Mobility, Diaspora & Contact Zones of Australians in Japan

Niseko, Hokkaido, a famous ski resort, has become a popular ski destination for Australians since 2001. It is located in the northern part of Japan serving both domestic as well as international ski tourists. Among foreign travellers to Niseko, Australians are one of predominant groups of visitors. With the large number of Australian visitors, the area has been transformed into “Little Australia” where Australian pubs, shops and English signs are becoming elements of the city landscapes.  This paper will consider this flow of Australians to Niseko and its impacts in the local community through different theoretical concepts and shed light on nature as well as significance of such community under nexus of Australia and Japan.