We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: there’s nothing quite like Niseko in the heart of winter. Deservedly dubbed the powder capital of the world, mountains of powder snow turn Niseko into a winter wonderland during the colder months of the year, with atmospheric izakayas and lively restaurants beckoning you in for an après-ski tipple. After a long day on the slopes, you need a cosy place to hang your hat in. As we discovered during our stay, Kuma Cabin is just what the doctor ordered.
Welcome to Kuma Cabin
Kuma Cabin began its life as one of the original ski cabins in the Hirafu ski village. Today, the cabin’s exterior maintains the warm and welcoming look of a modest cabin, with enough space for parking our huge rental 4×4 out front. Indoors, the rooms have been fully renovated with a light and modern flair, with a kerosene heater to keep things nice and toasty.
Layout and Design
Kuma Cabin packs a lot of punch into its compact square metres and really, this cabin has everything you need for a great powder getaway. We love the fact that the cabin’s smart living room comes with Apple TV and Netflix. As we needed to catch up on some work during our stay, having super-fast Wi-Fi was great. Next to the living room, Kuma Cabin has a well-equipped kitchen with a four-seater dining table and all the necessary appliances.
Kuma Cabin has two bedrooms, one on the first level together with the living areas and the other on an upper mezzanine level. Both rooms have split beds so they can be set up either with king-sized beds or two single beds as needed. The cabin is ideal for four people, but if you’re bringing the kids or don’t mind sharing, the loft also has a sofa bed and room for an extra futon. A baby cot and high chair are also available free of charge – just make sure you request for them before checking in.
Life in the Lower Village
Located in Hirafu’s laidback Lower Village, Kuma Cabin overlooks snowy woods but you’re by no means in the sticks. The main village is about 10 minutes away if walking – though walking in the snow tends to slow you down a bit. If like us you’re feeling a bit too lazy to walk, you’ll hardly starve as there are some great izakaya restaurants within a 200-metre walk from the cabin. If even that feels too far, we clocked the shuttle stop to be just two minutes away from the cabin’s front steps.
Kuma Cabin offered the perfect home base for exploring Hirafu Village. We loved checking out the restaurants in the Lower Village and with the ski shuttle stop just metres away, hitting the slopes couldn’t have been easier. If you would like to stay at Kuma Cabin, talk to our team. When you book your stay through Ministry of Villas, our concierge team can help organise everything from airport transfers to lift passes and from board hire to ski lessons.
