Yu Kiroro, a Hokkaido hotel for discerning powder hounds that was once owned by Yamaha
- The stylish condo-hotel is situated in Kiroro, where the off-piste skiing is highly revered
- Less hectic than nearby Niseko, the resort still has much to offer, including a pair of St Bernards
Where is it? Created as a corporate retreat for Yamaha after the company’s chairman challenged his staff to find Japan’s best snow in the early 1980s, the ski resort of Kiroro was acquired by Thai developer Property Perfect in 2012. Smaller and quieter than Niseko, about an hour’s drive to the southwest, Kiroro has become a favourite among discerning powder hounds and those seeking a less hectic winter sports destination.
What makes it special? Following the opening of Sheraton and Tribute hotels, in 2015, Yu Kiroro was launched as the resort’s third property, in December, and it ups the ante in terms of luxury and design. A ski-in, ski-out “condo-hotel” – the flats can be purchased then rented out as hotel suites for most of the year by their owners – Yu combines alpine design with Japanese aesthetic precision.
It effuses cosy elegance from the moment you step into the reception, where the wood and stone decor is complemented by a gently roaring fire, hanging lights that resemble geometric clouds and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer unobstructed views over pristine snow.
Sounds stylish. How about the rooms? Each of Yu’s 104 units is a study in subtle sophistication, combining a muted natural colour palette with clean lines and fixtures and fittings designed and arranged in a way that only the Japanese and Scandinavians seem able to perfect. Suites all come with a fully equipped kitchen and range in size from 47-square-metre studios to 140-square-metre, three-bedroom flats.
There are also two 267-square-metre four-bedroom penthouse suites, each with 3.8-metre-high ceilings, a full-length dining table that can comfortably seat 10 and a private onsen on the balconywith views of the slopes.
Ah, the slopes. Now we’re talking! How’s the skiing? Thanks to its proximity to Hokkaido’s Siberia-facing northwest coast, Kiroro receives more than 20 metres of snowfall annually, while its sheltered location on the western slopes of Mount Asari makes it a powder paradise.