Boring But Important

We like to make sure you are fully equipt for the week by arming you with all destination specific particulars, including everything from weather and time zones to safety tips and other costs to expect during the week.

Customs and Immigration

Please visit VisaHQ to check what documents and visas you may need to enter the country. Remember to include the countries that you are travelling through to get to your final destination, if applicable.

Weather

Expect temperatures between -10°C to 5°C  (14°F - 41°F). It also snows, on average, 20 days during the month of January in Niseko. ❄️  Woohoo!

Time Zone

Japan is 9 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+9).

Personal Safety

All The Ski Week events are extremely safe. However, as you will find yourselves in unfamiliar surroundings, we recommend that you follow some basic precautions. We’ll lay it out simple for you:

• Lock your hotel room and lockers when you leave and store expensive possessions, travel documents, and extra cash in a hidden spot.
• Stay with other TSW guests and staff whenever possible.
• Avoid parties and venues not on the itinerary or recommended by TSW.
• Walking home in the cold alone is not not a good idea. No one wants to leave a party alone, so buddy up some friends to accompany you home.
• Wear proper gear both on and off the mountains. Refer to our Essentials Packing List for the full list of everything you will need!

Onsite, The Ski Week has the means to contact authorities when necessary. In the event of an emergency, please find a crew member immediately. The emergency number in Japan is 110 for police and 119 for the ambulance.

Electricity

Japanese sockets are (mostly) physically compatible with North American plugs, and although the nominal line voltage is lower in Japan (100V), the vast majority of modern electronic goods intended for North American line voltage (110V) work just fine in Japan. Plan to pack an adaptor to fit into Japanese electrical receptacles when needed. 

Local Currency

The local currency is the Japanese Yen. Foreign currency is not accepted. Cash is key on the slopes since most bars & restaurants don't take credit card.

Cash

On that note, please make sure to always have cash on hand. Most TSW planned activities are cash only which will make everything quicker and easier for you throughout the week, so plan accordingly before arrival and check the itinerary daily to see what you want to do. Local ATMs are available in Niseko. 

Additional Costs

You will have to cover your own food and drinks throughout the week. Expect to pay approx $15 for lunch, $25-35 for dinner and $7 for a beer. There are also numerous additional activities that you may wish to participate in. Please see our Activities & Themes for more info on how to book. If you are not bringing your own skis or snowboard, you will be able to rent through a local shop. Please sign up for rentals in advance through your booking profile to take advantage of TSW discount. Use this nifty tool to calculate the cost of your rental.

Personal Travel Insurance

By booking with us, you are not covered by a personal travel insurance policy. It is your responsibility to have personal travel insurance for the duration of your trip and that it covers activities such as skiing. We highly recommend that all guests purchase such a policy. Safety first, folks.

Anything we missed?

Check out the FAQ page on our website or email info@theskiweek.com.