Niseko is the perfect classroom to learn to ski powder and trees.

Located in the far north island, Niseko is widely regarded as the best ski resort in Japan for its weather, size and infrastructure and given its exposure to the Siberian weather fronts, its abundance of powder.

While its popularity amongst Australians has exploded in recent years, fortunately the wooded areas on either side of most groomed runs remain largely ignored.

However once inside this domain, you will be exposed to straight and evenly spaced pine trees that encourage a comfortable pace down slopes that are like big rolling slippery dips.

The knee-deep snow cover gives you the confidence to punch through powdery pillows with the safety of knowing that any fall is like dropping into a pool of cotton wool.

While skiing through the snow here is like slicing hot butter, the sheer snow volume means eventually the thigh burn will come.

Slow down and soak up the magic

If you do need to stop and recover you'll be immediately taken aback by the beauty of the snow-caked pines and eerie stillness that surrounds with the only noise being your breath and the faint hum of the snow as it brushes off the pines and lands softly on your jacket.

While it's a backdrop that a skier can never tire admiring, the allure of more weightless shredding will soon propel you further down the big white dipper.

Being amongst the pines and powder is not limited to skiing either. Many of the onsens (natural hot springs) at Niseko are located amongst densely wooded powder patches at the base of hills. There is no better feeling than working off the aches and pains of a full day of powder skiing than with a hot bath surrounded by pristine forest and pure virgin snow.

So leave the groomed stuff to the punters and get yourself in amongst the wooded domain, you wont regret it.