Ski in Niseko, Japan

choi

Ondine Cohane, Niseko, Japan’s Own St. Moritz. New York Times, Jan 15, 2012
http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/0 ... -own-st-moritz.html

My comment:
(a) View the slide show only.
(b) Niseko, Hokkaidō 北海道 後志総合振興局 虻田郡 ニセコ町
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niseko,_Hokkaidō
(c) St Moritz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Moritz
(“St Moritz is first mentioned around 1137-39 as ad sanctum Mauricium. The town was named after Saint Maurice [died 287 AD]”)

Moritz is German version of “Maurice” in English.
(d) Mount Annupuri  ニセコアンヌプリ
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ニセコアンヌプリ
(山名の由来: ニセコアンヌプリはアイヌ語でnisey-ko-an-nupuri（絶壁・に向かって・ある・山）を意味し)

Trnaslation of the quotation: Niseko Annupuri [the mountain] came from Ainu language nisey-ko-an-nupuri, which means “Facing the cliff, there is a mountain.”
(e)  The report then mentioned “the small resort village of Hirafu on Hokkaido.”

Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niseko_Mt._Resort_Grand_Hirafu
(“famous for its fine-quality powder snow”)
(f) Suiboku condomium
(g) Kamimura restaurant, Niseko
http://kamimura-niseko.com/
(Chef Yuichi KAMIMURA 上村 雄一)

The present name is in English only (not in Japanese). Its name used to be
旧店名: Kamimura Yuichi Restaurant  比羅夫/無国籍料理

比羅夫 is Hirafu.

(h) Hanazono 308
http://www.hanazononiseko.com/en/winter/hanazono-308/index.html

Note the “Niseko HANAZONO Resort” tab in the elft upper corner. The snow gear Hanazono 308 is part of the resort.