Editors' Picks

Zaborin

Peaceful, ryokan-style, secluded

Japan, 〒044-0084 Hokkaido, Abuta-gun, Kutchan, Hanazono, 道道58号

81-136-23-0003

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At a Glance

Situated in the picturesque forest just 10 minutes from the famous Niseko ski resort, the intimate, 15-room Zaborin hotel offers a traditional ryokan experience and a luxurious home base for exploring the region.

Indagare Loves

  • The kaiseki restaurant, which serves an 11-course menu that is included in the nightly rate.
  • That all the rooms have alfresco onsens with beautiful views.
  • The hotel’s proximity to Somoza, a must-visit art gallery and restaurant

Review

Surrounded by white birch trees in the Hanazono Forest, the 15-suite Zaborin is a ryokan-style hotel two hours by car from New Chitose International Airport and 10 minutes from the slopes in Niseko. With a sleek, minimalist style and hushed atmosphere, the property encourages relaxation—an easy task when each of its rooms comes with both an indoor and outdoor onsen (Japanese hot springs) with volcanic spring water.

The serene Zaborin is a quiet hideaway for travelers who want to experience the region but stay in a beautiful setting; the hotel offers a number of stylish public spaces, including a library and lounge with a fireplace, a perfect spot to curl up with a good book, enjoy tea or simply take in the views of the surrounding countryside. The hotel has a complimentary shuttle to the mountain and can arrange ski and snowboard rentals upon request. Additional activities that can be arranged in the area include horseback riding, golf, tennis, cooking classes, snow-shoeing and more.

The main restaurant at Zaborin is open for breakfast and dinner (both meals are included in the nightly room rate). The chefs incorporate local ingredients into exquisite dishes. The kaiseki dinners, which are 11-course affairs and change daily according to what is fresh, are particularly noteworthy.

Who Should Stay

Couples and families with older children, who want to be based at a really special, authentic property and don’t mind being a 10-minute drive from the mountain and 15 minutes from Hirafu village.

Written by Emma Pierce

What's Nearby

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