Japan: Hokkaido

Why we went…

We took the kids skiing for the first time in a mall in Dubai the year before. They loved it and were interested in trying it again. We love Japan, and heard that the skiing in Hokkaido is some of the best in the world. It didn’t disappoint!

How we got there…

We flew business class on ANA from LAX to Haneda in Tokyo on my birthday. Haneda is located much closer to the city than Narita and is only 15 minutes from the Conrad, Tokyo. If you can manage it, flying into Haneda is much easier. We spent two nights in Tokyo to explore the city and then flew from Haneda to Sapporo on JAL. The flight is very easy! On the way home we flew JAL back through Haneda to LAX with a couple hour layover. The airport has nice lounges and great restaurants, so the layover is quite pleasant.

Where we stayed…

UNWIND Hotel and Bar – At $120 per night, the UNWIND Hotel and Bar is actually one of the more expensive hotels in Sapporo. It was not fancy at all, but it was clean and had a great location with walking access to downtown. We loved the bunk beds with the kids. It was the perfect spot for our one-night stay in Sapporo.

Park Hyatt Niseko – One of our all-time favorite hotels, and the reason that we are looking forward to repeating this trip next February. The hotel is a new construction and built with every last detail thought out. The basic rooms are spacious and have a closet to store ski clothes, a divider separating the master bed from the living area and pull-out couch, two bathrooms with showers, and a gigantic closet with space to store suitcases and even a hamper for dirty laundry. The dining options at the hotel are amazing and plentiful. You never have to leave the hotel and can experience something different each night. And of course, the breakfast buffet is incredible. The onsen and pool areas are serene and perfect after a long day of skiing. The skiing accommodations (lockers for all guests, rentals on site, valet ski service, ski-in ski- out) make skiing with the family very enjoyable and easy.

What we did…

Sapporo – We spent one night in the town of Sapporo. We really enjoyed seeing the second snowiest city in the world fully covered in snow. A novelty for four born and raised Los Angelenos.

Hanazono Niseko Ski School – We opted to use the hotel’s recommended ski school for our kids for the two mornings that we were skiing. Our Australian ski instructor was amazing with the kids and got them to the point where they could ski some of the easier intermediate slopes.

Skiing – The Park Hyatt is located on the Hanazono Base which is the newest of the four bases in Niseko. The Hanazono Base offered several great beginner runs for our family, and also access to the other bases. It was easy to take the chair lifts up the mountain and ski down to other bases for lunch or just for more run variety. It snowed every night we were there (and for parts of everyday). Niseko certainly lived up to its powdery reputation.

Snow Rafting Tour – This is probably unnecessary if you are skiing, but if you are not, I would recommend taking the raft tour or a snowmobile tour to see some of the back country. It really is spectacular! Dress warm…really warm. Any exposed skin will burn.

Where we ate…

Sapporo Bier Garten – When in Sapporo! We had a fun lunch here and enjoyed trying Sapporo beer in Sapporo. The ambiance was awesome and worth a visit, but don’t go expecting the best meal of your trip. Wear clothes that you don’t mind smelling like smokey meat. They wrap your winter coats in plastic bags for good reason.

City Unscripted Sapporo Food Tour – We have had great experiences with City Unscripted in Japan. We loved our Sapporo guide. He took us through the city, and we tried some amazing food. Come hungry! Highlights were sushi, tempura cod sperm sak, yakatori, boba, an insect vending machine, and grilled white fish for Spencer. This is such a great way to get a feel for any city!

Rakuichi Soba – Probably the best meal that I have had in Japan! The restaurant only seats 16 people so book early. We had lunch here on the first day we arrived. It was spectacular. The 12 courses feature a variety of dishes highlighting different japanese cuisine. Some of our favorites were the toro course, the shabu shabu course, and the handmade soba dish. Make sure to book a taxi two and from the restaurant well in advance!

Moliere Montagne – A fabulous French restaurant in the Park Hyatt Niseko. The restaurant uses local Hokkaido ingredients with flawless French technique. A very special treat indeed!

Park Hyatt Niseko Restaurants – We didn’t have a bad meal at the hotel. We tried the Lobby Bar, the Breakfast Buffet, and China Kitchen. We look forward to trying more of the restaurants next time we visit!