Lonely Planet listed Hokkaido as Asia’s top travel destination in 2016 following the connection of the Shinkansen (bullet train) linking the island to Tokyo and beyond by high-speed rail. But there’s another dimension that exponentially opens up the exploratory potential of this wild, volcanic frontier – the sky.
Local expat Ben Kerr has built Hokkaido’s first private runway on his farm on the outskirts of Hirafu, and hopes to inspire other pilots to join him exploring Hokkaido out of Niseko.
“Hokkaido really is one huge aviation playground. Flying opens up access points you usually can’t get to, and what a way to go camping or have a barbecue anywhere in Hokkaido!”
“I fly a CubCrafters XCub which is a bush plane so it’s made to land anywhere, including on water if you have floats, which we are in the process of importing,” Kerr says. “There are airports with avgas dotted all over the island and they’re all very welcoming – I’ve never been refused permission to land.”
As you could imagine, being a volcanic island the landscape is varied and spectacular. From vast, flat patchworks of farmland and fields of flowers up to towering 6000-foot central mountain ranges pierced by steaming fumaroles, dozens of crystal clear lakes, dramatic cliff-lined coasts and volcanic islands emerging from the ocean just offshore.
Kerr has an idea to create a flying hub here – similar to Michi no Eki (roadside stations) that most country towns in Japan have that serve as tourist centres where locals and visitors can eat and buy local food and souvenirs. Kerr would love to see a Sora no Eki (sky station) which would have its very own runway alongside so families could come and get their photos taken with planes and watch them taking off and landing while grabbing lunch or a local snack or ice cream. Niseko could also become a key hub for visitors to fly into, or for residents and visitors staying in Niseko to explore the island from. There is also the possibility aerial tours, skydiving, gliding and other commercial aviation operations could operate here.
In order to foster growth of an aviation community, Kerr has created a company – Niseko Aviation – that sells and services aircraft and can help with any local aviation needs including hangar rental and communications with Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. “It’s much more fun to fly with two and three planes, so I’d love to create a community of pilots around Niseko.”
