What is the 'SDGs Block' currently being developed in Niseko?

The 'SDGs Block' being developed in Niseko Town is, in a nutshell, a district that serves as a model for sustainable living spaces. A plan to create a highly sustainable district from an 'environmental,' 'economic,' and 'social' perspective near the town center is steadily progressing in Niseko.

The area with gray roofs is the planned 'SDGs Block'

Niseko Town has long continued town-building efforts that align with the goals of the SDGs, such as 'practicing autonomy through resident participation and information sharing,' 'initiatives as an Environmental Model City,' and 'creating unique development rules.'

Amidst this, Niseko Town was selected as an 'SDGs Future City' for proposing excellent initiatives towards achieving the SDGs. The development of the NISEKO Living Model District, commonly known as the 'SDGs Block,' was selected as a particularly outstanding and pioneering 'Municipal SDGs Model Project.'

This development is being handled by 'Niseko Machi Co., Ltd.,' a public-private partnership established by Niseko Town, local businesses, and a group of experts. It was founded in July 2020 with investments of 38% from Niseko Town, 34% from local businesses, and 28% from Club Vauban.

Commemorative photo at the establishment of Niseko Machi Co., Ltd.

The 'SDGs Block' is being developed in the Fujimi district of Niseko Town. In an approximately 9-hectare (90,000 m²) area near the town center, which was once mostly farmland, there are plans to create residential spaces such as rental and for-sale apartment complexes and share houses, as well as community spaces like a laundry cafe, workshops, and a public square. The current plan is for the residential area to accommodate a maximum of 400-500 residents.

Exterior rendering of the residential area

Interior rendering of the residential area

The final form of the block is expected to be completed in about 10 years. It is an urban plan that will evolve over time, divided into four phases (Phase 1 to Phase 4). They say they are always conscious of flexibly changing the scale and use of the development in response to the surrounding environment and needs, rather than just building everything at once.

Overall image of the block plan

The first phase will begin with land development work in 2022, construction will start in spring 2023, and residents are scheduled to move in in 2024.

'While we have an ideal picture of the kind of town we want to create, the plan itself is quite flexible. We are thinking of ways to respond as flexibly as possible to changes in needs and the surrounding environment, such as 'a more compact development would be better,' or 'it would be nice to have a small shop here.''

The 'SDGs Block' is a means to solve Niseko Town's regional challenges

So, why did the plan for the 'SDGs Block' development in Niseko Town come about in the first place? It was to solve the regional challenges related to the 'environment,' 'economy,' and 'society' that the residents of Niseko Town are facing.

From an environmental perspective, climate change is a problem that greatly affects Niseko Town, whose main industries are agriculture and tourism. In 2020, Niseko Town declared a climate emergency and aims to achieve virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of global warming, by 2050.

Niseko Town Climate Emergency Declaration

Additionally, Niseko Town has many residents who have moved from both within Japan and abroad, and its population is slightly increasing, which is rare for a rural area. Many people also commute to work or school from neighboring municipalities, increasing the town's vibrancy. On the other hand, the number of town-managed houses is limited, and due to soaring land prices and construction costs, the supply of housing is not satisfactory in terms of either quantity or price. Furthermore, according to surveys conducted by Niseko Town for its residents (in 2018 and 2019), many households responded that they would 'consider moving in the future.' It became clear that quite a few people want to reduce the burdens of winter, with comments like 'I want to live in a house that's warm even in winter,' 'snow removal and garden maintenance have become difficult,' and 'I want to reduce my utility bills.'

Results of the town resident survey

As one means to solve these regional challenges, the development of the NISEKO Living Model District, commonly known as the 'SDGs Block,' was planned in Niseko Town to minimize energy consumption and serve as a new housing option for existing Niseko residents looking to move.

The keys are 'Energy' and 'Community Building'

There are many things we want to achieve with the SDGs Block, but the keys are 'reducing energy consumption and promoting local economic circulation' and 'creating a community where people want to keep living.'

The first key is 'reducing energy consumption and promoting local economic circulation.' As measures to reduce energy consumption for the entire block, 'high insulation and high airtightness of buildings' and an 'Energy Center' are planned.

With the cooperation of WELLNEST HOME Inc., with whom we have a comprehensive partnership agreement, we will minimize heat and electricity demand by promoting high insulation and airtightness in buildings through the introduction of thick insulation materials, high-performance resin sashes with standard triple glazing, and high-efficiency equipment. As a result, residents will not only be able to live warmly and comfortably, but their utility bills will be significantly reduced, lessening their financial burden. For the community, we believe that if the saved energy can be reinvested within the region, it will increase local economic circulation and enrich the community.

Left: Image of insulation and wall structure. Right: Image of high-performance resin sashes with standard triple glazing.

Furthermore, we are planning to establish an 'Energy Center' in the future to supply electricity and heat within the district.

'The 'Energy Center' is a facility for creating electricity and heat within the block and supplying it to each residence, in other words, a system for circulating energy within the community. In the future, we want to increase the proportion of 'renewable energy' in the energy we produce, and right now, we are in the middle of experimenting with solar panels.'

Experimental solar panels

Planned for installation on the roof of the parking lot in the foreground

They are conducting an experiment with a solar panel manufacturer to see 'if solar panels can withstand the weight of snow in the heavy snowfall area of Niseko.' If the results are good, they plan to install them on the roof of the communal parking lot in the first phase. Furthermore, they also plan to install EV charging booths in the parking lot. For this, they have signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc. and will proceed with joint development and demonstration experiments.

The other key is to deliberately leave 'yohaku' (blank space/margin) for 'creating a community where people want to keep living.' The flexible planning that allows for updates according to needs and the environment is one aspect of this 'yohaku,' but there are many other such spaces left in this block.
For example, a grassy plaza of about 250m x 50m is planned for the very center of the block. For example, a shared space that can be used in various ways.

'In the plaza, children can of course run around freely, and in the summer, we could have barbecues or events like a beer garden. For example, once a week, mobile vendors from shops that are usually hard to get to could come, or we could have a community cafeteria where you can enjoy daily lunch specials from town restaurants. Or maybe, you could even have a remote consultation with a doctor and get your prescription filled at a nearby drugstore. We want to leave such 'yohaku' and be a place that can respond to the needs of residents both inside and outside the block, and where we can take on new challenges.'

Building a comfortable relationship with Niseko residents

Niseko Machi Co., Ltd. is not just focused on the SDGs Block. Their mission is to make the entire town of Niseko comfortable, not just for the residents of the block.

As more town residents move from their large, single-family homes to the SDGs Block, they also want to work on renovating for insulation and repurposing vacant houses in the town center. A wonderful point of this plan is that the development of the SDGs Block will trigger improvements in the livability of the entire town of Niseko.

Also, with the desire for people to get to know and feel familiar with the block, they held an initiative to decide on a nickname for the block based on ideas gathered from town residents. When they solicited suggestions mainly from residents of Niseko Town and neighboring municipalities, they received as many as 117 entries. The SDGs Block initiative will surely become gradually more familiar to Niseko Town and its surrounding areas through various efforts in the future.

Flyer distributed when soliciting names for the block

Supplying high-performance housing and creating a town where residents want to continue living. With the vision of 'enhancing Niseko Town's value as a world-class sustainable town,' Niseko Machi Co., Ltd., which prioritizes the people currently living in Niseko and those who will live here in the future, will undoubtedly create a wonderful block that grows with the town.

Keep your eyes on the 'SDGs Block.' We hope you'll pay attention to it too.