On October 11 (Sunday) and 12 (Monday, a national holiday — Sports Day), 2026, Niseko Hanazono Resort will host "WEEKEND ESCAPE at Niseko Hanazono Resort," a new festival-style event bringing together sports, music, outdoor activities, food, and art. The event is organized by 北海道・日本ハーモニー・リゾート株式会社 (based in Kutchan, Hokkaido; representative: Justin Downs).
Visitors can breathe in Niseko's clear mountain air, watch world-class padel players compete, enjoy the music, get active outdoors, and take in the resort's food and hospitality before the evening brings a light art display. The two-day event is organized around three "ESCAPE" themes that guests can explore at their own pace.
PADEL ESCAPE
World-class players head to Niseko on Sports Day
Set on courts surrounded by mountains, PADEL ESCAPE brings together top players from around the world and across Asia. The event will host the ASIA PADEL EVENTS PRESENTS APEX CUP.
The competition takes place at Niseko Hanazono Resort, home to Hokkaido's first padel court, which opened in 2025. Set against Hokkaido's natural landscape, the lineup includes former world No. 1 Lucía Sainz and Carolina Navarro, who held the world No. 1 ranking for nine years, alongside other leading players from the international padel scene.
Top international players and players from Asia, spanning different generations and careers, will take on a new cross-border team competition. A hands-on session will also be held, giving visitors the chance to try padel themselves rather than just watch.
MUSIC ESCAPE
Refined urban sound set against the Niseko landscape
Set at a refined mountain resort, MUSIC ESCAPE brings together Niseko's natural surroundings and music for a special weekend.
The lineup includes ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo, block.fm) and other artists and DJs from Japan's dance music scene, along with Hokkaido-based DJs and DJs performing at the padel venue. Guests can enjoy a musical experience unique to this setting, surrounded by Niseko's scenery and air.
The event is produced by Mount Alive (マウントアライブ), the company behind Hokkaido's JOIN ALIVE music festival. Drawing on its long history in Hokkaido's music scene, Mount Alive is shaping a space that brings together Niseko's nature and music for WEEKEND ESCAPE.
RESORT ESCAPE
Food, activities, and art come together
WEEKEND ESCAPE extends beyond music and padel, with resort activities and dining rounding out the experience.
Options include Japan's longest zip line, HANAZONO ZIPFLIGHT, the Mountain Bike Park, new this summer, and, in the evening, the "Mountain Lights" light art installation. With around 30 activities on offer, there is something for guests who want to stay active as well as those looking to take things slower.
Event food will also be provided by Park Hyatt Niseko HANAZONO, adding Hokkaido's local flavors to the WEEKEND ESCAPE experience.
SPECIAL MUSIC LINEUP
Artists active in Japan and abroad will perform over the two days, bringing different backgrounds and sounds to MUSIC ESCAPE against the Niseko landscape.
October 11 lineup: TOMOYUKI TANAKA (FPM), 80KIDZ, DONGROSSO, YonYon, O.N.O (THA BLUE HERB), FAT MASA, and more
October 12 lineup: SHINICHI OSAWA, ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo, block.fm), DJ FUMIYA (RIP SLYME, 銀座たけ内), EMI OKAMOTO (DJ), DAISHI DANCE, and more
A New Chapter for Niseko
WEEKEND ESCAPE is more than a two-day event.
By bringing together Niseko's natural surroundings with sports, music, art, and resort hospitality from around the world, it marks a first step toward a different way of spending the green season in Niseko.
The aim is for every visitor to find their own version of "escape." Starting with WEEKEND ESCAPE, the organizers plan to keep building new experiences and new value for the green season across Niseko's landscape.
Event Overview
- Dates: October 11–12, 2026
- Venue: Niseko Hanazono Resort
- Tickets: ¥4,000 for one day, ¥8,000 for a two-day pass
