Catching The First Powder Snow Of Winter At Hokkaido Boutique Retreat Nozo Hotel
Nightly room rate including breakfast and free shuttle bus to Furano ski zone in Hokkaido’s winter wonderland starts from around HK$1,230 (JPY24,150) a night for two or HK$1,100 (JPY21,150) for single occupancy
Chic boutique retreat Nozo Hotel is welcoming the first snowfall of winter with a great value package in Hokkaido’s powder snow paradise of Furano.
Prices including breakfast and free shuttle bus to Furano ski zone for the month of December only starts from around HK$1,230 (JPY24,150) a night for two or HK$1,000 (JPY20,000) for single occupancy.
Themed “Catching the first snow of winter”, the package also includes free shuttle bus to Furano ski zone ski lifts and is available 30 November until late December only until the Kitanomine ski zone (just a three-minute walk from hotel) starts operation.
The cozy, 78-room international resort hotel (nozohotel.com) is perfect for the winter travelers both skiers, and non-skiers, serviced by a dedicated team of international, multi-lingual staff to ensure guests have a memorable holiday.
Furano is renown as having high quality powder snow, some of the lightest and driest in Japan.
It has a wide range of trails suitable for all levels from beginners to advance skiers. The legendary slopes is one of Japan’s most iconic ski destinations in Hokkaido, boasts over 950 vertical metres of skiing making it a popular spot for FIS tournaments and has previously hosted the FIS Ski and Snowboard World Cup at least 12 times, more than any other location in Japan.
“As the first snowfall blankets Furano, Nozo Hotel invites guests to celebrate the winter wonderland with an unforgettable winter getaway blending adventure, luxury and unparalleled hospitality,” said Nathalia Wilson, management team.
“The breathtaking beauty of the season offers a unique opportunity to create lasting and truly special memories.”
Guests can travel light for the powder snow experience of a lifetime. In collaboration with Rhythm Japan (www.rhythmjapan.com) , Nozo Hotel offers ski and snowboard rental services featuring a specially curated range of gear, with hotel staff ensuring a seamless rental gear return process. Nozo also partners with Whiteroom (http://www.whiteroomtours.com) to offer ski lessons or guided backcountry skiing tours.
For soothing relaxation and rejuvenation from energetic ski-ing, Sugi Spa features indoor and outdoor hot baths, cold water dips and saunas.
With less than five floors, the hotel is respectfully and naturally designed as a place to ‘live the moment’ celebrating local culture, adventure and nature. Bright, minimalist guest rooms in light wood tones represent the spirit of Hokkaido.
For the Apres-ski, the ‘Buna Bar Lounge’ is the social ‘living room’ with a fireplace offering snacks and drinks from a vast selection of local and international wines, whiskies, sakes and beers from local brewers.
Whilst Shirakaba restaurant serves a western and Japanese breakfast buffet; lunch ranging from pizzas and sandwiches to sushi and local seasonal specialties; and dinner including Hokkaido seafood, premium teppanyaki, local farm produce with a selection of made to order sushi from the sushi counter or teppanyaki grill. Authentic local bread is also freshly baked daily at CouCou Bakery.
For a truly special celebration, Shirakaba offers an exquisite selection of festive dinner options for 24, 25, 31 December and 01 January. Indulge in freshest Hokkaido ingredients with luxurious shabu-shabu sets featuring Kamifurano Pork, Snow Crab or Furano Wagyu, priced from JPY 10,000 to 16,000. Alternatively, savour the expertly grilled flavours of the Teppanyaki menu, choosing from Assorted Seafood (JPY 9,000), Saibi Beef Filet (JPY 12,000) or the exquisite Furano Wagyu Beef Sirloin (JPY 20,000).
For group events, an open-plan event room accommodates up to 50. Facilities extend to a Kids Room with toys and games along with a gym, laundry, shop for daily necessities and Hokkaido souvenirs, and a convenient ATM.
The first of a planned boutique resort brand, the minimalist retreat caters for both international and Japanese guests.
Nestled between the Yubari and Tokachidake mountain ranges, Nozo Hotel is not only a winter ski resort but a retreat for all seasons, with activities extending to biking, hiking, and water rafting in summer, amid natural beauty that overwhelms visitors year-round.
Nozo Hotel is easily reached by direct international flight to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, a two-hour drive from the hotel, or domestic flights from Tokyo or Osaka to Asahikawa Airport, a scenic one-hour drive away.
Nozo Hotel
Address: 14-38 Kitanomine-cho, Furano-shi, Hokkaido
Reservations/website: nozohotel.com
Access: About one hour from Asahikawa Airport, seven mins from JR Furano Station by car
About Nozo Hotel
Nozo is an international boutique hotel with a contemporary design that makes extensive use of natural colours and materials. The word comes from a shortened form of the word “Nozomi,” which means to wish and hope in Japanese. As a resort hub, the hotel is a place that guests can live the moment and celebrate the culture, adventure, and nature of Furano. You can spend your time as you wish, be it ski-ing and snowboarding in a winter wonderland or cycling, rafting, exploring the natural scenery, tasting local cuisine or simply relaxing throughout the year. The restaurant serves international cuisine as well as sushi, teppanyaki and fresh local produce. A stay of three nights or more is recommended to fully enjoy the unique destination in all four seasons.
About Parkwood Hotels Furano Co.
Parkwood Hotels Furano Co. (parkwood.jp) is a Japan hotel group established in July 2023 and the operating company of Nozo Hotel. The group also owns another hotel in Japan, Hotel Solage Oita, Hiji (solage.jp/en). The company’s vision is to grow the brand in Japan.