We recently completed a guided ski trip in Niseko and had a mixed experience overall.

First, the positives — our guides were professional, friendly, and made a real effort to show us some of the local culture beyond just skiing. They introduced us to onsens and some excellent hidden food spots that we would not have found on our own, which we really appreciated. They were knowledgeable about the area and worked hard throughout the trip, and we tipped them at the end of the experience after they mentioned that tips are accepted.

That said, there were several logistical challenges that impacted our experience. Our group consisted of 7 skiers, which we were told is larger than what they typically guide. Navigating terrain and lift systems with a group of that size proved to be difficult, and as a result we spent significantly less time skiing than we expected during a guided trip.

Additionally, we stayed at the Hilton Niseko Village and were not informed in advance that the guides are not permitted to access lifts from that resort. This meant that each day we were picked up and dropped off in the back of the parking lot and transported elsewhere to begin skiing. While not a major issue on its own, this is something that would have been helpful to know beforehand and may have influenced our lodging decision.

Lastly, we were disappointed that lift tickets were not ultimately reimbursed after previously being told they would be.

Overall, while the guides themselves did a good job and provided some great local insight, the combination of communication gaps and logistical limitations did not align with the expectations we had when booking the experience.
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Since the first mail our experience with Niseko Zen has been perfect: easy booking, complete, clear and punctual information, always available for any question. Congratulations.
But the best came when Flor and Hanna our guides 4 days picked up us (a group of 5) to ski Niseko&Rusutsu. Super professional, always caring and attentive to our needs and requirements, sharing their knowledge of Japan powder and making our experience safe, full of thrill and unforgettable. Their smile and kindness was an absolute gift that made our travel to Japan powder a lifetime experience. Thanks!!
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We are really happy that we started our Japan trip off with two days of guiding with Flor from Niseko Zen. She was able to find great snow all day through and effortlessly adapted to our group’s skill level and wishes. We learnt a lot from her about Japanese ski etikette and systems, what places to go touring or in resorts, and not least - the best local snacks to bring for ski days in Japan. Valuable information to bring on the rest of our trip. And on top of that, Flor is super nice! Would definitely recommend her to friends
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Had a great time doing a mix of on-piste and off-piste skiing with Jon from Niseko Zen. Great safety, service, comfort. Would recommend to anyone!
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We spent 4 amazing days skiing and hiking with Jon, a super nice,friendly and helpful guide. Niseko and Kiroro gave us a chance to ski magnificent powder condition.i do highly recommend Niseko zen and Jon of course. Thank you
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I booked a private guided tour with Juan and Sofia, intending to propose to my now fiancée during the trip. From the moment I shared my plan with them, they went above and beyond to make it truly special. The night before, they stayed up late helping me fine tune the details, even going out of their way to pick up extra items to make the proposal even more perfect.

On the day of the tour, they not only gave us an unforgettable skiing experience but also made the entire day so much fun. Sofia captured incredible photos throughout, including stunning shots of the proposal - memories we will cherish forever. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and kindness made this experience far better than I could've hoped for.

If you're looking for amazing guides who truly care, I can't recommend Juan and Sofia enough - 10/10!
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Juan and Sofía are the best guides! Very knowledgeable on terrain around Niseko and ensuring a fun but safe experience. They both helped plan out my proposal with my fiancé and helped make the day one I will never forget. Sofia's photos from the day came out amazing. Highly recommend!
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We’re a group of 5 snowboarders and 1 skier, all excitable middle aged blokes, in Niseko for the week.

The 2 days lift accessed guiding we booked were hands down the best thing we did.

Our main guide Jon, from Argentina was fantastic. What we really respected was his cool and professional approach, keeping us all safe on the mountain but coupled with an ability to find some amazing terrain for us. He’s also a class skier.

Being a group larger than 5 you have to have a tail guide, so on the first day we were accompanied by Koji, a Sapporo local, and on the second day we rode with snowboarder Torin, who was great at finding little pillows and features to doss around on.

We would highly recommend getting out to the resorts close to Niseko, we went to Rusutsu, far fewer people and much less tracked powder.

Can highly recommend Niseko Zen to anyone considering them, really amazing experience start to finish!
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We skied resort accessed side country with Facu and Juan for 4 days in Feb 2025. Both were absolutely great, with strong insight into the best resorts to hit and the best stashes within each. I am convinced that Facu and Juan provided a differentiated skiing experience relative to what I heard from others who were in the area during the same time, which reflects their strong knowledge of the area's weather dynamics. Facu in particular displayed deep knowledge of weather patterns and avalanche / snow safety, leaving us extremely confident in his decision making, particularly given our whole family was on the hill together. I unequivocally recommend both of them for your next trip. This was my first trip but won't be my last!
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We did two days of backcountry touring with Facu and had an amazing time. Even when the conditions were rough in most places, he knew where to go to get in a few laps on great snow out of the wind. He was easy to communicate with, valued our preferences and was able to recommend routes that were perfect for our ability level. We felt safe the entire time and really appreciated how open he was to sharing his knowledge about avalanche risk assessment. We learned a lot and got plenty of powder turns in!! An added bonus that we were the only skiers in the area and he had great recs for a post-tour meal and onsen!
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