Hotel Feature: Hilton Niseko Village, Hokkaido, Japan

Where: Hilton Niseko Village in the Abuta District in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

Scene: Stunning, snow-capped scenery in the best ski spot in the world

Niseko Village is THE ski destination. The Siberian winds and surrounding climate result in dry, fluffy snow – the perfect quality snow blankets a total of 2,191 acres of skiable terrain. All of that white, powdery snow also makes for an incredibly pretty picture. The scenery alone is worth the visit!

Among the hotels and resorts located in the mountains of Niseko, the Hilton Niseko Village stands out for its luxury accomodation, excellent amenities and enviable location at the base of the Niseko Annupuri Mountain. In fact, it’s recently been named the “Top Ski Resort Hotel in Japan” for the second time in a row, alongside the inaugural “Japan’s Best Golf Hotel” prize at the world ski awards earlier this month.

What’s truly amazing at the Hilton Niseko Hotel is its ski-in ski-out access at the hotel entrance. This Hilton spa resort hotel is located close to the slopes of Niseko Higashiyama Ski Area and Niseko Mountain Resort Grand Hirafu.

Open since July 2008, the Hilton Niseko Village is the top choice for a top-notch winter/ski holiday if you’ve ever dreamt of stepping into a snow-covered paradise. It houses 499 guest rooms (all of which are outfitted with the Hilton Serenity bed for ultimate comfort) and an award-winning spa. [quote align=’right’]Tip: For the most breathtaking scenery, upgrade to the aptly-named Panorama rooms and suites, which offer beautiful mountains and gentle snow-covered slopes from your bedside window[/quote]

Rooms & Suites

Creature comforts are second to none at the Hilton. Every hotel room is equipped with an en-suite bathroom, wifi, LCD TV, air-conditioning and adjustable thermostat.

Like its restaurants, many of the rooms in Hilton Niseko Village offer stunning views of the mountainous landscapes. A little treat waits in most rooms — a Yukata (Japanese cotton kimono) for you to wear and really get into the spirit of Japan.

Of all the rooms, the real gem is definitely the new Deluxe Panorama room you see in the main feature image above. The spacious room fits up to 4 people and has wide windows peering out over the beautiful landscape.

Eat & Relax

Niseko Village is known for top-notch cuisine and some of the best restaurants are located within the Hilton itself. Fresh seafood is a specialty as the Japanese coast is not far.

Gourmet lovers will be happy to discover the delectable spread of fresh sushi and teppanyaki at the Ren Japanese Restaurant. Here you can enjoy fresh seafood, Japanese Izakaya and their famous dishes – Checking Noodle and Teppan Yaki Camembert Cheese. For those who favour Western flavours, you’ll be delighed by prime meats and seafood grilled to perfection at the chic Melt, Bar and Grill. Just check out the view you’ll get while dining at the restaurant!

Melt, Bar and Grill with a view of Mt. Yotei

For a lighter bite accompanied by comforting hot drink, there is The Flame, Bar and Lounge. Also rather chic, this lounge  has a hanging fireplace for a centrepiece, perfect for warming up over a relaxing drink.

If you’re feeling adventurous, head to the Lookout Café for a cold glass of beer, unbeatable views from the top of Mount An’nupuru and contemplation of the good life… Have a hot chocolate then hop out the back of the café for some skiing.

Breakfast spread at the Yotei Buffet

Must Do: Get Active!

Whether you’re a novice or expert, take advantage of the fantastic ski conditions to have a go on the slopes. Ski schools will guide beginners along. The Niseko Village gondola is right by the hotel, so you can get up the Niseko An’nupuri Mountain in just 7 minutes.

Niseko Village Ski Resort offers 11 beginner courses, 7 intermediate, 4 advanced and 1 professional course. You can rent equipment and then try the snowmobile, skiing, snowboarding or snow rafting. Grand Hirafu and Annupuri ski resorts are also accessible from Hilton Niseko Village.

Don’t feel like skiing? There’s never a dull moment at the Hilton! Take on the award-winning 18-hole golf course. As with everything else at the hotel, it’s likely to rank as one of the best experiences you will enjoy.

Or explore the walking, jogging and hiking trails – horseback riding and bicycle rentals are available, if you so fancy. To maximise experiencing this landscape which is so far from Singapore’s, try a little more adventurous family fun by going whitewater rafting or canoeing in the valley.

The tennis court, 24-hour fitness centre and playground for kids will have you running around, so it’s perfectly understandable that you’d want to relax after all that activity. For that, head to the luxurious Wakka Spa for blissfully pampering treat, or take a rejuvenating dip in the indoor or outdoor onsen (hot spring bath). Wakka Spa was voted among the Top 10 Spas in Japan and lounging in an onsen is one of the top things to do in Japan.

There are shuttle buses departing from the hotel taking you into Niseko Village where you can explore more of the area. Niseko is known for its spas, onsen and indigeous arts and culture.

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[tab title=”Best Time to Visit Niseko” icon=”entypo-light-up”]

December to May, when weather conditions result in dry, light snow that is perfect for skiing. Niseko Village Ski Resort is open from early December to end March, then again in May.

Niseko Highest temperature: -1℃; Lowest temperature -10℃. [/tab]

[tab title=”Getting There” icon=”entypo-address”] Hilton Niseko Village is a 2 hour drive from Sapporo city and 2 hours from Chitose International Airport(CTS), the largest commercial airport in Hokkaido.

From the airport you can take a coach which stops by every hotel in Niseko Village, travel by car (rentail service available at New Chitose Airport), or by train. There are also trains and buses available from Kutchen and Niseko Station to Niseko Village.[/tab]

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[button style=’blue’ url=’https://www.expedia.com.sg/Niseko-Hotels-Hilton-Niseko-Village.h1946325.Hotel-Information’ target=’_blank’ icon=’entypo-suitcase’ fullwidth=’true’] View deals at Hotel Niseko Village[/button]