In the majestic mountains of Hokkaido, there’s a brand new ultra-luxe hotel that opened right at the cusp of world closing back in Jan 2020. Much like the Ritz-Carlton Club®, Aspen, it’s a direct ski-in/ski-out access to the Hanazono mountains. Since we don’t do winter sports, this presents an interesting opportunity to check the property out during its “off” season.
Booking
In the winter seasons, this hotel commonly tops ¥100,000+ yen. Depending on the strength of the US Dollar, that typically tickles right under $1000 USD per night plus taxes and fees. Here’s a typical room rate right now for this winter season 2023.
In its summer season, we noticed the room rates got drastically cheaper. Under AMEX Fine Hotel & Collection Resorts, we snatched a rate at $435 avg/night. On top of that AMEX Platinum benefit gifts you…
- Daily Breakfast for two (¥8200 yen) credit
- Noon check-in (upon request)
- Room upgrade to mountain view
- 4pm late check-out
- $100 USD (¥14,000 yen) on property credit
This meant that redeeming this Park Hyatt for 45,000 points was extremely not worth it. Thus, we booked cash for this entire stay since it’s at a much more value rate.
1 King Bed Mountain View
Compared to the bustling Tokyo, your dollar Yen most definitely stretches a lot more here. Upon entering, we immediately notice how massive our new room is. The place is bigger than most apartments in Los Angeles.
To the left of the dining room, there’s a bulit-in refrigerator which makes the feel much more like a residence than a typical hotel room. On top of that, it is stocked with drinks like complimentary TWG Tea.
Since this room can technically host 4+ people, there’s even a separate second bathroom and shower just for guests.
And afterwards a living entertainment area that has its own separate T.V.
Finally we reached…
The King Bed Mountain View Bedroom
Instagram model not included
Indoor Pool + Japanese Onsen + Gym
This hotel is massive and glitzed with activities. At night, you can take a dip in its indoor pool. Along the swimming pool there are individualized jacuzzi areas that have views that overlook the Hanazono mountains.
In the morning, the Japanese onsen opens at 6:00am. At that hour, we had the entire onsen to ourselves.
After the onsen, you can buff up your muscles at its gym. The hotel even provides complimentary Ito En natural mineral water bottles for hydration.
Hanazono Mountain Night Art Lights
For those here from July-Oct 9th, there’s a unique opportunity to check out the hotel’s one-of-a-kind nature light art in the Hanazono mountains. It’s a special experience where all the lifts light up and the entire slope is lit up with a long trail of wavy jelly-like lights.
It’s an activity I highly recommend. When the art lights up, you take the illuminated lifts and there’s a mesmerizing trail of lights that gleam all the way back to the Park Hyatt Niseko.
It almost feels like a romantic K-drama in where you’re lost in the mountains and suddenly a magical path of lights twinkle and guide you the way home.
Breakfast
Japanese breakfast game is simply on another level. Especially at an aspirational hotel, it is amongst one of the best complimentary meal perks you’ll have in the world. Just look at this spread…
Their cappuccinos are even frothed with Hokkaido milk.
Pierre Hermé Evening Tea
For the ¥14,000 yen resort credits, we decided to use it on one of our night’s evening tea. It’s like an afternoon tea paired with dinner.
Overall, the Park Hyatt Niseko checks all the boxes for an aspirational hotel. The humongous apartment style rooms and amenities caters to anyone that wants to soar to the ultra-premium mountain life. Even in the summer, the hotel creatively partners with artists and create such good uses of its landscape for the hotel guests. In the winter, I can understand why some people would splurge over 1K+ USD/night just to be here.
If you’re ever in Hokkaido, this is a hotel not to be missed.
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