The Niseko area was chosen to be the training site for the Japan national rugby team before they take part in the World Cup, kicking off on 9 September in New Zealand.
Niseko was selected for its natural environment, which is very similar to that of New Zealand, as well as the great weather compared to Honshu during the rainy season.
Niseko is the second training venue in Hokkaido, after Nakashibetsu, used prior to the World Cup in France back in 2007.
Two rugby fields owned by Lodge Koropokkuru in Hirafu, a popular venue for university and high school teams’ training camps, will be used for the training, and the Hilton Niseko Village was chosen as the team’s lodging facility due to the hotel’s 24/7 fitness room.
The training camp will be held this June from the 1st to the 10th and then again from the 21st to the 28th, for a total of 18 days.