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Unofficially called Japan’s number one resort, Niseko United Ski Resort is located on the northern island of Hokkaido, about 2.5 hours from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, and is a world-famous powder destination. The Hokkaido ski resort comprises 4 interconnected resorts: Grand Hirafu, An’nupuri, Hanazono, and Niseko Village, and offers visitors a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury niseko ski hotels and apartments, to spacious chalets and villas, to comfortable holiday homes.

With around 250 places to choose from, there is a Niseko Japan ski accommodation option to suit every budget and style. Read on to find out all about the different types of accommodation available, as well as a rundown of the different accommodation areas to help you decide what and where to book on your next Niseko ski or snowboard holiday.

With everything from luxury ski-in-ski-out Niseko hotels, to backpackers and lodges, and everything in between, guests can be choosy in their accommodation style preferences. Unlike other Hokkaido ski resorts like Rusutsu, Kiroro, and Furano, which mostly have large-scale resort hotels, Niseko offers a wide range of different accommodation styles so guests can select the best accommodation to suit their needs.

Great for those who want in-house amenities such as restaurants, onsens, or retail. With some of the large style Niseko resort hotels offering ski in ski out access, beginner terrain, and onsite facilities such as spa, child care and restaurants, this type of accommodation can be a great choice for families.

Perfect for those who want the choice of having self-contained accommodation with a kitchen, but want the convenience of in-house amenities such as concierge service or front desk.

A good choice for those wanting a true ‘home away from home’, with the option to cook in-house, lounge in front of their Apple TV, and be able to spread out in style. There are hundreds of Niseko chalets, private villas, holiday homes and townhouses to choose from.

A great option for those looking for Niseko lodging on a budget, or looking for an opportunity to meet other travellers.

There are a number of ski-in-ski-out hotels in Niseko, as well as a handful of Niseko ski in ski out chalets. These offer the ultimate convenience for those who want to prioritize skiing and snowboarding, and seek immediate, hassle-free lift access. Check out our Top Niseko Ski-in-Ski-out Hotels & Chalets guide for more details.

A very popular request is a Niseko chalet or apartment with onsen, or hot spring style bathtub. Niseko has a plethora of these types of accommodations, which can be found in our Accommodations with Onsen guides for Niseko and Hakuba.

Niseko United Ski Resort is made up of four separate ski resort areas (Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, An'nupuri and Hanazono. Most accommodations are located in and around Grand Hirafu (Hirafu Village, etc) as well as Niseko Village.

The largest cluster of Niseko Ski Resort accommodation is located in Hirafu Village - a lovely ski resort town chock-a-block full of amenities such as retail shops, rental shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars - which sits at the base of Grand Hirafu Ski Resort. The village is quite compact, making it a very walkable resort-town area, with most Niseko Hirafu accommodations no more than a 10 minute walk to the lifts (and most less than 5), as well as having a number of prime ski-in-ski-out accommodation options.

Hirafu Village is divided into several areas: Upper Hirafu Village, Middle Hirafu Village, and Lower Hirafu Village, as well as some fringe areas including Kabayama, Izumikyo 1 and Niseko East Village, which are just beyond the Hirafu Village boundaries but are still quite close to village amenities and the lifts.

Because Hirafu Village is set at the base of Grand Hirafu resort, most accommodations which are located in Upper Hirafu Village or Middle Hirafu Village will be less than 5 minutes’ walk to the lifts (and a number of accommodations also offer ski in ski out access), whereas most of the Lower Hirafu Village accommodations will require a bit more effort (5-10 minutes walk uphill). However, most Lower Hirafu Village accommodations are also never more than 1 or 2 minutes walk to a shuttle bus stop, which services the lower village and connects guests to the Grand Hirafu lifts as well as Hanazono Ski Resort. The shuttles run every 15 minutes or so and are a very convenient way to get yourself (and equipment) up the hill to the lifts.

Another perk of staying in Lower Hirafu Village is that this is where you will find the majority of Hirafu Village restaurants, cafes, and bars, making it a very convenient part of the village to hang your hat after a long day on the slopes. Guests can visit dozens of excellent Niseko restaurants within only a minute or two walk from their Lower Hirafu Village accommodation.

Niseko Izumikyo 1, Niseko East Village, and Niseko Kabayama are all fringe areas of Niseko Hirafu Village, located just outside the main village area.

Izumikyo 1 is a small enclave of chalets just 2 minutes’ walk East of Hirafu Village, and those staying in this area can still easily access all of the Hirafu Village lifts and other amenities on foot, including some Izumikyo facilities such as the Lawson convenience store and the Niseko Adventure Center and Cafe.

Beyond Izumikyo 1 lies Niseko East Village, which is another enclave of chalets, townhouses, restaurants, cafes, as well as another Lawson convenience store. Those staying in Niseko East Village will be reliant on shuttle service to the lifts and other Hirafu Village amenities.

On the other side of Hirafu Village lies Niseko Kabayama, which includes accommodations such as Always Niseko, Hokkaidaway, and the brand new Shousugi Niseko. Guests staying here can hop on the shuttle bus and be in Hirafu Village in a minute or two, or simply walk to the lifts in 10-15 minutes.

The other main accommodation area in Niseko is located in Niseko Village resort, simply called Niseko Village (formerly known as Niseko Higashiyama). This area - while great for those with an unlimited budget and looking for easy lift access, easy dining options, and slopeside facilities - is a bit more limited in terms of amenities and a real ski resort town feel. The accommodation options at Niseko Village are mostly made up of large, resort hotels complete with inhouse dining, bars, spas, onsens, rental shops, ski schools, and are typically ski-in-ski-out.

Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Hilton Niseko Village Hotel

The Green Leaf Niseko Village Hotel

Kasara Townhouses

Hinode Hills

Snow Dog Village

Foxwood

Niseko Village Resort also offers quite a bit of Beginner terrain so is a great location for beginner skiers and boarders, as well as those with young children, as the slopes and all amenities are very accessible, including dining, ski school, rental shops, and child care. The downside is that those amenities tend to be pricier, often more than what you would expect to pay for the same sort of thing in other accommodation areas such as Hirafu.

With the extensive range of accommodation in Niseko, there is a suitable option for everyone, no matter your budget or style preference. Get in touch with us and let us help you to choose the perfect Niseko hotel, apartment or chalet for your group.