Hinode Hills Niseko Village

Stayed in a two-bed room suite with my wife and a son. The room is spacious and well furnished with a comfy sofa, dining area, full facility kitchen and a washer/dryer. Wifi is fast. We were on a relatively low floor (2nd) yet we enjoyed a grand view of Mt Yotei right in front. The hotel boasts a ski-in, ski-out resort - well, actually you have to take a travelator to get to a proper slope, and in that sense I'm not so confident to say this is a ski-out resort while it's no doubt about a ski-in resort. However, important thing is how quick and easy it is from the moment you put on your boots till you start skiing, right? This hotel has an amazing ski valet where staff always takes care of your gear, and the valet has a back entrance that is located steps away from the travalator. With the ski valet, things were much more convenient for me than those of any other resorts. It was much easier than pulling out my boots from a locker and walk through an aisle of a large hotel. A couple of downsides. The restaurant is small and seems over capacity. In one evening we had to wait more than an hour to be served a main dish after salad and soup. Also the menu is very limited and the amount is small - a set menu of a tiny portion of salad and soup, main dish then dessert. This is it. And each portion is small. You have three choices for the main - chicken, pork or beef. No more options, the same every evening. Foods are also very limited for breakfast too. There is no shop in this hotel. No place to buy ski wax or water proof spray, or any other snow goods. There are a few vending machines that sell drinks and snacks, but again choices are limited. I think this place is meant to be a resort condo for owners than a hotel for visitors. Despite these downsides, staff are all very attentive, warm and kind, and this is the reason why I think I will come back again to this hotel.

Another exceptional experience at Hinode Hills! My family’s first stay during its opening in 2019 left an unforgettable memory. Once again, we’re impressed by the sincere service. Particularly Yi Ying who made our check-in a breeze though we were two hours early. She is also helpful and prompt with ski lesson and restaurant bookings. Her colleagues Natasha, Olivia, Novita and Will bring not just smiles but also friendly conversations at the lobby and ski valet. My family most appreciates the ultra ease of this ski-in ski-out hotel with its own ski rental and valet service. We can easily retreat to the hotel for a hot cuppa or relaxing soak at the onsen. Our two-bedroom apartment is spacious, well-kept, aesthetically furnished with a fully-fitted kitchen and has a gorgeous view of Mt. Yotei when skies are clear. Free shuttle services for our night haunts at Hirafu are convenient and mostly timely. Just make sure there’s ample time for walking to your destinations amidst the Hirafu crowd. Returning to Hinode Hills’ serene and warm surroundings after a night out is always a delight.