Niseko offers so much more than just world-class skiing. It’s an incredible region for both landscape and wildlife photography, shaped by volcanoes, forests, and deep snow. Shaped by volcanoes, forests, and deep snow, Niseko’s scenery changes dramatically with the seasons. Whether you’re capturing Mount Yotei, exploring quiet forests, or finding foxes in the snow, the area is full of creative potential year-round.

The area’s most famous landmark is Mount Yotei, the “Fuji of the North.” Even after fifteen years living here, it still stops me in my tracks when the clouds clear and it appears across the valley. I’ve photographed it from many angles, but the surrounding Niseko Range of older volcanoes also holds endless photographic potential in every season.

While the wildlife here isn’t as plentiful as in eastern Hokkaido, I still regularly see foxes, suqirrels, tanuki,Birds and other animals — often when I least expect it.

I first moved to Niseko almost fifteen years ago. It’s where I bought my first real camera — initially to shoot skiing — and quickly realised how much I loved capturing the landscapes I lived among.

Although Niseko can feel crowded on the ski slopes during winter, step just a little away from the resorts or come outside the peak months and you’ll find space, quiet, and time to explore. Even in winter, once you’re off the lifts, it’s easy to be alone with your camera.

Yotei is the main draw for landscape photographers here.
My favourite easy-access location is Yotei Sugatami Pond, a small pond that mirrors the volcano perfectly on calm mornings. It works in any season, but my favourite times are autumn, when the trees turn orange, and early winter with fresh snow around bt the point not yet frozen over so you still get reflections.

Sometimes it’s nice to forget about the perfect foreground and just focus on the mountain itself. When the light changes, Mt Yotei can look completely different — moody one minute, glowing the next. Zooming in on the patterns of light, cloud, or snow can capture a side of it that’s easy to miss when you’re always chasing reflections.

There are countless other viewpoints around Yotei. From different sides the mountain changes shape — sometimes a perfect cone, sometimes more rugged. You can frame it with farms in the foreground, use rivers as leading lines, or find ponds and lakes with reflections. Half the fun is exploring and discovering new angles for yourself.

Opposite Yotei lies the Niseko Range — a chain of about eleven old volcanoes stretching 25 km from Mount Annupuri, home of the main ski area, toward the Sea of Japan. Because these volcanoes are ancient, their shapes are smooth and rounded. From Annupuri’s summit, the skyline looks almost alien — a series of soft domes fading west.

The Niseko Panorama Line is a great road to explore for landscape photography, passing through the range with endless options for compositions. One of my favourite stops is Shinsen Numa Marsh, especially in autumn when the colours are at their peak. The road closes in winter, but if you have ski-touring gear or snowshoes, you can still explore — and in fact, winter is when the forest opens up and the shapes of the snow-filled trees are at their best.

Goshiki Onsen road is another good option and it stays open over winter so it easy to access all year. From there you can climb to Annupuri on one side or Iwaonupuri on the other — both offer wide views and great winter woodland photography. It’s also a popular ski-touring area and sometimes get busy. Also bring proper avalanche safety gear if going not the backcountry around here and know how to use it

One of my favourite things about Hokkaido is the white birch forests, especially in winter when they turn into a monochrome world of snow and twisted trunks.

The area around Goshiki Onsen is excellent for this, as is Kagaminuma Pond, which offers both forest and open views. In summer there’s a hiking trail and reflections in the pond; in winter, everything is buried under snow, transforming it completely. I often access it on skis from the Hanazono side — gliding through quiet old-growth trees before traversing back out.

Another good area is partway up the Makkimo side of Mt Yotei — between Kimobetsu and Makkari. There’s no official summer trail here, but in winter the snow buries the thick undergrowth, opening up beautiful birch forests. I’ve ski toured up here many times; it’s quiet, scenic terrain that makes for great woodland photography and an enjoyable ski down. It’s true backcountry though, so bring avalanche gear and know how to use it.

Niseko doesn’t have as much wildlife as other parts of Hokkaido, perhaps because of the deep snow or past hunting. Bears are rarely seen here, and deer are fewer than in other regions, but foxes are common — I often see them crossing roads or wandering through farmland while I’m out shooting landscapes.

You can also spot squirrels and chipmunks (the chipmunks hibernate, so only in summer), and occasionally tanuki if you’re lucky. One area where I regularly see squirrels is the forest behind Hirafu Shrine, near the mountain-bike park.
Like most wildlife work, finding them takes patience and luck. Most of my fox shots come from simply driving around with a long lens and watching for movement.

Niseko is an incredible place for nature photography, and I’ve barely scratched the surface. Most people come here for the skiing — which is fantastic — but the real reward is exploring the volcanoes, forests, and quiet valleys that surround the resorts.

If you’d like to explore more locations like these, check out my Hokkaido Nature Photography Map— a growing collection of the best landscape and wildlife spots across Hokkaido.

And if you’d prefer a local guide to take you there, feel free to get in touch — if I’m available, I can offer guided photo sessions around Niseko and beyond.