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 near the Hokkaido resort when he suffered a heart attack, a ski lodge spokesperson said. According to The Guardian, they said skiers who saw the man collapse began CPR. The Victorian was then transported to a hospital, but was later pronounced dead.
“He was a talented, kind, gentle and wonderful man,” the spokesperson added. “There was no accident, collision or fall of any kind.”
According to the ABC, Japanese police identified the man as Michael Jefferey Hurst.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said DFAT is “providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Japan”.
“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 just a few days after 22-year-old Brooke Day died when her backpack got tangled in a ski lift at Tsugaike resort in the Hakuba Valley near Nagano.
Record snow
Record snowfalls have hit Japan this winter. But while heavy snow is usually welcomed by those hitting the slopes, it has caused havoc in some parts of the country.
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 reports.
The harsh winter conditions have also hit travel, Reuters reports, with snowfalls recently causing the temporary closure of Hokkaido’s main airport and some highways, as well as delaying rail services.
Record travel
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.
Nagano Tourism is also encouraging Australians to explore the prefecture beyond its famous snowfields and at different times of year.
