A wonderland of powder snow, the resort town of Kutchan in wintertime is abuzz with the exuberance of skiers and snowboarders from around the world looking for a memorable winter experience

 

At Hirafu, the largest resort area of Kutchan, visitors can enjoy a dynamic skiing experience enhanced by the grandiose presence of Mt. Yotei (Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji).

 

The condominiums around town come in various styles. Aya-Niseko’s penthouses are equipped with a kitchen and private hot-spring bath, and offer gorgeous views of Mt. Yotei.

 

With culinary treats on offer all year round, sitting down to a selection of dishes made from Hokkaido ingredients is a great opportunity to savor delicious food and enjoy multicultural exchanges.

　Kutchan is located in southwestern Hokkaido, about a two-hour drive from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport. This world-famous destination is the core resort town of the Niseko- Kutchan resort area. Its main attraction is its fluffy powder snow. The easily accessible ski slopes that reach as high as 1,300 meters often receive large dumps of snow from clouds carried by winds traversing the Sea of Japan. Kutchan’s location guarantees a constant supply of virgin snow from December through February.
　“If you visit Kutchan in the winter, you will certainly be awestruck,” says Kutchan Mayor Eiji Nishie proudly. “Every morning when you wake up, virgin ski slopes are waiting for you. Come and slide down toward Mt. Yotei, Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji! It’s an amazing and thrilling experience! In the afternoon, you can warm yourself by soaking in a hot spring. Then at night, there are bars and restaurants where you can share fun times with people from around the world. The hotels offer high-quality Japanese hospitality, and overall, it is a rare and unique experience.” The number of overseas tourists visiting Kutchan began to rapidly grow from around 2000 onward, and the entire town suddenly began to transform. In winter, roughly 80% of hotel guests are from overseas. It is easy to get around town using only English, even at the hospital or town hall, with English used on road signs, and in bars and restaurants. Of the more than 15,000 registered town residents during winter, a significant portion, which may soon reach 20%, are foreigners comprising 47 different nationalities. Australians were the first foreigners to “discover” Kutchan and its first-rate ski fields. For some time now, the local community has grown accustomed to coexisting with the overseas visitors. The town’s reputation soon reached Europe and North America, and with this new-found fame has come a rapid influx of investment. Even today, the construction of luxury condominiums and hotels is continuing. Families are staying in condominiums with all kitchen amenities and blurring the line between tourist and resident. Some stay for weeks, while others settle in for much longer. For many, Kutchan is Asia’s one and only winter resort.

　Dominating the scenery at Kutchan is Mt. Yotei. Known also by its nickname Ezo Fuji (Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji), it appears as a solitary mountain peak whose base flares out widely and beautifully. Its pure and plentiful mountain-fresh water is the secret to the town’s delicious produce. The vegetables, rice, wheat, livestock and dairy produced at the foot of the mountain are known throughout Japan for their exquisite quality, and Kutchan has the luxury of being able to use springwater for its water supply. From autumn through winter, with such delicious supply of flavorful in-season vegetables like special local potatoes, as well as cold- water fish and shellfish fresh from nearby fishing ports, the taverns, sushi restaurants and premium restaurants—some even bringing in world-renowned Michelin-star chefs—dish up delicious, mouthwatering menus.