Autumn Cycling in Hokkaido: Savoring Niseko Cuisine :: Autumn Foliage :: Otaru

Located in Niseko, Otaru, this mountain resort area is highly popular for outdoor activities, with Mount Yotei — known as "Ezo Fuji" — serving as its iconic landmark. The surroundings feature holiday cabins and hot spring villages, making it ideal for hiking, canoeing, hot air ballooning, skiing, and soaking in hot springs. With the rise in cycling popularity, it's even better suited for leisurely bike rides. Niseko is rich in lakes and marshes, perfect for exploring routes around them. A standard course begins at Goshiki Onsen, loops around three major lakes, and ends at Yunomine Onsen, covering approximately 13.5 kilometers. The well-maintained hiking trails make for a relaxing and enjoyable journey. In Niseko, you shouldn't miss the fresh milk and dairy products nurtured in the expansive environment, as well as the vibrant vegetables cultivated thanks to the large diurnal temperature variations. For example, the Milky Creamery, located near Takahashi Ranch and adhering to strict quality control, uses only fresh milk without any artificial additives or colorings. As a result, their ice cream and yogurt are exceptionally rich and delicious. The shop offers 16 flavors of ice cream, including black tea, matcha, strawberry yogurt, rum raisin, chestnut, chocolate, blueberry, strawberry, and cookie milk flavors.

The quaint and delicate teahouse restaurant NUPURI (ヌプリ), which resembles a fairytale castle, is situated at Niseko Station. "Nupuri" means "mountain" in the Ainu language, and the coffee here is brewed using water from Mount Yotei, resulting in an exceptionally sweet and rich flavor. Even the iced coffee is specially prepared with coffee ice cubes to prevent dilution and maintain the original taste. The shop’s signature dish, yam and bacon curry rice, is highly popular and often sells out quickly, so it’s best to go early. There’s also a cheese workshop called Niseko Fromage, where the air is filled with the rich aroma of cheese. After enjoying the last bite of their well-praised cheese ice cream, you’ll find yourself pondering which of the various cheeses displayed in the showcase to try first. All the cheeses, made without any chemical additives and using carefully selected ingredients, are produced from locally sourced Niseko milk. Transportation from Sapporo to Niseko 1. Take the seasonally limited SL Niseko train 2. Sapporo (local or rapid train) → Transfer to a local train bound for Oshamanbe at Otaru (approx. 1 hour 50 minutes) → Niseko Article Source: Cycling into the Northern Autumn Breeze, Savoring Handmade Niseko Cuisine

Read More: Taking in the Scenic Views of Niseko (Provided by Tripass Sightseeing Spots)