Hit The Slopes

In a valley somewhere between the majestic, mist-shrouded Mount Yotei and the undulating peaks of Niseko Annupuri in Hokkaido is a quaint Japanese hamlet and ski resort called Niseko Village. Elaine Kim discovers

- Elaine Kim

NISEKO HAS BEEN A FIXTURE ON my family holiday calendar for years. I first visited the town in Hokkaido, Japan when I was still expecting my first child, Kyan, back in 2011. I have been visiting almost every winter season since, and now six years after my inaugural trip, I am back on the familiar powdery slopes the ski region is famous for— with three children in tow. It is also my first time outside Hirafu, the busy centre of Niseko.

With the abundance of hotels, ski condominiums and restaurants in Hirafu, I have never thought to venture to the neighbouring ski resorts such as Niseko Village. But when I came across pictures of the beautiful townhouses at Kasara Niseko Village, I was drawn to the idea of spending my next family vacation in an elegant and spacious two-storey luxury villa, where there would be large but cosy common areas for my friends and I to relax and our kids to run about. I had initially assumed that size and seclusion made for a necessary trade-off for the convenience of a ski-in/ski-out location, a ski concierge and access to a ski school, but my stay at Kasara proved me wrong.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a row of beautiful townhouses that architecturally melded traditional and modern Japanese design, set against a picturesque backdrop of the snow-cloaked Mount Yotei. Within seconds, we were warmly welcomed by a friendly private concierge who guided us through what would be our home for the next few days.