Lodge-style boutique hotel offering excellent service in snow paradise Niseko, Hokkaido

Kimamaya / Niseko-Hirafu / Hokkaido / Japan

I have had a life-long dream (ok, maybe not when I was a tiny kid but almost) to ski in Japan. I had heard about the massive dumps (yes, referring to snow) and therefore excellent skiing conditions. We finally had the chance to do it and decided to go to Niseko on the island of Hokkaido in the north, and we found a great place to stay during our skiing holiday. It is this place, the Kimamaya.

The hotel is located in Niseko-Hirafu, and is designed to look like a classic lodge but with a Japanese twist. The hotel first opened in 1985 by Yasuo and Keiko Watanabe. In 2009 the hotel got a full make-over by designer Andrew Bell, who had four elements as inspiration for his work; simplicity, warmth, friendliness and beauty. And these four words sums up the style in a nutshell. Kimamya is a member of Design Hotels which I guess says it all.

This 9-key hotel is located on a quiet side street of Hirafu. One thing I love when staying at hotels in Japan, is when you have to take off your shoes by the entrance and change into slippers. Makes you feel like you are staying in someone’s home rather than a hotel. The style of the Kimamaya is lodge-like where the main feature is wood. The focus is on creating a cozy atmosphere with generous common areas where huge sofas are placed next to a huge fire place, all dressed in subtle colors.

Breakfast is served in the Barn restaurant (which looks like a traditional Dutch barn), that is connected with the hotel via an underground walk way. The restaurant is well worth a visit in the evening, where they served French inspired cuisine but you can also have the most amazing wagyu beef. And if you want to venture our there is a vibrant food truck scene in the village with almost endless options.

Another thing worth mentioning is the service. British Peter, who is managing the property, together with his team, does an amazing job when it comes to service. I can’t remember if I have ever been this well looked after when staying at a hotel whatever we needed, they sorted out for us. Peter and CO. made our stay at Kimamaya simply amazing.

Welcome to Kimamaya Hotel and the snow paradise of Niseko-Hirafu!

Our room which represents the design idea of Andrew Scott; simple, warm, friendly and beautiful.

The lounge next to receptions a bright space with several seating areas where you can relax after a day on the mountain, enjoying something from the honesty bar.

Do you want to know how a perfect day could look when staying at Kimamaya? Starting with breakfast in the Barn, which is the in-house restaurant where come evening they serve French cuisine.

Breakfast is served! A combo of buffet-style and á la carte.

We stayed here together with our dear friends, the Westlund family, who came over from Shanghai to ski together.

There are great restaurants on the mountain. This is called Niseko Village where you’ll find several great restaurants. And superb coffee from Omotesando Coffee.

The bathroom signs at our lunch restaurant. So pretty!

The iconic Mt. Yotei, a volcanic mountain towering almost 2000 metres above sea level. It is often called Ezo Fuji, since it looks almost identical to Mt. Fuji.

Back at the hotel after a day on the mountain, heading to the spa.

M is slowly getting into the hot, hot water of the so called *ishi* bath.

And in the room next door, there is a wooden one, called *moku*. These are booked for free in the reception so you can have a relaxing moment in the hot water.

Me out for a afterski walk in the snow. If is crazy how much it snows here. I have never seen anything like it before.

M heading out to find a place for an afternoon coffee.

There are several great places in the village, this was our favorite, the Hidden Stand.

Come evening, dinner at The Barn is a great idea if you want to try….

…some really great wagyu beef. Insanely good!

Dinner followed by dessert from one of the many food trucks in town. Hokkaido is famous for their creamy ice cream.

And just to highlight some of our other favorites. For coffee, this is % Arabica.

Another great coffee place is Aussie Byron Bay Coffee Company.

There are so many great food trucks parked around the village. These lemon chicken dumplings from the gyoza stand in the main food truck parking in town, are some of the best dumplings I have ever tried.

And if you want to have dinner at a great izikaya, this is Korhauya, a short walk from the hotel…

…where the food was simply amazing. Simple AND amazing.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…like small boutique hotels with affable service and a very relaxed atmosphere. If this is your thing, you will enjoy staying at the Kimamaya.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the service. Peter and his team at the hotel really went beyond what one can expect when staying at a hotel. It is a joy to feel that well looked after when staying at a hotel.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to try as many of the food truckas as possible. This village is famous for its vibrant food truck scene where you can find almost anything. One favorite was the gyoza stand where they serve a mean lemon chicken gyoza. Another is the Burger Omunibus and their tasty wagyu burger and the Indian Taj Mahal truck and their chicken tikka wrapped in a naan bread. Yum!

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