Article

01395 ／にせこちょう

Hokkaido 虻田郡

Niseko Town

The town took a name said to mean cliff.

Niseko Town's name, sheer cliff

Photo by Wakimasa (Public domain)

01 ／ Town charter

An ordinance the town calls Japan's firstbasic self-government law began in 2001.

The Niseko Town Basic Ordinance for Community Building is what the town calls Japan's first basic self-government ordinance, a set of rules shared by all residents. It took effect in April 2001, treats information sharing and resident participation as twin wheels, and is reviewed at least once every four years.

In force April 2001
Information sharing and participation
Reviewed every 4 years at least

02 ／ Railway heritage

On the site of a light-railway station,a steam locomotive and turntable gather.

A Hokkaido University paper describes the Niseko Railway Heritage Site as four parts: the site of the old Makkari light railway's station and turntable, the former Shintoku engine depot turntable, a steam locomotive, and the Niseko Express train.

Four parts
Former Shintoku depot turntable
Niseko Express preserved

03 ／ Monument

After the 1922 farm-release declaration,a monument was erected in 1924.

The town's chronology records that in July 1922 Arishima Takeo gathered his tenants and declared the release of 450 chobu of farmland, and that a monument to the release was erected in August 1924. The town has the Arishima Memorial Museum and Arishima Memorial Park.

Farm release declared July 1922
Monument erected August 1924
450 chobu

Niseko Town from the sky

Now and 1974–78. Tap a photo to zoom in.

Now1974–78

Wide (about 6 km across)

Close (about 1.5 km across)

Now (shot May–September 2025)Shot 1974–78

Source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) GSI Tiles（全国最新写真（シームレス）／国土画像情報（第一期：1974〜1978年撮影））

Open in GSI Maps (now)Open in GSI Maps (1974–78)

Living here

A hilly basin ringed by Yotei and Annupuri.

about 5,000 people
Rural district town

According to the town, it lies near the center of Shiribeshi, a hilly basin with Mount Yotei to the east and Mount Niseko-Annupuri to the north. The Shiribetsu River runs through its center, and winter snow can reach 200 cm at its deepest.

People living here: 5,074people
Area: 197.13km²
Households: 2,515households
Rent (average for rentals): —
Healthcare: 0 hospitals ／ 2 clinics

Area and habitable land at the same scalee-Stat B1101 / B1103

Children waiting for childcare: —1 nurseries and similar
Home purchase subsidy: —
Average annual temperature: —

These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.

Shape

Borders 4 municipalities.

Niseko Town in Japan42.805°N 140.688°E

Territory of Niseko Town

Boundaries: National Land Numerical Information (Administrative Area Data), MLIT. Processed by Machigatari.Lakes: National Land Numerical Information (Lake Data), MLIT. Processed by Machigatari. Prepared with the approval of the Director-General of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, using its Digital Map 25000 (Spatial Data Framework) and Digital Map 25000 (Place Names and Public Facilities). (承認番号平27情使、第585号)

North to south

19.0km

Makkari Village, Rankoshi Town, Kutchan Town, Toyoura Town

Travel times per leg are not published by the municipality, so they are not shown.

Niseko Town isthis kind of town.

01Niseko Town was renamed in 1964 from its former name, and the town says Niseko means "sheer cliff" in the Ainu language; the station was renamed Niseko Station in 1968
02The Niseko Town Basic Ordinance for Community Building took effect in April 2001, and the Niseko Railway Heritage Site stands on the old light-railway station site
03The Arishima farm-release monument was erected in August 1924, and Niseko Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line is the gateway to the town

See the town as it is now.

Source: Wikidata (P2002, P2003, P2013, P2397)

If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.

Niseko Town official site ↗Wikipedia ↗

From this town's themes