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SCOUT REVIEW

The Green Leaf at Niseko Village is a surprise package situated right on the side of the ski slopes of Niseko. Surrounded by the natural beauty of snowy birch tree forests and mountain views, there’s a sense of tranquility when you stay here. It certainly feels a million miles away from the hectic and built-up Hirafu area, however in reality it’s only a 15-20 minute bus ride away.

Recently renovated, the Green Leaf has modern comforts with some wonderful Japanese benefits. In particular, it includes a large outdoor onsen (rotenburo) that’s nestled in among the boulders. This provides the perfect place for a post-ski soak, especially when you can watch the snow falling all around.

With 200 rooms, it’s a fairly busy hotel. The lobby area’s relaxing bar, Tomioka White, has plenty of leather lounges and it serves up fantastic hot chocolates and drinks (albeit not cheap). Meanwhile, the hotel’s restaurant Goshiki provides Western and Japanese buffets for breakfast (included in the rate), as well as serving lunch and dinner (and wonderful views). This is the only restaurant in the hotel (though the bar does serve light snacks), so if you’re here for more than a couple of nights, it’s likely that you’ll head into Hirafu or Kutchan for more variety. That will involve a taxi or a shuttle bus – the last shuttle returns from Hirafu at 1am. Niseko Village has undergone some development in the past few years so it also now has a few restaurants and shops in a pleasant outdoor arcade just down the road from the Green Leaf. A new gondola from the Green Leaf has recently been installed, making it even easier for guests to get from the hotel to the Hilton side of the base (free for guests until 9pm).

Scout loves the rooms at The Green Leaf. They’re decorated in a contemporary Scandinavian style – the perfect complement to the natural scenery outside the windows. The rooms are on the small size (23sqm), as are the bathrooms, but not as small as the average Japanese hotel room. Somehow, the way they’ve arranged the furniture, combined with the large windows, makes them feel a lot larger than they really are. The bathrooms have been recently renovated for a fresh feel.

All rooms include a sofa that can convert to a bed. If you need a lot of space, opt for a Suite – they’re twice the size, and feature a separate living room and kitchenette. Thanks to the large windows in the bedrooms, most rooms offer lovely views of the snowscapes surrounding the hotel. And on a clear day, some rooms offer glimpses of Mount Yōtei.

The Green Leaf is a great hotel for skiers that don’t like dealing with gear and buses, as the locker facilities lead right out to the slopes and chairlifts. It’s particularly great for beginners, because not only does the hotel have its own magic carpet right outside, but there’s a shuttle that takes kids to the Niseko Village Snow School at the gondola base. You can rent equipment from the hotel (good quality Atomic or Burton), or at the Gondola base. 

But at the end of the day, the real highlight of this hotel – especially for skiers – is the onsen. Separated into men’s and women’s onsen, these feature natural hot spring water that’s ‘cooled’ to a comfortable 40 degrees. This is open from 1pm daily, and there’s also an attached day spa which offers a range of massage services – why not try the ‘Boots and Mittens’ foot chair treatment?

The Green Leaf offers complimentary pick-up from the Welcome Centre for clients arriving on the Hokkaido Resort Liner from New Chitose Airport, and receive 20% off lift passes when you purchase them in conjunction with lodging at Green Leaf via Scout.

Who should stay here