2020 Summer Locals Card Discounts Now Available!

Enjoy all these great summer offers from the Niseko local businesses!

The summer discount offers for the Niseko Locals Card program are here!

There is a great variety of different benefits from restaurants, activities, wellness, etc. for Niseko Tourism's members and their staffs. You can find out all the special offers on Explore Niseko website or simply download the FREE official Niseko app to have all the info available in the palm of your hand!

If you need to pick up a new card, please apply via HERE and bring your identification and proof of the company you work for to Niseko Tourism office:

41-5 Aza Kabayama, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan 044-0078

Office HR: Mon - Fri 9:00-18:00

If you have previous invalid locals cards, please bring it with you, and it can be swapped with the new one.

All offers are valid from May 22nd~Oct 31st and the 2020-21 winter offers will be updated in November!

*If your company is not a Niseko Tourism member, contact us today and find out how to join!

by Alister

Niseko Foreign Staff Consultation Service Now Available

For those who have been facing difficulties due to the spread of COVID-19 in the Niseko Tourism Zone Area (Rankoshi Town, Niseko Town, and Kutchan Town), the Niseko Tourism Zone Association (translation available) is opening a phone consultation service in English and Chinese for foreign residents residing the Niseko Area and other neighboring towns around Mt. Yotei. For more details, please check the PDF file below.

Download the PDF.

For inquiries;

Niseko Tourism Association Administrative Office (Niseko Town Industry and Tourism Division: Takahashi, Kubo)

TEL: 0136-44-2121

FAX: 0136-44-3500

E-mail:[email protected]

by Alister

Daruma Project

The good of the heart of people is what each and every one of us needs during a hardship...

Daruma Project intends to bring a warm message to everyone in the world using art, "We are all in this together."

This project, made to help us to mentally stay strong during COVID-19, is to continue spreading support until the pandemic ends.

For more details and how to start your own, please have a look on HERE.

They also have a Youtube video showing the project. Check it out!

by Alister

Subvention for Local Businesses

Subvention for Local Businesses

Hokkaido government has recently announced a subvention plan for local businesses in response to the economic effects of COVID-19. In order to be eligible for a subvention the following needs to be practiced from April 25th to May 6th;

Businesses required to close-Close the business
Businesses NOT required to close-Maintain distance between each table/seat to minimize the potential spread of the virus

To find out which group your business belongs to, please click HERE.

Please note that depending on which group your business belongs to, the subvention amount will vary. Click HERE for more details.

Also, please have a look on HERE to keep yourself updated with important updates and news from Hokkaido Government. Their work is updated in multiple languages in a timely manner, including this subvention plan.
For inquires about the subvention plan, call:

For service in English:
Hokkaido Foreign Resident Support Center (English available)
011-200-9595 (Opening hours, weekdays only 9:00~12:00, 13:00~17:00)

For service in Japanese:
011-206-0104 or 011-206-0216 (Opening hours, weekdays only 8:45-17:30)

by Alister

Things to Do in Spring Time Niseko

Did you know that Niseko offers a great varieties of things to do in spring as well?

Niseko does not only offer the world-class powder snow but also has a nice green touch in spring! Here is the list of activities and restaurants open during the season

ACTIVITIES:

NAME	INFO	SCHEDULE
Niseko Village PURE	Perfect activity center for diverse interests.	Open from 23rd July to 11th October 11th (23rd July-30th Sep, open daily from 9:00~17:00. 1st Oct-11th Oct, open daily from 9:00~16:00)
Niseko Golf Course	Designed by Arnold Palmer and just a 15-minute drive from Hirafu, this course is the undisputed locals favorite	Closed until further notice
Niseko Village Golf Course	Golf with a gorgeous view	Open from May 1st to October 25th
Niseko Babysitters	Your children will be in good hands!	Open from April 1st
Hanazono Golf	Play with a striking background with Yotei...	Open from May 2nd to November 3rd
NAC Adventure Park	Adventure Park	Open all year round
Rafting	A great adrenaline activity with the arrival of spring	Starts on April 4th
Rhythm	Your go to for all year round activities and rentals	Open on June 27th
Hanazono Activities	Tree trekking, rafting, hiking, etc. A wide range of activities are available!	Some open from June 1st
Niseko Green Farm	Make your own pizza and experience Hokkaido farming!	Pizza making opens from April 25th, the farm experience from May 18th
YAMA PLUS	Your outdoor shop!	Open from May 7th to June 4th (closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with exception on May 8th) . Sales of limited edition via online shopping starts on May 7th.
Niseko Grand Hirafu	Enjoy their fun mountain biking courses!	Open from July 11th

RESTAURANTS/CAFES/BARS:

NAME	INFO	SCHEDULE	DELIVERY/TAKE OUT
% ARABICA NISEKO hirafu188 Kisok	Amazing coffee!	Open from April 1st (Possible to be closed for 2 weeks in May or June. For more details, please check on their Instagram or Facebook.	Take out
Abucha 2	Japanese Kitchen & Bar	Open from July 1st to November 21st	X
Restaurant J'ai la patate	Inspired by French cuisine	Open from March 20th (Summer operation hours 11:30~14:00, 18:00~20:00, Closed on Wednesdays and other temporaty dates)	Take out
Niseko Curry Goya	Spicy Soup Curry	Open from April 1st (No babies or children allowed)	Take out
Niseko Pizza	Town's go to pizza!	Open from the beginning of July	Take out
Ebisutei	Izakaya loved by the town...!	Open untill April 15th and resumes in June 1st (subject to change due to the effect of COVID-19)	X
Koharuya	Japanese Izakaya	Open from June 1st	Take out
Graubuden	Sandwithes and sweets go hand in hand!	Open year round	O
Seven Star's Cafe	Mouth watering burgers with sweets	Open all year round	O
Guzu guzu	Delicious pastries and bread in town	Open all year round (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)	Take out
Harvest Cafe	Great and delicious homemade meals	Open year round (closed on Thursdays during the summer)	O
Sprout	Cozy and popuar cafe with delicious coffee	Open year round	X
Musu	Niseko's favorite apre ski bar! Still our favorite in the green season too!	Closed till April 29th	X
Hirafu Zaka	Izakaya at its finest! Great late lunch spot untill 6pm!	Open till May 6 and re-open from May 22nd (closed from April 16th to 30th)	X
Tomo Niseko	Izakaya with a nice modern touch	Open till April 20th (Saturdays and Sundays closed) and resumes on June 1st (Thursdays and Friedays closed)	O
Milk Kobo	Got a sweeth tooth? Check it out! Famous for their cheese tarts	Open year round	X
PRATIVO	Your vegetable heaven...!	Open from May 2nd (year round)	X
Lupicia	Cuisines with a French touch! Their lunch buffet is a must to try!	Open year round (Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday in April and May)	Take out
Homemade Udon Gokoro	Best Udon in town!	Open year round (Closed on Wednesdays and third Thursday of the month)	X
Rakuichi Soba	Once featured in Le Guide Michelin, soba noodles	Open from April 25th ( Conditons apply. Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays)	X
Niseko Gelato	So many flavors and so many smiles...! Cannot miss this!	Open from before Golden Week	X
El Asador	Get your meat and Paella here! Amazing dishes	Open utill April 18th and re-open during Golden Week	O
Ren, Japanese Kitchen	Another great Izakaya! Conveniently located in Hirafu!	Open from mid July to late September	Take out
Toshiro's Bar-Lounge	If you are after whiskies and cocktails, look no further!	Openn from July 1st	X
Kani Sushi Kato	Newly opened! Sushi at its best!	Open from June 1st (closed on Sundays and Wednesdays except during Golden Week and the week of Obon)	Take out
Ichimura Soba	Freshly made soba with many flavours! Their soba tea is so good!	Open year round	Take out
L'ocanda	Italian cuisines with sophistication, their sweets are amazing too!	Open except from May 7th to 20th. Reservation required for dinner	Take out
Molière Montagne (Pary Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	French restaurant by 3 starred Michelin Chef Hiroshi Nakamichi with local production	Open except from April 15th to 22nd and on May 21st . Closed on Wednesdays except April 29th and May 6th	X
Sushi Mitsukawa (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Showcase by Michelin starred Owner-Chef Mitsukawa. Get their Kanazawa influenced sushi and sashimi	Closed till further notice	X
Teppan (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Traditional Japanese and French inspired featuirng a premium selection of Hokkaido vegetables, Wagyu beef, abalone and Japanese seafood	Closed till further notice	X
Robata (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Relish yourself with grilled seafood and local vegetables while enjoying the crackling sound of charcoal	Closed till further notice	X
China Kitchen (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Experience the very best of China’s rich culinary heritage. Cantonese cuisine	Closed till further notice	X
Olivio (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Their menu focuses on Northern Italian classics using fine local ingredients and fresh herbs	Closed till further notice	X
Mountain Lounge (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Enjoy your meals with panoramic views of Mount Yotei and the Niseko mountain ranges	Open year round	X
Deli (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Enjoy Pierre Hermé's luxury patisserie, as well as freshly baked pastries and breads for guests to take away or enjoy at Deli	Closed till further notice	X
The Lounge (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Offers all day long Western and Japanese comfort cuisine using fresh local products	Closed till further notice	X
The Bar & Cigar Lounge (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Enjoy their selection of whiskeys, locally crafted gins, Hokkaido micro-brews and fine spirits and modern and classic cocktails	Closed till further notice	X
Wine Cellar (Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono)	Enjoy the extensive collectino of wine. Available for private wine tasting, menu pairings and exclusive events	Closed till further notice	X
Tomonepocha	Enjoy their superb Korean cuisines	Open year round, closed on Tuesdays	Take out
HAKU Steak	South east Asia inspired menu (pick-up and delivery)	May 12th~End of Summer. Tue-Sat. Free delivery up to 10km from Grand Hirafu area with minimum order met	O
Boroya	Amazing pizzas!	Open year round (open at 6pm, last call at 9pm, closes at 11pm)	O
Green Farm Cafe	Yummy bread, pasteries, coffees and more!	Open from June 1st	O

by Alister

2020-21 Niseko Winter Early Bird Discounts

Can't wait for next season!? We are, too!

Here is a quick list of 20-21 Early Bird special offers from some of the accommodations in Niseko. Be sure to enjoy these fantastic deals before they end.

ACCOMMODATION

Holiday Niseko: Packed with so many good deals...! They are currently offering up to 60% discount on bookings for the 2020 /21 season plus free cancellations until July 1st for all new bookings. Contact TODAY and book with confidence.
The Vale Niseko: Just a few steps from Family Chair Lift! They are offering up to 20%! The offers are available only until the end of June.
The Maples Niseko: Conveniently located close from Welcome Center and .Base. Offers are up to 35% ending at the end of June.
Intuition Niseko: A brand new hotel scheduled to open 20-21 winter, located close to Family Chair Lift. 25% offer till the end of June! Do not miss this awesome deal to try out this new property.
Always Niseko: Up to 35% discount! Located in Kabayama offering easy access from central Hirafu.
AYA Niseko: Looking to ski to in and out with no hustle? AYA Niseko Winter 2020/21 bookings will be open on April 11th, 2020, commencing at 11:00 AM Japan Standard Time, ending on May 31st. They will grant a discount of up to 20% on applicable stays during winter 2020/21. (Some conditions apply) Cancellation without penalty is possible with conditions.
MnK: Great deals keep flowing in! MnK now has opened its early bird special! It is 5% off on all chalets and apartments and returning guests will enjoy 10% more on top! Free cancellation on new bookings is accepted until June 30th(terms and conditions apply).
Niseko Portfolio: Winter 2020/2021 bookings is now open. Save 10% and FREE cancellation for limited time only!
Park Hyatt Niseko: Newly opened in 2019-2020 winter, Park Hyatt Niseko embodies personal luxury for global connoisseurs. Up to 20% on all types of rooms! The discounted period of stays are from December 18th 2020 to April 30th 2021!
Ski Japan: Providing fantastic winter holiday experience in Japan for more than 20 years! Offering up to 35% discounts on Muse, Loft, Greystone, Gondola Chalets, Kizuna and Niseko Landmark View! Book by April 30th and free cancellation is available up until June 30th. (Conditions apply)
Hotel Niseko Alpen: This conveniently located hotel right next to .Base char lift is offering up to 10% early bird discounts! Book by August 31st to get this deal.
Vacation Niseko: Book before May 1st, 2020 and enjoy up to 35% OFF with a wide variety of property selections. Their relaxed cancellation policy allows you to book with confidence.
Hyatt House Niseko: Super conveniently located in central Hirafu, they are offering Up to 20% discount for Advance Purchase and free breakfast when you enroll World of Hyatt upon reservations. For details go HERE.
Elite Heavens: Offers 10% early bird discount off our advertised rates for next winter for bookings made before 1^st June 2020 for stays from 14^th Dec 2020 until 31^st March 2021. Special flexible cancelation policies can be applied.
Niseko Village: Winter season 2020-2021 bookings are now available. Enjoy 20% off when you book in advance with Hinode Hills Niseko Village.

GEAR RENTALS/RETAIL

Rhythm: With their new store just opened up in 2019-20, their selections have been bigger than ever! Enter "EBJPOW2021" to enjoy 20% off when you book online for Winter20/21. This will end by July 31st, 2020 so do not miss out anything! Guaranteed free cancellation! ACT NOW!
Village Sports Boot Solutions: Newly opened! They have a wide section of premium snow sports gear. Also check out their customized boot fitting service from Boot Solutions too! Use the code "EARLYBIRD21" to get bonus 10% off of their pre-booking special! Ends on 31st July 2020. Flexible booking and gear change with no extra cost! HURRY UP!
Niseko 343: Amazing deals of 30% off of their regular prices! Book between July 1st to October 31st! Cancellation fees are applied from seven days before the start of the reservation.

SNOWSPORTS LESSONS

Snow and Flow Snowsports School: Super happy 5% off for all lesson bookings except the peak times (Christmas and CNY)! Use their discount code: NPB2021! Standard cancellation policy applies.

by Alister

2020 Good Luck Trip Hokkaido Now Available!

Find out more about what you can do, eat and explore in Niseko during non-winter season!

Published by Hokkaido Shimbun Press, 2020 “Good Luck Trip Hokkaido” issue is now available. You can find all the non-winter season information about Niseko, including accommodations, activities, events, dining & overall area updates in English, Chinese & Thai.

This magazine will be distributed in Niseko area and also in popular tourist spots & expos internationally and domestically. You can also read it in the official resort APP, Niseko, "E-guide" section.

by Alister

Niseko Short Film Festival 2020

Corona Couldn't Stop Niseko Short Film Festival 2020

22 great films were streamed online LIVE to share with everyone around the world!

2019-20 Niseko Shootout Short Film Festival - Watch Party

As events across the world call time out due to COVID-19, Niseko Shootout organisers found a way to make sure the show went on.

The second annual Niseko Shootout Short Film Festival was broadcast via a Facebook Watch Party on Saturday night, March 14th - at the same time the event was originally scheduled to take place at Hanazono's Edge slope side restaurant.

Last year more than 400 people crammed into Hanazono's 308 building for the inaugural event shown on a big screen and MC'd by famous Hokkaido filmmaker Neil Hartmann and Niseko local Sakka Hiranuma. This year 100-200 people tuned in to the party and enjoyed the creativity born out of Niseko over the past winter, and to see who would take out the now hotly
contested event.

In all, there were 22 films entered and viewed over 90 minutes, before a live awards ceremony beamed from Hokkaido Core Lodge at the base of Moiwa Ski Resort.

This year's winning film was The Secret of Bottom Turn Island, a 3.5-minute-long James Bond-esque spy thriller featuring Gentemstick pro rider Alex Yoder covertly recording locals in an onsen (hot spring) bath to discover how to get to their secret island snow/surfing paradise.

Contest organiser Winse Heyward said The Secret of Bottom Turn Island raised the bar for films that will go into the running for future festivals.

"This little movie displayed everything we want the Niseko Shootout Short Film Festival to inspire," he said.

"Out-of-the-box creativity, engaging storytelling, beautiful cinematography and plenty of epic local scenery to help promote this amazing destination. Cameos by Gentemstick founder Taro Tamai and a host of other local Gentem legends added an epic twist and altogether made this a clear winner. Huge thanks to filmmaker Ian Durkin and all entrants for entering this year's Niseko Shootout Short Film Festival. We hope budding film makers will take some inspiration from this year's entries and take it to another level again next year - we want to see some Oscar-worthy productions next year!"

Taking second place was Wave Forms by Richard Seehausen.

And in third place was Shiribeshi Area by popular longtime local Japanese snowboard film makers InCrew.

To rewatch the watch party, simply join the Niseko Shootout Film Festival Facebook Group and click on the watch party. *"The Secret of Bottom Turn Island" is doing a global festival tour, therefore it was shown only during our LIVE stream and no longer available on reply.

Keep an eye on all the future Niseko Shootout announcements by following Niseko Tourism Facebook page or check out www.nisekotourism.com.

A special feature and one of our favorite films, "Ski Fever". The script, the production and capturing 80's ski vibe are simply a work of art. Great job, guys!!!!!

The Niseko Shootout was born from an Instagram-based photo competition in the winter of 2017/18. This winter more than 1,500 local photos were hashtagged #nisekoshootout and therefore eligible to win the competition.

2019-20 Niseko Shootout Winners (View all photos on Nisekoshoot Instagram)

Skiing Category	Snowboarding Category	Landscape Category
1st Place:@jarasijka	1st Place:@_kj.theday_	1st Place: @lcpilon
2nd Place: @Taikinaka	2nd Place: @chilledmoose	2nd Place: @teddylaycock
3rd Place: @torin.barnes	3rd Place: @tonirodriguezshoots	3rd Place: @rujigallery