Things To Know
Practical information for visitors to Niseko.
Cash
Cash is king in Niseko. Japan is still largely a cash society, and Niseko is no different. Some places accept credit cards but many smaller shops, businesses and accommodation houses don’t. For maximum convenience and to avoid missing out on that fantastic looking little restaurant or unique souvenir shop that you may not pass again, it is advised that you carry cash.
ATMs
There are international ATMs (with English instructions) in Hirafu at Hyatt House Niseko(1F) as well as in Kutchan and Niseko towns at Hilton Niseko Village, the post offices, 7-Elevens, Lowson and Satsudora. The main post office in the Kutchan downtown is on Eki-mae Dori (the main street), past Route 5 from the train station.
Both towns are a 10-15 minute taxi or bus ride away. A taxi will cost about JPY5000 return. A bus will cost about JPY800 return per person, but if you are a Niseko All Mountain Pass holder, you can board a town bus for free. If you have a 12-point ticket, it requires 1 point to ride a bus. Others can use buses with regular bus fare.
The cards and networks accepted at post office ATMs are: Visa, Visa Electron, Plus, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, China UnionPay, and Discover.
Please note that there may be restrictions on the different accounts you can access for different banks and networks, for example credit and cheque accounts on debit cards on the Cirrus/Maestro/Plus networks.
If you are going to a post office in Kutchan or Niseko towns solely to use the ATM, it might be a good idea to ask your accommodation provider to call the post office before you make the trip down. The main post office ATM is open weekdays 8.45am-7pm and weekends 9am-5pm. It may be closed on holidays.
| ■Hirafu | |
|---|---|
| Hyatt House (SEVEN BANK ATM) | 7:00-23:00 (*Open until 19:00 by Nov 30) |
| SEICO MART(International Currency Exchange, ATM) | 6:30-23:00 |
| SATSUDORA Niseko Hirafu(HOKKAIDO BANK ATM) | 11:00-21:00 |
| LOWSON Niseko Firafu(LOWSON BANK ATM) | 24hr |
| SEVEN ELEVEN - Kutchan Hirafu | 24hr |
| ■Kutchan Town | |
|---|---|
| Post Office - Kutchan Main Office | Mon-Fri 8:45-19:00 / Sat, Sun, holidays 9:00-17:00 |
| Post Office - Kutchan North | Mon-Fri 9:00-17:30 / Sat 9:00-12:30 |
| Post Office - Kutchan South | Mon-Fri 9:00-17:30 / Sat 9:00-12:30 |
| SEVEN ELEVEN - Kutchan Moto-machi | 24hr |
| SEVEN ELEVEN - Kutchan Yakuba-mae | 24hr |
| SEVEN ELEVEN - Kutchan Minami 4 Jyo | 24hr |
| LUCKY Kutchan (SEVEN BANK ATM) | 9:30-21:00 |
| LUCKY Kutchan (International Currency Exchange, Counter) | 12:00-18:00 |
| Max Valu (MIZUHO Bank ATM) | 8:00-23:00 |
| Coop SAPPRO Kutchan(SEVEN BANK) | 9:00-21:00 |
| LOWSON Kutchan Kita 6 Jyo(LOWSON BANK ATM) | 24hr |
| ■Niseko Town | |
|---|---|
| Hilton Niseko Village (AEON Bank ATM) | 24hr |
| Post Office - Niseko Main office | Mon-Fri 8:45-18:00 / Sat 9:00-17:00 / Sun 9:00-14:00 |
| SEVEN ELEVEN - Niseko | 24hr |
| ■Rankoshi Town | |
|---|---|
| Post Office - Rankoshi | Mon-Fri 8:45-18:00 / Sat 9:00-17:00 / Sun 9:00-14:00 |
Foreign Currency Exchange and Travellers Cheques
You can exchange most major currencies in Niseko including: USD, CAD, AUD, NZD, HKD, CNY, KRW, GBP, EUR, CHF. In Hirafu you can exchange currency at SEICO MART (ATM) and in Kutchan at the main post office, Hokuyo Bank (on the corner of Eki-mae Dori and Route 5) and the supermarket LUCKY Kutchan. Daily limits may apply. Please ask your accommodation provider to contact these places to check currencies.