Niseko Area Residents 80% Vaccinated and Ready for Visitors

Photos Mike Reece

Niseko is well prepared to welcome the first return guests this winter with more than 80% of the Niseko resort area’s residents now twice vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

The main town Kutchan (population 15,000) reportedly has a double-vaccination rate of about 85% at the end of October, while the smaller town of Niseko with a population of around 5,000 is at almost 80% (total 79.1% at 11 October).

The local vaccination rates are amongst the highest in the country, with the national double vaccination rate having reached 70% in late October.

COVID-19 case numbers across Japan have dropped dramatically in recent weeks from more than 20,000 cases daily following the Olympics, to just several hundred a day now.

With a population of 14 million, Tokyo recorded just nine new cases one day earlier this month – the first single-digit case count in 17 months.

Japan’s International Border Status

Meanwhile, Japan’s international borders remain closed to foreign tourists, with no official announcement on when it plans to ease these restrictions.

Over recent weeks the Japanese government has started easing restrictions and quarantine for Japanese citizens, residents, business travellers and students that are fully vaccinated with approved vaccines.

Until recently all travellers had to quarantine for 14 days, however last month that was reduced to 10 days for fully vaccinated travellers from the above categories.

As of yesterday, this has been reduced to three days.

The Japanese government is under pressure from business lobbies to further ease restrictions with an initial focus on business travel, but presumably with mounting attention towards tourism.

Photo Mike Reece

COVID-19-Restrictions Affecting Niseko Business

As a vast majority of Niseko’s winter tourism business is international, both Japanese and foreign-owned resort businesses are desperate for borders to open.

The Hokkaido Shinbun Newspaper last month reported one Niseko taxi company had announced it had been forced to close due to a lack of international visitors.

Plenty more small businesses closed last winter and it remains to be seen whether all will be able to reopen following the return of tourism.

Last winter COVID-19 infections temporarily closed dozens of restaurants and businesses throughout the season, wreaking havoc on business operations and making it difficult for even domestic visitors to enjoy the resort.

Many businesses that experienced any sign of contact with infected customers or staff voluntarily closed for 14 days.

If evidence double vaccination reduces the potential for transmission is accurate, higher vaccination rates among locals, and particularly resort staff, could reduce the risk of clusters forming and the need for business closures.

This could pave the way for a return to smoother resort operation.

However, with no official announcement on foreign tourism, it will be another difficult winter for businesses that need to pay rent and hire staff.

Should borders open, international visitors will need to be prepared for businesses to be in the midst of rehiring staff and ramping up business operations.

Niseko Businesses COVID Safe

Should international travel resume Niseko will be one of the safest travel destinations in the world, thanks to high local vaccination rates and general cleanliness and hygiene ingrained in Japanese culture.

Businesses in Niseko are following best practice hygiene measures to ensure maximum protection against COVID-19.

Hand sanitiser is placed at the entrance, and often in several other places, within business premises.

All staff wear masks, while the same goes for the general population who all automatically and voluntarily wear masks anytime they enter public places. Prior to the pandemic, many people wore masks in public regardless, however since the pandemic began it has become a cultural norm to wear masks in public at all times.

Meanwhile, restaurants often have plastic dividing screens between tables and other social distancing measures in place.

Go to the Niseko Tourism homepage for the latest official English-language guidance for travel to Niseko.