ナイター＝一本だけ、は昔の話。ニセコやルスツでは山全体がナイター会場。夜こそ滑るべき理由。
The "Nighter" Magic Most tourists stop skiing at 4:00 PM. They go to the onsen, they have a beer, and they call it a day. The Reality: The "Nighter" (Naita) session from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM is often the best skiing of the day. At JapanSnowWatch, we watch the lights turn on every evening on our live cams. It’s the signal for the "second shift" of powder hunters. --- 1. The Visibility Factor It sounds counter-intuitive, but visibility is often better at night. The Science: During a snowstorm (whiteout), flat daylight offers zero contrast. You can't see the bumps.
At night, the high-powered yellow floodlights create deep shadows behind every bump and mound. You can actually see the terrain better than at midday. 2. The Niseko Hirafu Scale Hirafu is the undisputed king of night skiing. The Terrain: They light up almost the entire vertical of the mountain. You can ski steep reds and even some tree zones under the lights. The Sensation: Skiing through 20cm of fresh powder at night, where the only thing you can see is the illuminated flakes falling in front of you, is surreal. 3. The "Freezing" Squeak The Snow: As the sun goes down, the temperature drops rapidly.
The snow "dries out." The Sound: Your skis will start to make a high-pitched "squeak" sound. That is the sound of world-class, dry-ice powder. --- Layer up. It is significantly colder once the sun sets. Wear an extra mid-layer and make sure your face is fully covered. Also, swap your dark goggles for Clear or High-Contrast Yellow lenses. Check our Caffeine Map to find which coffee shops stay open late to fuel your night session.