and couloirs of Niseko made our experience absolutely overwhelming and unforgettable.
The ski area covers the slopes of the volcano called Niseko-Annupuri and consists of four main resorts, Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, Niseko Annupuri and Hanazono..
The deep, cold, powdery snow in this region is considered among the best in the world, making Niseko the ideal destination for freeriders who can find real "powder" here. Despite the season, which we are told is not very snowy and the hottest ever, the average temperatures are around 10° below zero, and the majestic walls of snow along the road leading us to our destination from Sapporo airport make us realize, right away, that we are in a place where we will soon experience sensations we have never experienced!
I can't stand it anymore!
We arrive in the village in the afternoon and are greeted by a magical atmosphere, the snow is coming down abundantly and the night skiing lights are already on...it's not a dream, we are there! The ski area is frequented by thousands of riders divided equally between snowboarders and skiers from all over the world, all equipped with freeride gear: splitboards, snowboards with dovetails and of the most varied shapes and skis or rather "padelloni” to fully enjoy every inch of that spectacular snow.
The first day, taking advantage of the lifts, gave us an epic day in the backcountry, which began after a short ascent to the summit of Mt. Niseko-Annupuri. The ridge was populated by a procession of riders, each heading for the summit to then enjoy breathtaking descents with the intent of finding the perfect line, the one still virgin line eluded by most. Arriving at the summit, we were immediately clear as to why enthusiasts from all over the world aspire to ski here. Small forests of birch trees overloaded with snow color the mountain slopes which, with a little care, can be traversed without any particular risk, making them the ideal backdrop for epic shots. The descent is long but the "monkey" is longer and ... in no time it's all over again!
Over the next two days, the weather certainly did not show its mercy. Frigid winds, copious and incessant precipitation and temperatures, which reached minus 18°, pushed us to undertake exciting and challenging splitboard rides while remaining in the lower part of the mountain slopes. The splitboards, equipped with skins, allowed us to tackle the ascent at an alternating pace while remaining in the thicket dotted with snow-laden maples that protected us from the cold winds coming from nearby Siberia. Once the ascent was over, the change of set-up was always challenging, especially because of the adverse and sometimes extreme weather conditions.
For the last day, Tomoya-san informed us that the lifts had reopened due to diminishing winds. We immediately catapulted into what turned out to be one of the best powder days of my life, alternating between using the virtually untouched slopes and off-piste skiing. During this peak season, the considerable influx of tourists prompted us to adopt a clear strategy: the importance of leaving early in the morning. This choice was aimed at ensuring that we would be among the first to plow lines in pristine expanses, a challenge coveted by many enthusiasts, making the experience even more rewarding.
This country, with its unique snowfall, proved to be a magical and extraordinary place, and every moment spent in Niseko results a unique and unrepeatable memory of this place of timeless charm
