116 JULY 2019
WHAT TO EXPECT
They call it the “Niseko Express”:
the phenomenon that delivers
vast amounts of powder snow to
Hokkaido every year. The result,
as LINDSAY SHERMAN reveals,
is out-of-this-world skiing.N
iseko United ski zone sits in the bottom
left-hand corner of Hokkaido. It’s so close to
the coast that clear days provide a view from
the piste to the Sea of Japan. Icy Siberian
winds that pass over these warm waters
collect essential moisture; this turns to snow when it
hits the mountains of western Hokkaido. Prevailing
throughout winter, this weather system dumps fresh
snow almost daily. It’s not unusual to wake up to
fresh snow every day for weeks on end.
The temperature around Niseko averages minus
seven degrees centigrade, which is perfect for creating
super-light, dry snow. The snow in Western Hokkaido
has been measured to consist of 92 to 96 percent air,
resulting in fluffy, fat snowflakes and deep powder
dumps. Annually, Niseko receives between 10 to 15
metres of snow, averaging around 70 to 100 days of
snowfall. The depth varies day to day, from a couple
of centimetres to more than 30. And the snowfall
normally continues through the day, delivering a
regular top-up to the piste.