In the Mood of Luxurious Evening !

by Kazu

Even in summer, the fireplace  of our favorite Hotel Setsu Niseko continues to burn to create the mood of relaxation. The national convenience store LAWSON is in front of the hotel with the backdrop of Mt. Yotei.

The hotel was also awarded  "Best Condo. Interior Design"(Asia) in The 16th  PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and "Best Hotel Condo. Development in Niseko.

It seems that the hotel is proud of its role as a part of the scenery of the area including Mt. Yotei and Mt. Niseko Annupri. The concept of the design may not be created by Japanese traditional notion.

 

What we love of Setsu Niseko !

by Kazu

I heard that our favorite Hotel Setsu Niseko got Presidents Design Award 2002.  It has 40㎡ studio rooms and some penthouses with five bedrooms. The design was listed as the Top 100 Architects. The Mnaging Director Mr. Mok Wei Wei of W-Architects designed the building and the comfortable place of relaxation and refreshing was created.  

The bar on the ground floor of the hotel is used sometimes as the concert hall in the evening. The courtyard can be seen from there. Quality time is promised in the hotel.

The design of the interiors are also sophisticated and creating atmosphere that makes the guests slow down and relax. I hope the place will not be swamped by noisy and loudly-talking tourists from other regions on the globe.

 

Luxuriate Niseko !

by Kazu

Not all the accommodations have their own hot spring spa in house but the guests who stay in such hotels and condominiums can use the spa of the hotels nearby. 

The prices of the real estates got much higher and sky-roketted in some part of Kutchan Town and Niseko. Many  owners of the flats in those condominiums are living in overseas. They stay in their own flats mainly in winter season. 

This is our favorite Hotel Setsu Niseko. We will stay there again and again in green season as well as Hotel Ki Niseko and Hotel Skye Niseko where many foreign staff are working. 

 

For Sale !

by Kazu

One of the condominiums The Maples Niseko beside Hirafu Slope has some flats for sale and on the ground floor, it has a Italian restaurant that serves Precisely speaking, Hirafu area belongs to Kutchan Town but the brand name of "Niseko" is used worldwide and the broadcasting company BBC reports the weather forecast of Niseko everyday in winter as well as Whistler, British Columbia and Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada and San Maurezzan, Switzerland.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

As you may know, San Maurezzan is one of the Sister-states of Niseko Town. Shiribetsu River flowing through Kutchan Town and Niseko Town has a bridge named "San Maurezzan", actually.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

In winter ski season, these accommodations are filled up with the skiers and snow-boarders from overseas and other part of Japan. The hotel rate got much higher than before but in green season, the rates are more reasonable than in winter. 

 

Niseko Hirafu Green Park !

by Kazu

Since the green season of last year,we visited  Niseko Town Central Park for the first time. We grille sausages with the gas burner for camping and made hot dogs. As first foods, hot dogs are superb to cook and make swiftly and easily.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Precisely speaking, Hirafu area belongs to Kutchan Town but the brand name of "Niseko" is used worldwide and the broadcasting company BBC reports the weather of Niseko everyday in winter as well as Whistler, British Columbia and Mont Tremblant, Quebec,Canada, San Murezzan, Switzerland.       

Other than white snow season, the area becomes the place of relaxing and pleasure for mainly Japanese people. In winter, almost 80% of the guests are from overseas and the rest is Japanese tourists. In green season, approximately 80% of the guests are Japanese and the rest is from abroad. Even in Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, about 60% of the guests are Japanese in green season.

 

Mt. Yotei from Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum !

by Kazu

I feel so privileged and honored to be gifted with such beautiful nature, top-quality-produces from the fertile ground, wonderful place to live surrounded by the big draws of tourism, the godsend( in case of Hokkaido, Deities'-send?) to experience the incredible and amazing beautiful scenery.

I was wondering with my wife why we felt like that with such constitution and ingredients of the world. Why do we feel assured when we saw the beauty of the nature. It is what we should be grateful but sometimes we have to fight against the natural disasters. They may be a simple movement to make a wrinkle for the earth but I feel some sophisticated and well-organized system to keep the planet as a experimental field.  

 

The World of Takeo Arishima !

by Kazu

The author of one of the most child books published in Hokkaido Ms. Rei Nakai said that the Mayor of Niseko Town was so nice to see and have a chat. The design and the materials of the museum seemed to be so expensive but it creates the comfortable space for citizens and visitors. 

The Author Takeo Arishima died with his lover, precisely speaking, the wife of his friend. It was an extramarital relationship. His closing of his life was controversial but he left many things and concept in a illusion.

His portrait may be similar to one of the most famous authors in Japan. creating a world of illusion and put them on the paper must be so tough and difficult, I think. I am wondering if he did not have other choice for his lover and himself.

 

What the Mayor of Niseko Town Seek for!

ki

by Kazu

We visited the Memorial Museum of the Author Takeo Arishima in Niseko Town again. The child-book character "Maaru the Ghost" created our friend Ms. Rei Nakai,welcomed us and other guests to the museum.  

Some artistic objects are laid out in some spot of the museum.I like this candle-holders ? To be honest, I am not sure the purpose of this object.

From the window of the second floor of the museum, the lookout tower and Mt. Yotei can be seen. Many citizens were having their happy rest in the cafe of the museum. It may be a luxurious place to spend time.     

 

Takeo Arishima Memorial Museum !

by Kazu

"Maaru the Ghost"is one of the most popular characters in child books published in Hokkaido. The character was made by our friend Ms. Rei Nakai. She was asked to collaborate with Arishima Takeo Memorial Museum in Niseko Town.  

These are the illustrations she created.she loves to paint so much but she says that "Rice work " are different from "Life work". It seems that creating such illustrations and paintings is so tough even for her and the works may bring her not so much money compared to her talent and ability. Even for her, creating one line that satisfies her is so hard, she says.   We headed to Niseko Hanazono area for a walk in the woods. Some zip lines and ladders between the trees are equipped in the area for kids and their parents. Many families seemed to be enjoying the athletic activities. 

 

Niseko Hanazono Tree Walk!

by Kazu

Hotel Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono has an athletic field at the foot of ski slope on the backside of the building. There is a space for trekking between the trees. The highest place of the athletic field has a lookout from where Mt. Yotei can be seen.

We worked on the bridge between the trees. The scenery from the middle of the trees was like this. Different from the scenery from the foot of the trees, it was like the sight of squirrels or birds.

Mt. Yotei was wearing a white scarf on that day. It was not so hot but the sky was pale blue and as if it was absorbing the star light and sunshine. It was so beautiful day!  

 

Fire Works and Performance !

by Kazu

The fire performance by the indigenous people in Hokkaido called Ainu like the fire-knife in Polynesian islands started in the courtyard of Hotel Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono. 

A male performer seemed to be swinging the sword burning as the traditional dance of war. A female performer was swinging clubs with fire. It seemed not to be the traditional dance of them.  

Against the backdrop of fireworks, the indigenous performers showed their best performance under the shining moon and fireworks. The audience experienced something solemn and fascinating.