Public transportation

Trasportation in Niseko Town is comprised of train, bus and taxi services. See below for information on how to use the various types of transportation.

Train service, train station

JR Niseko Station is located in the centre of town on the Hakodate line. In the station there is an electronic display showing information in Japanese and English. The trains leave from two platforms and are bound for either Otaru/Sapporo or Oshamambe/Hakodate. A round trip discount and a membership discount apply for young people aged between 13 and 25 years. Further information is available on the JR website in Japanese and English.

Buy a ticket at an automatic ticket machine or at the counter of the station. Show the ticket to a station employee to get a stamp or pass through an automatic ticket gate. Check your train on the electronic display and go to the platform. Ride your train to the destination station, and when you get off, give the ticket to a station employee or pass through an automatic ticket gate.

Taxi

When using a taxi, raise your hand to flag town the taxi or call the taxi company in advance and make a reservation. Telephone reservations are recommended, especially in the busier seasons of the year. For further information, please contact the taxi company in your town.

Niseko Taxi Tel. 0136-44-2635

Get into the car on the left hand side when the automatic door opens, and tell the driver your destination. Pay the fare displayed on the meter upon arrival (there is no requirement for tipping in Japan). Some drivers do not speak English, so speak slowly and clearly and if in doubt get a Japanese speaker to assist you.

Demand bus

What is a demand bus?

A demand bus is a new type of bus that, unlike a regular route bus, responds to phone reservations rather than travelling a fixed route. The bus works by accepting phone reservations. Passengers indicate where and when they plan to board and disembark and the bus picks passengers up directly at their location and takes them to their destination. Usually multiple reservations will be made at once, resulting in multiple passengers riding at one time. The bus will then take a route that is most convenient for everyone on board.

Operation details (fares, etc.)

Fare: 200 yen per ride (multiple ride tickets are planned)
Pre-school children are free, and children (middle-school age and younger), persons carrying proof of disabled/physically disabled or rehabilitating status, and senior citizens receiving care are half price (100 yen)
Operation method: Regional transportation in the form of a demand bus (Article 4 of the Road Service Transport Act)
Service system: Door to door service (transportation from passengers' houses, etc to the station, hospital, etc.)
Hours of operation: 8AM-7PM every day, including holidays
Reservations: 8AM-6PM. It is possible to reserve your trip up to a week ahead of time.
Area of operation: within town limits (not including the Goshiki hot springs area, however Konbu Station and the areas around Konbu hot springs and hospital are included.)
  • However, we cannot do trips within Rankoshi o r Konbu.
  • On weekdays only we will allow early reservations for customers in the southwestern direction in order to make the morning 7:36 departure at the JR Niseko station. Please make these early reservations two days in advance. .
    Please make these early reservations two days in advance.
Vehicle information: "One box type" (10 pasengers possible), 2 cars running all week, including weekends.

Riding the demand bus

  1.  Call the reservation enter (0136-43-2200)
  2.  Tell the operator your name, location, departure time and destination. The operator will let you know what times are available for your trip and you can choose your time from a list of options. Once your time has been decided, your reservation is complete.
  3.  The demand bus will arrive at the time you reserved, so please wait at the spot you reserved it at (in front of your house, etc.)
  4.  Once the bus has arrived, please board quickly.
    →In the event that there are other reservations, you will ride with other passengers.
  5.  After arriving at your destination, pay the driver when you disembark.
demandbus-pic

Things to know before you make a reservation

  • If you already know the time beforehand, you may book your return trip at the same time.
  • If multiple people are boarding and disembarking at the same time, please have a representative of the group indicate how many people are riding and make a group reservation.
  • Riding solo is also possible with the demand bus. In the event that there are no overlapping reservations, you will be taken directly to your destination.
  • If you make any changes to your reservation (if you change the time, place, number of people etc.) please call the reservation center at least 45 minutes in advance.

When boarding the demand bus

  • As you will generally be riding alongside others, please mind your manners while on the demand bus. Food, drink and smoking are not permitted.
  • In the event that the traffic situation results in a detour, the demand bus may be late.
  • Please be sure to wait at your boarding point at your reserved time. If you are late, the bus will most likely leave without you.

Riding the school bus

Service is one bus in the morning (to school) and three buses in the afternoon (from school). There are no school bus services on weekends, holidays, or during summer/winter/spring vacations. Service may also be cancelled due to school events or temporary school closures.
 
  • Regular passengers may also ride the school bus.
  • The school bus is free to ride.
  • Passengers may only board at designated bus stops.
  • Students at the international school as well as high school students may also ride.

Inquiries

Regarding the demand bus

Niseko Town Council Tel. 0136-44-2121 Planning & Environment Division, Administration & Planning Section

For inquiries in English

Niseko Town Council Tel. 0136-44-2121 Planning and Environment Division

このページの情報に関するお問い合わせ先

ニセコ町役場
TEL:0136-44-2121
FAX:0136-44-3500