Where to Stay in Niseko

Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Clients loved the onsen in every room – perfect for an apres-ski afternoon. Preferred Partner Perks: My clients receive daily complimentary breakfast for two; $100 resort credit; priority for early check-in and late checkout, and priority for a room category upgrade upon arrival if available.

Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono – Park Hyatt Niseko is a ski-in-ski-out haven for the whole family. Ten restaurants (some with Michelin stars) including teppan, sushi, French, and Italian and a Pierre Hermes patisserie. Heated indoor pool. All 100 rooms on the hotel side have 2 full bathrooms with en suite showers and a Queen sized sofa bed in the living room. Preferred Partner Perks: My clients receive daily complimentary breakfast for two; $100 resort credit; priority for early check-in and late checkout, and priority for a room category upgrade upon arrival if available.

Where to Eat in Niseko

izakaya

Bang Bang Niseko Izakaya – Delicious small plates perfect with cold Sapporo, sashimi, and sake. Bang Bang, 188-24 Yamada, Kutchan 044-0081. Reservations essential (credit card required; must arrive within 15 minutes of reservation time).

Potato Ramen

Niseko Ramen Kazahana – Don’t leave Niseko without trying the potato ramen – a delicious and addictive original. Noodles are perfectly chewy and come with a fluffy and creamy “potato foam” on top of miso broth. Be prepared to wait in the cold – they don’t take reservations and the restaurant is limited to 35 seats, with only a tiny waiting area inside. Open from 12-2:15 for lunch (you must be seated at 2:15 or you’ll be turned away) and again at dinner. Double check their website for opening hours and times before heading over to avoid disappointment. Niseko Ramen Kazahana, Yamada 179-36, Kutchan town, abuta-gun, Hokkaido. (0)136-23-3444

Soup Curry

Tsubara Tsubara Soup Curry – Soup curry is a Hokkaido invention that needs to be replicated in Hawaii ASAP. Tsubara Tsubara, 132-14 Aza Yamada (Niskeo Kogen Hirafu), Kutchan-cho

Hot Pot/Nabe/Sukiyaki

Sessa Hot Pot – Choose your broth (nabe or sukiyaki) and a “course” menu of either beef, pork, or crab. Each menu comes with tofu, vegetables, and your choice or rice or udon. About $40/pp and open for both lunch and dinner. So good! Sessa Hotpot. The restaurant runs a free shuttle that will pick you up from your hotel and drop you back off again.

Crab

Crab Dining Kanon – Crab is the name of the game. Choose one of two prix fixe menus (either 7500 or 10000 yen) — the more expensive special menu comes with a sashimi set in addition to the three types of crab served. Snow crab, hairy crab, and king crab were on the menu when we went. An absolute must if you’re a crab lover (I am totally a crab > lobster type of person). Crab Dining Kanon, 1F Lodge Kanon, 165-25 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho 044-0081

Soba (Buckwheat Noodles)

Soba Kaiseki Ichimura – Fresh, handmade soba made from specially sourced buckwheat is the name of the game here. Cross over the wooden bridge to experience delicious warm or cold soba. Soba Kaiseki Ichimura, 68-4　Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0081 Japan.

On the Go

Food Trucks – There’s something weird and wonderful about eating a steaming hot pizza roll from a food truck in the middle of a parking lot in a Japanese resort town. Find them next to Seico Mart.

Ski Stuff

GoSnow Niseko offers ski and snowboarding lessons either solo or in groups of no more than 8. Full-day ski lesson, 5.5 hours, ¥10,000. My instructor Ivan was nice, but I was exhausted after lunch so by the 5th hour I was ready to call it a day. Next time I’m gonna just do a half day.

We rented our ski gear from Rhythm Japan which was super convenient as they delivered the rental gear to the ski valet at AYA.

More Reading on Niseko

Billionaires, Luxury Hotels Discover Japan’s Aspen (WSJ, paywall)

What it’s like to visit the ‘Aspen of Japan,’ where billionaires and actors dine on sushi in ski lodges and relax in natural hot springs on the side of an active volcano (Business Insider)