Niseko Weiss Powder CATS
ニセコワイスパウダーCAT42°54′ N 140°40′ Ecat skiing
Hanazono runs a 12-seat PistenBully up the old Weiss ski area on Weisshorn, and the gentle pitches suit riders taking their first real powder days.
Photo Rob Thomson (hokkaidowilds.org) · Publisher's own site · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
A small ski area once ran lifts up the east face of Weisshorn north of Hanazono, and the old lift lines still cut through the trees above Route 58. Hanazono bought the land and now runs cat skiing there with a 12-seat PistenBully cabin. The cat drops at about 930 m and the runs finish near 450 m, so the longest lap gives you around 450 metres of vertical.
Hanazono pitches Weiss at intermediates and riders new to powder. The steepest slope is about 30 degrees and most of it averages about 20. On a deep day that angle keeps a nervous rider moving and lets them learn to float without much speed. A day runs six or seven laps with lunch at Chalet Ivy Weiss.
How it rides
- Powder
- 4 out of 5
- Trees
- 3 out of 5
- Steeps
- 1 out of 5
- Sidecountry
- 2 out of 5
- Park
- 1 out of 5
- Beginners
- 3 out of 5
- Family
- 2 out of 5
- Quiet
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 1 out of 5
- Après
- 1 out of 5
Strong riders after more pitch should look at Iwanai Resort. Its cat terrain runs 30 to 40 degrees. Weiss suits the friend in your group who has carved groomers for years and has never ridden a bottomless morning.
Every run at Niseko Weiss Powder CATSコース
Peaks, gates and named areas
Know the zones before you goエリア
Weisshornワイスホルン
peak
Weisshorn rises to 1,045 m on the border of Kyowa and Kutchan. The cat terrain sits on its east face below the summit.
Good for views over Niseko, touring
Old Weiss ski area
zoneIntermediate
The former runs and lift lines on the east face make up most of the cat terrain. Pitches average about 20 degrees, so the snow rides easily for intermediates.
Good for low-angle powder, first cat day
Beyond the ropes · closed
The Weiss terrain is ridden on Hanazono's guided cat tours. Independent tourers climb Weisshorn by a separate route from the Route 58 plow end near Hanazono.
- Guests must be 12 or older
- Group departures need at least 7 guests (2026/27)
- Guided riding only; follow the guide's line
Check the daily avalanche report before you leave the resort. Carry a beacon, shovel and probe and know how to use them.
Worth knowing before you go
In 2026/27 group days only run with seven or more guests, so book early and keep your dates flexible.
Check in at Hanazono 308 after the 07:20 pickup.
The Weisshorn summit tour from the Route 58 plow end is a separate, unguided objective with its own avalanche exposure.
Book through book.hanazononiseko.com or bookings@harmonyresorts.com.
Hanazono has announced a gondola link and three lifts for Weiss with no date attached, so ride the cat while it runs.
Getting thereアクセス
From New Chitose Airport
- Drive
- About 2 hr 10 min to Hanazono
- Bus
- Hokkaido Resort Liner or Niseko Direct Shuttle to Hanazono, ¥6,000 one way (2025/26)
From Sapporo
- Drive
- About 2 hr to Hanazono
Guests are collected from Niseko hotels from 07:20 and check in at Hanazono 308. The old ski area sits just north of Hanazono off Route 58, and the road beyond the Weisshorn trailhead is closed in winter.
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Where to stay nearby宿
Soak after温泉
Touring close by山スキー
Towns to base in町
Ride these on the same trip近くの山
Quick answers about Niseko Weiss Powder CATSよくある質問
Can you ride off-piste at Niseko Weiss Powder CATS?
At Niseko Weiss Powder CATS: The Weiss terrain is ridden on Hanazono's guided cat tours. Independent tourers climb Weisshorn by a separate route from the Route 58 plow end near Hanazono.
How much is a lift ticket at Niseko Weiss Powder CATS?
An adult day ticket at Niseko Weiss Powder CATS costs ¥175,000 in the 2025/26 main season and ¥165,000 early or late in the season.
Does Niseko Weiss Powder CATS have night riding?
No. Niseko Weiss Powder CATS closes its lifts at dusk.
How do you get to Niseko Weiss Powder CATS from New Chitose Airport?
Niseko Weiss Powder CATS is about 2 hr 10 min to Hanazono by car from New Chitose Airport. By bus: Hokkaido Resort Liner or Niseko Direct Shuttle to Hanazono, ¥6,000 one way (2025/26).
When is the season at Niseko Weiss Powder CATS?
Niseko Weiss Powder CATS usually opens late December (28 Dec 2025 on Hanazono's listing) and closes early March (8 Mar 2026). The deepest, most reliable snow comes january to mid February.