daytrips from niseko
Niseko is ideally located for daytrips to nearby coastal fishing towns and larger regional cities alike. Transport links are excellent and the scenery inbetween is worth the trip alone!
Kutchan
Kutchan isn't actually a daytrip away, in fact it is a short 10-minute drive and offers everything you could possibly need. Its population of 16,500 provides supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, hospital & health clinics, photography gear, banks, a post office and many shops, including lots of unique Japanese items and sweets to take home.
A visit to Kutchan for dinner is essential - Hokkaido is renowned for its agriculture, especially its potato products including the famous local gosetsu-udon, a Japanese noodle made from potato flour.
Karaoke is of course wildly popular in Japan, and Kutchan hosts more Karaoke rooms and Karaoke bars than you can poke a microphone at. Try visiting these bars even if you don't intend on singing - they are a great way to mix with the locals.
Sapporo
Sapporo is capital of the island Hokkaido and Japan's 5th largest city (population: 1.8million). Famous overseas for its self-named beer served in the famous shiny faceted can, Sapporo is gateway to the Niseko region for both international & domestic tourists.
The Sapporo Snow & Ice Festival attracts nearly two million people every February with incredible artworks carved from ice on a grand scale, while the famous Toyota Big Air Competition is held every January for world champion snowboarders to go for ‘Big Air’ and impress their hysterical fans. With US$100,000 on offer as prize money, all the big names turn up so if you’re in town definitely have a look.
Sapporo features a huge range of shopping from luxury high-end stores such as Fendi, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton through department stores and regular global chains like Gap, North Face and Levis, down to innumerable independent local boutiques.
Otaru
This 145,000-strong port city lies north of Niseko and features a picturesque canal which is a hive of activity with many fine restaurants. Otaru is an attractive city and popular for fresh local seafood - this attracts many domestic and international travelers, most recently increasing numbers of Russian visitors via international ships.
Otaru is proud of its own locally- brewed beer and sake, which you really should try, as well as visiting the glasswork where you can purchase some
memorable souvenirs. 
