What it is

A sleek 50-room mountainside lodge with three locavore restaurants and a spa inspired by surrounding forests.

What it isn't

Viewless. Your room’s floor-to-ceiling windows will overlook mount Yotei, an active stratovolcano, or Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area.

What we think

Japan doesn’t often spring top of mind when you think “world’s best ski resorts,” but it should. Higashiyama Niseko Village has perfected everything from ski bunny exploits to apres-ski thrills, all right on the minimalist and beautiful grounds. Here, you can opt to join their expert ski guides on the powdery slopes at Niseko United ski area—which gets 60 feet of fresh snow a year (for comparison, Aspen, Colorado averages just 153 inches). Visiting in summer? Pristine golf courses, horseback rides and guided hikes await. Of course, plenty of guests simply find an excuse to hole up in their beguiling, minimum 560 square foot rooms—with serene, modern custom furniture inspired by ancient japanese aesthetics and bathrooms that have found their muse in local onsen hot springs (i.e.: you’ll have a rainforest shower and a soaking tub so luxe you’ll never want to get out of it).

You're here because

The resort uses springwater that spends up to a century transforming from snow melt into pure local streams for everything from the hand-carved cocktail ice cubes to the onsen water.

The Moment

Curled up by a flickering fire watching snow dust the landscape beyond floor-to-ceiling windows, you feel like you’ve reached true zen. When the waiter hands you your aged Japanese whisky, it’s official; you have.

Restaurants & Bars

Yukibana - focused on local ingredients offering freshly baked breads and pastries in the morning, and seasonal meats, seafood and produce in the evening

Ume Lounge - the heart of the hotel, this lounge features creative cocktails, locally brewed beers and a selection of izakaya-style dishes

Sushi Nagi - omakase-style sushi experience

Location

A world away from the bright lights, big city feel of Tokyo—just 120 minutes from New Chitose Airport (and yes, resort staff will be delighted to book your luxury transfers).