Niseko's sprawling villages are home to an incredible range of options for accommodation.
Over the past 20 years, Niseko has exploded in popularity to become Japan’s most international resort, now globally recognised for its world-class powder and vibrant nightlife. The resort in its entirety consists of 4 ski areas and several sprawling villages, which see up to 200,000 visitors per year despite a local population of less than 5,000. As a result, the choice of ski accommodation in Niseko is as diverse as its international customer base.
Luxury
Zaborin (Hanazono)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
Washitsu/Yoshitsu room (1-2 pax, inc. Zaborin’s Japanese fine dining Package)
– ¥236,000 yen (~US$1,615)
Zaborin is without doubt one of Niseko’s most photogenic properties. This luxury ryokan, a 7 minute drive from Niseko Hanazono, has featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ, who named it one of the world’s most stylish hotels.
Each of Zaborin’s 15 villas has both an indoor and open-air bath, sourced from the property’s own volcanic hot spring, found almost a kilometre below ground. The villas are nestled among native Japanese birch trees and offer stunning views of the surrounding ranges, including Mt. Yotei and Mt. Annupuri.
Zaborin is also renowned for its kita kaiseki dining experience, a style of Japanese fine dining that features a multi-course set meal made with local, seasonal ingredients. Zaborin’s dining room is led by award-winning Hokkaido-born chef Yoshihiro Seno, who collaborates with an in-house forager.
Sekka Sekka (Grand Hirafu)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
4-story holiday house (10 pax)
– ¥463,200 (~US$3165) – min. 5 nights
Another of Niseko’s most exclusive properties, Sekka Sekka is standalone 5-bedroom chalet, located a stone’s throw from Hirafu’s main intersection. This is prime Niseko real estate, with shops, bars, restaurants and ski lifts all within a short walk of the front door.
The chalet, which sleeps up to 12 guests, stands 4 storeys tall and is equipped with an elevator, a suspended fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, a wide-screen smart TV, a state-of-the-art open-plan kitchen, a private Hinoki bathtub and an abundance of designer furniture.
The property is managed by NISADE, who are responsible for many of Niseko’s most luxurious rentals including the Vale (featured below) and Snow Crystal, both found on the stretch between Sekka Sekka and the slopes.
Ski-in ski-out
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono (Hanazono)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
King Room with mountain view (2 pax)
– ¥215,600 (~US$1,475) – min. 3 nights
A relative newcomer to the Niseko landscape, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono offers exclusive slopeside access to Hanazono, a resort known for its beginner-friendly slopes, world-class powder and competition-level terrain parks. This 100-room luxury hotel, which opened in early 2020, looks directly onto Hanazono’s beginner area, and is within striking distance of its Symphony Gondola and #1 chair.
The rooms on offer include a range of king and twin bed suites, luxury residences and penthouses, all of which feature floor-to-ceiling windows, walk-in closets, sleeper sofas and 55-inch flat-screen TVs. At the top end, the hotel’s 2- and 3-bedroom penthouse residences each have their own living room, dining area and kitchen, plus a private balcony and semi-outdoor onsen overlooking Mount Yotei and the Annupuri ranges.
The property also hosts several lounges, bars and restaurants including two led by Michelin-starred chefs – the French-themed Molière Montagne and Sushi Mitsukawa, which specialises in Kanazawa-influenced sushi and sashimi.
The Vale Niseko (Grand Hirafu)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
Deluxe Hotel Room (2-3 pax, inc. breakfast)
– ¥84,000 (~US$575) – min. 5 nights between 10 Dec – 18 Feb
2 Bedroom Yotei View (6 pax, room only)
– ¥201,000 (~US$1,375) – min. 5 nights between 10 Dec – 18 Feb
The Vale Niseko was Hirafu’s first 5-star condominium-style hotel when it opened in 2009. It is now one of NISADE’s flagship properties, having been named ‘World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel’ several times at the World Ski Awards.
The hotel, which features 47 fully-serviced apartments, enjoys direct access to Grand Hirafu’s Ace Family Quad Lift and is only a few minutes’ walk from the hustle and bustle of Middle Hirafu. Shared facilities include a restaurant and après-ski bar, an in-house ski shop, a public onsen and an outdoor heated pool.
Six floors up, The Vale’s 3-bedroom penthouse suite is its crown jewel, and the luxury on show here is next level. The balcony, which boasts a stunning private onsen, is perhaps its best feature, offering uninterrupted views of Mt. Yotei and the resort.
Skye Niseko (Grand Hirafu)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
Studio Room Yotei View (2 pax)
– ¥104,000 (~US$710)
2 Bedroom Suite (4 pax)
– ¥195,000 (~US$1332)
Skye Niseko is a large-scale premium ski hotel found at the base of Grand Hirafu, just metres from the resort’s King Pair Lifts and a short traverse from the gondola. The hotel, which comprises more than 100 luxury suites, is on the fringe of Hirafu village, Niseko’s liveliest neighbourhood.
The hotel features several dining options including Kumo, a chic Japanese-style izakaya, and Café Deli, a hybrid coffee shop and bar. Other amenities include an in-house rental store, men’s and women’s public onsens and 3 bookable private onsens, exclusively available to hotel guests. Skye’s Ryko day spa is another highlight, with a range of luxury treatments on offer including an Après-Ski Full Revitalisation treatment, which includes 30 minutes of ski boot relief.
Skye’s entry-level studios boast a fully-equipped kitchen and wall-mounted smart TV with Bluetooth soundbar, Netflix and Apple TV. Things get significantly more extravagant at penthouse level, however, with perks including a rooftop onsen and outdoor fire pit, a wireless sound system, a wine fridge, plus access to the concierge team via a tablet.
Mid-range
The Green Leaf Niseko Village (Niseko Village)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
Deluxe Room (2-3 pax)
– ¥63,000 / US$429.99 – 15% off with breakfast
Nestled at the base of Niseko Village ski area, just metres from the Upper Village Gondola, The Green Leaf is a legitimate ski-in ski-out hotel but without the exorbitant price tag you’d usually pay for this luxury – particularly if skiing outside of peak season.
The hotel’s Deluxe King and Twin rooms, which at 23sqm are big enough to fit both a desk and a convertible sofa bed, serve as the best value option. Otherwise, the roomier corner suites come equipped with a living room, kitchenette, an extra powder room and a second flat-screen TV.
The Green Leaf’s onsen facilities are perhaps its biggest drawcard alongside the obvious appeal of its slopeside location. The outdoor onsen (or rotenburo), in particular, is reason enough to visit, featuring large, natural boulders, a thatched wall and several overhanging trees. Green Leaf’s Juhyo Spa is another option for weary skiers, as is its plush lounge bar, Tomioka White.
Always Niseko (Grand Hirafu)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
Standard Niseko Room (2 pax)
– ¥34,000 (US$232) – Winter rack rate w/ breakfast, min. 5 nights during peak (Dec 18- Jan 5 and Feb 5 – 18, 2024)
Within 800 m of Grand Hirafu’s Ace Family Lift, Always Niseko is in striking distance of Grand Hirafu but without the price tag of a slopeside property.
The hotel offers a range of double and twin rooms, plus a larger 4-person suite, which features a cozy living area and split bathroom. Facilities for skiers include a boot room and ski rack, a coin-operated laundry, plus access to a knowledgeable concierge team that can assist with equipment, lift tickets, lessons, tours and transport.
Guests are entitled to a free shuttle that runs between Always Niseko, the Welcome Center and the gondola, with vans departing twice an hour in the morning and once per hour in the evening. Other perks include a complimentary breakfast at the hotel’s in-house restaurant-bar, which throughout the day serves a mix of Japanese staples and tapas-style snacks, plus happy hour drinks from 3-6 pm.
Budget & backpacker
Niseko Grandpapa Lodge (Grand Hirafu)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
Twin room (ensuite)
¥17,000 (~US$116)
Twin room (shared bathroom)
¥13,000 (~US$89)
Located in Lower Hirafu among some of Niseko’s most popular bars and restaurants, Niseko Grandpapa Lodge is a long-standing family-owned hotel, just 700 m from Grand Hirafu’s slopes. The lodge, which opened in 1985, has belonged to the same family since its inception, and is now managed by Kohei Nikahara, a former pro skier.
Both the property and its in-house fondue restaurant are Swiss inspired – a nod to Kitchan Town’s sister city, St. Moritz, Switzerland. The lodge features a range of twin, triple and quad rooms, a cozy lounge and fireplace, plus a games room with foosball, darts and Jenga.
Freeride Lodge Niseko (Niseko Village)
Price P/N (Jan ’24):
1 Bed in a 7 Person Mixed Dorm Room
– ¥7,000 (~US$48)
Birch Forest View Twin Room
– ¥23,000 (~US$157)
Within walking distance of Niseko Village’s Banzai lift, Freeride Lodge provides shared accommodation and facilities from ¥5000 per night during the winter season, with both 4- and 7-bed dorms on offer, plus a range of private rooms.
The lodge – perhaps better described as a hostel or backpackers – will particularly suit those who enjoy a warm and social après-ski environment. Its communal spaces include a large kitchen and lounge plus a nachos and margarita bar, which serves as one of the few dining options in the immediate area. The lodge is also on the main shuttle route, making it an easy 15 minutes into Hirafu, Niseko’s hub for nightlife and entertainment.
Social events put on by the lodge include trips to local restaurants, bars and onsens. These are run by Freeride’s friendly staff, who feature a mention in nearly all of the hostel’s positive online reviews.
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