Niseko is a thriving area, with great potential for further economic growth.
2020
Tokyo Olympic Games
Expected to bring a huge influx of visitors to Japan, with the accompanying pressures on accommodation. This will benefit Niseko, as many overseas visitors will wish to see around the rest of Japan during their visit, and to escape the summer heat. In London in 2012, many residents chose to leave the city during the Olympics to stay elsewhere, and sub-let their city accommodation to visitors, and our properties would be ideal for such mid-term leases. Professional athletes have long been coming to train in Niseko, as the natural terrain and the athletic facilities on offer in Niseko are ideal for teams getting ready to compete.
2026
Winter Olympic Games bid underway
Niseko is proposed as the venue for Alpine sports.
2030
Hokkaido Shinkansen
The Hokkaido shinkansen (bullet train) is expected to be completed, with connection all the way from Tokyo through to Sapporo, in 2030. Niseko will have a station a mere 10 minutes away in Kutchan. Expected shinkansen time to Sapporo (population approx. 2 million) will be around 15 minutes. Niseko will be just 25 minutes from a bustling city famous for snow festivals, great restaurants, the liveliest nightlife district in Japan (Susukino) and shopping. Otaru, which will be around 10 minutes travel by shinkansen, is also a favorite destination with visitors, the “Venice of Japan” famous for sushi, glass-blowing, canals and, most recently, top class chocolatiers.
Expressway
There will be a new section of toll road connecting Yoichi to the Otaru expressway, for which land acquisition is being completed and tunnel excavation and other work is getting underway for opening in 2018. The road between Kutchan and Yoichi will also be upgraded. This will provide faster road travel and connections with Otaru and the west of Sapporo. It is also expected to help businesses to deliver goods more easily to this part of Hokkaido. Further road development plans are anticipated connecting Kutchan to Yoichi.