Higashiyama Niseko Village, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

We just had a great stay at the Higashiyama Niseko Village over the New Year holiday, and we left feeling blissfully pampered at this luxury property. To be sure, this hotel isn't a mega-resort, nor does it bill itself as one. Instead, you will find a quiet haven, away from the bustle of Hirafu and with white-glove service. We have to compliment Genesis in particular, who ensured that our stay lacked for nothing, and who made us feel cared for every day. We also marveled at the courteousness and efficiency of the housekeeping staff, who kept our suite spotless and tidy in a completely seamless way. Also of note: although the hotel itself has limited dining options due to its boutique size, the Niseko-Yo village is just a 5-minute walk away, including a covered "magic carpet" lift system to take you uphill. There, you will find at least a dozen dining (and shopping) options, including Japanese, Chinese, pizza, desserts, and more. In short, if you are looking for a lively apres scene, or the amenities of a large resort, the Higashiyama may not be the place for you. But for real boutique luxury experience with warm and personalized service, this hotel punches way above its weight.

FABULOUS STAY AT RITZ CARLTON RESERVE NISEKO - HOKKAIDO As a “Titanium Elite Member” I can highly recommend this RCR as a perfect stay for those who enjoy pure relaxation through harmonious combinations of extra luxury & exquisite service, superb rooms & boutique facilities, unobstructed views of mount Yotei and purity of nature with lots fresh air! This RCR is a10/10 mainly because of its Team, lead by the Hotel Manager Ms. Yolanda H., who was always around to say hello and assist, wonderful. The Duty Manager Mr. Genesis S. was our assigned contact at the Reserve upon check-in and he indeed took care of us basically 24/7 … he is a fantastic host and extremely knowledgeable about the local areas and also assisted us greatly for our day-outings including a trip to Sapporo. The restaurant & bar team was likewise amazing and a special thank-you to Mr.Rajitha, Ms.Rezel, Mr.Nut but also to all the other wonderful employees including the Chef (sorry forgot his name but I think he was from Malaysia) who came out to our table to assist with some of our special requests and all his food came out absolutely delicious and beautifully presented! We ate across the menu and we were very impressed with specifically the Hokkaido Wagyu Tenderloin, Hokkaido Scallops, Cod Fish and the Hokkaido Pork Chop plus the most amazing Hokkaido Mushroom Soup! Mr.Rajitha who is the Head Bartender made some good wine recommendations and delicious Cocktails (Apero Spritz) plus very “strong & great” Burbon-Coke-Mix and most importantly he was an absolute charming host with enjoyable chit-chats! Housekeeping was likewise outstanding and a a special thanks to Ms.Beau and Ms.Guitar; they made-up the rooms and “turned-them-down” in a swift manner and often without even seeing them. We went for breakfast and when we came back an hour later the rooms were cleaned & re-stocked to perfection. The beds are fantastically comfy and the linen, as well as amenities of extra luxury quality. The highlight is the oversized hot-tub facing mount Yotei! The complimentary minibar and Coffee machine with premium coffee was another nice touch! We will be back and we can highly recommend this RCR!!!

During my 10-day trip to Hokkaido, the highlight was our stay at the Ritz Carlton Reserve in Niseko for my partner's birthday. The service was impeccable; staff greeted us promptly, assisted with luggage, and offered valet parking. Check-in was comfortable, with attentive staff who spoke fluent English. Upon entering our room, we were welcomed with a towel sculpture birthday cake and a stunning view. The mini bar was well-stocked with complimentary drinks, including a bottle of wine and local cookies from Furuta Farm. The bathroom featured a large bathtub with a nice view, but it was not a hot spring, and cleanliness could be improved in some areas. For dinner, we enjoyed delicious fusion cuisine at Yukibana, where the staff surprised us with a birthday cake. As titanium members, we received a discount, making the meal great value. The hotel offers both indoor and outdoor hot springs, which were relaxing, especially since I had the public one to myself. The direct access to the ski slopes via the hotel gondola was a major perk, and we had a fantastic time snowmobiling, arranged by the hotel. Overall, I was very satisfied with our stay. While there were minor cleanliness issues, the exceptional service and amenities made it a memorable experience.

This hotel is the biggest dissappointment ever! It is not a fine hotel and resort in fact, it is a motel. I have stayed in many Ritz Carltons and even thoguh they are not an OMAN or Four Seasons, they still have the amvience, gym, spa, and overall quality of a 5 star hotel. I was wanred not to stay here and to stay at the PARK Hyatt but did not listen because a RITZ is much better than a Hyatt....NOT! This hotel is absolutely monet thrown away. There is no bar area, nmo music, only one restaurant, etc.....absolutely awful! The staff do go out of their way to please and whenI keeop saying wow this is not a RITZ and they say yes we know we have heard this from meny guests. BUT I paid RITZ prices....outrageious! This hotel is not cheap in fact, I paid over 14K for four nights for nothing. Don't waste your money even coming here...I let AMEX know mmediately and of course there is no cancelation so I would lose all my money. I actually called AMEX and said just put us at the Park Hyatt I will lose my money, but everything sold out there.

This hotel experience is out of this world. Of course the hotel itself is flawless, the rooms are modern, large, and beautiful. The location can’t be beat, literally ski right up to the door and there’s a lift barely 25m away. Make sure to check out Sushi Nagi - the chef and food is phenomenal but so is Sena! Sena is attentive to every need and often brings you what you want without even needing to ask. Her English is flawless and she has a super friendly personality. She would always greet me by name and say hi any time she saw me in the property! She noticed I was trying to learn Japanese and when she would interact with me she’d help teach me new words and phrases. And get a massage from Emi! I did the Sakura Ritual and she is a master! She’s friendly and extremely talented, after all long day of skiing it’s exactly what you need to recover. She also went the extra mile with communication and helped me practice my Japanese during the massage (there was also plenty of quiet relaxation time). This hotel is an amazing experience made even better by the wonderful people who work there.