The Niseko resort area comprises three towns in the southern part of Hokkaido: Niseko, Kutchan and Rankoshi. With several world-class ski destinations, such as Moiwa Ski Resort, dotting the landscape from Mount Yotei to Mount Niseko-Annupuri, it’s one of Hokkaido’s most popular destinations. While Niseko garners a lot of attention for its winter sports and fruitful bounties, and rightfully so, other sides deserve our love, too.
Niseko has a long history, dating back to early human settlers after the last ice age. Visitors can explore its historical sites, spiritual places, and hot springs, which offer a rich experience for those interested in Japanese history and culture in the country’s wild northern frontier.
Digging Through Niseko’s Past
Niseko’s history stretches back thousands of years, and the area has several places to learn more about its past.
Hokuei Soga Stone Circle
The people who lived during the Jomon period (14,000-300 BCE) left a lasting legacy on the Japanese archipelago. This era saw the invention of pottery, the bow and arrow and the shift to a more sedentary way of life. In Niseko, you can visit a remnant of the Jomon past that dates back nearly 3,000 years.
Sitting in the shadow of Mount Yotei, this stone circle is one of many that can be found throughout the prefecture. You’ll find the remains of four circles here, which have been walled off by a short stone barrier to discourage damage to the site. Several artifacts and human bones have been discovered during archaeological expeditions. In addition to serving as burial grounds, these stone circles may have had a spiritual purpose.
252-5 Soga, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido - Map
Nearest Station: JR Niseko
kitano-jomon.jp/ruins/sogahokuei
Kutchan Museum of Natural History
While human settlement in Niseko and Hokkaido began nearly 22,000 years ago with migration from the north, the area’s natural history began much earlier. At the Kutchan Museum of Natural History, visitors will dig deep into the region’s geological past.
In the Nature Exhibition Zone, you’ll learn about the flora and fauna of Niseko. As you continue to the Humanities Exhibition Zone, humans gradually populate displays and dioramas. The museum moves through the prehistoric era of the Jomon and ends in the 20th century.
Kita 6-jo Higashi 7-3, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido - Map
Nearest Station: JR Kutchan
www.town.kutchan.hokkaido.jp/culture-sports/kucchan-huudokan
Temples and Shrines
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- External Link
- https://gaijinpot.com/
2 Comments
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Dochira
The main photo is Niseko? (looks like Jozankei)
nokogiri
Yumoto Onsen is far outside Niseko and not even in the same district. Niseko is just an ugly and expensive ski town. Best to avoid it if you don't need to stay and visit for skiing!