The Powderhounds provide awards for the best ski hotels in Japan and other top accommodation at the Japanese ski resorts. Being the best Japan ski lodging isn’t only about being the most luxurious as it’s also about the value, the vibe and overall experience (and let’s face it, not everyone can afford the most uber luxury hotel). The Powderhounds have stayed at 150+ Japan hotels and lodgings, so we feel we’re in a good position to highlight some of the top places to stay when skiing in Japan.
For an overview of what you can typically expect with ski accommodation in Japan, check out the
Japanese ski resort accommodation page.
Best Luxury Japan Ski Hotel
Luxury hotels at Japanese ski resorts are not that common, in part, because many of the Japan ski hotels were built during the bubble era and are getting rather tired now. Typically, luxury Japan ski accommodation can be found at the westernised ski resorts where there has been a property boom such as
Niseko and
Hakuba.
Lotte Arai Hotel, Lotte Arai
No expense has been spared in rebuilding the
Lotte Arai Hotel which sits at the base of the powder hound mecca that is
Lotte Arai in Niigata. The modern and luxurious resort hotel consists of two adjacent buildings, The Arai and The Lodge, both of which offer deluxe western-style guest rooms. What really sets it apart is the quality of the amenities, with luxe onsen baths, swimming pools, day spa facilities, chic lounge bars, and restaurants with incredibly exquisite cuisine. The Powderhounds scored Lotte Arai Hotel with full marks!
The Vale, Niseko
The Vale enjoys the ultimate location in
Niseko with immediate access to the slopes, ski school and child care. The Vale has very chic hotel rooms, studios and apartments, and exceptional penthouses with a private onsen on the balcony overlooking Mt Yotei. The communal onsen is also fabulous, as is the outdoor heated swimming pool (and the cocktails!).
Akakura Kanko Hotel, Myoko Kogen
Sitting majestically up on the slopes of Akakura Kanko ski resort in Myoko, the
Akakura Kanko Hotel* offers spectacular views, especially from the outdoor onsen baths.
Best Deluxe Ski Hotel Japan
Chalet Ivy, Niseko
Chalet Ivy is a boutique Niseko hotel with lavishly appointed rooms and suites and attentive service levels. It’s a 4.5 star hotel that feels decadently deluxe.
Hotel Appi Grand, Appi Kogen
The
ANA Crowne Plaza at the base of
Appi Kogen is hard to miss with its golden hues that nearly blind you when the sun is out! The rooms and suites in the tower part of the hotel are incredibly spacious and the hotel has extensive amenities. The Hotel Appi Grand also scores extra points for its humanitarian efforts when it housed lots of victims of the Tohoku earthquake.
Club Med Sahoro, Sahoro Hokkaido
Club Med Sahoro provides deluxe hotel rooms, but it’s the extensive facilities and services of the hotel that make this a stand-out as a completely stress-free holiday destination.
Best Ski Resort Ryokan
Takahan, Yuzawa
Takahan Ryokan in Yuzawa near the base of the
Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort is not a luxe ryokan, but it oozes history and tradition and provides a conventional ryokan experience.
Nishiya Ryokan, Tengendai
The
Nishiya Ryokan (Shirabu Onsen Yutaki no Yado Nishiya) in Shirabu Onsen near the base of
Tengendai Kogen provides the ultimate in historic ryokan experiences. It even still has its thatched roof intact, although you might not see it in all its glory if it’s covered in snow. The traditional décor is exquisite whilst the ryokan is very rustic. Only the guest rooms are heated, the taps are left running so they don’t freeze, and the onsen is as raw as it gets.
Sumiyosiya Ryokan
Sumiyosiya Nozawa* is one of the longest running traditional ryokans in
Nozawa Onsen and it’s been lovingly maintained. It offers a delightfully deluxe ryokan experience.
Jinpyokaku Ryokan, Shibu Onsen
Jinpyokaku Ryokan* isn’t located at a ski resort but it’s close to various ski areas and at the base of the walkway to the
snow monkeys. It offers the definitive luxurious ryokan accommodation with beautiful indoor and outdoor onsens (women-only & mixed-gender baths). The exquisite tatami rooms have an ensuite with a bath that can be filled with natural spring water, and some rooms even have an open air onsen bath. This is the place to splurge.
Ryokan Biyu Noyado, Yudanaka
In nearby
Yudanaka,
Ryokan Biyu offers a lovely Japanese experience along with some western friendly concepts such as the option of a western style breakfast. The communal onsen baths are charming and you can book a private rooftop onsen to really take in the views. Or the best is the luxurious suites (that include some western comforts) with a private onsen on the balcony that looks up to the mountains. We didn’t want to leave!
Best Onsen at a Ski Hotel
There are so many hotels and ryokan in Japan that fit this bill! Some of these hotels are luxurious or deluxe, whilst for some hotels the onsen is the main event.
Best Budget Japan Ski Accommodation
Lodge Aibiya, Yudanaka
Formerly an old ryokan,
Lodge Aibiya has retained much of its Japanese décor and charm. The lodge has a choice of shared rooms if you're on a budget, or lovely private rooms.
Geto Kogen Lodge, Geto Kogen
The
Geto Kogen Lodge at
Geto Kogen has some concepts of a capsule hotel so it’s rather cool, and it has a very high quality onsen.
Lodge Nagano, Nozawa Onsen
Lodge Nagano is an economical accommodation that’s many steps up from a hostel. The friendly hosts that get you dialled into Nozawa Onsen, and the communal areas are major pros.
Best Ski Lodge Japan
Lodge 401, Annupuri Niseko
Lodge 401 has so many awesome things going for it, including a cute little bar, exceptionally gourmet bar snacks and breakfast, and high levels of service.
Tenjin Lodge, Tenjindaira
The staff are amazing and another highlight of staying in this great lodge is the vibe of the communal space and hanging out with like-minded skiers and snowboarders.
Tenjin Lodge also scores points for its location at
Tenjindaira; an amazing ski destination for powder hounds.
Best Ski Resort Apartments Japan
As outlined on the Japan ski resort accommodation page, apartments (condos) are more of a western concept, so typically only the westernised ski resorts have them.
Ki Niseko, Niseko
Ki Niseko has so many pros including apartments with lovely aesthetics, views, direct slope access, a nice onsen, and excellent concierge.
Chatrium Niseko, Niseko
Chatrium Niseko provides high end apartment accommodation in
Niseko that’s a fantastic all-rounder.
Best Ski City Hotel
The
JR Inn Asahikawa is conveniently located adjacent to the Asahikawa train station.
JR Tower Hotel Nikko, Sapporo is located in the Sapporo train station building, and offers quality accommodation and amazing city views, especially from the bar.
Grand Park Otaru is a very good value hotel in the coastal city of Otaru, and it offers lovely views across the water.
Golden Raspberry Awards: Worst Japan Ski Accommodation
Undoubtedly there are worse places to stay in Japan, but here are a couple of doozy hotels we’ve stayed in.
Yubari Hotel Shuparo near the Yubari Ski Resort had way too much grey paint and the deserted hotel felt like a spooky scene from The Shining.
Hotel Lady Diana & St George’s in Goryu Hakuba was pretty bad, with springs sticking out of the mattress and laissez faire staff that were not prepared to communicate using google translate (or broken Japanese) or do much beyond the bare minimum. And their website states that it's a "luxurious resort hotel" - ha!
*hotels that the Powderhounds have been to but not stayed at