Shinkansen and Expressway

By MISAWA Masaki, Certified Tax Accountant (Zeirishi, Reg. No. 157367) — formerly of Japan’s tax authorities · Published July 12, 2026 · Reviewed July 17, 2026

The heart of Niseko’s appeal is the quality of its snow — and improving access is expected to add to that appeal further still. This article looks at two transport infrastructure projects now under way, and at how access from the Tokyo direction and from New Chitose Airport will change.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo

The first is the Sapporo extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. At present, the Shinkansen runs as far as Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, near Hakodate in southern Hokkaido; the extension from there to Sapporo is under construction. The section includes Kutchan Station, which means that when it opens, the gateway to the Niseko area will have its own Shinkansen station. A route will exist from Tokyo to Kutchan with no transfers — an alternative to today’s journey by air plus ground transport from the airport. The opening was originally targeted for the end of fiscal 2030, but a postponement has been announced owing to difficult tunnel works, and opening is now expected in the late 2030s. The timing has shifted, but the plan itself — a Shinkansen station at Kutchan — has not changed.

The Yoichi–Kutchan expressway

The second is the extension of the expressway. The expressway network heading towards Niseko from the Sapporo side currently reaches Yoichi via Otaru. The section from Yoichi to Kutchan is under construction; once it opens, travel times from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport are expected to shorten considerably. And unlike the current route, driving should remain stable even on snowy days. For present-day Niseko, where airport transfers and rental cars are the main means of arrival, this is a section that will substantially change day-to-day convenience.

What better access means for Niseko

With both projects in place, the Niseko area becomes an international ski resort reachable direct from Tokyo by Shinkansen, and at the same time a resort linked to New Chitose Airport by expressway. For visitors from overseas, it becomes easier to build Niseko into a Tokyo-based itinerary. For domestic visitors, weekend trips become more feasible. If stays for summer outdoor activities and cool-climate escapes grow alongside the winter ski trade, Niseko’s character as a year-round resort can be expected to strengthen further.

Completion dates may continue to move. But the direction of travel — more ways to reach Niseko, in less time — will not change. How these changes affect the area is something we will be watching over the years ahead.

Own — or thinking of owning — a place here? The tax side of buying, holding and selling is covered in our Japan Real Estate Tax Guide for Overseas Investors.