After visiting in early 2020 when the tide was low and the sassa grass reigned supreme, it was fantastic to get back to Moiwa to see it at its finest. It was a powder day with 40cm of fresh snow, and we drove over from Hirafu to join the other hungry powder hunters. Lift ticket queues were moderate and by the time we got out to the quad, we were definitely not first in line. I loved that the locals kept everybody in line and ensured that no one was pushing in with their friends, or that no one could just put their gear on the ground to snag a spot, unlike the strange culture at places like Hakuba Cortina.

We got a couple of runs in the skiers’ left sidecountry with fresh powder in the upper zone and it was divine but short lived. This terrain doesn’t have a lot of fall-line and it quickly got scarred with lots of traverse lines because people feel the need to start a new traverse line.

We also hit various lines out right which was equally fantastic in the upper zone but once again the landscape was scarred by lots of people traversing way too early, although this was understandable considering the consequences if you leave it too late. We came across various people who were lost, got ravined out, and without touring gear were post-holing their way out. They were also without avi gear despite the hazards in this zone.

It wasn’t a particularly windy day but they were running the quad chair with massive spaces between each chair so the lifting capacity wasn’t adequate and the wait for the lift for 10 to 15 minutes each time.

Overall it was an amazing day, with lots of fresh powder turns in the upper parts of the sidecountry.
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Great powder last week feb. 2023. Great place. We stay @ Backcountry lodge Niseko. Great people and good mood!
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I suppose I should have read a bit, but like others have alluded to skiers right out of G10 ends in a precipitous traverse requiring multiple sections of hiking out on a 35+ degree slope above a 200 foot ravine. Any snow collapsing or a fall in this area would result in near certain death. Riders wishing to exit G10 are well advised to stay skiers left near the resort or start their traverses early.

With that out of the way, I found Moiwa to be a nice respite from the craziness of the rest of Niseko. I just bought a 3 ride ticket for ¥2700 to sample the terrain and really liked what I saw. While it's obviously not undiscovered, fresh tracks last much longer than elsewhere and there was still plenty to ride within the resort. I would definitely recommend spending a full day if on a Niseko trip. There's a ton of terrain out G6 to explore that's all fairly safe, although I did see one medium sized avalanche that started from a cornice - not sure if it was natural or human caused, probably the latter.
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It was nice to get back to Moiwa but it was early season with a very limited snow base, so we weren’t able to see it at its finest like we have in the past. It was a powder day but like the rest of Niseko, the really high sasa grass wasn’t covered with snow, and the powder skiing was fun yet hard going. Gate 6 at Moiwa was the only Niseko sidecountry gate that had been opened so far that season, so not surprisingly a lot of others headed in our direction in an attempt to score the coveted sidecountry powder. We got in a few runs of fresh powder in some of the more open zones, before we were relegated to chowder or very vegetated areas. We were hoping to gauge how much the crowds had grown since our last visit to Moiwa, but this wasn’t possible considering the circumstances.

It was disappointing to see people without avalanche safety gear and riders that were inadequately skilled to cope with the challenging terrain. This sidecountry zone is gnarly at the best of times, but the low tide made some of the steep walls near the creek really challenging.

Meanwhile Gate 10 out the other side was closed, because the vegetation is thicker and requires more snow cover.

It was snowing heavily and when we retreated to the cafeteria for lunch we could see where the real crowds were! This once little sleepy restaurant was absolutely packed. It also used to be inexpensive, but the prices were more akin to classic elevated Niseko prices and unfortunately they didn’t accept credit cards.

We really enjoyed staying in Moiwa at the Hotel Kanronomori (you can see our Kanronomori review here) with its Japanese vibe and fabulous onsen baths. From the hotel it was sort of walking distance to the base of sleepy little Moiwa where we explored a few of the restaurants and bars. During our time in Niseko we also stayed in the vibrant Hirafu, and we enjoyed the tranquillity of Moiwa as a complete contrast to the craziness of Hirafu.

It's hard to know how long the peaceful Moiwa will remain untouched. There is a masterplan to add new lifts at Moiwa along with a ski-in ski-out hotel and fancy villas.

You can see our thoughts on the pros and cons on the Moiwa overview page and also see our Japan ski resort ratings regarding how we score it against other ski areas.
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Small area but powder makes it worth to ski there even for more days. I was for a day trip at Niseko but because of many people I didn't find place where was untouched powder. But at moiwa you could find places where was untouched powder afternoon.
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After four days of hitting pretty much everything that the Niseko United resorts had to offer, Moiwa was a great break from the hustle and bustle. At first, we weren't sure that the small Moiwa would satisfy, but after multiple days of fresh snow and six inches overnight, Moiwa paid off in spades. Speed run after speed run. Poke around and you'll find stashes all day long. Don't go expecting fancy lodges with extravagant food or super long runs, but if you're looking for a local vibe with all the powder that Hokkaido is famous for, then Moiwa is your choice.
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We had an excellent day at Moiwa with heaps of powder off piste....then we made a mistake and went too far right. On the map there is an area that has red lines drawn through it however there is no barrier, rope of warning on the mountain. We ended spending 4 hours walking out in difficult and dangerous conditions. Finally made it at 7.30pm well after dark....ski patrol and field management were useless, they told our friends where we should come out but offered no other help or advice.

We felt lucky and relieved to have made it out unscathed but the outcome could have been quite different.

Editor's note: at the majority of the ski resorts in Japan, if you leave the piste, you are in a self-responsibility area. The off-piste and side country areas are not patrolled, they are not marked with signs or roped regarding the last point before you'll need to skin or snowshoe out, and you need to be responsible for your own route finding (unless you employ the services of a guide).
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Uncrowded and nice powder possibilities.
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Great field, awesome snow and no lines for the lift.
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Best groomed slopes, friendly staff, and great off piste.
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