How Niseko Has Changed Since 2018 — and What Hasn't

Short answer first. I've been in Niseko since 2018, and what's changed most is prices and people. What hasn't changed is the snow. Buildings keep going up; lift passes, accommodation and food keep getting more expensive; and you hear more languages on the lifts. But the feeling of waking to snow that fell in silence overnight and sinking to your knees on the first run is exactly the same. Here's my honest take, as someone who lives here.

• What's changed: buildings, prices, crowds, the languages you hear. Wages are up for workers — but rents are up more
• What hasn't: the snow. The daily avalanche info and gate rules. An onsen after skiing. Mt Yotei hiding most days
• The good part: you can talk to people from all over the world in rural Hokkaido
• What worries me: locals have stopped eating out in Hirafu. Workers can't find places to live

What's changed

Buildings and prices

Mostly, the buildings. Hotels and condos keep going up. International media reported that land prices in Hirafu rose 70% between 2020 and 2025 (ABC News).

Lift passes, accommodation and food all feel more expensive every year.

People and languages

Far more people come from overseas now, and you hear more languages on the lifts. Kutchan's foreign-national population went from 1,519 at the end of October 2025 to 4,325 at the end of January 2026 (Kutchan Town). That's how many people come to work the winter.

Life for workers

From the workers' side, wages have gone up. But rents have gone up even more, and people can't find somewhere to live. Running Niseko Hub, that's the worry I hear most.

What hasn't changed

• The snow. Silent overnight snow, and sinking to your knees on the first run
• The daily avalanche info and the gate rules
• An onsen after skiing
• Mt Yotei hiding most days (ha)

It's still a town that draws people who love snow. And because there are still lots of beginners, plenty of people still get hurt.

What I love about living here

In the Hokkaido countryside, I can talk to people from all over the world. I don't think there's another town in Hokkaido where you use English and Chinese every day. And if you run a restaurant and serve good food, people will pay a fair price for it.

What worries me

• Locals have stopped eating out in Hirafu
• There's not enough housing for workers
• The town leans too hard on winter, and summer is weak
• The "Niseko is expensive" image keeps other Hokkaido people away. As someone from Hokkaido, that makes me a bit sad

A local tip: prices are up, and so are the crowds. But ski one run the morning after a big dump and none of it matters. Niseko is a sneaky mountain like that.

For visitors

You feel most of these changes most strongly in Hirafu from January to mid-February. Go to Kutchan town, the other side of the mountain, or come in early December or March, and you can still find the old Niseko (Does Niseko Feel Like Japan?).

FAQ

How has Niseko changed in recent years?

More buildings, higher prices for lift passes, accommodation and food, and more visitors and workers from overseas. The snow is as good as ever.

Are prices in Niseko going up?

Yes. More in Is Niseko Expensive?

How can I enjoy the old-style Niseko?

Head to Kutchan town, the resorts on the other side of the mountain, and old onsen. Early December and March are quieter.

— Niseko Hub Editorial Team