Japan's Winter Wonderland: Snow & Ski in Hokkaido

This contemporary hotel has a relaxed-yet-refined feel to it, with simple, sleek rooms, featuring their own panoramic baths that provide incredible views of the lush surroundings. Lavish extras like organic shampoos provide an additional touch of class. Guests will also enjoy the hotel’s Grand Bath, filled with the milky white waters of a hydrofluoric hot spring. Private dining suites are standard fare here, where guests can sample seasonal Hokkaido delicacies and contemporary kaiseki-ryori for dinner. Western and Japanese meals are served for breakfast. Bar and lounge areas are available for guests’ use, ideal for socializing, or curling up with a good book. Guests will find the hotel’s staff friendly and extremely hospitable. The hotel is an hour’s drive from Chitose Airport, and a 20-minute drive from JR Noboribetsu Station. 

Takinoya onsen ryokan is easily one of Hokkaido’s best hotels, and it never fails to impress visitors. Sitting atop 11 kinds of Hokkaido’s highest quality hot springs, this 150-year-old ryokan effortlessly melds Japanese traditional hospitality with high international resort standards. Guests can look forward to local Noboribetsu vegetables and freshly-caught seafood to add to the healthy onsen experience, and an easy sleep with the soothing sound of waterfalls in the background. An on-site bar stays open until midnight. The hotel is located an hour’s drive away from Chitose Airport, and 15 minutes from the JR Muroran Honsen Line. Check in time is nice and early, at 2pm, and guests can choose from the hotel’s 30 rooms. An on-site sauna is available for guests’ use in addition to the outdoor onsen baths.

Similar to its sister hotel in Noboribetsu, Bourou Noguchi, Hakodate, is a contemporary hotel, home to the highest open-air bath in Yunokawa hot springs. While enjoying a relaxing soak in the soaring bath, it’s possible to look down onto the bustling streets below, with Hakodate mountain and the Tsugaru Strait making for a stunning backdrop. Guests may choose from three different room types, all of which combine comfort and style, two of which provide a private onsen bath. Full-course meals are served in the traditional ryokan style, with a menu that changes seasonally. On-site facilities include a café, library, bar, gift shop, and billiard room. Children are not permitted to stay here, thus providing a more romantic, peaceful experience for couples. 

Kappo Ryokan Wakamatsu is a traditional ryokan that offers a guests a room-style choice of Japanese, Japanese-Western, and Maisonette. Each of the hotel’s rooms provides a panoramic ocean view of the Tsugaru Channel. Attentive staff are assigned to each room, providing constant, personalized service and warm, traditional Japanese hospitality. Large, shared onsen baths are available for guests’ use until 1am, and open-air baths are also available many of which also provide lovely oceanscapes. Exquisite food is included for all guests, served in the traditional Japanese style. For entertainment, guests may make use of the karaoke facilities on-site, as well as the tennis courts for exercise. The hotel is located in the Yunokawa Onsen resort area, a 10-minute’s drive from Hakodate Airport.

Located in downtown Hakodate, this fine, modern hotel has everything a traveler needs to be comfortable and relaxed. Rooms range from the 135-square-feet standard, up to the Ocean View suite, measuring an expansive 295-square-feet. We recommend a room on the Executive Floor. Guests can expect a host of in-room facilities, from an LCD TV, to a bathtub with a view, to an in-room kitchen. A cafe with sunny terrace is a great place for guests to enjoy their morning latte. Also provided are computers, which are free for guests’ use, while an on-site shop sells everything a guest might need throughout their stay. The hotel conveniently-located near JR Hakodate Station, the Hakodate Morning Market, and Hakodate Port.  

The Japanese countryside is home to some astounding luxury hotels, and the Windsor Hotel is among them. This Hokkaido hotel is situated in a spectacular location on a mountain between Lake Toya and the Pacific Ocean. It boasts some of the most breathtaking views to be found on Japan’s northernmost island. There are both western rooms and a number of tatami-style rooms and suites. Rooms are spacious and fitted with all modern conveniences of any high-end hotel. The facilities are similarly first-rate and include a pool, spa and fitness center. There are 13 restaurants and lounges including Japanese, Vietnamese, an Italian brick-oven pizzeria and a French restaurant by Tablet favorite Michel Bras. Within the hotel grounds, guests can enjoy skiing, golf, tennis and the hot springs.

High on the slopes of Mount Moiwa, under the watchful eye of Mount Yotei, lies Aman’s fourth Japan property, Aman Niseko. The resort provides the perfect base for skiing and snowboarding in Hokkaido's powder-rich winters, as well as hiking, mountain biking and river rafting in the warmer months. Designed by the late Kerry Hill, Aman Niseko's style is clean and contemporary, with subtle nods to the traditional motifs of the Ainu, Hokkaido’s indigenous community. 30 suites offer sweeping mountain views, while the main pavilion houses communal spaces such as a living room, two restaurants (plus a private dining space), a bar, whiskey and cigar lounge, library, ski retail area and lockers, a boutique, as well as a gallery. Wellness facilities include a thermal spa, indoor and outdoor onsen (hot spring bathings pools, which are a staple of Japanese culture and a signature experience in Niseko), Finnish saunas, Watsu chambers, cold plunge pools, steam rooms, hammams and a range of "experience showers."

With a reputation for the world’s best powder snow and a growing international resort community, Niseko is quickly becoming one of the world’s premier mountain destinations. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is a ski and snowboarder’s paradise thanks to a near-constant wintertime stream of frigid air that blows in from Siberia. But whether you’re seeking the thrill of snowsports or the tranquility of a high-altitude getaway, the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono – located in the heart of the Hanazono, Niseko resort area – embodies the best in luxury travel and lies at the foot of the slopes with dramatic views across the Annupuri ranges and Mount Yotei. The year-round mountain hotel features tasteful, contemporary design and artfully curated cuisine options. In a nod to the rugged, expansive landscapes surrounding the resort, Park Hyatt Niseko signature rooms and Annupuri and Yotei signature suites are laid out with spacious living and dining spaces, a private Japanese onsen bath, and an open-air terrace and veranda. The hotel also offers a selection of guided winter and summer activities, allowing guests convenient access to the best experiences available in surrounding Niseko. Optional experiences include guided backcountry ski, snowmobile, and snowshoe tours, reindeer sledding, and others, while summer activities range from golfing and mountain biking to hot air ballooning and white water rafting.

Kasetsu Condo is a sublime fusion of Eastern and Western architecture, which pushes the boundaries of Japanese luxury accommodation. The three-story house can accommodate up to 17 people. The condo is well-lit with natural light and feels spacious and airy with impressive nine-meter high ceilings. There are four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The top floor is divided into a large open living area with kitchen, dining and lounge areas. There is a fully-equipped kitchen, complete with modern gas cooker, top-of-the-line appliances, and a huge island counter top. The expansive living room features a contemporary gas fireplace with ribbon flame on a bed of polished black stones. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer magnificent views of Mt. Yotei, which give out onto an equally-sizeable balcony, the perfect venue for entertaining or for a quiet relaxing moment. If you are looking for the ultimate in private luxury accommodation in Hokkaido, this state-of-the-art condo is almost certain to surpass all expectations.

Niseko’s high-end deluxe resort hotel, Ki, has the unique attraction of being the only hotel in the region offering ‘ski-in ski-out’ accommodation. The second floor takes guests to the ski valet service center where your equipment and boots are stored (and dried and warmed), enabling them to step from the hotel straight onto the slopes - and some of the finest powder-snow on the planet. The lavish hotel rooms, suitable for two to three adults, are carefully designed to be the epitome of the modern Japanese aesthetic. Ki Niseko also has a choice of one and two bedroom condos – as well as the stunning penthouse suite. All rooms are furnished to maximise space, views and relaxation, with picture windows and snug armchairs to enjoy the magnificent vistas of the Yotei and Annupuri mountains. Après Ski, guests can rejuvenate tired bodies with a dip in the onsen hot springs or a hot-stone massage in Ki Spa, before indulging in the exquisite creations of Celebrity Head Chef Shinichi Maeda at the An Dining, Café & Bar – Ki Niseko’s in-house restaurant. This hotel offers Japanese alpine charm at its best.

This 5-star luxury resort hotel is located right on the slopes of Niseko Hirafu village, one of the most exclusive locations in Niseko, and features awe-inspiring views of Mount Yotei itself, as well as the majestic surrounding area. The Vale’s 49 ultra-chic hotel rooms range from studios through to two and three bedroom apartments and, of course, the award-winning super-deluxe penthouse apartments. All the apartments come with premium fit-outs, roaring open fires and open-plan bathrooms. One of the most outstanding features has to be the onsen (Japanese natural thermal spring) - water is pumped from 2000 feet below the surface, on a reported 160 year journey through Mount Yotei, directly to the hotel. Guests can recline in their own personal hot tub and take in the incredible views - all the while soaking in the healing minerals of this very special mountain water. The perfect end to a perfect day’s skiing.

One of Hokkaido’s most prestigious ryokans, Ginrinsou is known for its historic charm and warm, attentive service, as well as the breathtaking panoramas granted to guests who take a soak in the warm, healing waters of its open-air free-form hot springs. Sitting atop the small Cape Hiraiso, these elegantly-designed onsens combine natural surroundings with modern, luxurious architecture, and provide expansive views of Ishikari Bay. Guestrooms are spacious and luxurious, many with their own in-room hot spring bath, many of which also grant guests with picturesque views. The rooms are traditionally-decorated with a modern twist. A large, on-site meeting room can host big groups, set up in a traditional Japanese style, with Otaru-inspired design throughout. Hungry guests can head to Ginrinsou Grill, a sophisticated French restaurant and bar, which provides elegant dining and a social atmosphere to meet with friends for a drink or karaoke session.

Years of planning went into the design and construction of this relatively young ryokan. The rooms are spacious, modern, and comfortable, each uniquely-decorated to reflect the style and feel of that particular room. Two-bedroom suites and maisonettes are available. Washrooms innovatively stream hot spring water for a private onsen-like experience, topped off by Bvlgari amenities to make for the ultimate indulgent experience. A charming garden and courtyard surround the hotel, adding to its serene atmosphere. The on-site bar and cafe serves up quality spirits and cold Japanese beer - and guests can enjoy the experience of not having to reach for their wallet or sign a bill, since everything is included in the room rate. The hotel, located outside of downtown Otaru, is an hour’s drive from Chitose Airport, and 40 minutes from the nearest train station.

The JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo provides sleek style and convenience in Hokkaido, Japan. Conveniently located above JR Sapporo Station with a direct link from Chitose International Airport by JR line, it is the perfect stop during a business trip for some rest, relaxation, and a dash of luxury. Guests can dine on French cuisine at MIKUNI Sapporo, seasonal western dishes at Sky J, traditional Japanese at Tancho, and casual European fare at Serena. Then, they can enjoy an indulgent treatment at the Sky Resort Spa and relax in the natural hot springs, air bubble baths and saunas. At the end of the day, guests can take in spectacular views from their room or suite, all located on floors 23 to 34 for the perfect sweeping panorama. 

The Sapporo Grand Hotel is a mature hotel with decades of experience delighting its guests, having been the first European-style hotel to enter the Hokkaido market. Guest rooms combine a traditional Japanese feel with modern, high-tech touches. We recommend the Premium Floor, Grand in Grand, which provide guests with luxurious comforts in a homely atmosphere. Guests may choose from seven bars and restaurants, serving Western, Japanese (including local Hokkaido speciality cuisine), and Chinese favorites. Guests may also make use of the hotel’s chapel, shopping arcade, business center and library, and Healing Court spa, where all kinds of aesthetic treatments are available. The hotel is conveniently-located a mere eight-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, and around 40 minutes by high-speed rail from Chitose Airport. 

This hotel effortlessly blends Japanese traditions with modern decor and amenities. Low lighting on pastel-colored walls creates a luxurious setting, while stone and wood work are displayed throughout the hotel in elaborate structures and formations. Home to just 14 rooms, the hotel has a boutique, exclusive feel, and guests may choose from Japanese- or Western-style rooms, or a combination of the two. Rooms come with free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and cypress wood baths in the en suites. The restaurant serves up Japanese and Western cuisines with innovative twists, using fresh ingredients that have been locally-sourced. Guests can take a soak in the healing waters of the hotel’s elegantly-appointed hot spring baths, and also enjoy sauna and a massage.