Mountain Bike Developments Continue in Niseko

Niseko has long been famous for its winters. The area’s plentiful, feathery light snow has become the stuff of legend the world over. Stories of knee deep, thigh deep and armpit deep snow can be found on online forums, heard in ski town bars and… the very same conditions are documented in countless photos and videos featuring weekend warriors and professional skiers alike. With such incredible winters, it is easy to understand how summers have gone overlooked – how can the green season compete with some of the most epic snow conditions known to man?

Despite living in the shadow of winter, Niseko’s summer season is slowly developing and the resort is inching closer and closer to becoming a true four season resort. Epic ziplines, family friendly rafting, and cultural events are just some of the growing roster of activities that await travelers headed to Niseko in the green season. One activity in particular, mountain biking, is currently enjoying its time in the spotlight – many firmly believe that the sport will play a key role in the resort’s journey towards becoming a year-round destination.

Niseko Nine

Niseko Nine, a mountain bike school, guiding and trail building company, is one such believer. The company has long worked to build the sport in the area and is now working on new developments. Nine has recently broken ground on trail additions in the Koropokkuru Bike Park area, located on the outskirts of Hirafu. The new trail will bring riders through forested areas parallel to the Shribetsu River. The trail will be built in addition to the existing pump-track and skills area located nearby the property entrance.

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NAMBA

NAMBA (Niseko Area Mountain Bike Association) is a nonprofit organization working towards the same goal: to transform the area into Asia’s premier mountain bike destination. Recent coverage in the Hokkaido Shimbun points towards possible development of another local bike park, the Twin Peaks Bike Park, located next to the Grand Hirafu ski area. The park, if approved by Kutchan Town, would bring 21 kms of trails to the area and be one of the first, if not the first, free to use bike park in the whole of Japan.

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Temporary suspension of area lift access trail operations has opened up new opportunities for organizations & businesses to gain traction in the Niseko mountain bike scene. Is dirt the new pow? Lets hope so!

If mountain biking, scenic hikes and tasty BBQs sound good to you… reach out and book your Niseko accommodation with us today!