Region Niseko's Three Towns
Kutchan Town
The core city of Shiribeshi, known as the “St. Moritz of the East”. It is also the center of Shiribeshi, with many government offices and facilities, including the Shiribeshi General Promotion Bureau. It is home to Mt. Yotei to the south and Niseko Annupuri to the west, and the alpine plant habitat on Mt. Yotei has been designated a natural monument.
The town's main industries are agriculture and tourism. The main crops are potatoes, rice, sugar beet and azuki beans, and the town is particularly famous for its “Kutchan jaga” potatoes, which are grown in the fertile farmland and are famous for their high-quality starch content.
The town of Kutchan is a town of abundant nature, with views of the main peak of the Niseko mountain range, “Niseko Annupuri”, and the “Yotei” mountain, known as the “Ezo Fuji”. The heavy snowfall in the area nurtures an abundance of water, and agriculture has flourished since the Meiji period.
The town is one of the top potato producers in Japan. In winter, skiers and snowboarders from all over the world come to enjoy the powder snow. In the green season, the fresh air flows through the highlands, and a variety of outdoor sports can be enjoyed.
Niseko Town
Niseko Town is a premier resort destination in Japan, located at the heart of the Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park and surrounded by the majestic mountains of Mt. Yotei, the Niseko Mountain Range, and Mt. Konbu.
The town offers a wide range of accommodation options, from scenic tent sites immersed in nature to world-class luxury hotels such as Hilton Niseko Village, the largest resort in the area, and Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Tourism is a key industry in Niseko, with winter attracting visitors from around the world.
The area boasts some of the highest snowfall levels in Hokkaido, world-renowned powder snow, expansive ski slopes, and a ski season that lasts nearly six months, making it a major hub for snow sports.
In recent years, Niseko has also gained popularity as a year-round destination. In addition to hiking and mountaineering in the summer, visitors can enjoy various outdoor activities such as horseback riding, fishing, rafting, and canoeing, all set against the backdrop of Niseko’s rich natural environment.
The town has been actively promoting year-round tourism, and notably, its tourism association was the first in Japan to be incorporated as a company, leading various initiatives to enhance Niseko’s appeal further.
Agriculture is another major industry in Niseko. The region is famous for its fresh dairy products, including soft-serve ice cream and cheese, as well as a diverse selection of high-quality produce such as potatoes, rice, sweet corn, pumpkins, melons, and tomatoes.
The local farmers’ market at the Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Station) "Niseko View Plaza" is bustling with visitors looking to purchase freshly harvested seasonal vegetables, making it a popular stop for both locals and tourists alike.
Rankoshi Town
Located in the southwestern part of the Shiribeshi region, the town is surrounded by mountains such as the Niseko mountain range, and the Shiribetsu River, which has been named Japan's clearest river a total of 20 times, flows through the center of the town and empties into the Sea of Japan.
As a result, the Shiribetsu River and its tributaries, such as the Penke-mokuni River and the Panke-mokuni River, have become representative fishing spots in Hokkaido, and many anglers visit to try to catch char, large trout, and yamame, which are released on June 1st every year.
The area is equipped with campgrounds that make the most of the natural environment and cottages for families, making it a place of relaxation that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. In recent years, Chisenupuri has been called “Oku Niseko” (the back of Niseko), and the powder snow on the ski slopes, which make the most of the natural terrain, has attracted many foreign tourists.
In addition, the fertile soil brought by the Shiribetsu River and the warm climate conditions make agriculture, centered on rice cultivation, the main industry, and the area has gained fame as one of the leading rice-producing areas in Hokkaido, producing the famous brand “Rankoshi Rice”. It is also famous as a hot spring resort that, together with Niseko Town, forms the national hot spring resort “Niseko Hot Spring Village”.