On July 1, a series of new summer attractions were unveiled at the Niseko HANAZONO Resort in the town of Kutchan, one of the ski resorts in the Niseko area of the Shiribeshi region of central Hokkaido. The attractions include a night art event in which 180,000 lights illuminate the slopes, a 2.6-km-long zipline, and new food and drink menus being offered at the adjacent accommodation facility.
　
On the evening of June 23, the ‘Mountain Lights’ light art event at the resort was opened to the press. A magical scene of multiple pale curves of light has been created beneath the gondolas that ascend the slope. The 1.3 km walkway is decorated with fiber-optic cables as part of a project by Bruce Munro, a world-renowned artist from the U.K.
　
At the Park Hyatt Niseko HANAZONO, a luxury accommodation facility adjacent to the slopes, the menu has been unveiled for the ‘Evening Tea,’ the sale of which begins along with the art event. The menu includes sweets and tea from Pierre Hermé Paris, a luxury French confectioner, and full course meals that include Tokachi ‘wagyu’ beef steak. “The menu is based on the sparkle of light. We hope you will enjoy an elegant time with a world outlook fused with art,” says executive chef Steffen Gube.
　
Another new attraction is the zipline, which has three courses totaling 2.6 km in length, the longest in Asia. Visitors can experience ‘sky travel’ at speeds of up to 110 km per hour. The resort also offers tree trekking, rafting on the Shiribetsu River, and other activities.
　
A representative of Nihon Harmony Resorts K.K., which operates the resort, said, “Young people, families, and the elderly can all enjoy themselves throughout the day.” The resort expects to attract more overseas visitors once the threat from the COVID-19 virus has been brought under control.
　
This summer, the Kutchan Tourism Association and the Niseko Resort Tourist Association will operate an open-top bus, connecting the HANAZONO resort with nearby tourist farms and a roadside rest area. The aim is to increase the ‘tour effect’ throughout the region.
　
The Mountain Lights event runs from sunset to 10 p.m. and costs 4,000 yen for junior high school students and over, including the gondola fee. Evening tea is 7,150 yen per person (excluding service charge). The zipline fee for all three courses is 15,000 yen for junior high school students and over. All of the attractions are available until October 10.

Mountain Lights and zipline are available at Niseko HANAZONO Resort https://hanazononiseko.com/　
Evening tea is available at Park Hyatt Niseko HANAZONO https://www.hyatt.com/ja-JP/hotel/japan/park-hyatt-niseko-hanazono/ctsph