By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Higashiyama Niseko Village is the most luxurious ski hotel in Japan: a Ritz-Carlton Reserve of just 50 rooms at the foot of Niseko Annupuri, in Hokkaido, with ski-in, ski-out access to some of the deepest, lightest powder snow in the world and views across to Mount Yotei, the perfect volcanic cone known as the Fuji of Hokkaido. Opened in 2020, it holds one Michelin Key.
Higashiyama Niseko Village is the most luxurious ski hotel in Japan: a Ritz-Carlton Reserve of just 50 rooms at the foot of Niseko Annupuri, in Hokkaido, with ski-in, ski-out access to some of the deepest, lightest powder snow in the world and views across to Mount Yotei, the perfect volcanic cone known as the Fuji of Hokkaido. Opened in 2020, it holds one Michelin Key.
Location: Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Niseko, in south-west Hokkaido, is Japan's most famous ski destination, renowned for its reliable, feather-light powder, carried in on Siberian winds every winter. Its ski area spreads around Mount Niseko Annupuri, facing Mount Yotei across the valley. Higashiyama stands in Niseko Village, at the base of Annupuri, a quieter, more exclusive part of the resort.
New Chitose Airport, Sapporo's main airport, is a road transfer of around two to two and a half hours, and Sapporo itself is easily reached for a city break.
Rooms and suites at Higashiyama
There are 50 rooms and suites, designed in a calm, contemporary Japanese style, with natural wood and stone and floor-to-ceiling windows framing Mount Yotei or Niseko Annupuri. Bathrooms have oversized soaking tubs, inspired by the onsen tradition, with mountain views, and the largest suite, the two-bedroom Higashiyama Suite, has a living and dining area for families.
Facilities at Higashiyama
The Chasi Spa offers treatments and a private onsen that can be booked for a soak, and there is a well-equipped gym. Yukibana serves tempura and local sashimi, and the Ume Lounge, with its fireplace and six-metre windows facing Mount Yotei, is the heart of the hotel for check-in, afternoon drinks and après-ski.
In winter, the hotel is ski-in, ski-out to Niseko's linked ski areas, with more than 2,000 acres of terrain, and the team can arrange lessons, guides and backcountry tours. In summer, Niseko offers hiking, rafting, cycling and golf, with Mount Yotei to climb.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is a powder morning: fresh snow overnight, the trees heavy with white, and first tracks through the forest from the hotel door, with Mount Yotei rising above the clouds across the valley.
After skiing, settle into the Ume Lounge by the fire as the light fades on Yotei, then soak in the private onsen before dinner.
Why Higashiyama is one of the best mountain hotels
Higashiyama earns its place for its combination of world-class powder skiing and refined Japanese hospitality, in a small hotel with one of the great mountain views in Asia. It is the finest base in Niseko.
For a more traditional Hokkaido ryokan, compare it with Zaborin nearby. For views of Fuji, see Hoshinoya Fuji, and for a forest onsen retreat near Tokyo, Hoshinoya Karuizawa.
When to go to Higashiyama
The ski season usually runs from early December to early April, with the deepest powder from late December to February, when snow falls almost daily. March brings more sunshine and spring skiing. Summer, from June to September, is green and mild, ideal for hiking and outdoor sports, and autumn, in October, brings spectacular foliage on the mountains.
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Questions, answered
- Is Higashiyama Niseko Village ski-in ski-out?
- Yes. The hotel is at the base of Niseko Annupuri in Niseko Village, with ski-in, ski-out access to Niseko's linked ski areas.
- How many rooms does Higashiyama Niseko Village have?
- There are 50 rooms and suites, many with views of Mount Yotei.
- Does the Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko have an onsen?
- There is a private onsen that can be booked through the Chasi Spa, and bathrooms have onsen-inspired soaking tubs.
- When is the best time to ski in Niseko?
- Late December to February for the deepest powder, and March for sunnier spring skiing.
- How far is Niseko from New Chitose Airport?
- Around two to two and a half hours by road.
