Niseko]

  • Japan’s ‘Japow’ Transforms Australia Into A Winter Sports Force

    For most of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano and Cortina, Australia occupied a prominent position on the medal tally. In fact, that land famous for its searing heat, blistering sunshine and water games outranked countries like Canada, where snow sports are a part of daily life from birth, and recent Winter Olympic Games powerhouses like China and Korea. And Japan, itself one of the top Winter Olympics performers, has much to do with Australia’s success. Australia has taken part in every Olympic Winter Games since 1936. But it didn’t win a medal until 1994, and a woman didn’t pick up one until 1998. That year, the Winter Games…

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    Is Niseko Still Australia’s Ski Town?

    ニセコは今も「オーストラリア人のスキーの町」なのか？ Walk through Niseko today and you’ll hear conversations in Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean and many other languages. The resort that Australians helped introduce to the world has become one of Asia’s most international winter destinations. Visitors now arrive from across the globe, while investment comes from many countries. So, after more than three decades, is Niseko still Australia’s ski town? 現在のニセコを歩くと、日本語だけでなく英語、中国語、韓国語など、さまざまな言語が聞こえてきます。 かつてオーストラリア人が世界に紹介したスキーリゾートは、今ではアジアを代表する国際的なウィンターリゾートへと成長しました。 では、30年以上が経った今でも、ニセコは「オーストラリア人のスキーの町」と言えるのでしょうか。 The Pioneer Years There was a time when Australians dominated Niseko’s international tourism scene. From the mid-1990s through the early 2000s, Australian visitors arrived in growing numbers, opening cafés, ski schools, accommodation businesses and tour companies. Their enthusiasm encouraged more travellers to discover Hokkaido’s famous powder…

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    How Did Australians Help Transform The Quiet Japanese Ski Town Of Niseko?

    オーストラリア人はどのように静かなスキーの町・ニセコを変えたのか？ That began to change when Australian skiers started returning home with stories of dry, light snow, uncrowded slopes and a long ski season. Word spread quickly. Friends recommended Niseko to friends, ski clubs organised group trips, and specialist travel companies began offering packages to Hokkaido. In the early 1990s, Niseko was already known among Japanese skiers for its deep powder snow. Yet outside Japan, few people had heard of the small Hokkaido resort. But Australians did more than visit. Many chose to stay. 1990年代初め、ニセコは日本のスキーヤーにはすでによく知られた存在でした。しかし海外では、その名を知る人はほとんどいませんでした。 状況が変わり始めたのは、ニセコを訪れたオーストラリア人スキーヤーが、軽く乾いたパウダースノーや混雑の少ないゲレンデ、長いシーズンの魅力を帰国後に語り始めたことでした。 口コミによって評判は広がり、スキークラブがツアーを企画し、旅行会社も北海道へのスキー旅行を販売するようになりました。 しかし、多くのオーストラリア人は観光客として訪れるだけではありませんでした。 More Than Tourists As visitor numbers grew, Australians saw opportunities beyond skiing. Some opened cafés serving familiar breakfasts and good coffee. Others…

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    Why Did Australians Fall in Love with Niseko?

    なぜオーストラリア人はニセコに魅了されたのか？ For many Australians today, Niseko is synonymous with powder snow, winter holidays and a taste of Japan. Yet few realise that Australians played a significant role in introducing this once-quiet corner of Hokkaido to the wider world. The story of Australians and Niseko is not simply about skiing. It is a story of curiosity, cultural exchange and the growing friendship between Australia and Japan. 今日、多くのオーストラリア人にとってニセコは、極上のパウダースノーと冬の休暇を象徴する場所です。しかし、この北海道の静かな地域を世界に知らしめる上で、オーストラリア人が重要な役割を果たしたことはあまり知られていません。 オーストラリア人とニセコの物語は、単なるスキーの話ではありません。好奇心、文化交流、そして日豪の友情の深まりを物語るストーリーです。 A Mountain Hidden in Plain Sight Long before Niseko became an international ski destination, it was primarily known to Japanese skiers. Blessed with abundant snowfall thanks to weather systems crossing the Sea of Japan, the region offered conditions unlike almost anywhere else on…

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    Let’s Barbie! Aussie-Style BBQing for the Japanese!

    Australia beef is the most visibly successful Australian export to Japan, leaving considerable distance to its closest rivals, which these days are probably Tim Tams, Miranda Kerr and hordes of drunken ocker snow bunnies in country towns like Niseko and Hakuba. To be honest, Oz doesn’t really enter the consciousness of most Japanese, except for Aussie Beef, which is probably the first thing that comes to mind for many Nihonjin when asked about Oz. And this year, Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd (MLA) is going all-out to try and convert Japanese consumers to worshiping the barbie in much the same manner that many Aussies do. MLA is conducting a huge…