Niseko
Niseko (Japanese: ニセコ, Niseko, [ɲ̟iseko]) is a resort area located in Hokkaido, Japan. Officially called the Niseko Tourism Zone (ニセコ観光圏), it consists of three towns: Kutchan Town, Niseko Town, and Rankoshi Town at the foot of Niseko Annupuri.[1][2]
The name Niseko is derived from the Nisekoanbetsu River (ニセコアンベツ川), meaning "river toward the cliff" in the Ainu language.[3]
Niseko is famous for its high-quality powder snowfall, known as "Japow,"[4] and has recently been developed as an international ski resort area.
Resort
[edit]Niseko is composed of six ski areas, in order of size: [5]
- Niseko Hirafu
- Niseko Village (formerly known as Niseko Higashiyama)
- Niseko Annupuri
- Niseko Hanazono
- Niseko Moiwa
- Niseko Weiss
NISEKO TOKYU Grand HIRAFUrefers to the combined areas of Hirafu and Hanazono. Both of these and Weiss are within the municipality of nearby Kutchan. The other three resorts are within the adjacent city of Niseko.
The four main of these six ski areas (Annupuri, Higashiyama, Hirafu, and Hanazono) are sequentially interconnected and may be skied on one ski pass. The lift systems are owned respectively by the Chuo Bus company, YTL Resorts (which purchased Niseko Village from Citigroup in 2010), Tokyu Corporation , and Pacific Century Premium Developments. Together they form 8.87 km2 (2,191 acres) skiable of what is known as the Niseko United. The lift system comprises 38 gondolas and lifts connecting 61 ski runs and 12 terrain parks. Kutchan's sister city is St. Moritz, and they have a relationship established in 1964. Niseko Moiwa, adjacent to Annupuri, can be skied to from Annupuri but is not currently connected by the lift system. Niseko Weiss has not operated its lifts for decades, but people can still ski in this area, which is being taken uphill by snowcats.
Niseko also has backcountry ski courses that are unofficially on the maps. To the furthest right of Annupuri lies Sannozaka, an area prone to avalanches but with high-quality snow. Higashi One is to the far right of Hirafu, prone to avalanches but with challenging backcountry terrain. Near the lower half of Hanazono is a forest route called 'Strawberry Fields', which is perhaps the most famous run in Niseko. Mount Yōtei is also a popular mountain for backcountry skiing expeditions.
In March 2008, Niseko was voted into the world's top 10 ski resorts for the first time. Coming in at No. 6, it was the highest ranked of the new entries in the poll.[6]
Known initially primarily for winter sports, Niseko has gradually gained a reputation as a center for various summer activities, including golf, tennis, fishing, horseback riding, sea kayaking, white water rafting, trekking, and bicycling.[7]
Niseko has also become well known for its hot springs (onsen), diverse culinary choices, and exceptional whiskeys.[8]
Infrastructure and development
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Although a growing area, Niseko does lack public and private infrastructure in certain areas. Simple public items such as street lighting and winter footpath clearing are left wanting compared to other international ski resorts (though this is common in rural Japan).[9] Private infrastructure includes shopping and retail areas, which are still growing. Significant infrastructure development – initially focused on the road heating and redevelopment of the main street "Hirafu-zaka" has now been completed, as well as removing the overhead power lines and relocating them underground.[10]
The high demand for real estate counteracts this lack of infrastructure. Foreign-owned companies and Japanese companies are developing in the area. Purchase demand has expanded from Australian markets, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China.[11]
Nightlife and accommodation can be found across the district. Niseko Village/Annupuri/Moiwa is home to many of the established hotel properties, such as the Hilton Niseko Village and The Green Leaf Hotel, Northern Resort Annupuri, Hotel Ikoi no mura, Hotel Kanronomori, Grand Hotel, and Hotel Ashiri Niseko.[12] In Hanazono, the all-new Mountain Center was just finished, and the extensive Hyatt Hotel is near completion. The Hirafu area is home to established and newer hotels and much of the district's condominium-style accommodation.[13][14]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "ニセコ観光圏整備計画" [Niseko Tourism Zone Development Plan] (PDF) (in Japanese). Rankoshi Town, Niseko Town, Kutchan Town. 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "ニセコ観光圏" [Niseko Tourism Zone] (in Japanese). Niseko Kankouken. 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ Nagata, Hōsei (1891). 北海道蝦夷語地名解 第1-3篇 [A Dictionary of Ezoic Place Names in Hokkaido, Vols. 1-3.] (in Japanese). Hokkaido. p. 226. doi:10.11501/992037.
- ^ "Why "JAPOW"". Hokkaido Ski Promotion Council. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
- ^ "Niseko United". www.niseko.ne.jp. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
- ^ "Top 20 Snowiest Ski Resorts in the World – ForbesTraveler.com". Archived from the original on 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
- ^ Yoshino, Michiru, "Hirafu-Niseko's powder melts hearts", Japan Times, 17 November 2006, p. 24.
- ^ O'Grady, Janet (2020-02-13). "36 Hours in Niseko". The New York Times.
- ^ "RealEstate Japan".
- ^ "Niseko's Hirafu-zaka completes major redevelopment".
- ^ "Asian investors pile into Japan's Niseko resort real estate".
- ^ "Hanazono Resort Development Update".
- ^ "Accommodation in Hirafu". Retrieved 2024-12-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Colbert, Lindsay (2024-03-18). "Hirafu Accommodation". Japan Ski Experience. Retrieved 2025-06-20.