- Home
- Niseko Real Estate
- Foreigners in Niseko, by Country
What Countries Do the Foreigners in Niseko Come From?
As part of our reporting on real estate in Niseko and foreigners living in Niseko, we supply some data about which countries have the largest populations of foreigners living in Niseko.
Foreigners in “Niseko”
As we say in our other posts about the Niseko local economy and the various population of Niseko statistics, what locals and visitors call “Niseko” is not clearly defined, and depending on the source, discussions of Niseko can include Niseko town, and probably also Kutchan town (which has a bigger local population than the small town of Niseko), a third small town called Rankoshi, and often the surrounding region as well.
Population of Foreigners in the Niseko Region, by Country
As the population of International people residing in Niseko depends on the season, accurate data is difficult to collect. The data below can help suggest general trends for the country of origin of Niseko’s foreign-born population:
Foreigners in Niseko, by Country of Origin
| Country of Origin | Percentage of Foreign Population |
|---|---|
| Australia | 33% |
| England | 13% |
| Taiwan | 5% |
| New Zealand | 5% |
| China | 4% |
| Canada | 4% |
| Philippines | 4% |
| India | 4% |
| Malaysia | 3% |
| Singapore | 2% |
| France | 1% |
| Nepal | 1% |
| Korea | 1% |
| Other | 20% |
This table presents includes data for Niseko’s foreign residents (not the overall population). For more complete data, see our report on the Niseko population by year.
Niseko’s International Population by Year
Niseko’s overall population has declined somewhat in recent years. However, the population of foreigners in Niseko had mostly increased in recent years, leading to an increasingly large percentage of International people living in Niseko vs the original Japanese.
Percentage of Foreigners in Niseko, by Year
| Year | Percentage of Foreign Population in Niseko |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 4% |
| 2021 | 5% |
| 2020 | 7% |
| 2019 | 5% |
| 2018 | 4% |
| 2017 | 4% |
| 2016 | 3% |
| 2015 | 2% |
| 2014 | 2% |
| 2013 | 2% |
| 2012 | 1% |
From 2012 to 2022, the percentage of foreigners reported to be living in Niseko increased from 1% to approximately 4%. It may have been as high as 7% in 2020.
In a separate report we provide more detailed statistics for Niseko’s foreign population by year.
Niseko Foreigner Demographics
Data on the ethnic background of foreigners living in Niseko is based on small data samples. As we describe in our article on The Niseko Story, Niseko is a very seasonal place. There are large changes in the population every year during winter, as Niseko’s perfect powder snow brings both visitors and additional workers to the Niseko region.
While the data is small, the trends in Niseko population may be easier to see. The overall population has declined somewhat. However, the percentage of people from foreign countries living in Niseko continues to grow.
Niseko Real Estate and Foreign Buyers
Most real estate in Niseko is owned by the Japanese (both historically and currently). However, perhaps more than any other part of Hokkaido, foreigners buying Niseko real estate make up a sizeable percentage of transactions.
From the details in this report, you can imagine that Australians are heavily represented as Niseko real estate buyers (and some of the sellers as well). And Asian investment from China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the rest of the Chinese diaspora is also significant. The arrival of shinkansen (“bullet train”) service from mainland Japan, through Hakodate then Sapporo then Otaru, and then on to Niseko, will likely further encourage these trends.
In our client work, we make introductions to real estate professionals in Niseko all the time. We often take requests about the availability of loans and about Niseko real estate agents. For help finding local real estate agents in Niseko (or help with business formation, visas, taxes, and other professional services in Niseko), contact us.
We make a lot of referrals and we’re happy to help.
We work for you, not the real estate companies.
We provide person-to-person introductions to prescreened agents that help you sell, buy, lease, or rent property in Hokkaido. We search our custom database to connect you to real estate professionals that speak your language, address your needs and are available now to help you find what you want.
Local. Trusted. 100% free to you.
To Get Started
- Contact Us or Call NOW:
Phone
- (+81) 50 5806-5302
- (+1) 833-893-0711
For More Information:
— Some estimate for The Cost to Buy a House in Niseko
— Our report on the Average Rent for an Apartment in Niseko
— Some details on the Price of Land in Niseko compared to Sapporo
— Current estimate for The Population of Niseko
— Estimates of the Foreigners Living in Niseko, by Year
— Our report on Why is Niseko Famous?
— Otaru Population, by Year
— Find Lawyers in Hokkaido
— Our Taxes in Japan page
— Buying Property in Hokkaido as a Foreigner
