Why Kiroro should be your go-to ski destination next year - Augustman
Augustman Logo
Style
Culture
Gear
Food & Drink
Travel
Wellness
AM Select
E-Magazine
Most Trending
Why Kiroro should be your go-to ski destination next year
Most Recent
Why Kiroro should be your go-to ski destination next year
Most Trending
Catch The Hermès Autumn/Winter 2021 Show Live From Paris
Most Recent
Artist Peter Doig Collaborates With Kim Jones For Dior Men’s Fall/Winter 2021-22 Collection
  • Fashion
  • Watches
  • Grooming
Most Trending
Shattered Faith. Broken Alliances.
Most Recent
Will Music Streaming Spell The End Of Radio As We Know It?
  • Design
  • Events
  • Art
  • Music
  • Film & TV
Most Trending
Review: The Fourth-Generation Apple iPad Air Is The Ultimate Portable Workhorse
Most Recent
6 Reasons Why We Are Really Excited About The 2021 Formula 1 Season
  • Tech
  • Motoring
Most Trending
Glenfiddich celebrates a prosperous Chinese New Year
Most Recent
Sip On These 5 Cocktails That Are Under 200 Calories
  • Dining
  • Drinks
Most Trending
Detourism: Can The Past Year’s Lessons Teach Us To Become Better Tourists?
Most Recent
See Singapore Through Fresh Eyes With These Unique Tours And Experiences
  • Travel Guides
  • Hotels & Resorts
Most Trending
Razer Has Created A Futuristic Face Mask Equipped With Built-In Microphones And Lighting Effects
Most Recent
Free Workout Apps That Will Help You Smash Your 2021 Weight-Loss Goals
  • Fitness
  • Health
Most Trending
AUGUSTMAN Singapore: Free Digital Issues For The Next 3 Months
Most Recent
Uncover Mindful Living with AUGUSTMAN x LIFESTYLEASIA
  • Men of the Year
  • MVMT
  • A-Listers
  • Hit List
  • sg
    • MY
    • SG
  • Search
Why Kiroro should be your go-to ski destination next year
Sort & Filter
Close Filter
Sort By
Date
Relevance
Filter By Category
All Categories
All
Style
Culture
Gear
Food & Drink
Travel
Wellness
AM Select
Apply
Filter By Location
singapore
All Countries
Travel
See Singapore Through Fresh Eyes With These Unique Tours And Experiences
Travel
Detourism: Can The Past Year’s Lessons Teach Us To Become Better Tourists?
Travel
More Air Travel Bubbles (ATB) We’d Like To See
Augustman Logo
sg
Why Kiroro should be your go-to ski destination next year
Back
All  Style
  • Fashion
  • Watches
  • Grooming
Back
All  Culture
  • Design
  • Events
  • Art
  • Music
  • Film & TV
Back
All  Gear
  • Tech
  • Motoring
Back
All  Food & Drink
  • Dining
  • Drinks
Back
All  Travel
  • Travel Guides
  • Hotels & Resorts
Back
All  Wellness
  • Fitness
  • Health
Back
All  AM Select
  • Men of the Year
  • MVMT
  • A-Listers
  • Hit List
E-Magazine
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Sort & Filter
Close Filter
Sort By
Date
Relevance
Filter By Category
All Categories
All
Style
Culture
Gear
Food & Drink
Travel
Wellness
AM Select
Apply
Filter By Location
singapore
All Countries
Travel

Why Kiroro should be your go-to ski destination next year

Josiah Neo
20 Dec 2018
Article Hero Image
Trending Now
6 Reasons Why We Are Really Excited About The 2021 Formula 1 Season
GearRead More
Artist Peter Doig Collaborates With Kim Jones For Dior Men’s Fall/Winter 2021-22 Collec...
StyleRead More
Review: The Fourth-Generation Apple iPad Air Is The Ultimate Portable Workhorse
GearRead More
Catch The Hermès Autumn/Winter 2021 Show Live From Paris
StyleRead More
Travel inspiration, destination guides, hotel reviews and more - we've got it all. Sign up for our newsletter.

THERE are many ways to escape the abhorrent humidity here in Singapore. One of our favourite destinations is Hokkaido with powder snow that’s perfect for skiing and snowboarding. But everyone knows the allure of the Japanese island, so its ski resorts are always bound to be at capacity. The towns of Niseko, Furano, and Tomamu are the typical tourist resorts one would first look at when planning a trip to Hokkaido.

Enter Kiroro, a little-known destination located in the heart of Hokkaido’s Golden Triangle that has long been the choice resort for professional skiers with its consistent powder and an unusually long season.

kiroro

If you need a little push to start getting your plane tickets, here are some reasons why your first holiday of 2019 should be a ski trip to Kiroro.

The consistently dry powder snow and long winter season

In any ski resort, the snow is what makes or breaks it. Kiroro has consistently received some of the most snowfall—21 metres each year—in the entire Hokkaido region. Niseko in comparison gets about 14 metres on average during the peak season. The snow is powder light and dry – both experts and novices will enjoy the experience.

The slopes at Kiroro are far less packed than its more established counterparts. PHOTO: Richie Johns

The period of snowfall at Kiroro is also unusually long when compared to other resorts. The season starts early in November and only tapers off around May, so you have plenty of time to plan your /vacation. With almost six months of snowfall resulting in a more even spread of visitation, you can rest assured that you won’t be queuing up for hours just to get on the ski lift, nor will you be jostling on the pistes with other skiers.

The many 5-star accommodations to rest up after a day on the slopes

It’s always nice to come back to a warm suite after a long, productive day out on the slopes. Kiroro, thankfully, has no shortage of luxury hotels that are more than willing to welcome you as their guests.

One option is the Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort. The Sheraton is one of the better resorts in Kiroro for serious skiiers, as they provide ski-in-ski-out access to 22 snow trails. Amateurs who don’t have their own ski gear can also rent it hassle-free at the main Kiroro mountain centre that happens to be attached to the Sheraton. It’s also an academy that offers classes for beginners.

kiroro
The living room of the suites at the Sheraton Hokkaido Kiroro Resort

When you’re done with the snow activities, retire to one of the 140 guest rooms and suites that are spacious and well-lit. Remember to request for a room with the views of the mountain. If your muscles are tensed up after a day of working the slopes, or you just want to try out an onsen, the Sheraton has a Tokiwayu Bath in the spa. You can choose to soak either in the outdoor hot tub or the cold water bath before heading into the sauna to open up your pores and sweat out the toxins.

Another option in Kiroro is The Kiroro, part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio Hotels and Resorts. If you’re after something a bit more traditionally-designed, The Kiroro is the mountain resort for you. Here, you can enjoy sweeping views every morning of two peaks, Asari and Nagamine. Getting to the Kiroro ski area requires a three-minute ride on the free shuttle bus that runs between The Kiroro and the Sheraton.

kiroro
The onsen at The Kiroro.

We’d dare say that the spa amenities at The Kiroro are some of the best currently in the resort. They have just refurbished the “Kiroro Onsen” for a more contemporary, modern vibe while still staying true to the Japanese public bath traditions. The baths at the onsen are only filled with mineral-rich hot spring water from the Akaigawa Village, and the sauna is made of cedar wood that’s more comfortable and cooler to sit on. There is also a new stone sauna, which is another name for the infrared sauna on The Kiroro’s premises.

For the holiday home seekers

There is also the upcoming Yu Kiroro private residences that will breathe some new life into the accommodation options in the Kiroro region. The award-winning luxury condominium will be the first time a private property has ski-in-ski-out access to the slopes in Kiroro, which would definitely attract all the ski aficionados looking for a home in Hokkaido.

If that’s not enough to convince you, there is also an in-house ski valet, all-day dining, an indoor and outdoor onsen, plus an “Owner’s Lounge” for you to mingle with your neighbours after a day out in the snow.

kiroro
The apartments at Yu Kiroro are all fully furnished.

Yu Kiroro has 108 fully-furnished units ranging from 1-bedroom to 3-bedrooms. There is also a 4-bedroom penthouse that boasts its own private outdoor onsen. The residence is slated for completion in December 2019, and the apartments start at ¥70M (S$850,000).

It’s not just about skiing at Kiroro

Sure, Kiroro might be primarily a ski town, but that doesn’t mean that’s all it has to offer. There is a myriad of other activities you can partake in because your body deserves a break after skiing for a few days.

You can arrange to have a tour of the snow-covered forests either on foot or on one of the snowmobiles that resemble monster trucks. If you’re up for a sub-zero adventure, the tour is also conducted at twilight and at night, so you can experience a true winter wonderland in the chilliest weather possible. No, the popups at Gardens by the Bay don’t count.

kiroro
The Otaru Canal in winter. (Photo by Sonotoki/Flickr)

If you have more time, the picturesque port city of Otaru is just a quick 30-minute drive away. What was once a former major trade and fishing port filled with warehouses and office buildings has transformed into a quaint town with artisanal shops. Those same warehouses of old have been turned into museums, and they line the main canal that meanders through the city.

Flights from Singapore to Sapporo (Hokkaido) operate daily on Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA, and Scoot.

Travel
ski
Kiroro
Hokkaido
Ski Resorts
Josiah Neo
Josiah Neo is a tech writer who contributes occasionally to the fashion and travel beats. When he’s not busy keeping up with the keynotes, he’s probably stuffing his face with the best Melbournian donuts (at Shortstop, BTW) or watching his favourite esports team, the LA Valiant, pummel their opponents into oblivion.
Talk to Me About:

Up Next For You

Break The Monotony Of Pandemic Existence With A Luxurious Staycation
Juliana Chan
Travel
The Closest We Can Get To Travelling Right Now
Juliana Chan
Travel
When travel bans are lifted, we're heading to these places first
Lester Tan
Travel
Where to go when flights resume? Here are some cool travel ideas
Juliana Chan
Travel
Travel inspiration, destination guides, hotel reviews and more - we've got it all. Sign up for our newsletter.
×
Where are you?
Tell us so we can display what you want to see.
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
Malaysia Singapore
Advertise About Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
© 2021 Copyright Augustman