insights from frontier Japan

We meet two females who, triggered by the spread of the Covid-19 virus infections, relocated to Niseko in October to become ‘local vitalization cooperators’

Last summer, Lupicia, a major enterprise with a chain of tea shops in Japan and abroad, moved its headquarters from Daikanyama, Tokyo to Niseko. The new-style company ‘relocation’ is attracting attention.

A male hair stylist who returned to Japan from Canada after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and a female nurse who experienced exhaustion in the field of medicine in Tokyo: the couple met in a share-house in Niseko while visiting the resort to snowboard in a bid to heal their mental wounds, and ended up settling in the town. They started a business making aromatic oils extracted from local forest resources, and are now creating new values in Niseko.

Tea sales company Lupicia, which transferred its headquarters to the town of Niseko in the Shiribeshi region of central Hokkaido, planted approximately 700 tea shrubs in the town on June 23. In two years’ time, the company hopes to commercialize tea produced in Hokkaido.

Chief priest Tamaki Akihiko (45) is endeavoring to re-establish Kaributo Shrine, which is located in the center of the town of Niseko in central Hokkaido. Tamaki relocated to Niseko from Tokyo 5 years ago after being attracted by Mt. Yotei and, when the opportunity arose, became the successor of the shrine.

From May, five accommodation facilities that are members of the ‘Niseko ☆ Long-stay Promotion Council’, made up of small-scale accommodation facilities in the town of Niseko, will share an accommodation plan aimed at long-term guests.

Hakkaisan Brewery (Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture) is a brewing company known for its Japanese sake "Hakkaisan", but on March 24, it also started producing whiskey in the "Niseko Distillery" facilities it constructed in the town of Niseko. This summer the company plans on adding a newly constructed sales shop area to the distillery and refining it as a hub for tourism.

The Hong Kong luxury-hotel management company Rosewood Hotel Group is expanding its portfolio to run the resort currently under construction in the town of Niseko in central Hokkaido. It is hoped the large-scale development comprising a 220-unit condominium complex and 5 detached units will open in the winter of 2023.

The town of Niseko installed a two story play area for children in the Old Starch Factory in the Niseko Central Warehouse Group, located in front of JR Niseko station. Play area usage started on March 8.