Getting There

Most course participants fly to Narita airport in Tokyo.  From Narita one takes a JAL flight to Chitose airport near Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido.  Usually the travel agent you have used will arrange for a bus to pick you up and take you on a 2 hour journey to Niseko, Hirafu where you are normally met by whatever ground service your travel agent uses to take you to your accomodation.

For the more intrepid, immediately below Chitose airport is a train service that goes to Kutchan, a town near Niseko Hirafu.  It is easy to get a taxi from Kutchan to your accommodation in Niseko Hirafu and it is not expensive.  For those who are travelling in daylight hours the train ride is quite spectacular as you travel along coast where the snow usually runs down to the sea before going up into the mountains.  Train station signs are in English as well as Japanese.

Niseko Travel Agent

We recommend two providers: Contact Steve Kelso at Niseko Ski Tours or Natalie Kilminster at Travel Plan - www.travelplan.com.au/resort.ski/id/2992.  When you contact them mention the course and ask to speak with Natalie Kilminster.

Staying There

There is a range of accommodation from western style apartments to Japanese pensions.  A good Japanese pension that also has western rooms Graham Bassett uses is Pension Hakuunso.  If your travel agent has not arranged accommodation, we recommend Hokkaido Tracks for holiday accommodation such as western style apartments.

A Fun Diversion

If you have more time to see Japan a fun diversion is to get the sleeper overnight train from Sapporo to Kyoto.  This also puts you in striking distance of Hiroshima.  Both cities are only a short train ride back to Narita airport in Tokyo to get your plane back to Australia.

If you have more queries contact Geoffrey Leach.