After Hokkaido backcountry skiing deaths, experts call for enforcing 'Niseko Rules'
Following two cases of backcountry skiers being killed by avalanches in Hokkaido since the beginning of this year, safety experts in the prefecture are working to fully enforce the so-called Niseko Rules to keep skiers safe. The recent accidents — one in the village of ...
In print and online, English media proliferate in Hokkaido ski resort of Niseko
English-language media outlets are stepping up their presence in Hokkaido's renowned ski resort of Niseko, benefiting from growing global interest from skiers and snowboarders lured by the region's fine powder snow. In an attempt to reach out to the influx of foreign visitors, local publishers ...
Heli-skiing in Japan: The joys of big-mountain powder
From December to March, Hokkaido Backcountry Club runs heli-skiing tours to Mount Shiribetsu near the Niseko and Rusutsu ski resorts. Clip in for the ride.
Get ready for Japan's backcountry with an avalanche safety course
Black Diamond Tours has been offering Avalanche Skills Training courses in English since 2009 to educate skiers and snowboarders on the risks when riding in Japan's backcountry.
Top 10: Where to go skiing and snowboarding in Japan this winter
Winter is approaching fast and with it Japan becomes a bucket list destination on the mind of any skier and snowboarder, with fresh powder snow and Etch A Sketch skiing conditions. While skiing in Europe and North America is primarily associated with long, steep runs ...
Hokkaido town of Kutchan in Niseko ski region introduces Japan's first fixed-rate lodging tax
The 2 percent levy will apply to all facilities, including private lodgings, and is expected to bring the town an extra ¥300 million ($2.76 million) in revenue.
Japan's nonmetro commercial land prices rise for first time in 28 years
The average price of land for commercial use outside the country’s three largest metropolitan areas — Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya — has risen for the first time since 1991.
In ski hub Niseko, tension arises between locals and overseas residents
A growing number of complaints regarding an increase in foreign residents is straining relations in Niseko, an area in Hokkaido internationally known for its famous ski resorts. In the town of Kutchan, foreign residents make up over 10 percent of the population during winter. Tensions ...
Hokkaido ski resort town of Kutchan to enact Japan's first fixed-rate lodging tax
The town of Kutchan, located near Hokkaido's popular Niseko ski resort, plans to introduce a 2 percent lodging tax under an ordinance passed by the municipal assembly Thursday. The town aims to enact the tax next November following consultations with the Ministry of Internal Affairs ...
Hokkaido's famous ski resort area Niseko seeks to promote its safety after powerful quake
With the Hokkaido tourism industry estimating losses of around ¥29 billion from the recent deadly earthquake, due to widespread hotel cancellations following the disaster, Niseko, a famous ski resort in the prefecture that escaped relatively unscathed from the quake, is seeking to promote its ...
Beat the heat with summer sports in Niseko
With a pantheon of outdoor sports such as mountain biking, ziplining, hiking and more, the summer season in Hokkaido's Niseko is increasingly switched on.
Medical interpreters in high demand as tourists flock to Niseko
Medical interpreters are helping a popular ski resort in Hokkaido deal with the growing number of foreign guests there. To overcome the language barrier, Kutchan-Kosei General Hospital in the town of Kutchan, near the Niseko resort, employs a five-member team of medical interpreters. At times, ...
