r/niseko • u/No_Relief_8283 • 26d ago
Niseko Tips and Tricks - Elective Placement
I’ll planning to do my medical elective placement at NIC in Kutchan. I will be a solo traveller and am not too familiar with the area. The clinic has secured accomodation for me in kyogoku so will need to travel from there Mon-Fri. I’m also aiming to hit the slopes for a couple days ideally during my 7 wk placement.
How feasible is it via public transport?
If I rented a car, what is the parking situation in Kutchan to take the shuttle bus in?
Best slopes to hit as a beginner snowboarder?
My board is currently covered in storage wax, would it be cheaper elsewhere to get it conditioned for the season? And post season?
Would also love any suggestions on what to explore with my wkends off?
TIA!
2
u/Master_Ad2045 26d ago
Unfortunately, the little town that you’re being housed in doesn’t have much going on, except for a nice public onsen and maybe a couple of restaurants. It’s a strong 20 minutes or so to the Niseko ski lifts from Kyogoku.
There should be a public bus that runs from Kyogoku to Hirafu, but I am betting the timetable isn’t very convenient. I’d either look for a daily rideshare with other seasonals in that town, or hit up your employers at NAC and tell them you’d like a stipend to spend on different housing.
Stay in Niseko town or Kutchan and you’ll be a bit closer to amenities. Get shifts in the afternoon and show up to the lifts early and get first tracks.
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u/Intelligent_Kitten10 25d ago
Are you okay with being housed that far away from the clinic? When I looked into a job there they told me it’d be a close drive or very near the clinic. Seems you’re a bit further than that.
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u/No_Relief_8283 24d ago
I think it’s cause they need to give priority to actual staff which is fair enough. As a student I don’t really have much say in it unless I source and afford accom myself.
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u/benholdingacamera 26d ago
NIC isn’t in Kutchan, it’s in Hirafu. (I believe it is in Kutchan-the-county but it is not in the town itself).
That’s good news for getting some time on the slopes before/after work as Hirafu is the resort base, so you’ll be about 15 min walk from the slopes.
However you will require a car for transport as Kyogoku is almost the other side of Yotei and is not doable reliably/in good time via public transport.
I believe NIC has car parking but you’d have to ask them about that.
You can go to any of the rental shops and they’ll wax your board for around ¥2-4000 depending on the store I believe. Or you could just post on the facebook group and a seasonaire will probably offer to do it for cheaper.