Overview
Otaru is a charming seaside port town with a pretty canal and is well known for its seafood and glass works.
The transfer time to Niseko is between 60 and 75 minutes depending on your choice of transfer.
Train, private taxi transfer and self-drive are all possible options for transport from Otaru to Niseko.
Otaru to Niseko Taxi
- Price: ¥3,000 to ¥30,000 per person - depending on vehicle type and number of passengers
- Transfer Time: 1.5 hours
Private Taxi Transfers are the most convenient and fastest option for transfer from Otaru to Niseko with a variety of vehicle sizes offered.
For transfer from Otaru to Niseko, the driver will meet you in your hotel lobby, carry your bags to the vehicle and drop you off at your check-in location in Niseko.
For transfer from Niseko to Otaru, the driver will collect you from your accommodation and drop you off at your Otaru hotel. This means no lugging ski bags around town!
Tip
- 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
- Faster than bus services
Cons
- More expensive than other options
Train from Otaru to Niseko
- Price: Approximately ¥1,300 to ¥1,700 per person
- Transfer Time: 75 to 90 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!
Otaru Station is centrally located in the town. Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from ticket machines or a sales counter.
- 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 day light, 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 in the first few minutes of the journey
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
- Not ideal for passengers with ski / snowboard bags
Drive from Otaru to Niseko
- Price: Varies by vehicle type and hire duration
- Transfer Time: 1.5 hours
Otaru has plenty of car hire options for those wanting to drive themselves from Otaru to Niseko.
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
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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.
All information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing.