I was told 2009/10 was considered an average season in Niseko, with the 3 years prior recording below average snowfalls. This of course meant little to me as it was my first time there, and I can safely say it won’t be my last (pending the better half’s leave pass). I can however compare this to other resorts I’ve been too such as Breckenridge, Colorado and St Anton, Austria – both of which I’ve spent seasons at, and also both being world class resorts.

From November through to the end of April, 181 days, snow was reported on Niseko Mountain 121 days. So over the 6 month period it snowed 2 out of every 3 days. A modest statistic in any resorts book. www.snowjapan.com has reported that 42 of those days received 20cm or more snow, with some of them receiving loads more.

The 10.25 days I spent on this mountain, I can confirm without a shadow of a lie, we recieved 10.25 days of powder. This I cannot say this about any other resort I’ve been too. Niseko absolutely pukes snow!!!

Total snow accumulation from the upper mountain exceeded 18m according to www.snowjapan.com. Bigger years could well receive 20m or more. Compare this to St Anton’s 7m annual snowfall (www.worldsnowboardguide.com), and 7.62m annual snowfall at Breckenridge (www.breckenridge.com), and then South Island resorts in New Zealand averaging 4m annually, well, you get my drift.

So there you have it; this place receives a hell of a lot of snow, and is right up there with some of the best quality snow found in any ski resort on this planet. Definitely the best resort I’ve been too to date.