Mount Yotei is located at the western end of Shikotsu-Toya National Park and is one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan. Its near-perfect conical shape is the archetypal symbol of the Niseko region.

With its solitary peak, Mount Yotei, also known as Ezo Fuji from its stunning resemblance to Mt. Fuji, is widely considered to be one of Hokkaido’s most famous mountains.

You can climb the mountain from early June onwards. From early July to early August, there are around 80 types of alpine plants that you can see around the summit of the mountain.

Right now this mountain looks beautiful and serene, but it has a very violent history. There’ve been some extremely violent eruptions in past, spewing out large volumes of volcanic ash over the surrounding area.

However, it’s this ash that makes the land around Niseko so fertile: it’s the reason why the agricultural industry here is so successful.

Arable fields spread out below Mount Yotei, and the combination of fields and the mountain gives the scenery a unique idyllic beauty. It’s time to take a closer look at Mount Yotei!

Kutchan is known as one of the leading potato producing areas in Hokkaido. In July the potato flowers start blooming all over the city, white or light purplish red.

The locals love them because they’re a sign that summer is on the way. The somber shape of Mt. Yotei lurks in the background behind the vast potato fields. It’s a gorgeous view whichever direction you look from.

When you drive around Kutchan, you’ll see beautiful landscapes like this wherever you look. Try and find a few favorite spots of your own!

The sunflower fields near Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm at Higashiyama Hana no Oka are a popular place for those in the know. From the end of July through to the middle of August, the appearance of sunflowers blooming with Mt. Yotei and Niseko Annupuri in the background is an exquisite sight. The beauty of these large flowers set against the backdrop of the blue sky makes for an unbelievably stunning contrast. It’s free to visit here, so you can take as many souvenir photos as you like. You can also enjoy the peaceful pasture landscape at the Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm nearby. Get yourself a soft ice cream (290 yen), made with fresh milk produced on the farm, and go for a walk.

Mt. Yotei’s appearance changes depending on the season and the time of day. However, the views of the mountain in the evening are something else!

The south side of the mountain as seen from Makkari Village appears in perfect outline turning deep red in the evening sun. The mountain is also called Red Fuji because it’s reminiscent of the ukiyo-e paintings by Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.

Some fans of the view specifically come along in the evening to see it. It depends on weather conditions, but there are a number of different places in the village where you can go to enjoy the views.

You get good views of Mt. Yotei from the ground, but it’s also great to see the mountain and Niseko from high up as well. Niseko Annupuri rises up opposite Mt. Yotei across the Shiribetsu River. There are four ski resorts here, including the Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area and Niseko Grand Hirafu. In summer there’s a gondola in operation so you can see Mt. Yotei and the surrounding countryside from high up on Niseko Annupuri.

Niseko Grand Hirafu’s summer gondola climbs up the Niseko Annupuri mountainside with views of Mt. Yotei right in front of you.

As it climbs higher, you’ll see the scenery change, with the Niseko townscape receding and a magnificent spectacle of greenery spreading out in front of you. It’s a wonderful panorama with a full-on view of Mt. Yotei.

If it’s a clear day, you can usually see as far as the Nakayama Pass and Mt. Usu. A nice touch at the end of the gondola ride is the “vista couch”. Why not have a souvenir photo taken here on the couch with Mt. Yotei in the background?

A long time ago repeated eruptions by Mount Yotei created a number of scenic locations around here. At the foot of the mountain is a crescent-shaped lake. The shape is what gave the lake its name, Hangetsuko (Half Moon Lake).

The crater of the lake was created by an eruption of Mount Yotei. There’s a walking trail around it. It’s a 15 to 20-minute walk to the lakeside from the parking lot: you’ll see the lake appear with the beautiful forest stretched out all around.

Its surface is exceptionally clear. The greenery all around is reflected in stunning emerald green on the water in summer. In fall, you can see the reflection of the red-tinged autumn leaves. If the weather is nice, you should even be able to see Mt. Yotei reflected in the water.

Now it’s time for us to tell you a bit more about the water around here. Fukidashi Kouen in Kyogoku-cho east of Mt. Yotei boasts of having the highest volumes of flowing spring water in the whole of Japan.

The water of Fukidashi Kouen has also been chosen as one of the 100 best springwaters in Japan. Around 80,000 tons of water are discharged every day, enough for the daily water needs of 300,000 people!

Melted snow from Mt. Yotei takes several decades to reemerge from the ground as spring water. It’s cool and fresh, around 6.5 degrees even in summer, with a soft and mellow taste. There are spring water outlets set up all over the park.

You can drink it freely or draw off the water to use it later. Many people come here with plastic bottles and water tanks, especially at the weekend.

As you walk round the park, the spring water is flowing along the waterways, closely enshrouded by greenery. It’s a magical place, a bit like somewhere spirits might live. The people of Kyogoku treat Fukidashi Park with reverence - to them it’s a sacred place. The statues of Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) watch over the springs at the park.

There’s a roadside station here called Meisui-no-sato Kyogoku. In Meisui Plaza in the main building there’s a restaurant and a shop, where you can get food and drink, and do some shopping. Meisui coffee, made with spring water using the “nel drip” technique is a specialty here. It’s well worth trying!

You’ll be touched and moved by the plain and simple beauty of Nature here in Niseko. It’s a feeling you don’t normally experience in the city. Winter in Niseko is a time of fun and excitement, but you can’t fail to be charmed by the attractions of this place in summer when the countryside all around is bathed in deep shades of green.