Niseko Town is a rural municipality in Hokkaido, Japan, internationally recognized for its leadership in sustainable tourism and climate action. The Low-Carbon Model Town project aims to achieve deep decarbonization while maintaining high quality of life and a resilient local economy. Through integrated policies on renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, and community participation, Niseko seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy self-sufficiency, and serve as a replicable low-carbon town model for cold-climate and tourism-dependent regions.
Description of Town
Type of Town:
☐ Urban (Central Business District)
☐ Urban (Mainly consists of commercial area)
☐ Urban (Mainly consists of residential area)
☒ Village (village)
☐ Village (island)
☐ Others
Coverage rate of population with access to tap water: 100%
Coverage rate of population with access to gas: Approximately 0% (no large-scale urban gas network; focus on electrification and renewables)
Power plant capacity: Small-scale distributed generation (no large centralized power plant)
Specific power plant type: Solar PV, biomass (woody biomass), small-scale renewable energy
Number of public transportation vehicles per 10,000 population: Limited (small local bus services; demand-responsive transport)
Popularization rate of telephone, including mobile telephone Over 100 sets per 100 persons
Per capita area of paved roads Data available in town statistics (relatively low compared to urban areas)
Per capita area of public green space High (surrounded by forests, agricultural land, and natural landscapes)
Climate conditions Cold, snowy winters; cool summers; humid continental climate
Expected Future Development
Expected demographic changes:
Expected industrial/economic changes:
Other expected development:
• Expected demographic changes (2023–2033): Gradual population aging and stabilization, with seasonal increases due to tourism.
• Expected industrial/economic changes (2023–2033): Growth in sustainable tourism, green services, renewable energy, and local food systems.
• Other expected development (2023–2033): Expansion of renewable energy, electrification of heating and transport, and digitalization of municipal services.
Town Policy, Vision or Objective
What is the policy, vision, or objective of the town?
• Niseko Town aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with Japan’s national climate goals. The town prioritizes community-led decarbonization, energy self-reliance, and sustainable tourism while preserving natural ecosystems and local culture.
Brief outline of the low carbon town development plan:
• Niseko’s low-carbon strategy integrates renewable energy (solar PV and biomass), high-performance building standards, electrification of heating and mobility, and compact land-use planning. Energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings, promotion of EVs, and sustainable tourism practices are central pillars. Strong citizen participation and transparent governance support long-term behavioral change and policy continuity.
Current stage of development of the town:
☐ Planning stage
☐ Construction stage
☒ Already existing
Start date of the project: Around 2013 (designation as a Low-Carbon Model Town)
Completion date of the project: Long-term (target year: 2050)
Low Carbon Measures
Does your low carbon town or development plan have CO2 emission reduction target?:
☒ Yes
☐ No
Key low carbon measures employed or to be employed
Urban functions
☒ Compact city design
☒ Heat island phenomenon countermeasures
☐ Efficient road arrangement plan
☐ Well-developed public transportation
☐ Car Sharing
☐ Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
☒ Plan for highly efficient infrastructure
☐ Other
Industry sector
☐ Factory energy management system
☐ Other
Transport sector
☐ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
☐ Light Rail Transit (LRT)
☒ Intra-city community bicycle
☐ Electric vehicle
☒ Electric busses
☒ LED street lighting
☐ Other
Residential sector
☐ Fuel cells
☒ Low or zero emission houses
☐ Eco-friendly home appliances
☒ PV panel
☐ Solar heated water supply facilities
☒ Heat-pump hot water supply with natural refrigerant
☒ Use of natural light
☐ Low emission glass
☐ Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
☐ Thermal storage air conditioning system
☐ Other
Commercial sector
☐ Low or zero emission building
☒ High insulation/highly airtight materials
☐ Sun shading system
☐ High performance facade
☐ Low emission glass
☐ Double skin facade
☐ Roof greening
☐ Highly efficient air conditioning facilities
☒ LED/Inverter lighting
☒ Use of natural light
☐ Building Energy Management System (BEMS)
☐ Thermal storage air conditioning system
☐ Other
Other demand side measures:
Renewable energy
☒ PV power generation
☐ Solar thermal utilization
☒ Biomass power generation
☐ Wind power generation
☐ Geo-thermal power generation
☐ Micro-hydroelectric power generation
☐ Others
Untapped energy
☐ Use of sea/river water
☐ Use of waste heat such as waste incineration plants
☐ Use of waste heat such as sewage treatment plants
☐ Use of waste heat from factories
☐ Others
Other supply side measures:
Demand and supply side measures
☒ Advanced metering systems
☐ Smart grid system
☐ Electric condenser system
☒ Area Energy Management System
☐ Others
Estimated cost savings in implementing low-carbon measures: Break down by Activity/Sector, potential source, estimated savings – e.g.:
• Energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy adoption reduce household and municipal energy costs. Biomass heating and solar PV lower fossil fuel expenditures, while EVs reduce fuel costs for residents and public fleets.
Estimated energy consumption before completion of the project:
• Baseline energy consumption prior to systematic decarbonization initiatives (pre-2013 levels; town-level statistics).
Estimated energy consumption after completion of the project:
• Significantly reduced per-capita energy use and emissions, with a pathway toward net-zero by 2050.
Project Management
What central/local government departments are/will be involved in development of the project?
• Niseko Town Government — planning, implementation, monitoring
• Hokkaido Prefectural Government — coordination and technical support
• National Government of Japan — policy alignment and subsidies
What private company, non-governmental organizations are/will be involved in development of the project?
• Local energy companies and cooperatives — implementation
• Tourism operators and community organizations — intermediary and implementation stages
How is/will be the development of the town funded?
• Public funding (municipal and national subsidies), private investment, community-based financing, and public–private collaboration.
Other relevant information, if any:
• Niseko is internationally recognized for participatory governance and sustainable tourism, making it a strong demonstration case for community-driven low-carbon development.