Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu
Encyclopedia
is a ski resort
located in the Hirafu area of Kutchan
, Abuta District, Hokkaidō
, Hokkaidō
, Japan
. It is a vast snow resort stretching from Niseko Annupuri’s summit (elevation 1,308.5 m) to its base, and it is famous for its fine-quality powder snow. Because of this, Hirafu is frequented by many non-Japanese skiers and snowboarders.
For a long time, two companies operated the mountain, but in June 2004 it was arranged that the three ski resorts of the Niseko Hirafu area would be administered by the Tokyu Resort Service; Tokyu Real Estate Company, the parent company of the Tokyu Resort Service, wished to consolidate ownership to one organization.
In August 2004, it was announced that an Australia
n company called Japan Harmony Resort purchased the Hanazono ski area from Tokyu Real Estate. However, so far the two have jointly administered such services as lift
tickets. Because of this relationship and the subsequent development of the whole resort, the mountain attracts a large number Australia
n tourists
every winter.
Niseko Higashiyama Ski Ground and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Ground are connected with Grand Hirafu at the top of the mountain, and it is possible to access all three of the slopes by using a special lift
ticket called the Niseko Free Passport.
in the region is New Chitose Airport
. During the skiing season, both and run routes directly to Hirafu from the airport. Also, it is possible to book charter buses (such as Hokkaido Liner and White Liner) from a collaboration of tour groups.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
located in the Hirafu area of Kutchan
Kutchan, Hokkaidō
-Neighboring municipalities:*Shiribeshi**Abuta District: Kyōgoku, Niseko**Isoya District: Rankoshi**Iwanai District: Kyōwa**Yoichi District: Niki, Akaigawa**Kimobetsu and Makkari of the Abuta District lie on the southern side of Mount Yōtei.-History:...
, Abuta District, Hokkaidō
Abuta District, Hokkaido
is a district located in Iburi and Shiribeshi Subprefectures in Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 31,526 and a density of 28.30 persons per km²...
, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is a vast snow resort stretching from Niseko Annupuri’s summit (elevation 1,308.5 m) to its base, and it is famous for its fine-quality powder snow. Because of this, Hirafu is frequented by many non-Japanese skiers and snowboarders.
For a long time, two companies operated the mountain, but in June 2004 it was arranged that the three ski resorts of the Niseko Hirafu area would be administered by the Tokyu Resort Service; Tokyu Real Estate Company, the parent company of the Tokyu Resort Service, wished to consolidate ownership to one organization.
In August 2004, it was announced that an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n company called Japan Harmony Resort purchased the Hanazono ski area from Tokyu Real Estate. However, so far the two have jointly administered such services as lift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
tickets. Because of this relationship and the subsequent development of the whole resort, the mountain attracts a large number Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n tourists
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
every winter.
Niseko Higashiyama Ski Ground and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Ground are connected with Grand Hirafu at the top of the mountain, and it is possible to access all three of the slopes by using a special lift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
ticket called the Niseko Free Passport.
History
- 1923: (circa) Founded by a member of the SapporoSapporo, Hokkaidois the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the island of Hokkaido. It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ordinance-designated city of Japan....
Railway Bureau. - 1938: January 14, hosts the All-Japan Student Ski Tournament
- 1961: Ski liftsChairliftAn elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
completed - 1993: December, electronic lift ticketLift ticketA Lift ticket is an identifier usually attached to a skier's outerwear that indicates they have paid and can ride on the ski lift up a mountain to ski....
system debuts (a joint venture of Fuji ElectricFuji Electric, operating under the brand name FE, is a Japanese holding company that retains manufacturing companies of pressure transmitters, flowmeters, gas analyzers, controllers, inverters, pumps, generators, ICs, motors, and power equipments.-History:...
, Kashiyama Engineering and Yamatake HoneywellHoneywellHoneywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
) - 2003: November, electronic lift ticket system upgrades to SKIDATA
- 2004: Name changes to “Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu”
Air
The most accessible airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in the region is New Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport
, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
. During the skiing season, both and run routes directly to Hirafu from the airport. Also, it is possible to book charter buses (such as Hokkaido Liner and White Liner) from a collaboration of tour groups.
Rail
- An express Airport train runs from New Chitose AirportNew Chitose Airport, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
to Sapporo StationSapporo Stationis a train station located in Kita-ku and Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is served by Hakodate Main Line and other lines of Hokkaido Railway Company , and is also connected to the Sapporo Subway. The JR Hokkaido part is in Kita-ku while the Sapporo Subway part is in Chūō-ku.Sapporo Station...
(or Otaru StationOtaru Stationis a railway station on the JR Hokkaido Hakodate Main Line. It is located in Otaru, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station structure:* 2-way, 4-track, above-ground station.Platforms...
). - From Otaru StationOtaru Stationis a railway station on the JR Hokkaido Hakodate Main Line. It is located in Otaru, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station structure:* 2-way, 4-track, above-ground station.Platforms...
on the Hakodate Main LineHakodate Main Lineis a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
, the trainTrainA train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
to Kutchan StationKutchan Stationis a railway station on the JR Hokkaido Hakodate Main Line. It is located in Kutchan, Hokkaidō, Japan.It was once the starting point of the abolished Iburi Line.-Station structure:* Two-way, two-track, above-ground station.Platforms...
takes approximately 78 minutes. From Kutchan StationKutchan Stationis a railway station on the JR Hokkaido Hakodate Main Line. It is located in Kutchan, Hokkaidō, Japan.It was once the starting point of the abolished Iburi Line.-Station structure:* Two-way, two-track, above-ground station.Platforms...
, a taxiTaxicabA taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
ride to the resortSki resortA ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
takes approximately 15 minutes and costs about 2,600 yen (busBusA bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
, approximately 20 minutes). - In open season, a special express train runs from Sapporo StationSapporo Stationis a train station located in Kita-ku and Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is served by Hakodate Main Line and other lines of Hokkaido Railway Company , and is also connected to the Sapporo Subway. The JR Hokkaido part is in Kita-ku while the Sapporo Subway part is in Chūō-ku.Sapporo Station...
.
Car
- From Sapporo
- Take Route 230 (Jouzankei Highway) towards KyōgokuKyogoku, Hokkaidois a town located in Abuta District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan, at the foot of Mount Yōtei. The town borders the south ward of Sapporo, but car traffic from Kyogoku must drive over an hour through the Nakayama Toge mountain pass due to the terrain of the area.Tourists visit the town to drink...
- Take Route 5Route 5 (Japan)National Route 5 is a major highway on the island of Hokkaidō in Japan. Its southern terminus is in Hakodate and its northern end in Sapporo...
- Drive on Hokkaidō Route 343 (RankoshiRankoshi, Hokkaidois a town located in Isoya District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 5,597 and a density of 13.23 persons per km². The total area is 449.68 km².-External links:* in Japanese...
~NisekoNiseko, Hokkaidois a town located in Abuta District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan. To the Japanese people, Niseko principally refers to a mountain range and a municipal area. However, overseas the name has come to refer to a wider area of ski resorts encompassing Hokkaido's Mount Yōtei, often referred to as the...
~KutchanKutchan, Hokkaidō-Neighboring municipalities:*Shiribeshi**Abuta District: Kyōgoku, Niseko**Isoya District: Rankoshi**Iwanai District: Kyōwa**Yoichi District: Niki, Akaigawa**Kimobetsu and Makkari of the Abuta District lie on the southern side of Mount Yōtei.-History:...
) for 1.5 hours
- Take Route 230 (Jouzankei Highway) towards Kyōgoku
- From New Chitose AirportNew Chitose Airport, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
- Take Route 276 towards KyōgokuKyogoku, Hokkaidois a town located in Abuta District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan, at the foot of Mount Yōtei. The town borders the south ward of Sapporo, but car traffic from Kyogoku must drive over an hour through the Nakayama Toge mountain pass due to the terrain of the area.Tourists visit the town to drink...
- Take Route 5Route 5 (Japan)National Route 5 is a major highway on the island of Hokkaidō in Japan. Its southern terminus is in Hakodate and its northern end in Sapporo...
- Take Hokkaidō Route 343 (RankoshiRankoshi, Hokkaidois a town located in Isoya District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 5,597 and a density of 13.23 persons per km². The total area is 449.68 km².-External links:* in Japanese...
~NisekoNiseko, Hokkaidois a town located in Abuta District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan. To the Japanese people, Niseko principally refers to a mountain range and a municipal area. However, overseas the name has come to refer to a wider area of ski resorts encompassing Hokkaido's Mount Yōtei, often referred to as the...
~KutchanKutchan, Hokkaidō-Neighboring municipalities:*Shiribeshi**Abuta District: Kyōgoku, Niseko**Isoya District: Rankoshi**Iwanai District: Kyōwa**Yoichi District: Niki, Akaigawa**Kimobetsu and Makkari of the Abuta District lie on the southern side of Mount Yōtei.-History:...
) for 2 hours.
- Take Route 276 towards Kyōgoku
Course
- There are three main differentiable courses:
- Alpen Course
- Kougen Course
- Hanazono Course