The super efficient Niseko powder provided a fantastic open day for this years season kick off.

Niseko properties have been blanketed the past week with around two feet of powder - topped off with sunshine and Yen2000 lifts tickets, many a local were grinning ear to ear.

Niseko accommodation in peak season is looking very close to full in many parts of the village. This season looks set to be a blinder with at least three new bars opening in the top village, two new apartment complexes and a host of new guest services.

The construction team appear to be winning the battle against the snow (this week) and preparations for a influx of a mass of men and heavy machinery are being finalised. For several weeks (when the snow was still winning the battle) most of the work was concentrated in the basement level, away from the elements. Now with the sun returning to Niseko more frequently we will see The Vale Niseko begin to reach of the sky!

With the winter construction break behind us, builder Nakayama Gumi are on back site.

The snow is being cleared for the main driveway, prep works for the 2nd above ground level and exterior base works for the upper level scaffolding.

The site was hidden during winter due to the Niseko snowfalls. The already completed 1300sqm of construction (basement and level 1)  houses the lobby, onsen, pool, restaurant and cafe.

No we don’t mean the Australians up here…Niseko has a zoo.

Perfect for families and non-skiers on holidays, the zoo is located just up the road from The Vale Niseko property in upper Hirafu village.

The range of animals is suitably international - shetland ponies, ostriches, penguins, ducks and pigs to name a few.

Plenty of skiing tourists have been startled by a pig being walked on the family ski run…not only being a strange thing to ski past, the pig is an absolute hit with skiing kids.

The magic of a Niseko winter never fails to please.

Amongst the downturn, the Niseko property and Niseko real estate market is still moving, January had some very deep snow days, Hanazono lifts are faster than ever and now the sun is shining - for the second day in a row.

Right now we have a little influx of pros in town. There have been plenty of video and still camera’s on the mountain the past week - we unfortunately saw a girl injure herself on Strawberry Field’s attempting a corked something last weekend. A bit of Kodak courage never goes astray.

As March starts today there is plenty of winter left with some hot deals going on around town for accommodation. Good opportunity to make a last minute ski/board trip.

The peak an hour ago. 11:20am and you can see just a handfull of fresh turns at the top.