JUST a 10 minute bus or taxi ride out of the ski resorts is Kutchan, and authentic little Japanese rural town with an amazing range of dining experiences. 

YET another new Niseko restaurant – the Taj Mahal – swung open its doors recently, with an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet and...belly dancing!

YOU'RE in Japan, you have to try sushi. Fortunately there are plenty of great sushi options in Niseko. Here are five of the best to get you started...

Even on the snowiest days, the sun is always shining at Café Hidamari. Hidamari means sunny spot, and is run by big-hearted Kenichiro Takahashi.

WHETHER it's for his ski guiding, management of hotels, restaurants and festivals, or promoting and marketing Niseko to the world, everyone seems to know family man, businessman and downright nice guy, Yukihiro-san.

LIKE many people in Niseko, Hiroshi Yamada moved to Niseko for the snow. He and his wife moved here 13 years ago and he still goes skiing every week with his son, an upcoming alpine skier.

LAWSON is the second biggest convenience store (konbini) chain in Japan, but Hirafu’s Lawson is run by local small businessman, Seiji Ichien, and managed by his son Hiroyuki (pictured).

WHEN Hanpai Abe and about 16 other explorers happened upon Kutchan in the year 1892, it was the dense, lush forest wilds of the area that possessed promise for settlement.

As it turns out, these settlers from Tokushima prefecture, on Shikoku island – who had only recently settled in the nearby Yoichi – were right. Thanks