Why This Japanese Ski Resort Might Be the Best Place in the World to Ski at Night

"By the time I had strapped on my snowboard at the top of the King Gondola, the wind was howling and snow was coming down hard. Niseko, a ski resort on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, is known for epic snowfall, and my first run lived up to the hype. My knees felt wobbly as I plowed 3,500 feet down the mountain through fresh powder, barely able to see the ground beneath me, let alone the skiers whizzing past."

"Once night fell, however, everything changed. The flurries stopped, the crowds melted away, and visibility sharpened under huge floodlights that lit up the slope like a Christmas tree. As my legs began to hit their stride, I carved wide S-turns and glided effortlessly around bends. At one point, I caught an edge and flipped over, but it didn't matter. The snow in mid-February was so fluffy I laughed it off, then zipped down to the gondola for another run."

"Night skiing is on the rise, as resorts throughout North America and Europe have extended their hours, promising novelty, convenience, and more elbow room on the mountain. (Skiing at twilight looks great on social media, too.) The capital of after-dark skiing is arguably Niseko. While most ski resorts turn frigid and blustery at night, Niseko softens, as the winds die down and temperatures grow milder. It also boasts one of the brightest lighting systems out there, illuminating the entire mountain, not just the bunny slopes."

A snowboarder started at the King Gondola amid howling wind and heavy snow, descending 3,500 feet through fresh powder with limited visibility. Nightfall brought calmer conditions: flurries stopped, crowds thinned, and huge floodlights sharpened visibility across the slopes. The softened winds and milder temperatures at night enabled smoother carving and more confident runs, even off-trail. Niseko's lighting covers the entire mountain, not just beginner areas. The resort offers a quieter après-ski culture centered on onsens, with the greater Niseko area hosting more than two dozen natural hot springs and many upscale hotels providing private baths.

Read at Travel + Leisure