Five Insider Tips for Winter Travel to Japan

New York, NY, 2022-Oct-28 — /Travel PR News/ — Japan is open and ready for international travelers. After being closed to visitors for nearly three years, the country is set to have a spectacular winter season as it welcomes visitors back to Niseko Village.

For travelers looking to connect with local cuisine, culture and history while experiencing some of the finest powder snow in the world, here are five ways from YTL Hotels to enjoy a visit to Japan this winter:

Ski the Niseko United Ski Area: One of the most famous ski-spots in Japan, Hokkaido is known for its JAPOW – the iconic great Japanese powdery snow that falls on the mountains creating a haven for skiers. Resting at the foot of Mount Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Village is a prime winter destination and haven for ski lovers who appreciate and long for secluded luxury and culture. Opening for the 2022-2023 season on December 3, 2022, the winter wonderland boasts its very own Snow School and extensive ski trails with access to 2,191 acres of skiable terrain, 70 runs and 29 lifts and gondolas.

Indulge in Local Cuisine: Hokkaido is famed for its dairy and the Niseko Cheese Kobo artisanal factory produces award-winning products such as Momiji, a must-try Mimolette. For travelers looking to warm up with ramen, chef Kazuhiro Sagara moved to Hokkaido after falling in love with Niseko’s nature and opened Niseko Ramen Kazahana. The restaurant pays tribute to the birthplace of miso ramen with its own special potato ramen, featuring an in-house broth made from a blend of 19 miso varieties covered in a potato cream vichyssoise.

Relax in a Traditional Onsen: The quintessential Japanese experience, hot springs or onsen are comprised of volcanic spring water full of natural minerals, providing users with natural health benefits from boosting circulation to reducing stress, promoting sleep, relieving pain, and more. The water source for the hot springs originates from a natural mineral spring deep within the earth, which is cooled to over 100 degrees before entering the onsen. Niseko Village boasts several onsens all surrounded by nature and with views of the mountains, allowing guests to soak in the meditative environment around them.

Stay in Comfort and Style: The first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Japan and the fifth across the globe, Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve features majestic panoramic views of Mount Yotei, 50 rooms and suites, two distinctive restaurants, and a world-class onsen for visitors to stay in style this winter. Niseko Village also boasts four other properties for travelers to choose from, ranging from the exclusive Kasara Niseko Village Townhouses that redefine alpine living to Hinode Hills Niseko Village offering luxury hotel services in apartment-style accommodations, Hilton Niseko Village that whisks skiers to the top of the mountain in less than 10 minutes, and The Green Leaf Niseko Village known for its onsen and spa.

Sip Japanese Whiskies: The Nikka Distillery in Yoichi was founded in the 1930s and has become a world-renowned brand, offering single malt and blended whisky. Whisky aficionados and those just there for the experience have the unique chance to learn the ins and outs of the distillation process firsthand. The distillery is also home to a museum showcasing a range of limited-edition Nikka Whisky bottles, painting a picture of the last 100 years of Japanese history.

About Niseko Village: Nestled at the south base of the 1308m Mount Niseko Annupuri, Niseko Village is a premier all-season destination that sits within the Niseko United ski area that accesses inter-linked ski resorts boasting a combined 2,191 acres of skiable terrain and is often compared to world class ski resorts like Aspen in Colorado and Niseko’s sister city, St. Moritz in Switzerland. Niseko Village comprises of Higashiyama Niseko Village, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, only one of the five Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world, eight exclusive Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse that redefines alpine living, Hinode Hills Niseko Village which is a unique residential development with luxury hotel services, Hilton Niseko Village – voted ‘Best Ski Resort Hotel in Japan’ by World Ski Awards 2013, 2014 and 2015, The Green Leaf Niseko Village, spa and onsen facilities, a dining and retail village hub, the Niseko Village skifield – renowned for its dry champagne powder at low-altitude, variety of ski terrains, the world-class Niseko Village Snow School and Niseko Kids™ programs. https://niseko-village.com/en/

About YTL Hotels: YTL Hotels owns and manages a prestigious collection of award-winning resorts, hotels, boutique experiences and Spa Villages with a hospitality footprint across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom, including Pangkor Laut Resort, voted the world’s best resort in 2003 by Condé Nast Traveller UK. The Gainsborough Bath Spa, a part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s collection of legendary hotels, was named in the 2017 Condé Nast Traveller Awards World’s Top 100 and listed amongst the Best Hotels in the UK as well as the Top Destination Spa Resorts in the World in the 2022 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. The portfolio, which embraces the brand promise of Treasured Places, Treasured Moments, also encompasses the ownership management of Marriott International properties in Australia and Kuala Lumpur as well as properties under the brand’s distinctive Autograph Collection banner. Properties under the Marriott International partnership include The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui as well as Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, named in TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2021 list and also the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Japan, complementing YTL Hotels’ master plan for Niseko Village. https://www.ytlhotels.com

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