Unless you want to venture to the extremities of Alaska or Antarctica, a ski holiday in Niseko is the closest thing you may ever find to a proverbial ‘winter wonderland’. With direct flights now between Manila and Sapporo, and Philippines-owned Hotel 101 investing in the resort, it’s Filipinos’ turn to discover Niseko.
The villages at the base of the Niseko ski resort, on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, are literally buried in velvety soft, fluffy powder snow – as if receiving a fresh, white coat of paint – almost every day between December and March every year. In the evening, twinkling lights diffused by the falling snow create a magical atmosphere unlike anything you could imagine outside a Disney movie or Instagram post.
What’s more, unlike Alaska and Antarctica, Niseko has become one of the hottest luxury resort investment destinations in Asia over the past decade. It’s now home to one of only five of Ritz-Carlton’s ‘Reserve’ label hotels; a sprawling and exquisite Park Hyatt hotel which is the jewel in the crown of the resort; an Aman resort under construction; several six-star full service chalets and condominiums; a Club Med on snow; plenty of five-star hotels and condos; and literally the most opulent private villas in all of Japan.
Ski holidays have long been annual rituals for the rich and famous in Europe and the US, but now Asia has its own high-end ski resort to the stars to balance out its ubiquitous beach resorts. Niseko is becoming known as ‘the Aspen of the East’.
Unless you want to venture to the extremities of Alaska or Antarctica, a ski holiday in Niseko is the closest thing you may ever find to a proverbial ‘winter wonderland’.
Beyond the glitz and the glamour, what’s so special about Niseko you might ask? The number one thing is the quality and quantity of the snow it receives. Perfect dry powder snow only falls and settles in a handful of resorts globally, but nowhere with the regularity of Niseko.
Other than snow, skiing and five-star accommodation however, there are plenty of other attributes that make up a winter holiday in Niseko. Natural volcanic onsen (hot spring) baths dot the landscape across the region. There’s nothing quite like stepping outside naked, while heavy snow falls silently all around you, before quickly immersing yourself into the warm embrace of a 40C thermal bath.
Of course Japan is also known for its cuisine. One of the world’s most unique ski resort dining scenes has evolved in Niseko as it has matured, with charming izakayas run by old Japanese ski bums, or young Japanese snowboarders right alongside high-end Japanese, Asian and European restaurants headed by chefs with Michelin pedigree.
Add to all this the very basis of what is driving the current Japanese tourism boom – Japan itself. The exquisite courtesy of the people, the mixture of ancient and modern culture, the cleanliness and orderliness of the society. Niseko offers an opportunity to experience Japan on snow – an opportunity unavailable anywhere else in the world.
