When it comes to finding a place to hang your ski hat in, Niseko has come a long way.
Gone are the days when booking accommodation meant choosing between a local ryokan and a family-run ski pension. Today, Niseko is home to some of the most luxurious chalets, hotels and ski condos in the world.
“Built on the edge of an escarpment, Aspect Niseko offers some of the best views of Mount Yotei we’ve seen anywhere in Niseko.”
As our team discovered during our recent stay, Aspect Niseko is the perfect example of this new age of slopeside luxury in Niseko.
Welcome to Aspect Niseko
Aspect Niseko is a sleek and stylish condominium hotel offering a prestigious address on the border between Hirafu’s Middle and Lower Village. This stretch is aptly described as Millionaire’s Row and Aspect counts some of Niseko’s most prominent multimillion-dollar chalets as its neighbours.
Aspect Niseko features two and three-bedroom suites offering all the mod cons you’ll need for a truly memorable stay in Niseko. If you’re travelling with a bigger group, the apartments can also be combined into five-bedroom units based on availability.
The suite life
Our team stayed in the three-bedroom premium suite. Situated on the third floor, our apartment offered amazing views of Mount Yotei through full-wall windows which line the open-plan living and dining room.
The suite’s design is the perfect mix of cutting edge cool and mountainside cosy – think endless cups of cocoa by a designer fireplace and nights spent curled up in bed under a faux-fur comforter.
The spacious apartment (168m2 in all, in case you were wondering) is perfectly set up for a comfortable stay in Niseko. The fully-equipped kitchen comes with all the essential appliances and crockery. For those interested in cooking, the ever-convenient Seicomart convenience store is about 300 metres away and if you don’t feel like walking, you can make use of Aspect’s complimentary shuttle. This being Japan, the Wi-Fi runs smooth as silk and there’s even a PlayStation 4 to keep you entertained.
Slopeside service
While you might come to Aspect Niseko for the views and design, you’ll certainly stay for the service. From the moment we checked in at the cool and cosy lobby (the complimentary Nespresso machine is a nice touch), we were made to feel right at home – and like we were in very good hands indeed.
Aspect’s concierge team is courteous and efficient, ready to handle everything from restaurant bookings to recommending local activities and beyond. When we were stumped for where to head for dinner, they recommended we check out Koharuya, a cosy izakaya hidden close by in the Lower Village.
“Without this insider tip, we would never have stumbled upon this hidden gem which is now one of our favourite spots in Hirafu.”
On an evening when we were feeling particularly worn out from exploring snowy Niseko, we made use of Aspect’s complimentary guest shuttle which saved us from having to make the short walk up to the main street.
To make for a truly seamless slopeside experience, Aspect Niseko also offers a ski valet service. The team will take care of your ski gear – loading it to the complimentary shuttle and unloading it when you return to the hotel – allowing you to focus on what really matters: conquering Niseko’s epic slopes!
Final verdict
Aspect Niseko is one of those rare places where you’ll truly want for nothing. Though the location is great (and the free shuttle and ski valet sure make getting around a breeze), we could have happily spent days on end simply relaxing in our apartment, enjoying the luxurious facilities and amazing mountainside views. Until next time!
