Skye Niseko

The best ski-in/ski-out hotel in Niseko’s main town, Hirafu, Skye Niseko is a lovely modern hotel with a spa, onsen, restaurant and gym.

• The location right on the mountain in Hirafu town and within walking distance of several great restaurants
• The Penthouse suite, which has a spacious terrace, views of Mount Yotei and a jacuzzi.
• YamaSport, the hotel’s ski shop with premium ski and snowboarding rentals

One of several sleek properties in Niseko’s Hirafu Village, the Syke Niseko opened in 2018 and immediately became the top choice for travelers looking to stay right on the slopes and within walking distance to the top restaurants in town. The ski-in/ski-out property has 105 rooms, including everything from studios to four-bedroom suites, with the larger rooms on the top floors offering beautiful views of Mount Yotei, the active volcano that provides a striking backdrop to Niseko. The accommodations are simple and have stone and light-wood furnishings, washer/dryers, small kitchenettes and media centers with Apple TVs and Netflix.

As most travelers come to Niseko to ski and snowboard, Syke Niseko has a YamaSport ski shop with premium rentals and a helpful ski valet. In case the slopes don’t provide enough exercise, the hotel does have a small fitness center in the basement with a handful of machines, but the best way to relax is at the Ryko Spa. Here, travelers can enjoy massages, facials and the iso float tank. There is also an onsen (Japanese hot springs), which has a separate private area that must be reserved.

Dining-wise, Skye Niseko has a small café that offers coffee, wine and to-go snacks like yogurt from local farms, soup and cheese. For a sit-down meal, the main restaurant, Kumo, serves Japanese comfort food (ramen, udon) during the day and izakaya cuisine—think stone-cooked Hokkaido wagyu and salmon rice hot pots—at dinner.

Families who want a convenient hotel right on the slopes that is close to lots of restaurants and bars.