One of Hokkaido’s biggest photo contests, the Niseko Shootout, launched for the fifth consecutive year this December. In this prestigious contest, photographers are encouraged to showcase their skills by photographing winter scenes as well as capture imagery of skiing and snowboarding in Niseko and the wider Shiribeshi region.

Photographers are able to enter the Niseko Shootout by shooting an image in the Shiribeshi region during winter and posting it to Instagram with the hashtag #nisekoshootout.

The Niseko Shootout photo contest was first launched in January of 2018 by Winse Heyward (USA), and initially had just one prize for photography of skiing and snowboarding. As support for the Niseko Shootout grew, the contest expanded to three categories, Ski, Snowboard, and Landscape. From this year, however, the Landscape category has changed to “Open”, to allow photographers more creativity and flexibility with the images entered.

“Over the past five years, seeing the excitement from both participants and organizers makes me feel like the sky’s the limit. I hope that the Niseko Shootout will become a household name and be regarded as highly as other major festivals around the world.” – Winse Heyward, Niseko Shootout founder.

Judging for the Niseko Shootout contest is done by some of the most prolific photographers in the area. Judges for previous contests included professional photographer Yoichi Watanabe, Gentemstick founder, and photographer Taro Tamai, as well as Australian photographer and long-term Niseko resident Aaron Jamieson among other well-known photographers.

Accompanying the main photo contest are two additional competitions – the “ProAm” and the “Short Film Festival”. In the ProAm contest, photographers and riders enter as teams and will be able to enter images they shoot together from the 7th to the 10th of January. The ProAm contest is judged by professional skiers and photographers from around the world that have a connection with Niseko. Judges for last year’s ProAm included prolific skier and filmmaker Eric Pollard (USA), Winter Olympian Torah Bright (AUS), filmmaker and professional skier Lena Stoffel (GER), among others.

The Niseko Shootout Short Film Festival will showcase films created in Niseko. The event will be held in Hirafu as a drive-in cinema and will be live-streamed around the world. The event will be hosted in both Japanese and English. To showcase the films, a giant cinema screen will be constructed out of snow with the winners of the main photography contest and the short film festival announced at this event.

First-place prizes for this year’s Niseko Shootout are valued at ¥100,000 each and include a season pass for the Niseko United, a Gentemstick snowboard, and a stay at a NISADE accommodation in Niseko.

Fact Sheet:

• The 2021/22 Niseko Shootout opened for entries on 1 December 2021, and close on 1 March 2021
• Winners will be announced at this years Niseko Shootout Short Film Festival on 12 March 2022
• Niseko Shootout started in January 2018 and was created by American Winse Heyward
• The Niseko Shootout is the official photography contest for the Niseko region and is endorsed by Niseko Tourism

Niseko, Furano, Hakuba, Japan — Monday, Nov 1st, 2021 — Get ready to click ‘add to cart’ because Rhythm Japan has made its extensive range of snowsports and outdoors equipment available for purchase via its new-look website.

• The online shopping site will be available in Japanese and English on 1st November 2021.
  The new website also includes an improved ‘gear checklist’ system.
• For added convenience, a ‘click and collect’ service will be available.
• To celebrate, customers can go to the website and receive 10% discounts on the latest gear.

With store locations in Niseko, Hakuba and Furano, Rhythm’s mission has always been to provide its customers with access to the best possible equipment for Japan’s epic conditions. Now visitors to theirwebsite will be able to purchase outerwear, skis, snowboards, accessories, footwear, luggage,souvenirs and plenty more from top brands like Burton, Armada, Oyuki, K2, Nitro, Oakley, Smith (justto name a few). Then they can select to have the items shipped to their homes or ‘click and collect’ from one of Rhythm’s shop fronts.

According to Rhythm’s Head of Merchandise, Emily Gattinger:

“Our team thrives on sharing their knowledge and helping customers find products suited to their needs. By expanding into e-commerce, we have created an opportunity to share this passion outside of the confines of our shop walls which, big picture, will result in broader product offerings, specialized support, and growth within our marketplace. We are excited, to say the least.”

The online service will be available in Japanese and English and provide competitive shipping rates to allow for a smooth and convenient shopping experience. Rhythm has also introduced a new and improved “Gear Checklist” system that links viewers to appropriate buying or renting options. The click and collect service is perfect for those customers who would prefer to have their new products ready and waiting for them to hit the slopes. All of these new features mean gearing up for a Japanese winter has never been easier!

To celebrate the launch of the new website and online store, customers can jump online to learn more about special deals on this season’s hard and soft goods, huge discounts on gear from previous seasons and book lessons and rental equipment.

Check out Rhythm at www.rhythmjapan.com, Like them on Facebook, and follow them on Instagram.

Press Contact
Sherry Yen
[email protected]
+81 0136 12 0164

General Inquiries
[email protected]
+81 136 23 0164 (JP)
+61 0 8002 0164 (AU)

The long-awaited new Hanazono Lift 1 6-seat hooded detachable chairlift and the all-new 10-person Hanazono Symphony Gondola, both showcasing the very latest in style, luxury, and technology from POMA (France), will finally beunveiled in December 2021.

These new ski lifts represent a huge leap forward in terms of comfort, speed, and convenience for Hanazono guests,
who already flock to Hanazono because of its quality powder snow, interesting terrain, and superior quality facilities.

The new ski lifts have been specifically designed to complement the glamorous look of the new “Hanazono EDGE” restaurant, with its soaring glass walls and cutting-edge roof design. The lifts have been positioned to maximize the breath-taking Hanazono mountain views and provide guests with an unrivaled view of the slopes. The POMA direct drive system, the first of its kind in Japan, will bring a new era of environmental responsibility to snow resort operations, with reduced levels of noise and improved energy efficiency.

New Hanazono Lift 1

The new Hanazono Lift 1 can only be described as the smoothest, most luxurious chairlift in Japan. Dubbed the “Ferrari of Chairlifts” by Powderlife magazine, the new 6-seat detachable hooded chairlift boasts individually embroidered, leather-trimmed, and heated seats, and an individual suspension system for each chair. Moving an industry-leading 3085 persons per hour, the journey of 1589 meters will provide a welcome and cozy respite between runs. Guests will arrive refreshed at the top station and ready to plunge into Hanazono’s renowned powder stashes and variety of courses.

Hanazono Symphony Gondola

Designed by Italy’s Pininfarina, the brand new 10-person Hanazono Symphony Gondola represents the pinnacle of modern gondola design and comfort, and will be the first POMA 10-person Gondola installed in Japan. Each cabin boasts individually embroidered, leather trimmed seats, and an individual suspension system for each cabin. Expansive windows will provide guests with magnificent mountain views as they travel at an industry-leading 5 meters per second. The 1362 meter long Gondola will service Hanazono’s class-leading beginner terrain “Juicy Fruit” via a new intermediate “mid-station”, with intermediate and advanced skiers able to enjoy the new “Colly’s Folly” run commencing from
the top station.

As its name suggests, the Hanazono “Symphony” Gondola is indeed a masterpiece of design, innovation, and excellence. Located adjacent to the elegant Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, the Hanazono Symphony Gondola is set to provide guests with unrivaled comfort, convenience, and luxury. Powered by direct drive technology, riding the Hanazono Symphony Gondola will provide a sonata of sensory experiences for Hanazono’s esteemed customers.

New Experiences

The new Hanazono ski lifts open new ski terrain and ski courses on the eastern side of the mountain. The arrival of
the Hanazono Symphony Gondola also heralds the commencement of night-skiing at Hanazono, with each gondola cabin boasting its own unique coloured, LED lighting system to light the night sky.

Intermediate Ski course – “Colly’s Folly”

Located on the east side of the famous “Legend of Shinya” ski course and commencing at the top of the new Hanazono Symphony Gondola, you will find the new red (intermediate) course, “Colly’s Folly”. The 550-meter course, just about 1 / 3 right at 20’ish degrees, will suit intermediate and advanced skiers alike. Wide and groomed from side-to-side, “Colly’s Folly” is set to become an all-time favourite for skiers of all standards.

Beginner Ski Course – “Juicy Fruit”

The mid-station of the new Hanazono Symphony Gondola is the entrance to “Juicy Fruit”, a newly fashioned 800-meter green (beginner) ski course with an average slope of just 7 degrees, making it the perfect slope for first-timers and beginners, as well as ski and snowboard students enrolled with Hanazono’s famed in-resort snowsports school “Niseko International Snowsports School” (NISS). “Colly’s Folly” from the east, “Legend of Shinya” from the center, and “Stairway to Heaven” from the west all converge to meet at “Juicy Fruit”.

The new ski lifts at Hanazono will serve not only winter guests but also those who visit Hanazono in the green season. Summer gondola operations will service Hanazono’s new zipline network (set for completion June 2022), as well as Hanazono’s forthcoming light exhibition designed by world renowned artist Bruce Munro (details coming soon). Next time you visit Hanazono, be prepared for a five-star ride as luxurious as the entire Hanazono resort experience is becoming.

Please see the official press release on the Hanazono website.