Unbeatable access to Mount Kiroro makes this resort a dream for snow-lovers.
CHECK-IN
After climbing through the snowy alps of Hokkaido in northern Japan,our shuttle bus arrives at the opened-in-December Club Med Kiroro Peak to find the party has already started. Music is pumping and the welcoming guard of honour that greets us quickly evolves into an impromptu dance party. I'm given a bracelet room key and escorted to my room,where my luggage is waiting.
THE LOOK
One of the resort's two buffet-style dining rooms.Credit:DANIEL KOH
With three Club Med Resorts already in Hokkaido (and a fourth on the way in late 2023),Club Med Kiroro Peak stakes its claim as the artsy sibling with its majestic red deer sculpture in the foyer,blue paint-splashed bar,and geometric carpet honouring the region's fishing past. The resort is spread out over five floors with the gym,onsen and games room taking up the eastern wing,while the lofty light-filled central"village"is home to the theatre,dining rooms,bar and lounge – a place to curl up with a mulled wine by day and let down your hair by night.
THE ROOM
I'm snowed in,but don't send help. Snow is piled high against the window of my Superior Room,limiting my view,but the soft pendant lights and backlit bedhead create such a cosy ambience I'm not sure I want to leave my winter den. The red and blue colour palette featured throughout the village are also on show here and a mural spelling"dream"in Japanese characters is painted over the bed. The room is kitted out with all the essential amenities,including air-conditioning,blackout blinds and TV. I have a bathroom with a bath shower and a separate basin outside the bathroom. The room accommodates two guests,however storage space is limited and I easily fill most of it on my own. Guests looking for a more traditional experience can book Superior Rooms featuring tatami mats and low beds.
Soft pendant lights and backlit bedhead create a cosy ambience.Credit:DANIEL KOH
OUT + ABOUT