We had two choices when it came to accomodations, Hilton Niseko Village and The Green Leaf Hotel. Basically we booked too late so alas Hilton was booked out for the ENTIRE year so we went for Green Leaf. (We did check out other places too but they either were too faraway from a ski point or appeared dodgy from their websites-The Landmark was a viable service apartment and also a choice but since non of us were capable of the native tongue and after hours of google mapping the area, we decided Green Leaf was better suited for our incompetence. It was a 3 hour bus ride from Chitose airport to the hotel and once we arrived at the destination, we realized we had to drag all our bagagge up a snowy hill to get to the hotel lobby. At reception the staff warmly greeted us in their stereotypical Japanese manner and kindly explained that the snow at their round entranceway made it difficult and dangerous for buses to maneuver to the front lobby hence guests had to walk up-fine-acceptable. It was a good choice ending up with Green Leaf rather than Hilton for GL had just been newly renovated and the place was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. A cozy front lounge with a fancy fireplace and bar overlooking the snowy landscape was impeccable. Above is part of our key and the hotel had a 'kawaii' selling point of how each room had a different cute animal design such as shown above. The number and animal as well as colour matched our lockers in the ski/snow boarding lounge too. The rooms were modern and clean, the large windows exposed a view of Japan which was completely breathless. [Totally worth 500 quid a night.]!!!
The bathroom was of a maroon red tiled shade which put me off but the combination of the uber tech japanese toilet seat (with its numerous confusing buttons and god knows what functions) with the complimentary SHISEDO products for daily use just blew my vain head away. Never before have I washed my hair with such sweet smelling shampoo GIVEN FROM a hotel. However that was also the last day I took a shower in the bathroom for when I discovered the onsen downstairs, I was sold for the rest of the trip. There was an outside and inside onsen, both spectacular. Obviously it was traditional so it was divided males and females so everyone was in the nude. Seeing the ladies with big bouncing breasts made me feel like I should actually consider breast implants for awhile but after one foot into the onsen, all those foolish thoughts floated away. It was absolute heaven. Note to self>have an outside onsen and the japanese styled personalize bathhouse in my future house. I could babble on forever about the trip but I only wanted to give a brief insight, the following are snapshots of bits and pieces but if anyone is planning a ski trip to Japan, Niseko is definitely on your list! They cater ski and snowboarding lessons (night snowboarding is a must), horse riding in the snow, snow trekking (ya on foot with beaver liked shoes), snow motoring and various other activities. There is something for everyone hmmm but except perhaps the modern shopaholic>but then again they could splurge on the oh so delicious Royce Chocolate products.
View from the lift > morning sunrise !
View from the hotel lounge>this is the beginner slope!!
Beautiful view from snow trekking around the place. Hard work but well worth it!
The snow is like powder, you would WANT to keep falling and falling and just sleep there....it does eventually get abit cold xp
Ka-re at the hotel restaurant, impeccable standard
Omu rice at the Hilton buffet > part of their XMAS menu haha, feeling jolly?
Huge butt salmon which was INCREDIBLY fresh and tasty aside the buttered scallops. This was at 'Crab Shack' next to the hotel. Staff was very friendly, at the end of the meal I asked for the dessert menu and the lady said sorry they didn't have any desserts but after a few seconds she returned asking if ice cream was okay and being the ice cream gobbing monster I am, of course I said HAI ONEGAIIMASU!!!
The all famous tuna trio > worth every penny and caloriesss
Very famous and highly recommended bakery called A-Bu-Cha >MUST TRY. Even if its a snowstorm, TREK THERE.
Adorable shop at the airport>full of seal characters which fluttered my heart
Aren't they adorable???....or borderline scary??
They really tried hard to manipulate the seal into everything> look-Jal Airline (O.O)
Kinda cute though
A family of seals with a loving couple which is the last treat for this XMAS 2010. Japan is a fav on my love lists and it isn't all because of the stereotypical stuff portrayed (ya well okay most of it) but I admire the preserved traditions which they have proudly maintained and perhaps because I am a Third Cultured Kid, I have no sense of belonging so I am attracted to a rooted tradition>maybe? However, for certain I know I'll continue to eat sweet treats (until my doc diagnoses me with diabetes), find the love of my life (won't get a modern day divorce OR marry a Japanese) and have tons of babies (like these seals). Its extremely late but Happy Hols for a Wintery 2010 XMAS. !!! <
