Hilton Niseko Village in Hokkaido to open 1 July 2008

The Hilton Niseko Village, scheduled to open on 1 July 2008, is aiming to become one of Asia’s premier internationally branded mountain resort destinations. The luxury resort is located at the foot of the magnificent 1,309 meter Mount Annupuri on the Northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The 506-room full service deluxe Hilton-managed hotel will enhance the hospitality offerings at Niseko Village, a popular destination resort. Niseko Village comprises a ski area with manicured pistes and deep powder glades and boasts summertime activities including golf, horse riding, fishing, and rope courses. It also provides the perfect base for the region’s white water rafting and adventure options.

Niseko is renowned for its powder-perfect dry snow and low humidity summers. With its powerful combination of secluded natural beauty, mountainous landscape, hot springs and one of Japan’s purest water sources, Niseko’s diverse attractions cannot fail to inspire visitors to get out and enjoy what the great outdoors has to offer.

Oded Lifschitz, Vice President Operations Hilton Hotels - Japan, Korea and Micronesia said, “Niseko is experiencing a growth in tourism with increasing visitor arrivals from Japanese cities as well as Australia, Asia and Europe. We see great potential for the tourism market to grow here, in the summer season as well as in winter. Hilton Niseko Village is a response to growing demand for deluxe hotels here.”

The Hilton Niseko Village is an existing property that will be re-branded as the ‘Hilton Niseko Village' on July 1st, the hotel has undergone multi-million dollar renovations over the past few months.

The hotel lobby, which was designed by renowned Japanese interior designer, Yukio Hashimoto Design Studio, will be kept warm during winter by one of Japan’s largest fireplaces, a 2.7 meter high enclosed gas flame hearth, suspended from the 3 storey high lobby ceiling.

Boasting a ski-in, ski-out location, skiers will be able to come straight off the piste and into the hotel’s ski lounge, where a Ski Valet will be on hand to assist guests and store their equipment with a boot-warming facility. For guests that wish to explore the countryside by renting cars, the hotel offers valet parking and door-to-door transfers by snow mobile. In summertime, nature and wildlife tours can be made by golf cart.

Hilton Niseko Village’s focus will be on delivering 100% hassle-free experiences including arranged airport pickups, school bookings, rental arrangements and valet services for rental cars through to the ambassadors, dedicated to helping guests identify how to spend their time in Niseko and get the most from their experience.

Restaurants with breathtaking views of Mount Yotei include a steakhouse and grill and an all day dining restaurant. A comprehensive Japanese restaurant will offer a Teppan Grill, Sushi station and Japanese eatery. Hilton will also manage the restaurant, Mak, at the top of the mountain. (Mak means “mountain top” in the aboriginal Ainu language of Hokkaido).

A highlight will also be the ambience of the après ski bar, “Ezo” (the ancient name for Hokkaido), a pub designed by Yukio Hashimoto Design Studio, overlooking the ski piste and complete with smooth wooden communal benches and a range of iconic beverages including Japanese Sakes and Sochu, Chinese and Korean liqueurs, and European Glüwein and Schnapps.

The hotel has a traditional Onsen (a Japanese hot spring) with baths indoors and outdoors where guests can soak in mineral-rich 42 degree water and gaze over the breathtaking views of Mt. Yotei and the hotel koi pond.

The hotel will also house an intimate and luxurious spa, using pure aromatherapy oils, the healing properties of indigenous stones and herbs coupled with traditional massage techniques practiced in the area.

Niseko Village

Established as a tourist destination over 40 years ago, today Niseko is one of Japan’s most successful and popular recreational destinations.

Within Japan, Niseko is designated as a Special Heavy Snowfall Region. An annual 11 meters (430 inches) of snowfall and a long winter season allows Niseko to provide some of the world’s best-known powder skiing, snowboarding and winter activities.

Niseko Village provides guests with the ultimate ski-in, ski-out base for adventure and offers a diverse array of activities including skiing, snowboarding, night skiing, adult and children-specific Snow School programmes; snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter horseback riding. Niseko Village’s ski lifts access a wide expanse of groomed and un-groomed in-bounds terrain, the greater Niseko United area, and the backcountry gate system.

Steps from the lobby of the Hilton Niseko Village, the Niseko Village Golf Course boasts rolling fairways separated by silver birch and larch trees and vistas of Mt. Yotei and Mt. Annupuri. This beautiful 18-hole 73-par course has an outstanding par-6, stretching out a challenging 721 yards.

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