Powder days aren’t the only thing worth chasing in Niseko. Our photographer Patrick Pimienta shares the places that make him reach for the camera.
Niseko is best known for one thing: exquisite Japan powder. The kind skiers and snowboarders will happily cross oceans for. But spend enough time here with a camera and you realise something else — this ski capital might just be one of Japan’s most photogenic places.
Picture snow-draped farm roads, mirror-still ponds beneath Mount Yotei and rivers threading through white forests. Even the drive to the supermarket can look like a pretty postcard.
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Photographer and snowboarder Patrick Pimienta has experienced all these and more first-hand this winter. Part of The Luxe Nomad social media team, Pimienta has spent a full snow season doing what only regulars manage to do after multiple trips — tracking down Niseko’s most photogenic corners.
Born in the Czech Republic, he learned to ski before he learned to drive. Photography came later. During a trip to Finland in 2018, he found himself surrounded by snow-covered forests and northern lights, but with no camera to capture them. He bought one the moment he got home and hasn’t travelled without it since.
After seasons chasing snow in New Zealand and sun in Tenerife, Niseko was the obvious next stop. The powder and sidecountry gates helped, and if he’s honest the great food and the people didn’t hurt either. Here are a few of his favourite places to shoot.
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Panoramic View of Mount Yotei
Where: Route 276, from Kutchan to Kyogoku Town
Some shots practically compose themselves. This long straight road cuts through farmland, drawing your eye directly toward Mount Yotei. This is a spot that rewards slow driving and the occasional roadside stop.
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Fukidashi Park
Where: Bridge at Fukidashi Park, Kyogoku Town
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3zd3eu9R3zJJvZKj9
An easy walk that somehow photographs beautifully in almost any weather. On snowy or overcast days the colours soften, and the park takes on an almost cinematic mood. The small wooden bridge over the pond is the hero shot; ask a friend to cross it and the frame practically completes itself.
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Mount Annupuri & Mount Iwaonupuri
Where: Route 478, from Kutchan to Kyogoku Town
On a clear day with good visibility, you can spot hikers making their way up Mount Annupuri from the pizza box chairlift. Pack your telephoto lens — the distance is part of what makes the shot.
Mount Yotei Reflection
Where: Nokanosobaya Yoteizan, Kutchan Town
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On calm days the small roadside pond here becomes a perfect mirror for Mount Yotei. It’s one of the quietest places around, and one of the most satisfying shots when the wind disappears. Another pro tip: Layer Niseko bakery is just steps away. Their doughnuts make excellent pre or post shoot fuel.
Shiribetsu River
Where: Nakano Bridge, Kyogoku Town
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kDCdyeU96vo71XCe6
If you’re flying a drone, this spot is hard to beat. The Shiribetsu River winds through snow-covered trees, like it was designed for aerial photography. From ground level, the bright red Nakano Bridge slices through the white landscape.
Straight Road to Mount Yotei
Where: Aikawa Viewpoint, Kimobetsu Town
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ekh5Q5SD75fCsFiN9
A road, a mountain and a composition that more or less frames itself. Pull into the small roadside parking area and take your time setting up the shot — just keep an eye out for passing cars if you step onto the road.
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