Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, an all-season mountain resort operated by Tokyu Land Corporation and Tokyu Resorts & Stay Corporation, has launched a series of environmental initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable resort operations. As part of the "Value up NISEKO 2030" project's 13th phase, the resort has introduced programs focused on carbon emission reduction through 100% renewable energy usage, promotion of reusable bottle use, and active utilization of local ingredients and Hokkaido-made products. New initiatives this year include disposable hand warmer recycling and other environmental measures.
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu aims to enhance convenience, transportation capacity, and visitor experience value as an international mountain resort while pursuing sustainable resort development.
New Environmental Initiatives Launched This Year
① Recycling Disposable Hand Warmers into Water and Soil Improvement Materials
Recognizing that disposable hand warmers are essential for comfortable skiing and snowboarding experiences, the resort has introduced recycling collection boxes. By properly collecting and recycling used hand warmers, the initiative contributes to environmental protection. Collection boxes are installed at five locations in the base area (Mountain Center 2F, Mountain Center Annex, .Base, ALPEN NODE, and Welcome Center). Collected hand warmers are upcycled through Go Green Japan into water environment improvement materials and soil improvement materials. Through this initiative with guests, the resort contributes to building a sustainable circular society where resources continue to circulate even after use.
Go Green Japan is an organization that upcycles disposable hand warmers collected nationwide into water environment improvement materials (cubes) and soil improvement materials using the power of "iron" and "charcoal." The recycled resources help restore polluted water and depleted soil, contributing to sustainable environmental development.
Go Green Japan official website: https://go-green-japan.jp/
② Chairlift Renewal Through Resource Circulation
For the 2026-2027 season, the two-person lift "Ace No. 3 Lift" located mid-mountain will be renewed as a four-person chairlift. This renewal prioritizes environmental consideration and resource circulation by planning to reuse carriers, supports, and electrical equipment from the "King No. 3 Six" lift that was fully renewed in the 2025-2026 season.
The resort will continue to promote renewal plans that reduce industrial waste and emphasize environmental circulation, working to reduce environmental impact while improving experience value and safety as an all-season resort.
③ Upcycled Building Materials at Restaurant "NEST813"
Restaurant "NEST813" opened on December 20, 2025, on the second floor of the Ace Gondola summit station at 813 meters elevation, featuring a spectacular terrace overlooking Mount Yotei. NEST813 actively uses environmentally-conscious materials, working toward sustainable resort development. Interior and exterior finishes incorporate fly ash (coal ash) from thermal power plants and used coffee grounds as upcycled building materials. This gives new value to resources that would typically be discarded, visualizing contributions to a circular society. The restaurant also features custom-made speakers using Hokkaido birch thinned wood as professional audio equipment. By using local natural materials, the space incorporates sustainability and regional character into the audio experience. Additionally, chairs (carriers) from the "Center Four" lift, which served Grand Hirafu for 38 years as Japan's oldest quad lift, are reused as benches and interior elements, carefully preserving the ski area's history and guest memories from past to present. "NEST813" is a space where visitors can experience culture, history, and environment alongside dining enjoyment during their resort stay.
④ Water Server Installation for Local Spring Water Consumption and Plastic Waste Reduction
New facilities "NEST813" and "ALPEN NODE," which opened in December 2025, have introduced water servers as hydration spots, providing an environment where delicious water is always available to enhance guest experience value. The resort encourages guests to bring their own bottles and tumblers for refilling, aiming to reduce plastic waste including PET bottles. Water servers at "NEST813" provide spring water supplied from the Hirafu-Annupuri area water source, promoting local resource consumption through effective use of local resources.
⑤ Local Ingredient Utilization for Environmental and Regional Contribution and "Food Circulation" Initiatives
Five restaurants within Grand Hirafu actively use local ingredients and beverages centered on Kutchan Town, Shiribeshi region, and Hokkaido, working on food circulation through "local production for local consumption." The menu features many dishes using regional pride ingredients including Yotei potatoes, Hokkaido rice "Nanatsuboshi," and fresh Hokkaido vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. Beverages also showcase regional appeal, with Niseko Town and Hokkaido craft beers, Japanese-made whisky and gin, and sake centered on local brands, along with juices made from regional agricultural products. A brewery inside "ALPEN NODE" is scheduled to begin brewing Hirafu area's first craft beer brand "POWDERHOOD BREWING" (scheduled for early March 2026), with sales planned mainly at Grand Hirafu's food and beverage facilities and other area establishments. As part of sustainable initiatives through continuous use of regional resources, the resort works to disseminate food culture and enhance experience value.
About Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu is a ski resort with 22 varied courses, offering skiing with Mount Yotei, counted among Japan's 100 famous mountains, visible directly ahead. Its abundant snowfall and powder snow quality attract many skiers and snowboarders from both Japan and abroad.
2025-2026 Winter Season
Operating Period: Through May 6, 2026 (Wednesday) (scheduled)
Operating Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
*Night skiing period: until 7:00 PM (Night skiing period: through March 22, 2026 (Sunday))
Location: 1-chome 2-9-1 Niseko Hirafu, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0080
Access:
- Car: 94km/approximately 120 minutes from Sapporo via Route 230 through Nakayama Pass
105km/approximately 105 minutes via Nikicho IC on Shiribeshi Expressway
112km/approximately 125 minutes from New Chitose Airport via Route 276 through Bifue Pass - Train: Sapporo Station to Kutchan Station (via Otaru), approximately 20 minutes by taxi or bus from Kutchan Station
Main Facilities:
- Slopes: Elevation 260m to 1,200m, Elevation difference 940m, 22 courses, Area 135.3 hectares
- Maximum run distance approximately 5,300m, Maximum gradient 40°, Average gradient 15°
- Composition: Beginner 45%, Intermediate 28%, Advanced 27%
- Lifts & Gondolas: 2 gondolas, 1 six-seater, 1 quad, 4 pairs, 1 single
About Tokyu Land's "Value up NISEKO 2030"
This resort development project aims for sustainable development toward 2030 as a continuously chosen destination, building a world-class "NISEKO" brand in cooperation with government, local businesses, and regional residents to solve issues and activate the area. In October 2022, Tokyu Land signed a "Comprehensive Partnership Agreement for Forming an All-Season International Resort Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Ski Town Declaration" with Hokkaido and Kutchan Town, working on not only hardware improvements such as smart resort promotion and ski lift renewal but also software initiatives including all-season activation measures, strengthening regional collaboration. Software initiatives include efforts toward green season activation, experimental implementation of Japan's first ski NFT "Niseko Powder Token2.0" with "first track" rights, social implementation experiments for snow-utilizing power generation, and trial ski valet service operations. Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu continues to promote multiple initiatives toward realizing "Asia's No. 1 International Resort" and improving visitor experience value.
For previously announced Value up NISEKO 2030 project information, please refer to the following URL:
https://www.tokyu-land.co.jp/wellness/resort/niseko.html
About "Experiential Sustainable Resort" Environmental Experiences
Tokyu Land, Tokyu Resorts & Stay, and Tokyu Resort work as an "Experiential Sustainable Resort" to provide sustainable spaces, experiences, and activities that allow enjoyment while being kind to the earth and region based on three themes: "Environment," "Experience," and "Region," for guests visiting facilities and stakeholders.
Website introducing the "Experiential Sustainable Resort" concept and environmental experiences provided at resort facilities:
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