Niseko is Japan's most internationally famous ski destination β and one of the few places in the country where a craft beer scene grew up around a mountain rather than a city. The area spans several villages at the foot of Mt Niseko Annupuri, facing the near-perfect cone of Mt Yotei across the valley: Hirafu, the busiest and most built-up; Annupuri and Niseko Village on the quieter western flanks; Hanazono to the north; and the working town of Kutchan below.
The beer here reflects the crowd. Two decades of Australian, Singaporean, Hong Kong and British visitors β many of them now year-round residents β created steady demand for something better than the standard resort lager, and Hokkaido's breweries were well placed to supply it. Niseko's bars pour heavily from the island's own producers: Niseko Brewing in Niseko Town, Hop Kotan from Kamifurano, North Island from Ebetsu, Otaru Brewery on the coast. A brewery has now opened at the base of the Hirafu gondola itself.
Two things to know before planning a trip. Many Niseko venues are seasonal, opening for the December-to-March powder season and closing or reducing hours through the green months, so check before travelling outside winter. And the aprΓ¨s-ski hours are early by Japanese standards β bars fill from mid-afternoon as the lifts close, rather than after dinner.