倶知安のＮＰＯ法人が構想
ＮＰＯ法人ニセコエリアマウンテンバイク協会(倶知安町北1条東1丁目4)は、ニセコリゾート地区や羊蹄山麓でマウンテンバイク(ＭＴＢ)コースの整備を計画している。今後20カ年程度をかけ、倶知安、ニセコ町内のスキー場などで複数のコースを設置するとともに、羊蹄山周回路も構想。初弾となる倶知安町内の「双子山トレイルパーク」は、8月にもアレグラ(本社・スイス)が施工を開始する。計画通りに進めば、コースの総延長は100kmを超える見込み。各地で乗降し、食事や宿泊が楽しめる通年型観光地形成の起爆剤として注目が高まりそうだ。
協会は1月27日に設立。ニセコや周辺地域で自然保護の上、ＭＴＢに乗って山並みや農村風景を楽しむことで環境の整備や維持を目的としている。代表理事は、ニセコＨＡＮＡＺＯＮＯリゾートを運営する日本ハーモニーリゾート(本社・倶知安)のコリン・ハクウォース社長が就き、ニセコエリアの事業経営者らが役員を務める。
双子山トレイルパークは、協会による構想実現の第一歩となる。1月末、ニセコ東急グラン・ヒラフスキー場の1.5km北東に位置する町有林での造成について倶知安町と協議を開始。町は行政財産使用申請に対し、近く許可を出す方針だ。道から保安林内の作業許可が取得できれば、8月から積雪期までに第1段階の9㌔を整備する。
保安林のため、コース幅は1ｍ未満とする。両サイドは1ｍ以内で草刈りが可能だが、樹木の伐採はしない。2023年度以降、第2段階で4km、第3段階で8kmを造成する計画だ。
リゾート地区ではスキー場を利用したコース整備も予定。ニセコＨＡＮＡＺＯＮＯリゾートとニセコモイワスキーリゾートについては各運営者と協議中で、ニセコビレッジスキーリゾートやニセコアンヌプリ国際スキー場も視野に入れている。
羊蹄山麓を一周できる周回コースも構想。詳細は調査などを経て詰めるが、延長は約35㌔を想定している。各町村に周回コースへの出入り口を設置し、「ＭＴＢとともに、さまざまな地域で宿泊施設や店舗の利用を促し地域振興につなげたい」(ロス・カーティー副代表理事)考えだ。
ニセコは冬季に国内外からの観光客が多く訪れる一方、それ以外の季節は「閑散期」とされてきた。倶知安観光協会の吉田聡会長はＭＴＢについて、「スキーシーズン以外での誘客が期待できるコンテンツ。滞在施設や景観が楽しめる場所が増えれば、周辺地域を含め経済波及効果は大きくなるだろう」と分析する。
English translation
Kutchan NPO Plans MTB Trails in Niseko including Mt. Yotei Circuit
The NPO Niseko Area Mountain Bike Association (Higashi 1-4, Kita 1, Kutchan) is planning to develop mountain bike (MTB) trails in the Niseko resort area and at the foot of Mt. Yotei. The project will take approximately 20 years to complete, with multiple trails to be established at ski resorts in the towns of Kutchan and Niseko, as well as a circuitous route around Mt. Yotei. As the first stage of the project, ALLEGRA (headquartered in Switzerland) will begin construction of the Twin Peaks bike park in Kutchan Town in August. If all goes as planned, the total length of the trails is expected to exceed 100 km. Bikers will be able to get on and off the trail at various locations, where they can enjoy dining and lodging. It is likely to attract more attention as a catalyst for the formation of year-round tourist destinations.
The association was established on January 27. It aims to improve and maintain the environment in Niseko and its surrounding areas by allowing people to enjoy mountainous and rural landscapes on MTBs while protecting nature. Colin Hackworth, president of Nihon Harmony Resorts (headquartered in Kutchan), which operates Niseko Hanazono Resort, serves as the representative director, and business executives from the Niseko area are on the board.
At the end of January, the association began discussions with Kutchan Town regarding land development for the Twin Peaks bike park in a town-owned forest located 1.5 km northeast of the Niseko Tokyu Grand HIRAFU area. The town will issue a permit for the use of the administrative property in the near future. If permission to work in the conservation forest can be obtained from the Hokkaido Government, the development of a 9-km section in the first phase of the project will begin in August and go through the snow season.
To preserve the nature, width of the trail shall be less than 1 m. Grass can be cut on both sides within 1 meter, but no trees will be cut down. Plans are slated to develop a 4-km section in the second phase, followed by an 8-km section in the third phase from FY 2023 onward.
The Twin Peaks bike park is the first step being taken by the association towards the realization of the overall concept. In the resort area, the project team is currently in discussions with the operators of Niseko Hanazono Resort and Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort about trail development using ski slopes. Niseko Village Ski Resort and Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area are also candidates.
Moreover, the association is designing a circular trail around the foot of Mt. Yotei that will be 35 km in length. “By establishing entrances to the circuit in individual municipalities,” Vice President Ross Carty pointed out, “we hope to encourage the use of accommodations and stores in various areas along with MTB to promote regional development.”
While Niseko attracts many domestic and international tourists during the winter season, the rest of the year has thus far been considered the off-season. Satoshi Yoshida, president of the Kutchan Tourism Association, says that mountain biking is expected to attract visitors outside of the ski season. Having analyzed the situation, he believes that the economic ripple effect in the resort and surrounding areas will be significant if there are more places to stay and enjoy the scenery.
(Excerpt from an article on July 1, 2022)
More articles in English here.
