Going by bullet train to Niseko may not seem the obvious choice. The shinkansen network is best known for linking Tokyo to the south of the country, to cities like Kobe and Osaka, and the air route between Tokyo and Hokkaido is the second busiest anywhere in the world (meaning plenty of choice and low price). But taking the train to Hokkaido is a unique and wonderful experience, with many practical benefits too.
By taking the bullet train to Niseko, you can choose a more environmentally friendly method of travel that doesn't take much more time than flying. At the same time, you can experience yet another leaf of Japanese culture, enjoy the thrill of travelling on a high speed train, and explore part of the country you would never have the opportunity to see otherwise.
So here is Skiing Unlocked's three best reasons to take the bullet train to Niseko.
Looking for a detailed guide to skiing Japan by train? Checkout my more detailed piece here, including prices, suggested itineraries, and more.
1. Practical Effects
There are two parts to this. First of all, taking the train is more environmentally responsible than flying. A lot more. And whilst you may have already flown halfway around the world to get to Japan, the kicker is it's short haul flights that make a far bigger contribution to greenhouse gas emissions than long haul flight; so much so that long haul is roughly the same as driving or taking the train the same distance, short haul about 30x worse than driving or taking a train the same. So by choosing to take the train to Niseko, you can make a significant saving on your ski holiday greenhouse gas emissions.
Secondly, you can take public transport door-to-door. No more faffing around getting to the airport, Tokyo train station is located right in the middle of town and is imminently accessible from all corners of the city, even in early mornings.
Japan also has a brilliant luggage forwarding system, known as Takyubin, or black cat. Hand them your ski bag and it will appear by magic in your hotel or apartment 48hrs later, so you don't have to worry about squeezing your ski bag onto the train.
And whilst Niseko station itself might not be accessible from the village, a regular bus service links nearby Kutchan to all of Niseko's resort bases, opening up a stressless and seamless journey that, believe it or not, is only an hour or so longer than flying.
2. To Experience the Bullet Train
Lets be honest, the bullet train is an iconic symbol of Japan. Incredibly fast, clean and efficient, it now links all corners of the country in a way that many of us can only dream of. To take the bullet train to niseko, then, is to probably tick off a bucket list item for many of you.
Of course, if like me you are the slightest train anorak, the experience takes on a whole new dimension, too. Alongside the bullet train, as fast and efficient as it is, you also get to experience local Japanese trains, running on their dense narrow gauge network to tiny villages and towns buried in the heart of the country.
This is not the same as taking your train to work or home to see the parents: this is a brand new experience to be savoured and enjoyed.
3. To see Japan from a Different Angle
Tokyo is a huge city. You only realise this when you see it from one of two angles, from the top of Tokyo tower or on the bullet train to Niseko. As you whizz away from Tokyo or Ueno stations, you pass through Tokyo's suburbs ... and keep passing through Tokyo's suburbs ... and keep passing through Tokyo's suburbs.
Tokyo is almost an endless city. You dive into tunnels and out into valleys on the other side and it keeps going, a seemingly endless city that merges rapidly into Sendai and cities beyond.
Somewhere, however, that all ends. One minute you are slipping through a Japanese city, the next you are spat out into the forests of Northern Japan. This is a different Japan, empty and yours to explore.
The icing on the cake, however, is on the trains on Hokkaido. Everywhere you look, long extinct volcanoes dot your view, some of them with missing faces as age and time cause them to collapse. Finally, you wind along coastlines and through endless, snowboard forests, to arrive at your dream destination.
The bullet train is being extended from it's current terminus on the southern tip of Hokkaido to Sapporo via Niseko, but when this does happen I would still choose to take the local trains, to enjoy and see the country from this unique perspective.
Final Thoughts
Taking the bullet train to Niseko is a beautiful experience, not just because it's clean and practical but because you can see another side of Japan that you just don't see; it is the Japan from Kurosawa and Ozu, that you have dreamt of seeing for so long. If you can't see it on the way to Osaka or Kobe, take the bullet train to Hokkaido and see Japan as it was meant to be seen.
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