The 4 Best Luxury Hotels in Hokkaido
Slope-side ski days in Niseko, a ryokan with a private hot-spring bath in Jozankei or a boutique hotel in Sapporo’s old brewery: our travel advisors personally help you pick from the luxury hotels in Hokkaido. Every suitespot booking comes with free breakfast for 2, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service – benefits worth over €500.
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Unlock exclusive benefits as a premium member
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The best-known hotels in Hokkaido
Powder snow in Niseko or city life in Sapporo? Here you can see the best hotels in Hokkaido at a glance, with location, suitespot score and price per night. Our tip: if you want to go straight from the slopes to the onsen, book Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono; if you are after peace and a private hot-spring bath in your suite, choose Chalet Ivy Jozankei.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono | – | ★ 4.5/5 | 238 € |
| Sosei Sapporo | Chuo | ★ 4.3/5 | 172 € |
| Chalet Ivy Jozankei | Minami | ★ 4.2/5 | 801 € |
| Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve | Higashiyama | ★ 4.1/5 | 377 € |
Your guide to the best luxury hotels in Hokkaido
Park Hyatt Niseko HanazonoWhich of the best hotels in Hokkaido suits you depends on your trip. For ski days with direct slope access and an onsen in the evening, we recommend Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono at the foot of the Hanazono slopes. To experience Sapporo, stay at Sosei Sapporo on the grounds of a former brewery, where the first Japanese-made beer was brewed.Couples looking for quiet book Chalet Ivy Jozankei: each of its 26 suites has its own hot-spring bath above the Toyohira River valley. And families in the snow are in good hands at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village, with a kids club and an onsen fed by natural springs.
At no extra cost: booking through suitespot costs the same as booking direct with the hotel – the benefits come on top, free of charge.
Newly opened and freshly designed: what the luxury hotels in Hokkaido offer you today
New in Sapporo is Sosei Sapporo: it has welcomed guests as a hotel of the MGallery Collection since January 2024, after a full renovation of about nine months. Design Studio Crow from Tokyo styled it as a residence from Hokkaido’s pioneer era, reimagined for the 21st century: rooms come in green or purple, with Japanese paintings of the island’s settlement history on the walls. In the bar lounge, a fireplace is modeled on copper brewing kettles.
Sosei Sapporo · ChuoIn Niseko you stay at two resorts that opened in 2020. At Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, the ski valet gets you straight onto the Hanazono slopes in the morning, and the onsen awaits in the evening; the interiors are by BAR Studio from Melbourne. Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Japan, a lodge with just 50 rooms and suites, views of Mount Yotei and the slopes right outside the door.
Our tip if you are booking your 5-star hotel in Hokkaido for the summer: both Niseko resorts are designed for every season, with hiking trails, rafting and golf nearby. Our travel advisors will gladly tell you which category is available for your dates.
Spa & Wellness at a 5-star hotel in Hokkaido: onsen, private hot-spring baths and a pool
In Hokkaido, hot-spring water is as much a part of your stay as snow is of winter. A private onsen in every suite is the signature of Chalet Ivy Jozankei: all 26 suites have a bath filled with natural hot-spring water from Jozankei. There is also a public bath with indoor and open-air pools plus a sauna. At NIKUR Spa on the first floor, massages draw on Ainu traditions and Hokkaido plants, daily from 2 pm to 11 pm.
Chalet Ivy Jozankei · MinamiSwimming in the snow: among the luxury hotels in Hokkaido, only Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono has a pool. The heated 25-meter indoor pool sits next to the health club and the gender-separated onsen baths, open from 6 am to 10 pm. The spa has four single and two couples treatment rooms, the couples suites with their own onsen.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
After a day on the slopes: at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the spa pairs holistic treatments with a traditional onsen fed by Niseko’s mineral-rich hot springs.
Onsen for two
If you prefer to bathe in private, ask at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono for one of the nine suites with their own onsen and views of Mount Yotei, including the Annupuri and Yotei suites on the top floor. At Chalet Ivy Jozankei, a private hot-spring bath comes with every suite anyway. Our travel advisors will gladly check which suite is available for your dates.
Dining at the luxury hotels in Hokkaido: kaiseki, robata and sushi at the counter
Kaiseki in the hot-spring town: at Chalet Ivy Jozankei, the 88-seat ZUI serves refined Japanese cuisine based on kaiseki, made with ingredients from the island, alongside a wide choice of wine and sake. At the Chef’s Table, sushi, sashimi and teppanyaki are prepared right in front of you. Half board is included in all of the hotel’s packages. In the fireside lounge you help yourself around the clock to wine, drinks and Hokkaido sweets.
Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve · HigashiyamaSix addresses under one roof: at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, the day begins in The Lounge with Western and Hokkaido comfort food, with live music on some evenings. For dinner you choose between Teppan, Japanese-French teppanyaki with wagyu and seafood, Robata with fish and vegetables from the charcoal grill as a tasting menu, China Kitchen and the Italian Olivia, a favorite with families.
Omakase in Niseko Village: at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, an itamae prepares your omakase at the Sushi Nagi counter. Yukibana, overlooking Mount Yotei, cooks all day with meat, fish and produce from the region. The fireside Ume Lounge pours cocktails, craft beers and Japanese whiskies alongside izakaya-style dishes.
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
Beer where it began: at Sosei Sapporo, the restaurant’s art wall of beer bottles recalls the German breweries where Seibei Nakagawa, Hokkaido’s first Japanese brewer, learned his craft. In the bar lounge you drink Sapporo beer, Kaitakushi beer from the brewery across the street and Hokkaido wine.
Plan your sushi night
The Sushi Nagi omakase counter at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Book your sushi dinner for another evening; our travel advisors will gladly take care of the reservation.
Luxury hotels in Hokkaido with history – and awarded Michelin Keys
There is plenty of history in the place where Sosei Sapporo stands. In the Sosei East area, east of the Sosei River, the grounds of the former brewery are regarded as the birthplace of beer brewed in Japan; today the Sapporo Factory complex stands here. The hotel draws on this pioneer era, and across the street Kaitakushi beer is brewed.
Chalet Ivy Jozankei opened in 2019 as a ryokan that combines Japanese tradition with Western comfort. It is run by Ivy Hospitality Group, known for its Chalet Ivy hotels in Niseko, and belongs to Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
Awarded: Michelin Keys recognize a hotel as a whole, not a restaurant. Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono and Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve each hold one Michelin Key. The Park Hyatt was also named World’s Best New Ski Hotel at the World Ski Awards 2020, and its interiors won an Interior Design Excellence Award in 2020 and an Australian Interior Design Award in 2021. When it opened in December 2020, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village was the fifth of its kind worldwide.
Where to stay in Hokkaido: Niseko, Sapporo or Jozankei – the right location for your 5-star hotel
In Hokkaido you don’t choose between neighborhoods but between places a drive apart. Almost every trip begins at New Chitose Airport, southeast of Sapporo.
Niseko: both resorts are in the Niseko United ski area, with ski-in/ski-out and views of Mount Yotei. For skiers we recommend Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono at the foot of the Hanazono slopes of Mount Annupuri; it belongs to the town of Kutchan, and the station is ten minutes away by car. If you prefer something smaller, book Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village. From the airport it takes around two to two and a half hours.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
Sapporo: Sosei Sapporo is in the Chuo district, inside the Sapporo Factory complex, across from the former brewery. If you want to experience the city, its restaurants and the Snow Festival in February, this is the place to stay.
Jozankei: the hot-spring town belongs to Sapporo’s Minami ward and lies in the forest on the Toyohira River. Chalet Ivy Jozankei is about 45 minutes by car from central Sapporo and around 80 minutes from the airport; book private transfers at least three days ahead.
Our travel advisors’ insider tip
Plan two bases instead of one: a few nights at Sosei Sapporo or Chalet Ivy Jozankei, then Niseko. Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono runs a daily hotel bus to New Chitose Airport, for a fee and free of charge for Globalist members. Our travel advisors will gladly plan the order with you.
What a night at a 5-star hotel in Hokkaido costs – and what’s included
Rates start at 171 € at Sosei Sapporo and go up to 800 € at Chalet Ivy Jozankei, a hotel made up entirely of suites. In between are Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono from 238 € and Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve from 376 €. The table shows all four by location; you will find daily rates and availability in the hotel list further down.
| Luxury hotel | From | suitespot benefits from | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niseko | |||
| Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve | 376 € | 1st night | ★ 4.1/5 |
| Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono | 238 € | 1st night | ★ 4.5/5 |
| Sapporo | |||
| Sosei Sapporo | 171 € | 2 nights | ★ 4.3/5 |
| Jozankei Onsen (Sapporo) | |||
| Chalet Ivy Jozankei | 800 € | 2 nights | ★ 4.2/5 |
What’s included everywhere: daily breakfast for two, an upgrade subject to availability, and early check-in and late check-out subject to availability. At the Park Hyatt the upgrade already applies at booking, though not from room to suite. At Sosei Sapporo and Chalet Ivy Jozankei the benefits apply from two nights, in Niseko from the first night.
Hotel credit is worth a closer look: 100 US dollars at both Niseko resorts and at Sosei Sapporo, 50 US dollars at Chalet Ivy Jozankei. A welcome gift awaits everywhere except in Jozankei.
Points and status count at three of the four luxury hotels in Hokkaido: World of Hyatt at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Marriott Bonvoy at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and ALL (Accor) at Sosei Sapporo, a hotel of the MGallery Collection. Chalet Ivy Jozankei belongs to Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
When it’s most beautiful: in winter, Niseko lures with powder snow and Sapporo celebrates its Snow Festival in February. Summer brings lavender fields, hiking, rafting and golf, and the onsen in Jozankei are a treat in every season. Book early for the ski weeks around New Year and for the Snow Festival period.
How long to stay: for a 5-star hotel in Hokkaido we recommend two bases – two to three nights in Sapporo or Jozankei, then several in Niseko, for the slopes in winter and the mountains in summer.
The hotels in Hokkaido at a glance
What sets the hotels in Hokkaido apart – from their opening year to the spa:
| Hotel | Opened | Spa | Michelin Keys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono | 2020 | ✓ | 1 Key |
| Sosei Sapporo | 2024 | – | |
| Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve | 2020 | ✓ | 1 Key |
Earn points & use your status in Hokkaido
In Hokkaido, World of Hyatt applies at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono and Marriott Bonvoy at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village, while Sosei Sapporo belongs to Accor as a hotel of the MGallery Collection. Because suitespot books at direct rates, you earn points and status nights just as you would booking direct, and your status benefits apply. Chalet Ivy Jozankei belongs to Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in Hokkaido |
|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | 1 hotel | Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve |
| World of Hyatt | 1 hotel | Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono |
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Frequently asked questions about luxury hotels in Hokkaido
How much does a night at a luxury hotel in Hokkaido cost?
Rates start at 171 € at Sosei Sapporo and go up to 800 € at Chalet Ivy Jozankei. In Niseko, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono starts at 238 € and Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve at 376 €. Breakfast for two is included everywhere; at Sosei Sapporo and Chalet Ivy Jozankei the suitespot benefits apply from two nights.
Which is the best luxury hotel in Hokkaido?
That depends on your trip. For ski days with slope access, onsen and a pool we recommend Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono. To experience Sapporo, stay at Sosei Sapporo, and for peace and quiet with a private hot-spring bath in the suite, couples choose Chalet Ivy Jozankei. Tell us what you have in mind and our travel advisors will personally recommend the right hotel.
Where do I find a 5-star hotel in Hokkaido: in Sapporo or in Niseko?
In both places, and the choice depends on your trip. In Niseko you stay ski-in/ski-out with views of Mount Yotei (our pick: Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono). In Sapporo you are right in the city (our pick: Sosei Sapporo), and in the hot-spring town of Jozankei on its edge you bathe in your own onsen (our pick: Chalet Ivy Jozankei).
Which hotels in Hokkaido have suites with a private onsen?
At Chalet Ivy Jozankei, each of the 26 suites has its own bath with natural hot-spring water. Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono has 28 suites of up to 163 m², nine of them with a private onsen and views of Mount Yotei. Sosei Sapporo offers two Hamanasu Suites of 58 m² with executive privileges.
Which luxury hotels in Hokkaido are ski-in/ski-out?
Both resorts in Niseko: Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono on the Hanazono slopes, with ski valet, and Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve at the foot of Mount Niseko Annupuri. Both are part of the Niseko United ski area.
Which luxury hotel in Hokkaido has a pool?
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono: a heated 25-meter indoor pool next to the health club and the onsen baths, open from 6 am to 10 pm.
Which hotels in Hokkaido have Michelin Keys?
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono and Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve each hold one Michelin Key. Michelin Keys recognize hotels, not restaurants.
Can I earn points at the luxury hotels in Hokkaido?
At three of the four: World of Hyatt at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Marriott Bonvoy at Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and ALL (Accor) at Sosei Sapporo. Because suitespot books at direct rates, points and status nights count as usual. Chalet Ivy Jozankei belongs to Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Which luxury hotel in Hokkaido is good for families?
Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village has a kids club for children aged 1.5 to 9 and sits right on the slopes. At Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, Olivia serves Italian dishes in a sociable setting for families and friends.
Is Hokkaido worth visiting in summer?
Yes. In summer the lavender fields bloom around Furano, and around Niseko you can hike, raft and play golf. Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono and Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve are designed for every season, and the onsen at Chalet Ivy Jozankei is a treat all year round.
How do I get from New Chitose Airport to the hotels?
To Jozankei and Chalet Ivy Jozankei it takes around 80 minutes, to Niseko about two to two and a half hours. Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono runs a daily hotel bus to the airport (for a fee), and in season Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve offers a complimentary limousine bus for the return trip on eligible stays.
Which is the most expensive hotel in Hokkaido?
At the top end is Chalet Ivy Jozankei in Jozankei, with rates from 800 € per night, an all-suite hotel with private onsen. It is followed by Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve at 376 € and Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono at 238 €.
