Niseko, Hokkaido

Niseko
ニセコ町
Town
Summer in Niseko Annupuri, one of the most famous mountains for downhill skiing in Hokkaido.
Summer in Niseko Annupuri, one of the most famous mountains for downhill skiing in Hokkaido.
Flag of Niseko
Official seal of Niseko
Location of Niseko in Hokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
Location of Niseko in Hokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
Niseko is located in Japan
Niseko
Niseko
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°48′N 140°41′E / 42.800°N 140.683°E / 42.800; 140.683
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
DistrictAbuta
Government
 • MayorKenya Katayama
Area
 • Total197.13 km2 (76.11 sq mi)
Population
 (30 September 2016)
 • Total4,938
 • Density25/km2 (65/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address47, Aza Fujimi, Niseko-chō, Abuta-gun, Hokkaidō
048-1595
Websitewww.town.niseko.lg.jp
Symbols
BirdGreat spotted woodpecker
FlowerLavender
MascotNicky (ニッキー) and Anicky (アニッキー)
TreeJapanese white birch

Niseko (Japanese: ニセコ町, Niseko-chō, [ɲ̟iseko tɕoː]) is a town located in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Niseko as a resort area refers to the Niseko area (ニセコ地域), or the Niseko tourism zone (ニセコ観光圏), which consists of the three towns of Kutchan, Niseko, and Rankoshi 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]

The Niseko town's main industries are agriculture and tourism. The resort itself, Niseko United, is part of the Mountain Collective. Moreover, the town is renowned for its quality powder snow and world-class facilities, including traditional onsen and restaurants.[4]

  1. ^ "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 17 December 2023.
  2. ^ "ニセコ観光圏" [Niseko Tourism Zone] (in Japanese). Niseko Kankouken. 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Japan External Trade Organization Hokkaido Trade Information Center, ed. (January 2006). ニセコ地域における外国人の観光と投資状況に関する報告書 [Report on the status of foreign tourism and investment in the Niseko area] (in Japanese). Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).