About 100 km south of Sapporo, HANAZONO Resort lies within Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park, at the foot of Mount Niseko Annupuri, the easternmost peak of the Niseko mountain range rising inland from the Sea of Japan. Snow accumulates to nearly two metres even on the plains. As it melts, it forms countless mountain streams that flow into rivers. By late May, the mountains are cloaked in fresh green, and their beautiful broadleaf forests offer ideal terrain for trekking. A variety of water activities can also be enjoyed on the Shiribetsu River, one of Japan’s most pristine rivers, and along the quasi-national park’s coastline, dotted with unusual rock formations.