Niseko Archives - Zekkei Collection

Summer in Niseko: 10 Family-Friendly Activities You’ll All Love

BY Jay
September 17, 2025 09:00
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A summer holiday there easily involves BBQ parties by day, home-cooked meals made from fresh local produce at home by night. Niseko might be best known for its world-class winter, but summer deserves just as much attention—especially if you like being outside. As the snow melts away, the whole area turns vividly green and the [...]

Hidden Gems : 5 Restaurants you need to discover in Niseko

BY Jay
March 22, 2025 18:35
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Niseko first caught the eye of International tourists as a destination unrivalled for the quality and quantity of its snowfall. However, as visitors returned to their own countries their tales of bottomless powder runs were also sprinkled with stories of the almost as endless après ski dining options and slowly, but very rightfully so, the [...]

Where to eat in Niseko: new restaurants to try this season

BY Jay
January 1, 2023 00:00
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Featuring exciting newcomers and a few gems that are returning for the second season to Niseko's vibrant dining scene. Park Hyatt NisekoHanazono The most exciting opening in town is no doubt the massive Park Hyatt Hanazono, which includes a ski-in-ski-out hotel and residences that overlook the Annupuri ranges and Mount Yotei, with an array of [...]

Fine dining in Niseko? Top restaurants to try

BY Jay
December 15, 2022 00:00
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here is a guide that should give you a fair selection to work with. Whether for a special occasion or a regular treat-yourself Tuesday, splurge at the best fine dining restaurants in Niseko, Japan's #1 snow resort. DETAILED GUIDE TO EATING OUT IN NISEKO, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN SOMOZAHanazonoOpen 1200-1600, 1800-2200 daily Lovers of Japanese crafts, artistic [...]

What’s new in Niseko this year 2022

BY Jay
November 12, 2022 15:30
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Niseko Hanazono Resort is all set to welcome guests with beefed-up infrastructure and brand-new experience beginning Dec 4, 2021 As Japan has started to ease border restrictions for visitors such as vaccinated business travellers shortening quarantine from 10 days to three and to reissue visas for long and short-term stays that mainly affect international students [...]

Interview with a local craftsman in Niseko – Damian “Hippy” Keyte

BY Jay
July 6, 2022 01:17
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Damian “Hippy” Keyte is a local craftsman, metalworker, custom furniture builder, and designer living in the Hanazono area of Niseko. Damian “Hippy” Keyte has created numerous custom pieces for private collections throughout the area. One of his most recent commissioned projects was for Intuition Niseko, Niseko’s newest luxury onsen estate. He custom built two [...]

Where to eat in Kutchan? Top restaurants to try

BY Jay
January 1, 2022 00:00
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If you were wondering where to spend your time in Niseko for the food, here is a guide that should give you a fair selection to work with. Whether you are craving sushi of the very traditional kind, or entertaining guests for an exclusive experience off the beaten track, Japan's #1 snow resort of Niseko [...]

THE JEWEL OF NISEKO

BY Jay
May 4, 2021 16:12
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ZEKKEI’S NEW FLAGSHIP DEVELOPMENT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN DEC 2022 Encounter a kaleidoscope of wonder at Intuition, Niseko's premier mixed luxury condo-hotel and villa concept, where carefully curated luxury furnishings coexist with the latest technology to create a hotel experience unlike any other. Nestled in a tranquil forest overlooking the magnificent Mount Yotei, Intuition [...]

Dreaming of a white winter? Book your next Japow Holiday & Save

BY Jay
March 25, 2021 00:03
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With an epic season of endless snowfall coming to a close, now is the time to book your next JAPOW winter vacation. True powderhounds know that early birds get first tracks. Right now Zekkei Collection members can enjoy up to 30% off Early Bird specials toward an unforgettable luxury stay in powder paradise. Book your [...]

The Ski Project Presents: Winter Edits

BY Jay
January 22, 2021 16:46
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The Ski Project embodies style, chic and comfort throughout their ski-set lifestyle brand which transitions seamlessly on and off the slopes. Their most popular ski-suits, the Cordova and Goldbergh, are slim fit and figure-flattering while providing warmth and comfort for you whole body. No worries of snow getting trapped under your jumper or inside your [...]

Niseko enjoying a truly epic season

BY Jay
January 22, 2021 14:24
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Season after season, Niseko is inundated by light and fluffy powder snow. The sheer volume of Niseko’s #japow is what separates one season from the last. It is safe to say that this season’s snowfall has been epic. The monthly-observed snowfall for December 2020 was 348 cm - over 11 feet! Driving through streets in [...]

Top 5 Onsen Escapes in Hokkaido

BY Jay
January 20, 2021 17:59
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SOAK IN RUSTIC, HEALING HOT SPRINGS SURROUNDED BY NATURE: TOP 5 ONSEN ESCAPES IN THE GREATER NISEKO AREA The volcanic landscape of Hokkaido makes for incredible geo-thermal oases with hot springs dotting the island. Fortunately, large concentrations of mineral-rich hot springs are bountiful in Niseko and just beyond. Whether you are sore from a long day [...]

Zekkei’s guide to Niseko 2020

BY Jay
November 1, 2019 00:00
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This winter is poised to be the most happening in Niseko yet. With a variety of new vacation rentals welcoming their first guests, exciting expansions of visitor facilities and recent enhancement of premium services, here we take a closer look at what to expect the next time you step foot on Hokkaido‘s alpine wonderland. Hirafu main street power lines gone [...]

9 beautiful day trip destinations in Hokkaido

BY Jay
August 15, 2019 00:00
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Visitng Hokkaido this summer? The largest and northernmost prefecture in Japan offers a rich variety of landscapes. It takes time to get to these beautiful places — but the payoff is well worth it. Based in Furano Tokachi Millennium Forest Forest Garden If there is one place you really get to know in Hokkaido, it [...]

Discover Furano, Hokkaido’s winter hidden gem

BY Jay
June 15, 2019 00:00
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There is no “perfect” or “the best” winter destination as such, while there are best ones for you. Though less known for skiing than Niseko, Furano is preferred by some seasoned Japan-bound skiers as there is more fresh powder minus the crowd. Some international skiers also believe Furano offers more Japanese culture while Niseko feels [...]

5 Fun Festivals To See in Hokkaido Summer 2019

BY Jay
April 25, 2019 00:00
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Japan has a new emperor and a new imperial era, and do we look forward to those new colors and looks in the streets and dashi festival carts this year! One would imagine we have quite a travel bucket list, as we plan other people's vacations for a living, after all. We daydream and talk [...]

5 modern hotels in Niseko you should book ahead for winter

BY Jay
March 1, 2019 00:00
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Ah, Niseko. There is no skiing like it. Hirafu is our favorite village in the ski town, a great jumping off point for exploring some of the world’s best powder, and the resort-esqe way of life that is synonymous with Niseko. When it comes to planning a ski trip to the popular destination, many like [...]

Niseko summer: a family fun checklist

BY Jay
January 1, 2019 00:00
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See how many you can cross out before school year begins. Sunny days, grilling out, s’mores bonfire at dusk... We want each summer with the kids to be more memorable than the last, and with that comes the need for a few new ideas every season. The kids helped us brainstorm (not before suggesting a [...]

10 hot spring baths in Niseko you shouldn’t miss

BY Jay
January 1, 2019 00:00
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Flakes fall around you. Steam drifts into the air. Try one of these onsen baths where you can bathe among Hokkaido’s nature. The heat of the mineral-rich, geothermal water is believed to cure aches and stimulateinitiate deep healing. Although the measurable effectiveness is not quite yet proven or understood, we don’t really need more reason [...]

Favorite restaurants in Niseko you need to try at least once

BY Jay
December 15, 2018 00:00
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If you were wondering where to spend your time in Niseko for the food, here is a guide that should give you a fair selection to work with. Whether you are craving sushi of the very traditional kind, or entertaining guests for an exclusive experience off the beaten track, Japan's #1 snow resort of Niseko [...]

Is it the hottest restaurant in Niseko?

BY Jay
August 1, 2018 00:00
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This sobadokoro is already booked through the year. What separates a good restaurant from a great one? Attention to detail and fresh ingredients are the basic requirements; craftsmanship and technical skill, too, is paramount. We find that our favorite Japanese restaurants tend to be the smaller, more intimate settings that tick all these boxes, and [...]

3 reasons Maples is our new favorite hotel in Niseko

BY Jay
May 1, 2018 00:00
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There’s no place like home and there’s no place like Niseko. Even though the streets in Hirafu can get crowded, the addition of more unique and modern accommodations makes it a pleasure to visit. We found our new favorite in The Maples, a ski-in-ski-out condominium-hotel with a look so slick that that any design aficionado would appreciate. [...]

4 things we learned planning summer trips as a family

BY Jay
May 1, 2018 00:00
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Come together once in a while and get to know each other. A memorable family vacation is many things. There is experience, always the best teacher that brings school lessons to life. There is fun. There are tantrums. You chat, you laugh, you share things and you bond on a family adventure. Well versed in [...]

4 winter resorts that come to life in summer

BY Jay
March 20, 2018 00:00
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POSTCARD-WORTHY SCENERY GUARANTEED. Yes, summer is the new boom season for ski towns! These destinations are best known as ski resorts, but they shine just as brightly through summer. Not only ideal for lazy retreats, they are also packed with more adventurous ways to unwind! So choose your mountain playground for that upcoming vacation you [...]

Get kids into nature at day camp designed for the Niseko outdoors

BY Jay
September 20, 2017 09:00
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From little city dwellers to outdoor adventurers! Our city kids know all the best places to visit and can navigate the streets with ease, but we bet they will be happy to toss their screens aside when given a chance to engage the real outdoors in the company of new friends. RELATED: SUMMER HOLIDAY IN [...]

10 amazing Instagram accounts that give you serious #TravelGoals

BY Jay
September 15, 2017 09:00
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In need of destination inspiration? Instagram is a fantastic resource for travelers, and these passionate wanderlusters know how to make good eye candy. Jake and Dannie @jakeanddannie New parents and photographer duo Jake and Dannie are creating the ultimate family album with their daughter Lisa. All of their photos are mini works of art, and [...]

Best time to view fall red leaves in Japan

BY Jay
August 29, 2017 09:00
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Japan’s autumn begins when momiji begins to show, first on the northern island of Hokkaido in September, slowly meandering down the length of the nation. Depending on where (and the altitude) you are, the foliage can last from September through late November. As fall colors adorn temples and shrines, and mountains and gorges across the [...]

10 of the most over-the-top vacation homes

BY Jay
August 10, 2017 09:00
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Sometimes more is more. All-inclusive holidays can take many forms. Whether their own clifftop playgrounds, protected game reserves, private beaches, or exclusive part of larger resorts, these unique retreats share certain things: sublime privacy, top-notch staff and big-ticket amenities. Be sure to pack your designer luggage for these over-the-top (and some of the most expensive) [...]

Category: Niseko