Kimamaya by Odin

Stayed at Hotel Kimamaya for the first time, and hopefully not the last. This is a truly personal boutique hotel, with an amazing team that made our time in Niseko unforgettable. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and the staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the area, whether it’s down to recommending where to order takeaway pizza for a quiet night in, reserve a table at the local Izakaya or where to ski depending on the weather. Breakfast in the beautiful barn was excellent, and the onsen and massage was the perfect way to wind down after a full day of off-piste skiing. Peter and his team truly make Kimamaya a unique place. Special shout-out to Osaka-san, the ninja driver who got us safely (and flash-fast loaded/off-loaded the skiis) to and from the gondola every day. Highly recommended!

It should not be open off season. It markets itself as a luxury hotel. However it appears to be a renovated pension. The furniture looks like it's from Ikea. Niseko is nothing like Aspen or Zao, which are lovely during off season as well as ski season -- and have beautiful walking trails, onsens. It's not a luxurious resort town. ||Might be okay for non-luxury travelers during ski season who want a lesser expensive option and don't mind roughing it. ||If one expects Jp-style service, that's not going to happen here. ||I have stayed at other "Design Hotels" and like the concept of locally inspired, creative hospitality. One of these was rightly nominated for a Michelin. I expected a certain standard that does not seem to be applied at all "Design Hotels." This had a strange, eerie vibe. To the point, where I might write to Marriott and "Design Hotels" about the entire experience.

We stayed for (only) 2 nights in Kimamaya and it was wonderful! We‘ve been here in summer, which is clearly off season, but still has a lot of outdoor activities to offer! The Hotel has spacious room and with Peter one of the kindest hotelmanager I met, the hotel has it’s own chill and stylish atmosphere. Highly recommended, not only during Winter times!

We stayed at Kimamaya for 5 nights and had a great experience. The hotel is beautiful and they make it very easy and comfortable for those looking to ski every day. There is a dry room to unload all of your gear so you don’t have to bring it up to the room as well as a free private shuttle that will take you to the slopes when the time is right for you. Peter and Haruka, the two who run the hotel, provided exceptional service. They had great recommendations for things to do around town and would even help us book reservations for the week. They were amazing and were a key part to the great experience at Kimamaya. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Niseko!

So convenient! Excellent service! On site hot tubs and well appointed rooms. They have a wonderful area for skis/snowboards and to warm up jackets boots and helmets. Peter and Haruka are amazing team members, making us all feel right at home. They gave us advice on where to eat. Shared tips about getting around and how to plan for the busy season next year! Importantly, there is a shuttle that brought us to the mountain every morning, and brought us back whenever we needed. Breakfast at the barn next door(you walk through a warm tunnel right into the restaurant) was delicious everyday. Japanese granola, fresh croissants, big barn breakfast with succulent eggs, amazing hash browns shaped in a wedge, fresh tomatoes and mushrooms. The french toast is light, fluffy and so scrumptious! We will be back!

My husband and I stayed here in March - our first trip to Niseko and already hoping to book here again next year. Peter and Haruka were fantastic and made everything so easy and comfortable for us - they have excellent knowledge of the area and really go above and beyond to help you with anything you need. The hotel rooms, private bookable baths, and transfer service to the slopes were all excellent. I really can’t recommend this place more.

We have just returned from 5 nights at this lovely and cosy boutique hotel in Hirafu village, Niseko. The building itself is a beautiful wooden structure with an interesting 'barn' with a huge glass front where breakfast (and evening meals) are served. The location of the property is ideal, towards the 'bottom' of the village and only a few minutes walk from the food trucks and restaurants. The property has two hot private baths which are a great relief for aching muscles, and a lounge area where you can relax with a drink. They also operate an honesty bar, which works well when you fancy a beer or something stronger. However, what makes a stay truly unforgettable is the staff - Haruka-san, Peter and Osaka-san. You are made to feel so at home, and when you come back from a day on the slopes you feel like you are coming back to your family. The team operates a 'concierge' service through WhatsApp, which is useful for arranging pickup and drop-off for skiing and snowboarding. We never waited more than 3 minutes for Osaka-san to pick us up from the king gondola. Also, Haruka-san kindly arranged a taxi for us when we were stranded at Kutchan station, and Peter helped us book a bus back to New Chitose airport. Other guests told me they can also help book Niseko restaurants (a must!). My only downside with writing this review is that Kimamaya already books up really quickly, and if it becomes more well-known, it will be even more difficult :) We're planning to get our stay booked for next year asap and can't wait to catch up with the staff again. Thank you!

Home away from Home. Our first trip to Niseko and by far the best spot we could have chosen and definite to return again. The property is warm / very well equipped and connected to a resturant, dry room, hot baths and has their own parking. Loft Rooms were excellent for our family of 5 and very well designed and comfortable. Location is spot on to experience Niseko with a local lens and have the best bars around you. While all of the above is great - it’s the staff here that make it amazing. Peter / Haraku / Osaka-san all genuinely want you to have a wonderful time and leave no stone unturned to make it happen. Very grateful for our stay and the tolerance for our pesky kids. 🙏