Category: Niseko

9 beautiful day trip destinations in Hokkaido

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 [...]
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Discover Furano, Hokkaido’s winter hidden gem

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 [...]
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5 Fun Festivals To See in Hokkaido Summer 2019

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 [...]
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5 modern hotels in Niseko you should book ahead for winter

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 [...]
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Niseko summer: a family fun checklist

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 [...]
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10 hot spring baths in Niseko you shouldn’t miss

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 [...]
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Favorite restaurants in Niseko you need to try at least once

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 [...]
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Is it the hottest restaurant in Niseko?

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 [...]
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3 reasons Maples is our new favorite hotel in Niseko

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. [...]
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4 things we learned planning summer trips as a family

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 [...]
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4 winter resorts that come to life in summer

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 [...]
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Odin Place, New lifestyle landmark of Niseko Hirafu

A new addition to the resort village’s increasingly metropolitan landscape, stylish Odin Place is a design lover’s dream. A new landmark had been in the making and finally opened its doors in December 2016. Odin Place is on the corner of bustling Zaka Street, which marks the center of the village, amid alpine chalets and [...]
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Take that last minute trip this winter

Some of the best memories are made on impulse. Haven’t got plans for the holidays yet? Trust your spontaneous side and book a quick getaway with loved ones. As few private rentals are still available for the New Year holidays, meaning it is still very possible to ring in 2018 on a sun-drenched island where [...]
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Get kids into nature at day camp designed for the Niseko outdoors

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 [...]
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10 amazing Instagram accounts that give you serious #TravelGoals

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 [...]
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Best time to view fall red leaves in Japan

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 [...]
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10 of the most over-the-top vacation homes

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) [...]
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Summer holiday in Niseko: 10 activities for families

A summer holiday there easily involves BBQ parties by day, home-cooked meals made from fresh local produce at home by night. Niseko’s winter is fantastic, while summertime in Niseko is also made for outdoors-y people, as lush landscape emerges and farmers get their crops into the ground. There are trails and rivers nestled in the mountains opening to [...]
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5 Last-minute Easter holiday ideas

With only a month to go, there is still time to plan an Easter holiday getaway. Fancy a snow-sure destination for some goggle tan, or a picturesque island where the freshest fish is always on the grill? Here are 5 that will fill your holiday with adventure and some much needed unplugging. THAILAND'S CLASSIC GULF [...]
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