An Australian man has died while skiing near the popular snow resort town of Niseko, just days after an Aussie snowboarder was killed on another mountain in Japan near Nagano.
The man, a 27-year-old from Melbourne, was skiing with six other skiers at the Hokkaido resort when he suffered a heart attack, a local lodge spokesperson said. According to The Guardian, the spokesperson said skiers who saw the man collapse began CPR.
“He was a talented, kind, gentle and wonderful man,” they said. “There was no accident, collision or fall of any kind.”
The skier was taken to a medical facility but was pronounced dead at the hospital, local media reported.
According to the ABC, Japanese police identified the man as Michael Jefferey Hurst.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesperson said DFAT is “providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan”. Consular assistance may include family support and coordination with authorities on funeral arrangements or repatriation.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time. Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” the spokesperson said.
The Melburnian’s death comes a few days after 22-year-old Brooke Day died after her backpack got tangled in a ski lift at Tsugaike resort in the Hakuba Valley near Nagano.
Record snowfalls have hit Japan this winter. But while heavy snow is usually good news for those hitting the slopes, it has caused havoc in the Asian nation of late.
According to the Japanese government, heavy snow has caused the death of at least 30 people and injured at least 200 others – and local officials say that number could rise, The New York Times reported.
The harsh winter conditions have also hit travel, Reuters reports, with heavy snowfalls recently causing the temporary closure of Hokkaido’s main airport and some highways, as well as delaying rail services.
Citing official Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) statistics, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) revealed that over one million Australians visited Japan in 2025, an increase of 15 per cent on an already record-breaking 2024.
With many of those Aussies heading to Japan’s famous ski slopes, JNTO has been urging Aussies to explore beyond the usual winter hotspots.
“During 2026, we are encouraging Australian travellers, to take the time to travel far and wide and discover the lesser-known regions of Japan, from rural retreats and remote hiking trails to coastal camping and tranquil islands, in order to raise awareness of Japan’s diverse experiences, and to share the economic benefits nationwide,” JNTO Sydney Executive Director Naoki Kitazawa said last month.
Nagano is also encouraging Australians to explore the prefecture beyond its famous snowfields and at different times of year.
“Despite the surge of holidaying Australians each northern winter, Nagano is truly an all-year-round destination, and we can break new records by urging visitors to stay longer or return after winter during the autumn, spring or summer seasons,” Nagano Tourism Organization Australian representative Helen Wong said.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Two Australian deaths on Japan’s slopes should sharpen the focus for travellers and the trade: traveller wellbeing, winter risk conversations and consular pathways matter more than ever as record snow and Aussie demand collide.
