5 New Ski Retreats Around the World to Visit in Winter 2023 - AFAR
"Japan is home to more than 500 ski resorts and world renowned powder—so soft and fluffy you’ll almost want to wipe out. Niseko may be the most famous of Japan’s ski resorts, but it’s dominated by powder aficionados from Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore and arguably the least Japanese of the country’s ski resorts. For a downhill experience with fewer international crowds, point your skis toward Nagano, where modernist newcomer Hiramatsu Karuizawa Miyota opened in 2021 with 28 guest rooms and nine villa suites. Sprawled across 14 acres in the foothills of the Okuchichibu Mountains, the resort is a 10-minute drive from Miyota train station and 20 minutes from the mountain resort of Karuizawa. Parquet wood walls and floor-to-ceiling windows lend an urbane penthouse vibe, while spacious balconies, private stone onsen baths, kitchenettes, yoga and massages on demand, and dog runs promise to make long stays more enjoyable. Don’t miss the French Japanese cuisine from Bocuse-trained chef Akio Yanagihara." - Adam H. Graham
