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Niseko Backcountry Topomap Companion Site

Photo of Rob Thomson Founder of Hokkaido Wilds
Posted on Dec 11, 2022
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Photo of Rob Thomson Founder of Hokkaido Wilds
Posted on Dec 11, 2022
by and
0 0
This is the companion site to Niseko Backcountry, the English-language backcountry ski map for the greater Niseko region in Hokkaido, Japan. Here, you'll find links to detailed online route guides, individual GPS route files, interactive maps, printable PDF maps, and more. You can buy Niseko Backcountry here. Niseko Backcountry is a non-profit initiative (details here).

Last updated Mar 30, 2024

Safety

GEO PDF
(Avenza)

Avalanche Bulletins

Etiquette

MOUNTAN
GUIDES

GEAR SHOPS
In NIseko

Niseko
Rules

NISEKO BACKCOUNTRY ROUTES

Filters

Filter by location

S
Beginner

Chisenupuri South Face Ski Touring


542m


3hrs


4/10


1134m

SES
Intermediate

Chisenupuri Southeast Face


510m


3.5hrs


5.5/10


1134m

ENE
Intermediate

Iwanai-dake NE Ridge


950m


4.5hrs


6/10


1085m

NNWNE
Intermediate

Iwanai-dake North Ridge


850m


4.5hrs


6/10


1086m

S
Intermediate

Iwaonupuri (Goshiki Hot Springs) Backcountry Skiing


320m


3hrs


5/10


1116m

NEES
Advanced

Iwaonupuri NE Chute


550m


6hrs


7.5/10


1116m

S
Beginner

Maemekunnai-dake (South approach)


733m


4hrs


4.5/10


981m

SSE
Intermediate

Mekunnai-dake Backcountry


690m


5hrs


5.5/10


1220m

S
Intermediate

Mekunnai-dake South Face


1025m


5.5hrs


6.5/10


1220m

ES
Intermediate

Naganuma Pond


530m


4.5hrs


5.5/10


1041m

NWS
Intermediate

Niseko Annupuri Kita-shamen to Goshiki Onsen Loop


250m


4hrs


5.5/10


1308m

WNSW
Intermediate

Niseko Annupuri West Face Laps


345m


3hrs


4/10


1065m

Purchase Online

NOTE: All online retailers below ship internationally.

Rhythm Online Store (JP)
Hokkaido Ski Club (JP)
Backcountry Books (UK)
Amazon.co.jp
Beacon Guidebooks (USA)

BUY NISEKO BACKCOUNTRY (IN-STORE)

There are a number of local stockists of the map in and around Niseko. See the list below.

If you’re a retailer, guide operation, accommodation provider, or other organization in or out of Japan wanting to stock Niseko Backcountry, then please get in touch (rob@hokkaidowilds.org / TEL: 080-4228-6132).

Name Location Map
Alpenglow Lodges Niseko Ginkei Annupuri (Niseko) Google Maps
Annupuri Lodge Annupuri (Niseko) Google Maps
Hokkaido Ski Club Hirafu (Niseko) Google Maps
Iwanai Resort Iwanai Google Maps
Moiwa Lodge Moiwa (Niseko) Google Maps
Offshore Snowshapes Annupuri (Niseko) Google Maps
PowBar Cafe Niseko Town Google Maps
Rhythm Base Hirafu (Niseko) Google Maps
Whiteroom Tours Hirafu (Niseko) Google Maps

PRODUCT GALLERY

NON-PROFIT INITIATIVE

Niseko Backcountry was developed in consultation with numerous local Niseko stakeholders – local guides, skiers, ski patrol, local councils, avalanche prevention committees, and ski area management. For the full, lengthy details about the map development process, see these documents: English | Japanese

Proceeds from HokkaidoWilds.org’s wholesale portion of the map go to the Hokkaido Wilds Foundation. Funds are regularly donated to volunteer and non-profit initiatives dedicated to sustainable, safe, and responsible access to Hokkaido’s great outdoors (read more here).

MAP DONATIONS

We provide Niseko Backcountry map copies free of charge to non-profit-oriented organizations involved in mountain safety, training, and access in Hokkaido. Please contact nonprofit-maps@hokkaidowilds.org to let us know how many maps you need.

Name Location Maps Donated
Rankoshi Fire Department Rankoshi Town 11
Niseko Avalanche Survey Institute Annupuri 1
Niseko Winter Guides Association Niseko 23
Hokkaido Mountain Guide Association Sapporo 1

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We’ve got affiliate links on HokkaidoWilds.org to help fund the Hokkaido Wilds foundation.

The Foundation gets a small commission on sales from affiliate links, but we only link to stuff we think is worth checking out for people keen on the outdoors in Hokkaido and Japan.

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Learn more here

ADVANCED FILTERS

Filter by location

About Filters

REGION: The general mountain/geographical region the route is in.

BEST MONTH(S): Time of year a route is suited to visiting. Some pop all season, some are more limited.

DIFFICULTY: How strenuous a route is, and how technical it is. Full details here.

FREERIDE/SKITOUR: Very subjective, but is a route more-of-a-walk-than-a-ski or the other way around? Some routes are all about the screaming downhill (freeride), some are more about the hunt for a peak or nice forest (ski-tour). Some are in between. 

MAIN ASPECT: Which cardinal direction the primary consequential slope is facing, that you might encounter on the route. More details here.

ROUTE TAGS: An eclectic picking of other categories that routes might belong to.

SEARCH BY LOCATION: You can find routes near your current location – just click on the crosshairs (). You may need to give permission to HokkaidoWilds.org to know your GPS location (don’t worry, we won’t track you). Or, type in a destination, such as Niseko or Sapporo or Asahikawa etc.

Please let us know how we can make it easier to narrow down your search. Contact Rob at rob@hokkaidowilds.org with your suggestions.

Niseko Backcountry Topomap Companion Site Difficulty Rating

Category

Grade

Points

Strenuousness

Vertical Gain

D

25

Time ascending

D

0

Technicality

Altitude

D

0

Hazards

D

0

Navigation

D

0

Totals

25/100

GRADES range from A (very difficult) to D (easy). Hazards include exposure to avalanche and fall risk. More details here. Rating rubric adapted from Hokkaido Yukiyama Guidebook 北海道雪山ガイド.