the green leaf hotel: niseko hokkaido

The Green Leaf

Introduction

Having been taken over, a complete refurbishment took place taking most of 2010 and the result is a very chic hotel which has a perfect position at the base of the main slopes of Niseko and offers full ski in / ski out capability.

Rooms:

Contemporary design from award winning firm “Champalimaud” is very evident and the rooms are a great blend of Japanese modernity and simplicity. The comfort level is very high with Dream Beds (TM) and adjustable massage shower heads plus 32” flat screen iPod player, wi-fi, a selection of Japanese teas and an LED desk lamp with USB connectors.

The 96 king bed rooms all inter-connect with the 96 twin bedded rooms alternately giving you excellent family options as well.

Top Rooms:

The 8 suites afford you more space including your own living room, a kitchenette and a powder room and they all occupy corners of the building giving you 180 degree views from the huge corner windows.

Spa  & Onsen:-

At the Green Leaf, the spa is more focused on sport massage and the stretching benefits of Thai massage, to help you get over the aches and pains of a day on the slopes. They offer a wide variety of other, unique, treatments including their bamboo Tapping massage and “The Shredder” designed specifically to soothe those feet and calf muscles after a day in ski boots.

However, their piece de resistance has to be their Onsen (hot spring). The outdoor natural rock pool, fed by mineral springs hundreds of metres below, which penetrates the muscles deeply and is very good for the skin. What could be better than bathing in 100% pure natural hot spring water, surrounded by snow laden countryside.

Dining:-

The main restaurant is Goshiki where you can enjoy Japanese local produce, local seafood in international style or Japanese fusion. The lobby bar Tomioka White serves all sorts of drinks throughout the day and night, including their signature Tomioka cocktail which you can sip while looking at the mountains in front of you.

Finally, there is Altitude, a roof bar complete with fire pit and views across the Konbu range to the west and Mount Yotei in front. Wrap up warm and enjoy a drink by the fire and some music. This bar is very unique and the fact you can access from the slopes makes it even more appealing.

Other:-

“Basecamp” is a very innovative space which is primarily used as the locker room with uniquely colour coded units to help you find your equipment very quickly. But it also combines as a meeting place, somewhere to chow films or to host other events.

Final word:-

The Green Leaf is quite simply the most contemporary ski hotel in Japan right now, offering excellent levels of accommodation combined with the benefit of ski in/ ski out and a general understanding of what is needed to make it a successful place from which to ski. Add to that an amazing Onsen experience and top quality cuisine and you have a perfect retreat from which to enjoy the best powder snow in the world.

Prices start at c. £ 3,300 per person for 10 nights including all flights from the UK, equipment hire and ski passes, accommodation in a Deluxe Room, breakfast and shared transfers from Sapporo.