Niseko in Summer: 2-Day Food & Nature Itinerary

If you’ve ever heard of Niseko in Hokkaido, I bet you know it as a famous ski resort with powder snow.

But Niseko is not just for winter. In summer, this little town is a hidden gem that’s full of nature, fresh local food, and quiet hiking trails. If you’re traveling to Sapporo and want to visit the countryside, it’s just 2 hours away.

Hi, I’m Yuuka from Hokkaido, and I love sharing the rural side of Hokkaido that most travelers don’t know.

In August 2025, I spent two days exploring Niseko. And this trip completely changed how I see this town. For years, I only knew it as an expensive ski resort packed with international visitors. To be honest, I thought it wasn’t my kind of place.

But Niseko in summer was totally different from what I had imagined. I actually loved the calm countryside vibe and the little discoveries during my trip.

This trip was supported by Trippino Hokkaido and the Niseko Resort Tourism Association, but what I share here is exactly what I’d tell a friend planning a trip.

Now let me share why Niseko is a great summer destination and my 2-day summer itinerary that you can follow easily.

Why visit Niseko in summer?

Here are 5 reasons why I think Niseko deserves a spot on your summer itinerary.

1. No crowds (unlike winter)

A hiker with a gray backpack and white cap stands at a wooden railing looking toward a steep green hillside in Niseko, showing the quiet natural trails available to summer visitors outside of ski season.

In winter, Niseko is packed with skiers. But when I visited in summer, it really felt like a hidden countryside town. I explored farms, cafes and nature trails without any tourist crowds and that was my favorite part of the trip (yes, I hate crowded places).

2. Great hiking routes

Being a great ski resort means having lots of mountains around!

You’ll find hiking trails for all levels, from short beginner-friendly hikes to long, challenging climbs. I’ll share my favorite easy trail in Day 2 of the itinerary.

3. The town is tourist-friendly.

Interior of the Niseko tourist information center inside JR Niseko Station, with English-language brochures, a map display, and signage in both Japanese and English, showing the town's accessibility for international visitors.

Niseko is probably Hokkaido’s most-visited ski resort by foreigners. I saw English signs everywhere, and locals are used to welcoming overseas visitors. That hospitality stays the same all year round.

4. Easy to add to your trip

The town is well-located if you’re traveling in central Hokkaido. It’s about 2 hours from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport, 1.5 hours from Otaru, and just 45 minutes from Lake Toya by car, so you can easily add Niseko to your itinerary.

5. No car required

You can also get to Niseko by train or bus, then use rental bikes or even tuk tuks to explore the town. While some attractions need driving to reach, you can still many places without a car!

How to get around in Niseko

1. Car

A quiet two-lane road in Niseko in summer with low traffic, lined by green trees and yellow wildflowers on both sides, with a mountain visible under a partly cloudy sky.

Driving is the easiest way to get around in Niseko. I used a rental car for most of my trip, and it was smooth and stress-free. There was barely any traffic, and while mountain roads are curvy, they’re wide enough to feel safe and comfortable.

2. Rental e-bike

A traveler posing with a blue rental e-bike in front of JR Niseko Station, a half-timbered building with flower boxes and a clock tower, where bikes can be rented for exploring the summer Niseko itinerary.

You can rent e-bikes at the tourist information center inside JR Niseko Station.

I tried it on my first morning and really enjoyed the ride! Niseko has some hilly roads but they were totally doable thanks to the electric assist. It also felt safe since there weren’t many cars on the road.

Prices start around 1,000 yen per hour, and 3,500–5,000 yen for a full day (8 hours) depending on the bike type. Rentals are available until the end of October. (See details on the Niseko Resort Tourist Association website.)

3. Tuk tuk

Yes, you can even explore Niseko in an electric tuk tuk. You just need a valid driver’s license in Japan to rent one. Driving tuk tuk actually feels a lot like driving a scooter, so it’s easier than it seems.

The cost is 3,000 yen for 3 hours (10:00–13:00 or 14:00–17:00). Tuk tuks are also available until the end of October, but make sure to book in advance. (Details on the Niseko Resort Tourist Association website.)

Day 1: Local food hopping

I spent my first day in Niseko tasting my way through local farms, a cheese factory, a bakery, and cafés. It turned out to be the most delicious introduction to the town

I spent my first day in Niseko tasting my way through dairy farms, a cheese factory, a bakery and a tofu shop by a mountain spring. Niseko has so many food gems worth stopping by!

Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm

Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm is not just a farm, but it’s like a whole little village of food and fun.

At their main dairy shop, you’ll find sweets made with fresh milk from the morning of the day, like soft serve ice cream and cream puffs. There’s also a chocolate shop, a Baumkuchen cake shop, a local veggie market, and even restaurants on-site.

The Baumkuchen and Chocolate shop building at Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm, a dark red barn-style structure with Japanese signage on the ground floor and cow decorations out front, one of several food stops at the farm complex.

A Milkuchen Baumkuchen cake in its paper bag next to a bottle of Hokkaido Takahashi Dairy Farm drinkable yogurt, resting on a windowsill with a green summer field visible in the background.

It’s also a nice photogenic spot. In summer, you’ll see sunflower fields, and my favorite was a big hay roll you can climb onto for a cool shot with Mount Yotei in the background.

2 visitors standing on top of a large round hay bale at Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm, arms outstretched, with the distinctive cone shape of Mount Yotei rising prominently against a blue summer sky behind them.

Families with kids will love it here since there’s so much to do in one place without having to move around too much!

Information

Hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm
Access: 7 min by car / 20 min by e-bike from JR Niseko Station
Website

Lunch Options

There are a few nice options for lunch Niseko. You can stay at Takahashi Dairy Farm and try one of their restaurants, or head to other places.

A plate of Nupuri Curry at Sabo Nupuri cafe inside JR Niseko Station, served on a blue-patterned plate with rice, deep brown curry sauce, grilled eggplant, bell peppers, and a fresh salad on the side.

I decided to have curry rice at Sabo Nupuri, a small cozy cafe located inside JR Niseko Station. Their specialty is the Nupuri Curry, made with minced meat and caramelized onions. The curry sauce was rich and deep, and I loved that it came with lots of vegetables.

💡 Fun fact: “Nupuri” means “mountain” in the Ainu language, spoken by Hokkaido’s indigenous people.

If you want to keep your lunch light (since Day 1 is full of food stops!), another good choice is Roadside Station Niseko View Plaza.

This roadseide station (Michi no Eki) has food stalls with quick snacks made from local produce, a souvenir shop, and a farmer’s market. It’s also a handy stop for a bathroom break and benches with a lovely view of Mount Yotei.

A display shelf of local vegetables at Roadside Station Niseko View Plaza, featuring large yellow salad pumpkins and red tomatoes with Japanese price and variety labels, part of the farmer's market section.

he souvenir and information area inside Roadside Station Niseko View Plaza, with a wall display of regional maps, postcards, and local products including goods labeled for Kutchan town.

Arishima Memorial Museum

The Arishima Memorial Museum introduces the life and works of Arishima Takeo, a well-known Japanese writer of the early 1900s. It also shares the history of the farmland he once owned in Niseko.

Right in front of the museum, you’ll find a brand-new landmark: a large “NISEKO” sign (placed in August 2025!). It’s the perfect photo spot, with Mount Yotei rising beautifully in the background.

There’s also a nice book café here, free to enter without a museum ticket. You can sip their original house-roasted coffee while looking out at the Niseko mountain range.

I didn’t try it because I was still too full from lunch, but the town’s tourism director recommended their affogato. If you go, don’t miss it!

Information

Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
Admission fee: 500 JPY (Book cafe is admission free. you can ask the reception for free access to the cafe)
Access: 5 min by car / 10 min by e-bike from JR Niseko Station
Website

Niseko Cheese factory

My next stop was the Niseko Cheese Factory, a small workshop run by a father and son who studied cheesemaking in France and Italy.

Using Niseko’s clean water and rich natural environment, they create artisan cheeses that you can buy directly at their shop.

A soft serve ice cream cone held up close to the camera at the Niseko Cheese Factory cafe, with a smooth white swirl in a wafer cone showing the Camembert cheese soft serve made from local Niseko milk.

There’s also a cafe inside, and I fell in love with their Camembert cheese soft serve. It might sound unusual, but the rich Camembert flavor blended so well with the creamy ice cream.

Honestly, it’s one of the best soft serves I’ve had in Hokkaido (saying this as someone who grew up here eating so many kinds of soft serves, more than I can count!).

Information

Hours: Irregular (check their Instagram)
Access: 8 min by car / 20 min by e-bike from JR Niseko Station
Website

Okutsuchi Farm Bakery

Just across the street from the cheese factory, I found a hidden gem: Okutsuchi Farm Bakery, a small family-run bakery.

They bake their bread in a handmade brick oven, fired with wood, using only natural yeast cultivated from rye and grapes. Most of the ingredients are grown right on their farm at the foot of Mount Yotei, with minimal pesticides.

I got their pumpkin bread as a souvenir for my family back home. It had a nice gentle sweetness from pumpkin, and my 1-year-old son loved it!

Information

Hours: 10 am – 5 pm
Access: 8 min by car / 20 min by e-bike from JR Niseko Station
Website

Local-Loved Spring Source & Tofu Shop

A person crouching at a natural spring tap near the Mount Yotei trailhead in Niseko, filling a bottle from a pipe where clear water flows continuously over mossy rocks, one of the town's lesser-known local spots.

One of Niseko’s hidden treasures is the natural spring water from Mount Yotei. Rain and snowmelt water filter through the mountain for decades and become fresh, mineral-rich spring water.

At the water source near the Yotei trailhead, you’ll find taps for anyone to fill up bottles for free.

I filled up just my water bottle, but I saw many locals bringing dozens of large containers to load up their cars! It made me realize how treasured this spring water is by people here.

The storefront of Yuwaki no Sato Meisuitofu tofu shop in Niseko, with a blue noren curtain, a Hokkaido Makkari region map display, and Japanese text explaining that the tofu is made with mountain spring water.

Rows of soy milk bottles labeled "Umai Tonyu" in Japanese, priced at ¥583 to ¥630, displayed on the counter inside the Yuwaki no Sato tofu shop next to packaged fresh tofu products.

Right next to the spring, there’s a small tofu shop that uses this pure water to make its products. They sell fresh tofu, soy milk, fried tofu, and even donuts using fiber-rich soy pulp that’s left over after making soy milk.

I tried their plain tofu, and it had such a rich flavor unlike any other tofu that I’d ever had!

Information

Hours: 24 hours
Access: 10 min by car / 30 min by e-bike from JR Niseko Station
Google Maps

Day 2: Outdoor adventures

My second day in Niseko was all about enjoying nature with a hot air balloon and hiking. For the hiking part, you’ll need a car to reach the trailhead at Goshiki Onsen.

Hot air balloon ride

A yellow, orange, and green checkered hot air balloon fully inflated and floating against a bright blue sky with white clouds in Niseko, tethered by a cable, part of the summer balloon experience available from June to September.

I started my morning early to get on a hot air balloon! From June to September, you can experience Niseko from 30 meters above the ground with a quick 5-min ride. You’ll see a wide panorama of the Niseko mountain range.

It was already exciting before riding, just to watch the balloon being filled with air and lifted up into the sky. then the moment it lifted into the air.

This activity is especially great for families. I saw many kids enjoying it, and I loved that the basket had a clear panel on one side, so even small children could enjoy the view safely.

💡 Tips:

My ride was originally booked for the evening of Day 1 but was postponed due to bad weather. Since flights can be canceled or rescheduled, I recommend booking it on your first day in Niseko. That way, you’ll still have a chance to join the next morning or evening if needed.
Expect waiting until your ride, as they take in small groups, one at a time.
The operator also told me that morning flights tend to have clearer views!]

Information

Booking required (details on their website)
Meeting time: Morning flight 6:30–7:00 am / Evening flight 4:30–5:00 pm
Price: Adults (junior high and up) 3,150 JPY / Children (elementary school) 2,200 JPY / Preschool (1 year and up) 650 JPY / Family pack (2 adults + 2 kids) 9,600 JPY

Hiking on Mount Iwaonupuri

A hiker in a black skirt and cap walking up a wide, sandy volcanic trail on Mount Iwaonupuri in Niseko, with light gray rocky terrain and sparse alpine vegetation on either side under a cloudy summer sky.

After checking out of my hotel, I headed to Goshiki Onsen, about 20 mins by car from JR Niseko Station. From here, you can choose between two trails:

Mount Annupuri (1,308 m / about 3 hours round trip)
Mount Iwaonupuri (1,116 m / about 2.5 hours round trip)

I chose Iwaonupuri, an active (but safe) volcano. It’s considered beginner-friendly, though you’ll need a decent level of fitness and proper hiking shoes.

The trail starts with a steep, rocky climb, but it gets easier as you go higher. At the summit, there’s a loop trail with panoramic views which I really loved.

Panoramic view from the summit of Mount Iwaonupuri looking across rolling green ridgelines toward a large lake and the distant ocean on a clear summer day, with the volcanic landscape in the foreground showing reddish brown mineral-stained slopes.

On a clear day, you can see a large lake, the ocean in the distance, and even the volcanic crater at the center of the loop, reminding you that you’re standing on a living volcano!

What I really appreciated was the information center at the trailhead. They have public bathrooms and up-to-date trail info, including weather conditions and recent bear sightings.

The information center building at Goshiki Onsen trailhead for Mount Iwaonupuri and Mount Annupuri in Niseko, a dark wood-clad structure with a small parking area and green forested mountains directly behind it.

I had originally planned to climb Annupuri, but after consulting with the staff, I decided Iwaonupuri was a better fit for the weather and my schedule.

And I’m so glad I did! I really enjoyed the changing terrain of this trail. Forest paths, rocky slopes, and volcanic landscapes, all in one hike. The views from the top were absolutely worth the climb.

After your hike, you can relax at Goshiki Onsen, just a couple of minutes walk down from the trailhead.

Niseko Sanroku Parlour

On my way back to JR Niseko Station, I stopped at Niseko Sanroku Parlour, a small sandwich shop. And wow, it was a little hidden gem! This place is all about thoughtful, healthy fast food made with local ingredients.

Their bread is baked daily using organic wheat from Tokachi, natural spring water from the Annupuri range, and homemade yeast. Even the ham, bacon, mayonnaise, and sauces are home made.

A BLT sandwich from Niseko Sanroku Parlour held in a cardboard takeout box, showing a thick cross-section of crusty bread with layered tomato, lettuce, and thick-cut bacon, with a side of potatoes visible in the box.

I ordered the BLT sandwich, and it was nothing like any BLT I’d had before. The bread was slightly firm with a crisp crust, and the thick-cut smoky bacon was incredibly flavorful. Highly recommended if you’re in Niseko!

Information

Hours: 11 am – 4 pm (closed on Sundays & Mondays)
Access: 7 min by car / 20 min by e-bike from JR Niseko Station
Website

Where to stay in Niseko

1. Ikoino Yuyado Iroha

For this 2-day trip, I stayed at an onsen Hotel called Ikoino Yuyado Iroha, an onsen hotel with flowing natural hot spring baths. The room was modern Japanese-style, and it was spacious and quite comfortable.

A modern Japanese-style twin room at Ikoino Yuyado Iroha onsen hotel in Niseko, with 2 beds with teal accent blankets, wooden furniture, a tatami-edged floor, and a large window letting in natural light.

A multi-course Japanese kaiseki dinner spread at Ikoino Yuyado Iroha in Niseko, with 8 or more small dishes including sashimi, simmered vegetables, and seasonal seafood arranged across a wooden tray.

Dinner came as a multi-course Japanese meal filled with fresh seafood and vegetables. The breakfast buffet had ikura (salmon roe), which is always my favorite part of staying at a Hokkaido onsen hotel!

Another big plus: the hotel is very close to the hot air balloon site, which made my itinerary super convenient.

2. Niseko Cottage Bongo

If you prefer something unique surrounded by nature, stay at Niseko Cottage Bongo.

It’s a long-standing, family-run property, sitting among quiet fields and corn pastures with mountain views.

The founder built four log houses one by one with his hands, starting in 1986. Though he passed away a few years ago, his family continues to run this place with the same warmth.

They also run a cozy glamping site at Lake Toya which I went to before coming to Niseko and totally loved my stay there.

Is Niseko worth visiting in summer?

Before this trip, I only thought of Niseko as a fancy ski resort. But after spending two summer days here, my view completely changed. Niseko in summer is calm, authentic, and filled with little local charms.

If you’re planning a Hokkaido trip and want something beyond the usual tourist spots, I recommend adding Niseko to your summer itinerary. It’s perfect if you love quiet, slow travel surrounded by nature, and of course, lots of delicious local food!