‘Little Australia’: Unpacking cosmopolitanism in Niseko, Japan

This case study introduces the small village of Niseko in northern Japan, transformed though tourism into an international ski resort. The case study provides background into the history of the resort and highlights how Niseko is an anomaly in an increasingly urbanised country in which rural communities are struggling. Narrative data is presented in the form of three micro-stories which incorporate both participant and researcher perspectives to illustrate and offer insight into the experiences of real tourism business owners who live in Niseko. The sociological concept of cosmopolitanism is introduced, and students are invited to reflect on various ways that cosmopolitanism can be used to understand both tourism hosts and tourism spaces.