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Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve brings guest rooms, natural hot springs, Hokkaido produce and direct access to Niseko United into a 50-room mountain resort.
Opened on December 15, 2020, it was the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Japan. Its scale is deliberately contained: floor-to-ceiling windows face either Mount Yotei or Niseko Annupuri, while the restaurants, onsen and ski facilities keep much of the day within a short walk.
The appeal is clearest in tangible details—the outline of a mountain beyond the bath, locally sourced produce at dinner, warm ski boots in the morning and a fireside drink after dark.
A 50-Room Reserve Framed by Mount Yotei
Stone, timber and soft lighting establish the hotel’s muted palette. In the lounge, a circular fire table, bookshelves and full-height windows place the surrounding forest at the centre of the room.
Each guest is assigned a Do San, described by the hotel as a “person of Hokkaido” and a single point of contact during the stay. Skiing, seasonal activities, dining and local context can therefore be discussed through one guide rather than several separate desks.
Choose the View: Mount Yotei or Niseko Annupuri
The rooms and suites look towards Mount Yotei or Niseko Annupuri through floor-to-ceiling windows. The choice is worth making deliberately: Yotei-facing rooms frame the freestanding peak, while the Annupuri side places the mountain terrain closer to view.
Bathrooms borrow from Japan’s bathing culture, with an oversized deep soaking tub, a separate rain shower and a window bringing daylight and mountain scenery into the space. The bath makes the view part of the room rather than a feature reserved for the lobby.
For a longer stay or a group travelling together, the largest Higashiyama Suite has two bedrooms. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, walk-in wardrobe and seating area, while the living space includes a dining table and powder room. Selected suites also have a terrace.
Spa Chasi La Sothys and Mountain-Facing Onsen
The onsen includes separate indoor and outdoor baths for women and men, along with gardens and saunas. A private onsen is also offered; its availability and conditions should be confirmed when arranging the stay.
The hotel explains “chasi” as an Ainu word for sanctuary. Spa Chasi La Sothys draws on Hokkaido hot-spring water, black silica, birch and lavender in treatments that combine Japanese and French techniques.
Spa treatments require an appointment. The hotel’s published information contains conflicting closure-day details, so the current schedule is best checked directly before arrival.
A 24-hour fitness centre adds Technogym cardio machines and free weights, with snow-covered trees visible through full-height windows in winter.
Yukibana, Sushi Nagi and Fireside Drinks
Yukibana is the all-day dining room, with Mount Yotei beyond its windows. Its farm-to-table approach brings locally sourced produce into breakfast, lunch and dinner, alongside international, Asian and lighter dishes.
Sushi Nagi turns local seafood and farm ingredients into an omakase served by the itamae. The published dinner schedule uses two seatings and includes weekly closure days, making this the meal to arrange alongside the room reservation.
Ume Lounge completes the evening beside the fireplace with local beer, Japanese whisky and cocktails. On a snowy night, the onsen, dinner and bar can all be enjoyed without organising another transfer.
Direct Access to Niseko United in Winter
Guests have direct access to the Niseko United ski terrain. The resort describes an area of 2,191 acres—about 887 hectares—with 70 runs. Ski lockers and boot warmers are available at the hotel.
Higashiyama Reservists, the property’s mountain specialists, can help arrange skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Lift operations, snow conditions and open terrain remain weather-dependent, so plans should be checked again shortly before the trip.
Forest Trails and Golf After the Snow
As the snow recedes, the surrounding forest becomes the focus. Seasonal programmes include trekking, cycling, horse riding, zip-lining and hot-air ballooning.
Two 18-hole courses extend the green-season options. Niseko Village Golf Course is a par-73 layout through the forest, while the par-72 Niseko Golf Course was designed by Arnold Palmer. Opening periods and reservations vary with the season.
Plan the Journey from New Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport is listed as 113.8 kilometres from the hotel. Airport transfers, rental cars and seasonal transport are best considered when booking flights, particularly for winter arrivals.
A car or arranged transfer is also useful when adding restaurants and activities outside Niseko Village. Staying within the resort has a different advantage: the room, onsen, restaurants and lounge allow an evening to continue without another journey through the snow.
Room direction, Sushi Nagi reservations and spa appointments deserve early attention. Golf and outdoor programmes are seasonal, while room rates change with the dates, room category and package. Check-in is from 3:00 p.m. and check-out is at noon.
A Day of Mountains, Bathing and Hokkaido Produce
Higashiyama Niseko Village places the mountain view, the bath after skiing and dinner built around Hokkaido ingredients within a compact resort. In winter, direct access reduces the journey to the slopes. In the green season, forest activities, golf and the onsen can share the same itinerary.
Choosing the view and reserving dinner before arrival gives the stay its clearest shape: Mount Yotei or Annupuri from the room, hot spring water after the mountain and a final drink beside the fire.
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