A world-famous ski resort and a corridor of snow in spring
| From Tomakomai Station | By car about 1 h 35 min (about 109 km by road) Estimated from road map data. Traffic lights, congestion and winter roads can make it take longer. |
|---|---|
| Area | Otaru, Niseko & Shakotan |
| Our photos | 2015 |
| Map | Route from Tomakomai Station / Open map |
What are Niseko and the Panorama Line like?
Niseko is a world-famous ski resort surrounded by Mt. Yotei and Mt. Niseko Annupuri. In winter, many people from Japan and abroad come for the powder snow.
The Niseko Panorama Line is closed in winter. Right after it reopens in spring, high walls of snow remain on both sides of the road.
Getting there from Tomakomai and travel time
From JR Tomakomai Station, it takes about 1 h 35 min by car. The distance is about 109 km by road.
In winter, take care with the road surface on mountain pass roads. The Panorama Line is closed in winter.
Travel times are estimates based on the road distance from map data (OpenStreetMap), assuming an average speed of about 55 km/h (about 70 km/h for routes longer than 40 km). Traffic lights, traffic jams and winter road conditions can make the trip longer. Please check the latest road information before you go.
How people living in Tomakomai can enjoy it
From Tomakomai, Niseko is within day-trip range for skiing and snowboarding. Our president went snowboarding there in the winter of 2015 and visited in spring to see the snow corridor on the Panorama Line.
Our photo record
Our president visited in May 2015 and December 2015 and recorded about 42 photos.
This page was machine-translated. The Japanese original prevails.
Photos: Banana House Inc. (taken by our president). Do not reuse without permission.
Our photo records and timestamp certificates
The 12 photos in this article were taken on site by our president. We list the SHA-256 hashes of the published files and have them signed by timestamp authorities (DateSealed, DigiCert, Sectigo)(First certified: 2026-11-03 12:40 JST). A signature shows that the same file existed before that time; it does not prove the date the photo was taken.
You can check the signature and hash of each photo from its timestamp certificate. To see whether a photo you saved matches our records, use the photo timestamp verification page (Japanese) .
Frequently asked questions
When can I drive the Niseko Panorama Line?
It is closed in winter and is usually open from spring to autumn. Check the road administrator's announcements for the opening date.
Nearby spots
- Mt. Yotei and Kyogoku Fukidashi Park (about 18 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 1 h 15 min)
- Lake Toya and Orofure Pass (about 34 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 1 h 15 min)
- Jozankei and Nakayama Pass (about 45 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 1 h 10 min)
Looking for a home or selling in Tomakomai?
“Lake Shikotsu or Noboribetsu on weekends”, “I want to live near the airport”: we suggest areas that fit the way you want to live. We also help with selling and vacant houses.
Banana House Inc., 1-1-1 Honkocho, Tomakomai. We never use pushy sales. Please write in English or Japanese.