Overview
Kiroro is medium-sized resort with fantastic tree skiing and quieter than most other Japanese ski resorts.
Kiroro offers a fantastic Ski In / Ski Out destination resort hotel holiday experience for everyone.
Located 1-hour drive North East of Niseko, Kiroro is close to the coast and gets a lot of the powder snow that Hokkaido is famous for.
Train, private taxi transfer and self-drive are all possible options for transport from Kiroro to Niseko.
Kiroro to Niseko Taxi
- Price: ¥3,000 to ¥30,000 per person - depending on vehicle type and number of passengers
- Transfer Time: 1 hour
Private Taxi Transfers are the most convenient and fastest option for transfer between Niseko and Kiroro with a variety of vehicle sizes offered.
Tips
- Book an off piste guiding tour at Kiroro with a Niseko-based guiding company for your last day in Kiroro. Check out in the morning and ski at Kiroro during the day with the guide. At the end of the afternoon, the guide will return to Niseko and can drop you off for check in at your Niseko accommodation.
- You can book a stop off at a supermarket to buy groceries for an additional charge. If you are staying in self-catering accommodation in Niseko and plan to cook some of your own meals, this can be really useful. Hirafu has a couple of grocery stores but none of Niseko’s villages have any large supermarkets. So, a trip to the supermarket requires visiting nearby Kutchan town.
Pros
- Available 24 hours a day
- Most convenient
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Drive from Kiroro to Niseko
- Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
- Transfer Time: 1 hour
If you are planning on visiting Kiroro before Niseko and would like to hire a car, you can do so from Chitose Airport or Sapporo city. Kiroro Ski Resort does not have any car hire options on site or close by.
The route is pretty straightforward with road signs in English but driving in January and February can be a little tricky for those without experience of driving in challenging winter conditions. Snow & ice covered roads are commonplace and visibility can be poor when snow is falling, which is not uncommon in Hokkaido!
If you are comfortable driving in these conditions, having a vehicle opens up the possibility of day tripping to Rusutsu or Kiroro ski resorts, off-the-beaten path Onsen (hot springs) in the area or authentic dining in Kutchan Town.
If you like the sound of this but prefer not to drive yourself from Chitose Airport to Niseko, you can hire a car in Niseko. This is becoming increasingly popular, so book as early as you can and check that your accommodation has sufficient parking.
Larger 7 or 8-seater vehicles, such as Toyota Hi-Ace or Mistubishi Delica, are commonly available to book in advance and can easily transport ski and snowboard bags.
Hire vehicles are four-wheel drive, come with winter tyres already fitted (so no snow chains are required) and English language GPS can be booked.
All drivers must bring their own national driver's license and a valid International Drivers Permit to legally drive in Japan. Car hire companies will not hand over the keys without these documents.
Pros
- Flexibility to get around in the Niseko area
Cons
- Challenging driving conditions – snowy / icy roads & poor visibility
Train from Kiroro to Niseko
- Price: Approximately ¥1,300 per person
- Transfer Time: 105 to 120 minutes (depending on where you are staying in Niseko)
Japan has a world class network of trains that famously run on-time to the second!
The closest train station to Kiroro Ski Resort is Otaru Station. Kiroro Ski Resort offers a free shuttle bus service for the 30 minutes drive between Otaru Station and Kiroro for overnight guests.
- JR Hakodate Line: Otaru Station -> Kutchan Station (75 minutes)
- JR Hakodate Line: Otaru Station -> Niseko Station (90 minutes)
If you are staying in Hirafu & Hanazono villages, Kutchan Station is the closest station and is a 15 minutes drive away.
If you are staying in Niseko Village or the Annupuri area, Niseko Station is the closest station and is 10 minutes drive away.
If you plan which train you plan to get in advance, most accommodations in Niseko will provide a pick-up and drop off service between Kutchan Station or Niseko Town Station and your accommodation, if you book it with them in advance with a couple of weeks notice.
Alternatively, you can take a local taxi for approximately ¥2,500 for the 15 minutes drive. Please ensure you have your destination written out in Japanese as most taxi drivers in Japan do not speak conversational level English.
Tip
- If travelling during daylight, try and get a window seat on the right-hand side of the train as there are fantastic views out of the Sea of Japan to be had
Japan Rail Pass: For guests visiting Niseko as part of a longer itinerary of travel elsewhere in Japan, either side of their ski experience, a Japan Rail Pass can be a fantastic investment, allowing unlimited train travel on most Japan Rail trains, for periods of 7, 14 or 21 days to suit your travel schedule.
- Look up winter season train timetables on JR Hokkaido
- Search Japan's train schedules using the Japan Transit Planner.
Pros
- Free if you hold a JR Rail Pass
- Least expensive option
Cons
- Indirect - Otaru Station is 30 minutes drive from Kiroro in the other direction from Niseko
- Not ideal for passengers with ski / snowboard bags
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Niseko Transfers
Whether you are coming from Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru, Hakodate or one of the other Hokkaido Ski Resorts, there are numerous options for the transfer to Niseko.
Book now through our Pre-Trip Concierge Service.
Available for guests that have booked accommodation with us.
Getting Around Niseko
Whether you prefer to jump on a shuttle bus, book a taxi or hire a car and drive yourself, there are plenty of options to get around the Niseko area.
Niseko Accommodation
With the healthy mix of visitors from East and West, there is a variety of styles to suit everyone.
Kiroro Ski Resort
Located 1 hours North of Niseko, Kiroro is another great option for those seeking a destination resort experience with the famous Hokkaido powder snow!
Kiroro Accommodation
Kiroro boasts one luxury apartment building and two fantastic resort hotels at the base of the Kiroro Ski Resort.
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.