You do not need a car to access all areas of the Niseko united ski area. The ski areas are interlinked by lifts at the top of the mountain, so you can access all areas on skis by going to the top lifts, then traversing over to the next door resort. Also at the bottom of each resort there is a free bus that interlinks the resorts at the bottom.
Basically you will need to pre-book a private charter for your group which can leave anytime you wish for 29,000yen for 1-2 people, 35,000yen for up to 5 people and 45,000yen for up to 9 people one way.
Yes the Hirafu parking lot#1 bus stop is the closest to all our accommodation. It is the main bus stop in Niseko Hirafu and is within 1km from most all our peoperties in the main village of Hirafu. We pick all our guests up there free of charge. We'll be holding a sign with your name on it and driving white vans with green Holiday Niseko logos.
No. You can turn in the exchange order any time after arrival in Japan at any of Japan Rail’s exchange offices and you can specify any date on which you wish the pass to start.
Use this link to help plan: JR Planner. The main train station that services the Niseko Resort Area is Kutchan (8km from the resort). Please do not use Niseko or Hirafu station as the train rarely stops at Hirafu and Niseko station is further away from Hirafu Niseko than Kutchan.
If you have a recognized valid international driver’s license then there are a large number of car rental firms at the airport to choose from. Toyota rent a car and Nippon rent a car have English online booking services. More information about driving in Japan can be found here. Japan Guide
If your plane arrives after 8:40pm your choices are private transfer, car rental or to stay in Sapporo city or Chitose city for the night. The last bus departs the airport at 21:30.
If your plane departs before 11:45am it is possible to catch a train to the airport. The earliest train departs Kutchan station at 5:22am and arrives at the airport around 8:30am. (You will have to take a taxi from the Niseko Resort Area to Kutchan Station.)
Skybus has a private transfer option to the airport.
The most convenient way is via bus transfer. The journey will take between 2.5 hours and 3.5 hours depending on road conditions. If staying in Hirafu village please get off at the Hirafu Welcome Center (Hirafu #1 Parking lot)
The Hokkaido Access Network Resort Liner operates in winter from 9:30am to 21:30. Holiday Niseko is a booking agent for the Resort Liner and we can arrange your transfers with them.
Holiday Niseko can also arrange private transfers between the Niseko Resort Area, airport or Sapporo city.
Rakuten Travel has an English hotel finder that offers discounts for hotels throughout Japan. ANA has hotels near most major airports and there is a hotel inside Chitose airport.
Yes you can get to Narita airport by 6pm from Niseko on the same day comfortably. The earliest scheduled bus leaves for Chitose airport from Niseko at 8:10 and arrives Chitose 11:00am. Several airlines (Jetstar, Air Asia, JAL and ANA) operate flights from Chitose to Tokyo's International Narita airport.